How to Check SSD Health on Mac? How to Test It?

This guide explains how to check your Mac's SSD health using two methods: the built-in SMART status and the command-line tool Smartmontools. Knowing your SSD's health is crucial for data preservation and preventing potential data loss.

Method 1: Checking SMART Status in System Information

This method uses macOS's built-in tools for a quick health check.

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. While holding down the Option key, select "System Information" (this replaces the usual "About This Mac").

3. In the sidebar, select "Storage."
4. Choose your SSD drive from the list.
5. Look for "SMART Status" in the details section. "Verified" indicates a healthy drive. "Failing" or "Fatal" means immediate action is needed—back up your data immediately!

Method 2: A Deeper Dive with Smartmontools (Advanced Users)

This method provides a more detailed analysis but requires installing Xcode and Homebrew.

Step 1: Install Xcode

1. Open the Mac App Store, search for "Xcode," and click "Get."
2. Click "Install" and wait for the installation to complete.
3. Open Xcode from your Applications folder, accept the license agreement, and enter your administrator password.

Step 2: Install Homebrew

1. Open Terminal (Applications > Utilities).
2. Paste and run this command: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
3. Enter your admin password. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Step 3: Install and Run Smartmontools

1. In Terminal, run: brew install smartmontools && sudo smartctl --all /dev/disk0
2. Enter your admin password.

To run future checks:

1. Use diskutil list in Terminal to find your SSD's identifier (e.g., /dev/disk2).
2. Run smartctl -a <identifier></identifier> (replacing <identifier></identifier> with your SSD's identifier).

Addressing SSD Errors: While SSDs are durable, they can fail. If you encounter errors, back up your data immediately. Software issues can sometimes mimic hardware problems, so consider troubleshooting software before assuming hardware failure. If your Mac is under warranty, contact Apple support. Defragmenting is unnecessary and potentially harmful to SSDs.

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