iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Windows can show SSD health details, but only for supported NVMe drives: go to Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes, select the drive, and open Properties. The page may report estimated remaining life, available spare capacity, and temperature. If the health section is missing, that does not by itself mean the drive is healthy or failing: Windows’ documented health view does not monitor SATA SSDs or hard drives.
How to check SSD health in Windows Settings
- Open Start > Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes.
- Select the disk you want to inspect, then choose Properties.
- Review the available health details. If Windows has issued a critical-warning notification, selecting it can also take you to the affected disk’s details.
Microsoft documents this health view for NVM SSDs. It does not monitor SATA SSDs or hard disk drives, so a missing health panel is not a diagnosis. See Microsoft Support’s guidance on critical storage-device warnings.
What the Settings figures mean
- Estimated remaining life: An approximate percentage based on the manufacturer’s prediction. It is an estimate, not a countdown to a specific failure date.
- Available spare: A normalized percentage indicating spare capacity available on the device.
- Temperature: The device’s temperature in degrees Celsius.
A consumed-life estimate alone does not establish that a drive has failed. Manufacturers’ estimates may differ, so do not treat the percentage as an exact lifespan or assume that identical figures mean the same thing across brands.
What Windows’ critical SSD warning means
Microsoft describes three kinds of critical warning for a supported storage device:
#1 Best Overall
- 10Gbps NVMe Enclosure: With the latest USB 3.2 Gen2, this M.2 enclosure can achieve a data transfer rate of 10Gbps. Backward compatible with USB 3.1 and USB 3.0. Note: 10G speeds need to be matched with a USB C 3.2 GEN2 data cable
- Tool-free SSD Enclosure: Tool-free NVMe SSD enclosure for quick and easy installation. Plug and play, no drivers required. The buckle design of the M.2 SSD enclosure can ensure stable and fast transfer
- Broad Compatibility: The UGREEN M.2 NVMe SSD enclosure is specially designed to support NMVe protocol M/B&M keys and for 2230/ 2242/ 2260/2280 size SSDs up to 8TB. The M.2 NVMe enclosure is applicable for Windows, Mac OS (Mac Mini M4/M5 Pro/M6), Linux, Android, IOS systems.(Does not support SATA NGFF SSD or mSATA SSD)
- Security & Stability: USB C NVMe enclosure adopts advanced RTL9210 chip with short-circuit, over-current and multi-protection to ensure the safety of your SSD and valuable data, and supports UASP/ Trim with high transfer speed
- Compact & Portable: This ultra-slim aluminium external NVMe enclosure with extra silicone case is portable yet durable, and much easier to carry with this M.2 to USB adapter, making it ideal for travelling
- Low available spare: Spare capacity has fallen below the manufacturer’s safety threshold.
- Degraded reliability: Significant media-related errors or an internal NVM subsystem error have affected reliability.
- Read-only state: The device can still provide access to stored data, but it cannot be written to.
Windows does not give a guaranteed failure date. If it raises a critical warning, back up important files promptly to a separate location. A separate backup drive, including a portable external SSD, can hold a copy; it will not diagnose or repair the internal drive.
How to inspect SSD counters with PowerShell
PowerShell can show device and provider-reported information beyond the user-facing Settings view. Open PowerShell and run:
Rank #2
- Tool free design, easy to install,Transfer Rates Up to 480 Mbps when connected to a USB 2.0 port,Transfer Rates Up to 5 Gbps when connected to a USB 3.0 port.
- Suitable for 2.5” SATA/SSD;Supports Standard Notebook 2.5″ SATA and SATA II Hard drives
- Optimized for SSD, Supports UASP SATA III,Backwards-Compatible with USB 2.0 or 1.1
- Hot-swappable, plug and play, no drivers needed
- Operating System:Supported Operating Systems:Mac,Windows;Supported Windows Versions :Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP; Supported Mac Versions: Mac OS X and Higher
Get-PhysicalDiskThis lists physical disks visible through available Storage Management Providers and can include fields such as OperationalStatus and HealthStatus. Microsoft notes that a storage management provider is required to manage physical disks; the disks or fields visible can depend on the provider.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To request reliability counters for those disks, run:
Rank #3
- ENCLOSURE ONLY, SSD NOT INCLUDED: This is the case you put your own M.2 SSD into, not a drive with storage inside. 100% tool-free, so the SSD installs and comes out in seconds with no screwdriver.
- FITS M.2 NVMe AND SATA: Works with both M.2 PCIe NVMe and M.2 SATA SSDs in 2242, 2260 and 2280 lengths. Bare drives only, no room for a drive with a pre-installed heatsink. It does NOT take 2.5in SATA drives or mSATA.
- 10GBPS USB 3.2 TYPE-C: Up to 10Gbps, and up to 1000MB/s in real transfers. Backward compatible with USB 3.1 and USB 3.0 at their own speed limits. Bus powered, no drivers and no external power supply.
- SLIM ALUMINUM BUILD: Ultra-slim aluminum case with an ABS frame, with a thermal pad to move heat off the drive. Light enough to live in a laptop bag, solid enough to survive it.
- IN THE BOX: Enclosure, 8in Type-C to Type-C cable and user manual. Works with Windows 7 or later, macOS 10.5 or later and Linux. Register on the manufacturer's website for extended warranty service.
Get-PhysicalDisk | Get-StorageReliabilityCounter | Format-ListMicrosoft documents counters that can include temperature, errors, wear, and time in use. Output may show fields such as PowerOnHours, Temperature, ReadErrors, WriteErrors, and Wear. Not every drive or provider populates every field, so blank or absent values are not proof that a drive has no errors.
Reference: Get-PhysicalDisk and Get-StorageReliabilityCounter in Microsoft Learn.
Rank #4
- Flip-Open Tool-Free Design: Open the cover, insert your NVMe SSD, lock it in place, and close—no screws or tools required. Fast and simple for upgrades, cloning, troubleshooting, and portable tech work.
- Cooler 10Gbps Performance: The aluminum enclosure presses the thermal pad directly against your SSD for better heat transfer and more stable 10Gbps speeds than slide-in enclosures. Ideal for long transfers and heavy workloads.
- NVMe Only for Maximum Speed: Supports M.2 NVMe SSDs in sizes 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280 up to at least 8TB. Not compatible with M.2 SATA SSDs.
- USB C Plug-and-Play: Connect with USB C for up to 10Gbps using USB 3.2 Gen 2. No drivers or external power needed. Works with laptops, desktops, gaming handhelds, and USB C devices.
- Portable and Durable Aluminum Build: Reinforced ABS frame with an aluminum alloy top keeps your SSD protected and cool. Slim, lightweight, and perfect for creators, gamers, and anyone needing fast portable storage.
What “percentage used” says about an NVMe SSD
An NVMe health log can contain a critical-warning field as well as measurements such as temperature, available spare, percentage used, host data read and written, power-on hours, unsafe shutdowns, media errors, and error-log entries. The percentage-used value is a vendor-specific estimate based on usage and the manufacturer’s predicted device life.
Microsoft’s NVMe documentation says 100 means the estimated endurance has been consumed; it does not necessarily mean the drive has failed. The figure can exceed 100. Treat it as one health indicator, not a precise remaining-life clock. See Microsoft Learn’s NVME_HEALTH_INFO_LOG reference.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Feature - BENFEI Type-C/Type-A 2.5 inch Hard Drive Enclosure easily hook up your 2.5 inch SATA I/II/III hard drive to transfer files from one PC to another PC, laptop, PS4 or as a USB external hard drive.
- Speed - Up to 5 Gbps data transfer rate with supports UASP SATA III transmission protocol, which is 70% faster than traditional USB3.0. Backward compatible with USB 2.0 or 1.1 ports.
- Design - With USB Type-C/Type-A plug design, provide a easy connection option to laptop/phone/pad. Tool free installation, Plug & Play, No driver needed for this SATA enclosure. Just push out the cover, plug in the drive, close the cover and go. Hot-Swappable.
- Compatibility - BENFEI Hard Drive Enclosure supports Windows, LINUX, MacOS 8.0, and above. Specifically designed for 7/9.5mm thick, 2.5 inches, 6TB HDD & SSD. Compatible with Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Samsung, Kingston, Crucial, Hitachi, and more.
- Warranty - Exclusive BENFEI Unconditional 18-month Warranty ensures long-time protection of your purchase; Friendly and easy-to-reach customer service to solve your problems timely.
Settings or PowerShell: which should you use?
| Method | Interface and coverage | What it can show | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Point-and-click health view documented for NVM SSDs; excludes SATA SSDs and HDDs. | User-facing figures such as estimated remaining life, available spare, and temperature. | A missing panel does not establish drive health, and the figures do not predict an exact failure date. |
| PowerShell | Commands query disks visible through Storage Management Providers; visibility and populated fields vary. | Provider-reported status and available reliability counters, which may include errors, wear, temperature, and time in use. | Blank fields or reported counters do not guarantee that the disk will or will not fail. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
