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On a supported NVMe SSD, Windows 11 can show critical warnings and health attributes without a manufacturer utility. Open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Disks & volumes, select the physical disk, and choose Properties. This view does not monitor SATA SSDs or hard drives, so missing health data is not proof that a drive is healthy.
Check an SSD’s health in Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Expand Advanced storage settings, then select Disks & volumes.
- Select the physical disk you want to inspect, rather than relying only on a drive letter, and open Properties.
- Review any critical warnings and the health attributes Windows displays.
This is Microsoft’s documented route for viewing details about a storage-device critical warning. Menu labels differ in Windows 10: Microsoft describes the older route as Manage disks and volumes. See Microsoft’s critical-warning guidance and its Windows storage settings overview.
What the health attributes mean
- Estimated remaining life: A manufacturer-based estimate, not a countdown to failure. Microsoft says the display is capped at 0%; seeing 0% does not automatically mean the SSD has failed or predict how many days it will continue working.
- Available spare: A normalized percentage of remaining spare capacity, displayed from 0% to 100%. A low-spare critical warning means the available spare is below the manufacturer’s safety threshold.
- Temperature: The overall device temperature in degrees Celsius. Interpret unusual readings using guidance for your particular drive; there is no universal safe threshold established by Microsoft’s documentation.
- Reliability degraded: Microsoft associates this warning with significant media-related errors or an internal error in the NVM subsystem.
- Read-only status: The drive can still allow data access but will not accept writes.
These definitions and warnings are described in Microsoft’s critical-warning guidance.
Which drives Windows can monitor
Microsoft’s documented health view applies to NVM SSDs. It does not monitor SATA SSDs or HDDs through this view. If you have a SATA SSD and see no health attributes, that absence neither confirms a problem nor gives the drive a clean bill of health.
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#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
Windows may also fail to expose useful details in a particular setup. Controller, connection, or enclosure behavior can affect what Windows sees; Microsoft notes that some USB enclosures and hubs can hide or abstract physical-drive identity in the specific context of Storage Spaces eligibility. That caveat is not a guarantee about health reporting for every USB device. If Windows shows no useful attributes for your drive, consult the drive maker’s documentation or diagnostic utility; that is an optional next step, not part of the built-in check.
How the other built-in checks differ
| Windows check | What it can tell you | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Disks & volumes > disk Properties | For supported NVM SSDs, critical warnings and attributes such as estimated remaining life, available spare, and temperature. | It does not provide this health monitoring for SATA SSDs or HDDs, and missing values do not prove good health. |
| Storage settings | Disk type, capacity, and current usage. | Space available is not an SSD wear or reliability measurement. |
| Windows Security > Device performance & health | A broad device report that includes storage capacity, battery, software, and Windows Time. | It is not the dedicated view for SSD critical warnings or wear attributes. |
| Optimize Drives | Windows performs TRIM for SSDs during drive optimization. | TRIM is a maintenance operation, not an SSD health test. |
Microsoft documents the broad report in Device performance and health in the Windows Security app, and explains storage settings and drive optimization in Storage settings in Windows.
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
What to do if Windows shows a critical warning
Back up important files promptly, before attempting risky repairs or continuing to depend on the drive. Microsoft recommends backing up when a critical warning appears. If the SSD is read-only, data may still be accessible even though new writes are blocked; prioritize copying files you cannot replace.
A warning is not identical to a report that the drive has already failed. For example, read-only status can leave data accessible, and a 0% estimated-life reading is not by itself a prediction of immediate failure. Treat the warning as a reason to protect your data and address the drive’s condition, not as a precise failure date. A backup destination is needed only if you choose to make a backup; no purchase is required to check health.
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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.
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.
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.
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