How to Check If Your SSD or Hard Drive Is Failing -

Quick answer: On Windows 11, open Settings, then System, Storage, Advanced storage settings and Disks & volumes, select your drive and choose Properties to see its health. On a Mac, run First Aid in Disk Utility. Neither is a guarantee, so keep a backup whatever the result says.

Drives usually give some warning before they fail, but not always. Checking takes five minutes, and with storage prices high, replacing a drive on your own schedule beats doing it in a panic.

This guide covers Windows 11 and Mac, plus a few free tools and the warning signs worth acting on. It’s part of our Computing section. If you find a problem, our guide to backing up while drive prices are high shows what to do next.

Do you have an SSD or a hard drive?

The answer changes which tools work. In Windows, open Task Manager, go to the Performance tab and select a disk to see its type. On a Mac, Apple’s own laptops use built-in flash storage, so the main check is Disk Utility.

What are the warning signs of a failing drive?

Engadget lists the common symptoms: corrupted files, unusually slow file access, frequent read and write errors, system crashes, and a drive that disappears from Windows. (Engadget) Any one of these can have a software cause, but together or repeatedly they’re a reason to back up immediately.

How do you check drive health in Windows 11?

Use the built-in Settings page

Open Settings and select System, then Storage.
Select Advanced storage settings, then Disks & volumes.
Choose your drive and select Properties.
Look at the Drive health section for estimated remaining life, available spare capacity and temperature.

There’s a big limit here. Windows only reports this for NVMe SSDs, not for SATA SSDs or traditional hard drives. (Microsoft Support) Many newer laptops have NVMe drives, but older ones may not.

Microsoft describes three critical warnings: “Spare capacity is low,” “Reliability is degraded” and “Drive is set to read-only.” If you see any of them, Microsoft’s advice is to back up your data immediately. (Microsoft Support)

Use PowerShell for a quick status

Search for PowerShell, open it and type Get-PhysicalDisk. The HealthStatus column shows Healthy, Warning, Unhealthy or Unknown. (Engadget) It’s a rough check, not a detailed one.

Use a free tool for hard drives and SATA SSDs

CrystalDiskInfo reads SMART data from both hard drives and SSDs and gives a plain rating: Good, Caution, Bad or Unknown. Manufacturers also offer their own tools, such as Seagate SeaTools and Samsung Magician. (Engadget) Download these only from the manufacturer’s or developer’s official site.

Check the file system with CHKDSK

CHKDSK checks for file-system errors. Adding /f fixes errors, and /r tries to recover readable data from bad sectors. (Engadget) It can take a long time on large drives, and it’s best run after your files are backed up.

How do you check a drive on a Mac?

Open Disk Utility from Applications, then Utilities.
Select your drive or volume in the sidebar.
Click First Aid and then Run.

Apple says First Aid checks for and fixes errors in the formatting and directory structure of a drive, but it “can’t detect or repair all problems.” If the tool says failure is imminent, back up your data and replace the drive. For a startup disk you need to restart into macOS Recovery first. (Apple Support)

How do you read the results without panicking?

One warning on its own isn’t always a disaster. A single failed check can come from a loose cable, a sudden power cut or a software bug. What matters is whether the warning repeats, and whether it comes with symptoms such as corrupted files or crashes.

Treat a “Caution” or “Warning” rating as an instruction to back up that day. Treat “Bad,” “Unhealthy” or a read-only drive as a sign to stop relying on the drive. A healthy result is reassuring, but it only describes the drive today. Write the date of your last check somewhere you’ll see it, and repeat the check after any crash or sudden shutdown.

What should you do if the drive looks unhealthy?

Back up first. Copy photos, documents and anything irreplaceable to another drive or a cloud service before running repairs.
Stop heavy use. Avoid installing software or running long repairs on a drive that’s already struggling.
Run the repair tool. Try CHKDSK on Windows or First Aid on a Mac, then check again.
Plan the replacement. Persistent warnings mean the drive should be replaced, even if it still seems to work.
Contact the maker. If the drive is under warranty, check whether it’s covered before you buy a new one.

Be ready for sticker shock. In one September 2026 US price check, a Seagate 24TB external drive cost $649.41 against $279.99 in January (TheFPSReview). Compare prices and buy only the capacity you need.

Can you make a drive last longer?

No one can promise a drive’s lifespan, but a few habits help. Keep the laptop cool and ventilated, shut it down properly instead of cutting power, and don’t knock a laptop that has a spinning hard drive while it’s running. Most importantly, treat any single drive as temporary and keep a second copy.

If you’re shopping for a replacement, our look at why laptop prices are rising explains why costs are higher than usual and when it still makes sense to buy.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I check my drive health?

Every few months is plenty, and straight away if you notice slow performance, crashes or odd file errors. Backups matter more than the checks, so set those to run automatically.

Can a drive fail with no warning?

Yes. A healthy rating today doesn’t guarantee a healthy drive tomorrow. Engadget makes the same point: back up your important files before doing much else.

Why does Windows not show health for my hard drive?

The built-in page only supports NVMe SSDs. For a hard drive or SATA SSD, use CrystalDiskInfo or the maker’s own tool.

Does a clean First Aid result mean my Mac drive is fine?

It means Disk Utility found no errors it could detect. Apple states it can’t catch every problem, so a backup is still the real safeguard.

How to Check If Your SSD or Hard Drive Is Failing