How to Disable Disk Defragmentation in Windows 10

Automatic disk defragmentation in Windows 10 helps boost computer performance and speed. However, there are cases where it’s best to disable it, such as for SSD drives, where defragmentation is not only unnecessary but can also reduce the lifespan of the drive. Here’s a simple guide on how to turn off disk defragmentation in Windows 10.

Step 1: Open “Optimize Drives”

First, access the defragmentation and optimization tool:

  1. Click on Start and type “Optimize Drives” in the search bar.
  2. Select Defragment and Optimize Drives from the search results.

Step 2: Disable Automatic Optimization for the Selected Drive

Once the Optimize Drives window opens:

  1. Select the drive for which you want to disable defragmentation (typically the OS or SSD drive).
  2. Click the Change settings button.
  3. In the new window, uncheck the Run on a schedule option or remove the drive from the optimization list.
  4. Click OK to save your changes.

Step 3: Confirm the Disk Status

After disabling automatic optimization, ensure your settings are saved:

  1. In the main Optimize Drives window, check that the Last run column shows no scheduled tasks for the drive.
  2. If notifications are enabled, you should no longer receive alerts for scheduled optimization on this drive.

Why Disable Defragmentation on an SSD?

SSDs work differently than traditional HDDs, so they don’t require defragmentation. Frequent defragmentation of an SSD can even wear out the memory cells, reducing its lifespan. Instead, Windows automatically runs a TRIM command, which is sufficient for maintaining quick data access on an SSD.