Complete guide to checking SSD health in Windows 11 with WMIC and smartctl

Before a SSD start to cause problems, Windows 11 offers several ways to check your health and anticipate failures. With a few commands and utilities, you can see from a simple OK or Pred Fail up to dozens of SMART attributes, temperatures and estimated lifespan.

If you manage important files or use your PC for work and play, it's a good idea to have a handy guide. Here's how to check your SSD with WMIC (diskdrive get status), with smartctl/GSmartControl and with integrated tools such as PowerShell, Configuration and CHKDSK, as well as third-party alternatives such as CrystalDiskInfo, HD Tune, HWiNFO or Hard Disk Sentinel.

What is SMART and why it matters

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is an internal monitoring system that reports on disk health. Through its attributes, your drive can alert you of imminent failures, record relocated sectors, read/write errors, temperature or wear (on SSDs) and more.

In basic utilities like WMIC, the output is summarized in statements like OK (no detectable problems) or Pred Fail (predicted failure). Other tools display tables with raw values ​​and thresholds, allowing for a more precise interpretation of whether the SSD is aging normally or if it should be replaced soon.

Be aware of one important caveat: attributes vary by manufacturer and model. It's common to see numbers that, without context, seem alarming; hence, it's important to use utilities that interpret this data (CrystalDiskInfo, GSmartControl, Hard Disk Sentinel) helps to avoid false positives.

Built-in methods in Windows 11 to check your SSD

PowerShell: Get-PhysicalDisk

PowerShell can list all physical disks and their status without installing anything. Open PowerShell as administrator, type Get-PhysicalDisk and press Enter. You'll see columns with the overall status, media type, and useful details. It's a quick way to get an overview high-level diagnosis.

Windows Settings: Drive Health

Go to Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks and volumes. In Properties, Windows displays estimated lifespan, available spares, and temperatureIt's not as in-depth as other options, but it provides visibility into wear and tear and potential alerts.

Optimize units (TRIM)

From "Defragment and Optimize Drives" you can see the Actual state of each drive. On SSDs, Windows applies TRIM/Optimize maintenance, not classic defragmentation. If the status is not OK, using the Optimize button helps the SSD manage free blocks and maintain performance.

CHKDSK: Scan for logical errors and bad sectors

When you suspect logical problems (file system, corrupt entries, reallocable sectors), CHKDSK can repair some of the damage. Opens CMD as administrator and uses:

chkdsk C: /f /r /x

the modifier /f corrects errors; /r scans for damaged sectors and attempts to recover data; /x unmount the drive if necessary. For drives NTFS online, a quick scan with chkdsk /scan may be enough for detect anomalies without rebooting.

WMIC: diskdrive get status

WMIC offers the most straightforward check without installing anything extra. Open CMD as administrator, enter WMIC and runs:

diskdrive get status

If everything is correct you will see OK. If it appears Pred FailThe system has detected critical signals in SMART; back up immediately and plan for replacement. If any result is not OK, it's a good idea to investigate further with tools that show detailed attributes.

smartctl and GSmartControl on Windows

For an advanced view of SMART in Windows, smartctl (part of Smartmontools) and its graphical interface, GSmartControl, are the open-source reference. They allow you to read complete attributes, run short and long tests, and save detailed reports.

With GSmartControl you can run tests short, long or in depth; select the disk, open its properties, and check the status and history. This is ideal when you need more than an OK/Previous Fail and want to review parameters such as the reallocated sector count, CRC errors, temperatures sustained or wear leveling (SSD) counts.

If you prefer the command line, smartctl allows you to quickly check: for example, smartctl -a for full report and smartctl -t short/long for testing. Its advantage is that it interprets SMART with great accuracy and offers a reproducible diagnosis.

Official manufacturer tools

Another highly recommended option is to use the manufacturer's own utilities: Samsung Magician, ADATA SSD Toolbox, SeaTools (Seagate), among others. They tend to be the most reliable when it comes to interpreting specific attributes and firmware, and many add features such as microcode updates, secure erase, or dedicated testing.

Typical steps: Identify the make and model in Device Manager (Disk Drives), download the tool from the official website, install and launches a diagnosisIn addition to health, they typically display remaining lifespan, TBW (Total Bytes Written), and performance metrics.

Third-party utilities for monitoring and diagnostics

CrystalDiskInfo

It is one of the most popular free options to see at a glance the health, temperature, hours of use and SMART attributes. It displays a clear status indicator and allows interpret warnings wear and tear on SSDs in a simple way.

HD Tune

In addition to health and speed, it includes a sector-by-sector error scanner, speed map, and temperature monitor. The Health tab displays SMART with a color scheme (normal white, alert yellow, critical red) that helps prioritize actions.

Hard Disk Sentinel

It emphasizes continuous monitoring with detailed SMART interpretation, email alerts, and testing. While the free version has limitations compared to the paid version, it stands out for its real time monitoring and forecasts of reliability.

HWiNFO

Beyond disks, monitor system-wide sensors. Under Disk Drives and in the Sensors window, you'll see SMART and real-time temperatures, useful for correlation thermal peaks with performance drops.

HDDScan

Free and with tests such as linear reading, linear verification and butterfly mode, in addition to SMART reading. It allows you to detect slow or unstable areas and view patterns that reveal progressive degradation.

Performance test with CrystalDiskMark

An SSD can be healthy but underperform due to overload, lack of TRIM, old firmware, or high temperature. CrystalDiskMark stresses the drive with different read/write patterns to measure performance. actual speeds.

If the numbers are much lower than expected for your interface (SATA/NVMe), or the test fails, it is time to investigate: check that the port is correct, activate the correct AHCI/PCIe mode, check the drivers, verify that the SSD is not too full and confirm that TRIM is active.

When to check the SSD and what signs to watch for

There are times when it is advisable to check it: after falls or blows, before a migration, or when they appear suspicious symptomsDetecting it early prevents data loss.

• Frequent slowdowns, freezes, blue or black screens.
• Files or folders randomly disappearing or becoming corrupted.
• Slow starts, read/write errors or the system not recognizing the disk.
• Sustained high temperatures or SMART warning messages.

If you hear strange noises it will almost certainly be a mechanical HDD, but in any case the symptoms of instability should prompt you to run a check and make backup as soon as possible.

What to do if you get SMART or Pred Fail errors

Before a Pred Fail or attributes in red/yellow, don't rely on your luck: back up everything. You can try CHKDSK to fix logical errors, but it doesn't repair physical damage or dead NAND cells. Many SSDs go into read only to allow you to save data; take advantage of it without wasting time.

The next step is to plan the replacement: clone to the new SSD if it's still stable, or perform a clean reinstall and copy only the essentials. Delaying this could mean going from "still boots" to "there is no device Boot" from one day to the next.

Related article:

How to check the health of your hard drive or SSD with CrystalDiskInfo

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.