Checking the health of an SSD (with pictures)

This wikiHow teaches you how to check the health of your solid-state drive (SSD) on a Windows or Mac computer. On Windows, you can check the health of an SSD using a third-party program, and on the Mac, you can use the built-in disk utility.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: In Windows

Step 1. Go to the website

Using your browser, go to CrystalMark's website, where you'll find an app that we'll be using to check the health of the SSD.

Step 2. Click on CrystalDiskInfo Standard Edition

It's the first option under 'Quick Download'. This will take you to a download page where the download will start automatically. If the download does not start automatically, click on the blue link with 'CrystalDiskInfo7_5_2.exe' in the middle of the page.

Step 3. Open the installation file

Double-click the installation file you just downloaded to start the installation wizard. The full file name is 'CrystalDiskInfo7_5_2.exe'.

The downloaded files are usually found in your 'Downloads' folder by default.
click on Yes to consent to changes the installation file may make to your computer, if prompted.

Step 4. Accept the agreement and click Next

If desired, read the license agreement and click the radio button next to "I accept the agreement." Click 'Next' when you are ready to continue.

Step 5. Click Next

This will install CrystalDiskInfo to the default location indicated in the text field. If you want to change the installation location, click To leaf through and select another location.

Step 6. Click Next

This will create a folder in the Start menu. You can change the default name in the text field to rename the folder in the Start menu.

You can also check the "Don't create a folder in the Start menu" checkbox if you don't want to add a folder to the Start menu

Step 7. Check or uncheck the 'Create desktop shortcut' box and click Next

This will create a shortcut on your desktop. If you don't want a shortcut on the desktop, uncheck the box and click 'Next'.

Step 8. Click Install

The installation process will begin. The installation should take less than a minute.

Step 9. Launch CrystalDiskInfo

If you just installed CrystalDiskInfo, make sure the 'Start CrystalDiskInfo' checkbox is checked and then click Complete to launch the app. Otherwise, you can double-click the application shortcut on your desktop or in the folder where you installed the application.

Step 10. Select a drive

All drives installed on your computer are listed at the top of the app. Click on the SSD you want to check and inspect the rating under 'Health status'. A good rating is 'Good' followed by a health percentage, with 100% being the best possible rating.

If the health status reads 'Caution', then there may be bad sectors on your SSD, which indicate that the drive is old and may be failing

Method 2 of 2: On a Mac

Step 1. Open a new Finder window

It's the blue and white smiley icon in the bottom-left corner of your Mac's dock. This will open a new Finder window, allowing you to explore your Mac.

Step 2. Click on Programs

It's in the left column of the Finder window.

Step 3. Double click on the Utilities folder

It's the blue folder at the bottom of the page with the image of a screwdriver and wrench on it.

Step 4. Double click on Disk Utility

It's the app with the icon of a hard drive with a stethoscope. This provides information about the drives you have installed on your Mac.

Step 5. Select your SSD drive

All the drives you have installed are listed in the sidebar on the left. Click on a disk to select it.

Step 6. Click First Aid

It's the tab at the top of the screen with a stethoscope icon on it. A pop-up will appear asking if you want to run the first aid on the disc.

Step 7. Click Run

It's in the lower-right corner of the pop-up window.

Step 8. Click Continue

Applying First Aid to your startup disk will temporarily freeze the startup volume and prevent other apps from responding until the operation is complete.

Step 9. Click View Details

A report of any problems found on the floppy drive is displayed. Messages with red text indicate that a problem has been found with the floppy disk drive. The last message will tell you if the SSD needs to be repaired.