How to Check Hard Drive Health

How to Check Hard Drive Health (Easy Methods for Windows & Mac)

Your hard drive is the heart of your computer. It stores your operating system, files, photos, videos, and important data. If it fails unexpectedly, you can lose everything in seconds.

The good news? You can check hard drive health easily—without being a tech expert.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to check hard drive health on Windows and Mac, how to check SSD health, warning signs of failure, and what to do if your disk is in bad condition.

Why Checking Hard Drive Health Is Important

Most hard drives don’t fail suddenly. They show warning signs long before crashing completely.

Checking your hard drive health helps you:

• Prevent sudden data loss

• Backup files before it’s too late

• Improve PC performance

• Decide when to replace or upgrade your drive

If your system feels slow or freezes randomly, a failing drive could be the reason.

Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing

Before running tools, watch for these common symptoms:

• The computer becomes very slow

• Frequent freezing or crashing

• Files are getting corrupted or disappearing

• Strange clicking or grinding noises (HDD)

• The system fails to boot properly

• Blue screen errors on Windows

If you notice two or more of these signs, you should check your hard drive health immediately.

How to Check Hard Drive Health on Windows (Built-In Methods)

Windows has built-in tools that let you check disk health without installing any software.

Method 1: Check Hard Drive Health Using CMD (SMART Status)

This is the fastest way.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + S

2. Type cmd

3. Right-click Command Prompt → Run as Administrator

4. Enter this command:

        wmic diskdrive get status

Results explained:

• OK → Hard drive is healthy

• Pred Fail / Bad → Drive may fail soon (backup immediately)

This method works for both HDD and SSD.

Method 2: Check Disk Errors Using CHKDSK

This checks file system errors and bad sectors.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin)

2. Type:

          chkdsk C: /f /r

3. Press Enter and restart your PC if prompted

Replace C: with the drive letter you want to check.

Method 3: Use Windows Drive Health Tool

Steps:

1. Open This PC

2. Right-click your drive → Properties

3. Go to Tools

4. Click Check

Windows will scan and report issues automatically.

How to Check SSD Health on Windows

SSDs don’t make noise like HDDs, so health checks are even more important.

Best Free SSD Health Tools:

• CrystalDiskInfo

• Samsung Magician (Samsung SSDs)

• Western Digital Dashboard

These tools show:

• Health percentage

• Temperature

• Read/write lifespan

• SMART data

If your SSD's health drops below 70%, consider replacing it soon.

How to Check Hard Drive Health on Mac

Mac users can also check disk health easily.

Method 1: Use Disk Utility (Built-In)

Steps:

1. Open Finder

2. Go to Applications → Utilities → Disk Utility

3. Select your disk

4. Click First Aid

5. Run the scan

Disk Utility will report any errors or health issues.

Method 2: Use SMART Status on Mac

In Disk Utility:

• Select your drive

• Look for SMART Status

• If it says Verified, your drive is healthy

Best Free Hard Drive Health Check Software (Windows & Mac)

Here are reliable tools trusted by professionals:

These tools help you monitor your drive regularly and avoid surprises.

What to Do If Your Hard Drive's Health Is Bad

If tools show warnings, act fast:

1. Backup all important data immediately

2. Avoid heavy usage (gaming, large file transfers)

3. Replace HDD with SSD for better speed & reliability

4. Use cloud or external drive backups

5. Consider professional data recovery if needed

Waiting too long can make data recovery impossible.

How Often Should You Check Hard Drive Health?

• Normal users: Once every 2–3 months

• Heavy users (gaming, editing): Once a month

• Old drives (3+ years): Monthly

Regular checks can save years of memories and work.

FAQs: How to Check Hard Drive Health

Use CMD (wmic diskdrive get status) or tools like CrystalDiskInfo. “OK” or “Good” means healthy.

Yes, but most drives show early signs. Regular health checks reduce risk.

Yes. SSDs use write cycles instead of mechanical parts, so lifespan tracking is important.

No. Formatting doesn’t fix physical damage or failing sectors.

Learning how to check hard drive health is one of the smartest things you can do for your computer. It takes only a few minutes, but it can prevent massive data loss and expensive repairs.

If your drive shows warning signs, don’t ignore them—back up and replace early.