How to Increase SSD Lifespan? A Comprehensive Guide

SSDs come with a limited number of P/E (Program/Erase) cycles. In numbers, the SSD lifespan is calculated with the help of TBW (Terabytes Written), but most SSDs would extend this limit and last way longer than this. In reality, you can’t tell the lifespan of your SSD because there could be non-wear-out failures which would come even before the TBW endurance rating passes. Wear-out failures would occur before the TBW limit is crossed.

There are some methods to eliminate these non-wear-out failures which we are going to discuss in this article. However, in some cases, you can prevent wear-out failures with these. Things like temperature control, firmware updates, TRIM, etc can help with both types of failures. However, when the TBW limit of an SSD is crossed, the endurance rating of the cell is most probably crossed over its limits. In these scenarios, it is wise to just replace the drive because it could fail at any time without any warnings.

There are some tried and tested methods to increase SSD lifespan which we will discuss one by one.

1. Enable TRIM

TRIM is an operating system command that informs the SSD which data block is no longer in use. TRIM makes that data block free for erasure or reallocation.

The process of writing data on an SSD isn’t straightforward. Whenever we delete any data from the SSD, it isn’t deleted instantly. The operating system marks the block as a free space for future storage. But, it doesn’t clear that immediately. TRIM command is sent to the SSD and, in the background when the SSD is idle, the garbage collection process is run. TRIM is just a method to make the garbage collection much more effective and erase the free blocks preemptively. Without TRIM, the erasure will be done in real-time when the data is being written which will increase the write time. Also, the SSD has to move and erase more data than required which will increase the wear and reduce the lifespan.

Most modern SSDs, SSD firmware, and operating systems (e.g., Windows 7 and later, macOS 10.6.8 and later, and Linux with certain file systems) support the TRIM command. Most of the time, it will be enabled automatically, but you must double-check if it is enabled on your system. This is how you can enable TRIM on your computer. I have discussed the process of enabling TRIM in this article and repeating the same here again.

Enabling trim in Windows

Check if TRIM is enabled:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Type fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify and press Enter.

3. If the result is DisableDeleteNotify = 0 , TRIM is enabled. If it is 1, TRIM is disabled.

Enable TRIM:

1. If TRIM is disabled, you can enable it by typing fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 in the Command Prompt and pressing Enter.

Enabling TRIM in macOS

1. Check if TRIM is enabled:
   • macOS usually enables TRIM for Apple SSDs by default. For third-party SSDs, you may need to enable it manually.
2. Enable TRIM:
   • Open Terminal.
   • Type sudo trimforce enable and press Enter.
   • Follow the on-screen prompts and restart your Mac.

Enabling TRIM in Linux

1. Check if TRIM is supported:
   • Open Terminal.
   • Type sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX | grep TRIM (replace /dev/sdX with your SSD device) and press Enter.
   • If you see Data Set Management TRIM supported, TRIM is supported.
2. Enable TRIM:
   • For ext4 filesystems, you can enable periodic TRIM by editing /etc/fstab. Add discard to the mount options for your SSD partition, like so:makefileCopy codeUUID=xxxx-xxxx / ext4 discard,errors=remount-ro 0 1
   • Alternatively, use fstrim to manually trigger TRIM:Copy codesudo fstrim -v /

In most modern systems and configurations, you will find trim already enabled, but it’s good to verify. After enabling, you can give your system a reboot and some time to work. You will surely see some performance boost over time.

2. Disable Unnecessary Writes

We all know that SSDs have limited write cycles and writing is the most impactful thing causing wear to our drives. There are some processes in computers that write data on SSD even if we are not doing it actively. These are mostly unnecessary things for most users and disabling them can have a good impact on enhancing SSD lifespan.

2.1. Disable Hibernation in Windows

Hibernation is different from the sleep mode in Windows. In the sleep mode in Windows, the system enters the low-power state but isn’t turned off. In hibernation, the system files and opened programs are saved and the system is turned Off. A file named hiberfile.sys is created which can have a size of gigabytes. If we use hibernation frequently, this file is written over and over again in the SSD. This heavy writing puts an unwanted load on the memory cells and causes wear. So, instead of hibernation, it is better to use the sleep mode.

To disable hibernation in Windows just open the command prompt as an administrator. Type powercfg -h off and hit Enter. This will disable hibernation and delete the hiberfil.sys file is it is stored on the drive.

Hibernation could be important if you do not want to sleep mode due to some reasons. Most people choose hibernation because there is no protection for the running files in case of power failure in sleep mode. But, hibernation has its drawbacks when turned On and benefits when turned Off. If it is not important for you, it is best to keep if off.

2.1. Disable or Limit Paging (Virtual Memory)

Virtualization is the process of using a computer’s storage (SSD or HDD) to emulate the system RAM. This increases the RAM artificially and uses this extra space to run programs when required. This could be helpful to run demanding programs when your system’s RAM isn’t enough for it. But, this puts a good load on the SSD in terms of extra write operations. A pagefile.sys file is created on your SSD to store the overflow data when the RAM is full.

If you have sufficient RAM in your system and you think your programs are running fine without the need for virtualization, it is best to keep it off or limit it. The process of limiting or disabling virtual memory in Windows is as follows.

1. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings.

2. Under the Advanced tab, click Settings in the Performance section.

3. Select the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.

4. Either set a lower value or uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size” and disable virtual memory entirely. You can just check No Paging file to disable virtualization.

Virtualization has some negative impacts on SSD lifespan if the system is using it frequently to handle the application overflow from the RAM. This data often includes multiple write operations which can result in damage to the SSD memory cells.

2.3. Turn Off File Indexing

Windows search indexing allows the operating system to quickly search through files by creating an index. File indexing increases the file search speed but this feature isn’t essential for most of the users. It causes very small write operations very frequently. This increases the writing tasks and wear out the memory cells. File indexing is good if you deal with a lot of files daily and use the Windows search feature. To disable file indexing in Windows, follow this guide.

1. Open File Explorer, right-click your SSD, and click Properties.

2. Uncheck this option: Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed.

3. Click Ok to confirm the selection.

2.4. Enable Write Caching

Most SSDs support write caching, which temporarily stores the incoming write data in a cache, reducing frequent small writes. Make sure this feature is turned On on your computer. It would reduce the number of write operations on the NAND flash and use the cache memory for the same.

In Windows: Go to Device Manager > Disk Drives, right-click the SSD, select Properties, and check the Enable write caching on the device option.

3. Avoid Overfilling your SSD

According to this study, SSDs operating with high write amplification due to overfilling may experience a reduction in usable lifespan, with some drives showing up to 30% less endurance compared to when they are kept less than 60% full.

SSDs NAND flash cells are organized in pages (smallest readable/writeable unit) and blocks (smallest erasable unit). A block is bigger in size and can have multiple pages inside it. When there is data to be written, it will be written to a page but if we have to erase a page, the entire block containing that page will be erased. But, first, the valid data in that block is moved to another location. If there is no valid or important data, the entire block can be erased. The selection of blocks and pages for writing and erasing the data is done by the process of wear leveling. It is an algorithm that distribute the wearing of cell evenly across the NAND flash memory.

When there is enough free space to move this data around, the wear leveling algorithm works effectively. But, when there is less space free for wear leveling, it makes the data management less efficient. When the SSD is close to its maximum capacity, longevity, and performance issues will arise.

The more the data inside an SSD, the more will be the write operations for data management. The garbage collection algorithm also requires free blocks to consolidate partially filled blocks into fuller ones. This process also becomes less effective as there is less free space available.

A general rule is to keep 20-30% of your SSD’s total capacity free to ensure optimal performance and longevity. The exact amount of free space needed depends on the SSD and how you use it. but keeping this much free space allows the SSD to efficiently manage wear leveling, garbage collection, and TRIM operations.

4. Keep the Firmware updated

Firmware is a low-level code embedded in the hardware of your SSD. Firmware controls how the SSD communicates with the system. Also, it is responsible for the effective working of wear-leveling, garbage collection, data storage, and other critical processes. Firmware is one of the most important piece of software on your drive. It is like the central point in your SSD deciding the behavior and correct functioning.

New firmware updates often come with improvements in most of the algorithms such as wear-leveling, garbage collection, TRIM, etc. Sometimes, new firmware updates can come with latency enhancements.

But, for SSD lifespan, the best benefit is enhancements of algorithms. With improved software performance of your SSD, it can work better on data management which will surely result in increased lifespan of your drive. Most SSD manufacturers have their own SSD software with the features to update firmware automatically. Just pick the software for your drive from this table and make sure the firmware is up to date.

With these tools, you can easily update your drive’s firmware with some clicks. All of them are free for your drive and offer many other performance and monitoring features.

5. Use High-Quality Power Supply

Unlike hard drives, SSDs have complex circuitry that operates solely on electric current. The data itself is stored in the form of electric charge inside nanoscopic floating gate transistors. Also, the NAND flash chips are highly sensitive to power fluctuations. Although, most SSDs and motherboards are equipped with power management systems, the incoming voltage must be appropriate.

SSDs require a consistent voltage to operate properly. High-quality power supplies are equipped with systems to prevent undervoltage and overvoltage. Although not very commonly, a bad power supply can result in data loss and drive failures.

Make sure to go for at least 80 Plus certification or higher than this. Higher ratings like Gold, Platinum, and Titanium are better in terms of power delivery not only for SSDs but the overall system.

6. Manage Heat properly

Excess heat is the worst enemy of the electronic components. In SSDs, the heat can easily reduce the lifespan of the SSD controller, NAND Flash, and other components. To tackle the heat, it is important to ensure a proper heat flow to your SSD. If it is a laptop, try to keep it on a hard surface to let the airflow in. On a desktop, try to have a good fan setup for good airflow. Make sure no other components are throwing hot air over your SSD.

It is good to use some kind of passive heatsink over your SSD. Most motherboards come with SSD heatsinks. You can also buy the heatsink variants of popular SSDs or buy third-party heatsinks.

Keep track of the SSD temperature using software like CrystalDiskInfo or the official software that we discussed above. Here is a detailed guide to check and fix SSD overheating.

7. Optimize Write Intensive Software

Some types of software in our computers are highly write-intensive. These software put extra write load and contributes to cell degradation a lot faster. These generally include video editing/rendering, VMs, Database management, photo editing, and backup software. It isn’t that these software are bad for your SSD but there are some tasks in them which do numerous write operations on the SSDs. Let’s see what are those and how you can optimize them.

7.1 Move Cache files and manage autosave in video editing software

Video editing software like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro uses temporary file locations for caching previews, autosaving, and rendering files. These operations are generally very write-intensive.

So, if you want, you can store these cache files in another location, most preferably a Hard Drive or a low-end SATA drive. To change the settings in Premiere Pro, you can simply go to Preferences > Media Cache > Set “Cache Files” location to another drive. Other software will offer the same type of settings.

You can also change the autosave frequency from Preferences > Auto Save > Change Autosave Time.

This would not impact the performance of your drive in any way but can cause less wear to the SSD. However, if frequent autosave are important for you, you can leave them as it is.

7.2 Save VM and Database management files in HDD

The Virtual Machine software create many write operations and generate various files on your SSD which can result in excessive write operations. There is no alternative to them because these files are necessary. The same goes for the Database Management systems like MySQL or PostgreSQL. You can easily change the default storage location to HDD because they are less prone to damage due to these write operations. Keep in mind that this can result in poor performance so you can opt for an extra SSD as well.

Example Settings in VirtualBox: File > Preferences > General > Default Machine Folder > Select an HDD.

Example Settings in MySQL: Edit my.cnf file to set innodb_log_group_home_dir or tmpdir to an HDD.

Along with these settings, you can also change the scratch disk’s data location to an HDD or another SSD. These files are created in photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop to store temporary files. You can again go to the Preferences Menu and click Scratch Disks to select another drive as the scratch disk. Along with this, you can change the sync intervals of popular backup software like Google Drive or Dropbox.

8. Disable Defragmentation and enable Optimization

SSDs don’t need defragmentation and it is generally turned Off by the operating systems. However, in Windows, you can use the optimization feature that is designed for solid-state drives. Here are the settings to follow.

• Open the Start Menu and type “Defragment and Optimize Drives”.
• Select the “Defragment and Optimize Drives” tool.

• In the window that opens, select your SSD from the list of drives.

• Click “Change settings” to adjust the schedule.

9. Disable Browser Auto-Sync

If you use any internet browser on a regular basis on your computer, the amount of cache, HTML files, scripts, cookies, and temporary files can be pretty big. These files are generally created to optimize browser performance and improve the boot-up times. While this is pretty useful for performance, these files has to be constantly rewritten with new data. As a result, continuous write and re-write operations are done on your SSD degrading its life by contributing to unwanted write amplification.

9.1 Process for Google Chrome

• Open Chrome.
• Press F12 or right-click anywhere on a webpage and choose Inspect to open Developer Tools.
• In the Developer Tools window, go to the Network tab.
• Check the option Disable cache (only works while Developer Tools is open).

The same process can be followed for other browsers as well. Also, you can change the cache storage location using different methods which you can find online.

10. Disable System Restore (Optional)

This isn’t recommended if you have important data on your computer that needs a backup regularly. System restore creates large restore files to create snapshots of your system. These snapshots can then be used to restore the system files and software to their previous state. System restore keep re-writing these restore locations constantly and does write operations on your drive. This is how you can disable system restore in Windows.

How to Disable System Restore:

1. Open Control Panel > System > System Protection.

2. Under the Protection Settings tab, select the drive (usually C:) and click Configure.

3. Select Disable System Protection and click OK.

This would stop saving your system snapshots and stop writing the restore file on your SSD.

Conclusion

All these steps can contribute to your SSD’s overall lifespan, endurance, and reliability. You should follow as much as you can. It is all about keeping your SSD cool, updating firmware, and eliminating unnecessary write operations. The SSDs fail as the cells degrade over time. But, you can surely reduce the wear and increase the lifespan with these tips.

I hope this helps!