Check your SSD's health using built-in tools or free software that reads the drive's internal sensors

Your SSD reports its own condition through a system called SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology). This is data the drive collects constantly — wear levels, temperature, error counts, and how many times it has powered on. You do not need to buy anything. Windows includes a tool to read this data, macOS has built-in options, and Linux users have several free programs. The goal is to catch problems before your drive fails without warning.

Most SSDs fail in one of two ways: sudden electrical failure (rare but unrecoverable) or gradual wear that SMART can detect. Checking SMART data every few months tells you which category your drive is in. If the numbers are normal, your drive is fine. If they show high wear or rising error counts, you have time to back up your files before the drive dies.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can check SMART data by opening Command Prompt as administrator and typing wmic logicaldisk get name, then running a third-party tool like CrystalDiskInfo to see the actual health numbers.
  • macOS users can read free tools like Disk Diag or DriveDx to read SMART data, since the built-in Disk Utility does not display it.
  • Linux users can install smartmontools and run sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda to see full SMART reports for any drive.
  • A healthy SSD shows a SMART health status of "Good" or "Healthy" and wear levels below 10 percent; anything higher means the drive is aging and you should plan to replace it soon.
  • Check your SSD's health every three to six months if the drive is more than three years old, or when ready if you notice slowdowns, freezes, or files that will not open.

How to check SSD health on Windows

Windows does not display SMART data in its settings or Disk Management tool. You need a third-party program. CrystalDiskInfo is free, shows SMART data clearly, and works on any Windows version. read it from the official CrystalDiskInfo website, install it, and open the program. It will list every drive connected to your computer and show a health status — usually "Good", "Caution", or "Bad" — along with the drive's temperature and wear percentage.

Look for the Health Status line at the top. If it says "Good", your drive is fine. If it says "Caution", the drive is aging and you should plan to replace it within the next year. If it says "Bad", back up your files when ready and replace the drive as soon as you can. Below the health status, you will see individual SMART attributes like "Wear Leveling Count" or "Program Fail Count". These numbers mean little on their own — what matters is the overall health status and whether any attribute shows a red warning icon.

Another option is HWiNFO, which is more detailed but also more complex. For most people, CrystalDiskInfo is simpler and gives you the information you need in one glance.

How to check SSD health on macOS

macOS Disk Utility shows drive capacity and file system type, but not SMART data. You need a separate tool. Disk Diag is free and straightforward — read it, open it, and it shows your SSD's health status and temperature. DriveDx is paid but more detailed; it predicts how much life your drive has left based on wear patterns.

Open whichever tool you choose and look for your SSD in the list. The health status will be displayed prominently. Like Windows tools, a "Good" or "Healthy" status means your drive is fine. "Warning" or "Caution" means the drive is aging. "Critical" or "Bad" means you should back up when ready.

If you prefer not to install software, you can also check SMART data through Terminal. Open Terminal (in Applications > Utilities), type diskutil info / to see your main drive's information, though this will not show the full SMART report. For a complete SMART report, you will need one of the graphical tools above.

How to check SSD health on Linux

Linux users have access to smartmontools, the most powerful SMART reading tool available. Install it using your package manager — on Ubuntu or Debian, type sudo apt install smartmontools. On Fedora or Red Hat, type sudo dnf install smartmontools.

Once installed, open a terminal and type sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda to see the full SMART report for your main drive. Replace sda with sdb, sdc, and so on if you have multiple drives. The output will show dozens of attributes. Look for the line that says SMART overall-health self-assessment test result. If it says "PASSED", your drive is healthy. If it says "FAILED", your drive is failing and you should replace it when ready.

You can also use a graphical tool like GNOME Disks (built into many Linux distributions) or KDE Partition Manager. Open the tool, select your drive, and look for a "Health" or "SMART" section. The interface is simpler than the command line, though less detailed.

What the SMART numbers mean

SMART attributes are numbered 1 through 255, and each one tracks something different. Wear Leveling Count (attribute 177 on most SSDs) shows how much of the drive's lifespan has been used. A new drive shows 100 percent remaining life. At 10 percent remaining, the drive is aging but still safe. At 1 percent or 0 percent, the drive is near the end of its life and should be replaced soon.

Program Fail Count and Erase Fail Count track how many times the drive has failed to write or erase data. A healthy drive shows zero or very low numbers. Rising numbers mean the drive's memory cells are degrading. Reallocated Sector Count shows how many bad storage areas the drive has marked as unusable. A few reallocated sectors are normal; dozens or hundreds mean the drive is failing.

Temperature is not a SMART attribute but appears in most tools. SSDs normally run between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius (86 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit). If your drive consistently runs above 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), it is too hot — check that your case has good airflow and that the drive is not blocked by cables or other components.

The key point: you do not need to understand every number. The overall health status tells you what you need to know. If it says "Good" or "Healthy", your drive is fine. Anything else means you should plan to replace it.

When to replace your SSD based on SMART data

A SMART health status of "Good" means your drive can stay in your computer. You can keep using it for years if the status stays green. A status of "Caution" or "Warning" means the drive is aging. You do not need to replace it when ready, but you should plan to within the next six to twelve months. Back up your important files to an external drive or cloud storage, and order a replacement SSD so you have it on hand when the time comes.

A status of "Bad" or "Critical" means the drive is failing now. Back up your files today if you have not already. Do not wait. Once a drive reaches this status, it can fail completely without warning. After you have backed everything up, replace the drive as soon as you can — within days, not weeks.

If SMART shows "Good" but your drive is making clicking sounds, freezing during use, or taking minutes to open files, the drive may be failing in a way SMART does not catch. In that case, treat it as a failing drive and replace it when ready, regardless of what the health status says.

How often to check your SSD's health

If your SSD is less than three years old and you check it once and it shows "Good", you do not need to check it often. SSDs are reliable for most of their lifespan. Check again if you notice performance problems or if the drive is more than five years old.

If your SSD is three to five years old, check the health every three to six months. This is the age range where wear starts to show up. Catching a "Caution" status early gives you time to back up and replace the drive without losing data.

If your SSD is more than five years old, check every month or two. Drives this old can fail suddenly. Regular checks let you catch the warning signs before the drive dies completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean if SMART says my drive is failing but it still works fine?

SMART predicts failure based on wear patterns, but the prediction is not always accurate. A drive can show "Caution" for months or years before actually failing. However, treat a "Caution" status as a warning to back up your files and plan a replacement. Do not ignore it hoping the drive will last forever.

Can I fix a failing SSD or extend its life?

No. SSD wear is physical — the memory cells degrade over time and use, and nothing you do in software will reverse that. Once SMART shows "Caution" or "Bad", the only solution is to replace the drive. Back up your files and buy a new SSD.

Is it normal for my SSD to get hot?

SSDs normally run warm but not hot. If your drive stays below 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), it is fine. If it regularly hits 60 degrees or higher, check that your case has good airflow and that the drive is not covered by cables or other components. Extreme heat can shorten an SSD's lifespan.

Do I need to check SMART data if my drive is brand new?

Not urgently, but checking once gives you a baseline. A brand-new drive should show 100 percent health and zero errors. If it does not, contact the seller or manufacturer about a replacement. After that, you do not need to check again until the drive is at least three years old.

What if CrystalDiskInfo or another tool will not open or recognize my drive?

Some drives or controllers do not report SMART data reliably. Try a different tool — if one tool fails, another might work. If no tool recognizes your drive, the drive may not support SMART reporting, or the connection may be loose. Check that the drive is fully seated in its slot and try again.