Don’t Wait for Disaster: Learn How to Check Health and Secure Your SSD Before It’s Too Late

Even with a top-tier SSD, eventual failure is inevitable. SSDs operate with a limited number of read and write cycles, and each cycle degrades the NAND flash memory. Over time, this wear will accumulate, leading to failure. Fortunately, reaching the maximum cycle limit is highly unlikely under normal use. However, despite not exhausting the theoretical lifespan, your SSD could still experience issues or fail prematurely due to other factors. Follow this article (via), and learn how to do a good SSD health check before it’s too late.

Signs that your SSD might be failing include system crashes, blue screens of death (BSOD), sluggish performance, data loss, and difficulties writing new files. If you notice these symptoms, it’s crucial to act quickly—there may still be time to back up your data. Explore effective methods to test your SSD and ensure your data remains secure.

SSD Health Check Via Windows Settings

For a basic overview of your SSD’s health, you can use Windows Settings. Note that this method provides only a general check, so if you suspect your SSD might be failing, consider using more comprehensive tools later.

• Step 1: Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys, then navigate to System > Storage. Alternatively, you can type “Storage” into the Windows Search bar and select Storage Settings.
• Step 2: Scroll down and click on Advanced storage settings, then choose Disks & volumes.
• Step 3: Select your SSD from the list and click Properties. Here, you can view basic details about your SSD, including its estimated remaining life, available space, and temperature. This utility offers a snapshot of your drive’s health but lacks more detailed diagnostic features.

Use Windows Command Prompt

For a straightforward “yes or no” check of your SSD’s health, the Windows Command Prompt (CMD) can be useful. This method provides a quick indication of whether your SSD might be failing. If issues are detected, it’s crucial to back up your data immediately.

• Step 1: Open the Start Menu, type “Command Prompt,” right-click the result, and select Run as administrator.
• Step 2: Enter the following command and press Enter: wmic diskdrive get status

If the output shows “OK,” your SSD is likely in good condition. However, if it displays “Pred Fail,” it indicates a potential problem, and you should back up your data and consider more thorough diagnostics.

Use Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell offers a more detailed look at your SSD’s health compared to Command Prompt. Here’s how you can use it to gather in-depth information about your SSD:

Step 1: Open Windows PowerShell by searching for it in the Start Menu, right-clicking the result, and selecting Run as administrator.

Step 2: Use the following commands to check your SSD’s status:

• Basic Status Check:
  powershell

  Copy code

  Get-PhysicalDisk


  This command provides the operational status of your SSD, indicating whether it’s functioning properly.

• Detailed Health Information:
  powershell

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  Get-PhysicalDisk | Get-StorageReliabilityCounter | Format-List


  This command delivers a comprehensive overview, including current and maximum temperatures, read/write errors, and the SSD’s usage history.

If the output columns are empty, you may need to use more advanced tools. You can also tailor the command to display specific information. For example, to check write errors, use:

Use Third-Party Apps For SSD Health Check

You can also rely on some trustworthy apps for checking the conditions on your SSD. Among the most popular ones, we have CrystalDiskInfo and the HWInfo. Both are great options for checking the current health status of your drive.