How To Check SSD Health On Mac: Ultimate Guide

Why Check SSD Health on Mac?

Monitoring the health of your Mac's solid-state drive (SSD) is crucial for preventing data loss and ensuring your system runs smoothly. SSDs, like all storage devices, have a limited lifespan, and regular checks can help you stay ahead of potential failures.

Using macOS System Report

The most straightforward method to check your SSD's health on a Mac involves using the built-in System Report feature.

Access System Report:
- Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the Menu Bar.
- Hold down the Option key, which changes "About This Mac" to "System Information."
- Click on "System Information" and then navigate to the "Storage" panel under the Hardware section in the left sidebar.
Select Your Drive:
- Choose the drive you want to examine from the list on the right side.
- Look for the "SMART Status" at the bottom of the right panel. This status will indicate whether your drive is "Verified," "Failing," or "Failed".

Understanding SMART Status

Verified: Indicates that the drive has no reported problems.
Failing: Suggests that the drive has an error that will soon become fatal. It is crucial to back up your data immediately.
Failed: Means the drive cannot be used and is no longer functional.

Using Disk Utility

Another method to check your SSD's health involves using the Disk Utility app, although it may not provide detailed SMART status for external drives.

Open Disk Utility:
- Click the Spotlight search icon and type "Disk Utility," then select it from the results.
Select Your Drive:
- In the Disk Utility window, click the "View" icon and select "Show All Devices."
- Select your internal or external drive from the list.
Check Health:

For internal drives, you will see the health status directly.
For external drives, Disk Utility may not display health information. Instead, you can use the "First Aid" feature to check for repairable issues:
- Select your external drive.
- Click the "First Aid" icon and then click "Run" to start the check.

Using Smartmontools via Terminal

For a more detailed and technical approach, you can use Smartmontools, a set of utilities that provide comprehensive SMART status reports.

Install Smartmontools:
- Open Terminal (you can find it in Applications > Utilities or use Spotlight search).
- Install Smartmontools using Homebrew by running the following command:
```
brew install smartmontools
```
- If you don't have Homebrew installed, you can download and install it from the official Homebrew website.
Find Drive Identifier:
- Run the command diskutil list to find the drive identifier for the volume you want to test.
Check SMART Status:

Run the following command to get the SMART status for the specified drive, replacing disk1s2 with your drive's identifier:
```
smartctl -a disk1s2
```
This command will produce a detailed SMART report. You can save this report to a text file by using the > control character:
```
smartctl -a disk1s2 > diskhealthreport.txt
```
The report will include a verdict and vendor-specific SMART status, providing a detailed look at the drive's health.

Using Third-Party Tools

For a more user-friendly and comprehensive solution, you can use third-party tools like DriveDx.

Install DriveDx:
- Download and install DriveDx from the official website.
Monitor SSD Health:
- Launch DriveDx, and it will continuously monitor the SMART status of all connected drives.
- DriveDx provides a detailed picture of your storage system's health and can alert you to potential issues before they become critical.

Best Practices for Extending SSD Life

To ensure your SSD lasts as long as possible, follow these best practices:

Regularly Back Up Data: Always keep backups of your important files to prevent data loss in case of SSD failure.
Clear RAM: Use tools like MacKeeper's Memory Cleaner to clear your Mac's RAM, reducing the need for your SSD to handle temporary data.
Avoid Defragmentation: Defragmenting an SSD can actually shorten its lifespan. It is generally not recommended for SSDs.
Update Your macOS: Keep your macOS up to date, as updates often include fixes for SSD-related issues.

By regularly checking your SSD's health and following these best practices, you can extend the life of your drive and ensure your Mac runs smoothly and efficiently.