Check SSD Health in Windows 11/10
Just like any other storage device, an SSD can wear out over time. Its performance may decrease, Windows may display storage-related errors, or you may experience unexpected crashes and file corruption.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a computer expert to check your SSD’s condition. Windows 11 and Windows 10 offer several ways to monitor SSD health, check drive errors, and identify potential problems.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to check SSD health in Windows 11/10 using built-in Windows tools and third-party software.
Check SSD Health in Windows 11/10
To check SSD health in Windows 11, open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes. Select your SSD, open Properties, and check the drive health information under Drive health, if supported. In Windows 10, use PowerShell or your SSD manufacturer’s diagnostic software to check its condition. You can also use CrystalDiskInfo to monitor SSD health, temperature, and SMART status.
Let’s explore each method step by step.
1. Check SSD Health Using Windows Settings (Windows 11)
Windows 11 includes a storage health monitoring feature that can display information about supported SSDs. It is one of the easiest ways to check your drive without installing additional software.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings
First, press Windows + I on your keyboard to open the Settings application.
Alternatively, right-click the Start button and select Settings from the menu.
Step 2: Navigate to Storage Settings
Once Settings opens, select System from the left sidebar.
Scroll down and click Storage. Windows will display information about your computer’s storage usage.
Next, expand Advanced storage settings and select Disks & volumes.
Step 3: Select Your SSD
You’ll now see a list of storage drives installed on your computer.
Find the SSD you want to check and click its Properties button. If you have multiple drives, check their model names and capacities to identify the correct one.
Step 4: Check Drive Health
Scroll down the Properties page and look for the Drive health section.
Depending on your SSD and Windows support, you may see information such as estimated remaining life, available spare capacity, and temperature.
These details can help you understand whether your SSD is operating normally or approaching its expected endurance limit.
If Windows doesn’t display Drive health information, don’t worry. Some SSDs don’t support all the reporting features required by Windows. You can try the other methods below.
2. Check SSD Health Using PowerShell
PowerShell is a built-in Windows utility that allows you to run commands and retrieve information about your computer.
You can use it to check the operational status of your storage devices.
Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator
Click the Start button and type PowerShell in the search box.
Right-click Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator. If a User Account Control window appears, click Yes.
Step 2: Enter the SSD Health Command
Copy the following command and paste it into PowerShell:
Get-PhysicalDisk | Select FriendlyName, MediaType, HealthStatus, OperationalStatus
Press Enter to execute it.
Step 3: Understand the Results
PowerShell will display information about your connected physical drives.
Look at the MediaType column to identify your SSD. The HealthStatus column shows the reported health condition, while OperationalStatus indicates whether the drive is operating normally.
For example, a Healthy status is generally a good sign.
However, remember that this command provides only basic information. It does not give you a complete SSD lifespan percentage or detailed SMART readings.
3. Check SSD Health Using WMIC or Windows Commands
Another option is to use Command Prompt to check the basic predicted failure status of supported storage drives.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
Click Start, type CMD, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: Run the Disk Status Command
Enter this command:
wmic diskdrive get model,status
Press Enter.
Step 3: Check the Output
Windows will display the model name and reported status of your storage drives.
If the status shows OK, Windows has not detected a failure warning through this basic check.
If you see a message such as Pred Fail, your drive may be reporting an impending failure condition.
One important thing to remember is that WMIC is deprecated and may not be available in newer Windows installations. This command also doesn’t provide a detailed SSD health percentage. Use PowerShell or dedicated SSD diagnostic software if it doesn’t work.
4. Check SSD Health Using CrystalDiskInfo
If you want more detailed information about your SSD, CrystalDiskInfo is a popular free utility worth trying.
It reads SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) information from compatible storage devices to help identify potential problems.
Step 1: Download CrystalDiskInfo
Open your web browser and visit the official CrystalDiskInfo website.
Download the latest stable version from its official download page.
Step 2: Install the Software
Open the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the installation is complete, launch CrystalDiskInfo.
Step 3: Check Your SSD Health
The software will automatically detect supported storage drives and display their information.
Look for the Health Status section. Depending on your SSD, you may see a health percentage or a condition such as Good, Caution, or Bad.
You can also check the drive temperature, total host writes, power-on hours, and other SMART attributes.
Step 4: Understand the Health Information
A Good status generally indicates that the drive’s reported SMART information doesn’t show a significant problem.
A Caution status may indicate that a wear or error threshold has been reached. A Bad status suggests a serious drive health warning.
Don’t ignore Caution or Bad warnings. Back up your important files immediately and consider replacing the SSD.
5. Check SSD Health Using the Manufacturer’s Software
Most major SSD manufacturers offer their own diagnostic applications. These tools can provide more accurate information about supported drives because they are designed to work with specific SSD models.
For example, Samsung offers Samsung Magician, while Crucial provides Storage Executive.
Step 1: Identify Your SSD Manufacturer
Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Disk drives section. You’ll see the names and model numbers of your installed drives.
Step 2: Download the Official Diagnostic Tool
Visit your SSD manufacturer’s official website and find its storage management or diagnostic software.
Download the application that supports your particular SSD model.
Step 3: Run a Health Check
Install and open the application. Select your SSD from the available drive list.
Look for options such as Drive Health, SMART Status, Diagnostic Scan, or Health Check.
The exact options depend on the manufacturer.
Step 4: Review the Results
Check the reported health percentage, temperature, available firmware updates, and any warnings.
If the software identifies a serious problem, back up your data and contact the manufacturer or consider replacing the drive.
6. Check SSD Health and Errors Using CHKDSK
CHKDSK is a Windows command-line utility that checks a file system for logical errors and can attempt repairs.
However, it’s important to understand that CHKDSK does not measure SSD lifespan or physical health.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt
Search for CMD in the Start menu and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: Run the Disk Check Command
Enter the following command:
chkdsk C: /scan
Press Enter.
This command scans the C: drive for file system errors without requiring an offline repair.
Step 3: Review the Results
Windows will display whether it found file system problems.
If errors are detected, follow the recommended repair instructions.
For SSD health monitoring, combine this method with SMART-based diagnostic software rather than relying on CHKDSK alone.
FAQs
1. How do I check SSD health in Windows 11?
Open Settings, navigate to System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes, select your SSD, and open Properties. Check the Drive health section if your SSD supports it.
2. How do I check SSD health in Windows 10?
You can use PowerShell, compatible Command Prompt commands, CrystalDiskInfo, or your SSD manufacturer’s diagnostic software. These methods help you check drive status, SMART information, and potential problems.
3. What is a good SSD health percentage?
Generally, an SSD reporting 90% to 100% health is in good condition. A lower percentage indicates that some of its rated endurance has been used. However, the exact interpretation depends on the manufacturer’s health calculation.
4. How long does an SSD last?
An SSD’s lifespan depends on its NAND flash technology, workload, write endurance rating, and operating conditions. Many consumer SSDs are designed to last for several years under normal use.
5. Can I repair an SSD with bad health?
You generally cannot reverse physical NAND flash wear or restore an SSD’s original endurance. Software may repair certain file system errors, but it cannot fix failing memory cells or damaged hardware. Back up your files and replace a failing SSD.
6. Does checking SSD health damage the drive?
No. Normal health checks using Windows tools or SMART monitoring software do not significantly affect an SSD’s lifespan. However, avoid repeatedly running unnecessary intensive diagnostic or stress tests.
Summary
Checking SSD health in Windows 11/10 is an important maintenance task that can help you identify potential storage problems before they cause data loss.
If you’re using Windows 11, start with the Disks & volumes section in Settings. For Windows 10 users, PowerShell and CrystalDiskInfo are useful alternatives.
If you want detailed information, try your SSD manufacturer’s diagnostic software. It can provide additional details about drive health, temperature, SMART status, and firmware.
Most importantly, don’t wait until your SSD stops working to protect your files.
Check its condition occasionally, keep important data backed up, and replace the drive if it reports serious health warnings.