Symptoms
- Boot and app launches are noticeably slower than when new
- File copies to the SSD crawl compared to before
- Drive feels fine right after a fresh Windows install but degrades over months
- Performance is worse when the drive is nearly full
Likely causes
- CommonDrive is nearly full, leaving little space for efficient writesSSDs need free space to write efficiently; keep at least 10–15% free.
- CommonTRIM isn't enabled or runningWithout TRIM, the drive doesn't reclaim deleted space efficiently.
- PossibleDrive is overheating and throttling itselfSome compact SSDs slow down under sustained heavy use to avoid damage.
- PossibleOutdated firmware or SATA/NVMe driverManufacturers release firmware updates that fix known slowdowns.
- Less commonThe drive is simply wearing out near end of lifeSSDs have a finite number of write cycles, though this takes years of heavy use.
What to do
- Check available free space and delete or move files if the drive is more than about 85–90% full.
- Confirm TRIM is enabled by running 'fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify' in Command Prompt (0 means it's on).
- Check the drive's temperature with a monitoring tool if it's an NVMe drive doing heavy sustained work.
- Check the manufacturer's tool for a firmware update for the specific drive model.
- Run a quick benchmark tool to see actual read/write speeds compared to the drive's rated specs.
- If speeds are far below rated specs even with free space and TRIM on, the drive may be wearing out.
Tools and parts
- SSD manufacturer's utility software
- Benchmark tool
When to call a pro
If a firmware update and free space don't help and the drive is old, replacing it is usually cheaper than diagnosing further.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.