With the advancement in technology, the latest Windows PCs have in-built Solid State Drives (SSDs) rather than hard disk drives (HDD). There are several reasons, like fast performance, easy access, etc., which make SSD better than any other storage device. Unlike an HDD, you can use an SSD to retrieve and read data directly from any location of the flash memory.
However, instances may occur when your SSD slows down, and you need to apply proper methods to increase its performance. SSD optimization is a process by which you can increase the performance of the solid disk drive of your Windows system. Here, in this article, we have mentioned some SSD optimization methods that you can use on Windows 10/11 systems.
Effective Methods to Optimize SSD on Windows 10/11
Before you apply any method for SSD optimization, ensure to use your SSD as the boot or system disk. This will help you to have quicker boot time and increased system running speed.
In case your system still has Windows 10 OS, we recommend you upgrade it to Windows 11. Along with a wonderful experience, this latest Windows OS offers plenty of features, like the TRIM command, to optimize SSD.
Below are some SSD optimization methods to ensure your SSD performs optimally:
Method 01: Disable Fast Startup
SSDs reduce the time required in the booting process, and Fast Startup allows you to do the same. The boot time of your system depends on the startup programs that are set to run when you switch on your machine. The startup application manager displays that slow down the startup process.
So, it would be better to turn off the Fast Startup and allow your system to boot properly. Go through the following steps to disable Fast Startup:
- Type CP in the search box of your Windows system and then select Control Panel to open it.
- Go to Hardware and Sound and click the “Power Options” option.
- Tap “Change what the power button does” and then click the “Change settings that are currently available” link.
- Now, untick the “Turn on fast startup” option located under Shutdown settings.
- At last, click the “Save Changes” button.
That’s it! The above steps will optimize your SSD on Windows 10 or Windows 11 systems. If you have lost documents, photos, videos, or any other file after these steps, use Windows recovery software available online. This software can help you to recover multiple file formats on different storage devices.
Method 02: Check If TRIM Is Enabled
TRIM feature helps Windows users to notify an SSD to wipe data from blocks that are no longer in use. This will reduce the write speed and helps in maintaining optimum performance throughout the SSD’s lifespan. For this, you have to enable the TRIM feature on your Windows 10/11 machine. For this, go through the following steps:
- Press the Windows Key on your keyboard and type CMD. Click the “Command Prompt” and then choose “Run as administrator” option from menu.
- Next, run the “fsutil behaviour query DisableDeleteNotify” command and press Enter key. If its value is “0”, it means TRIM is enabled. In case, if it is “1”, TRIM is disabled, and you have to enable it.
Method 03: Ensure that SSD Firmware Is Updated
SSD performs efficiently only if its firmware is updated in your system. Unluckily, its firmware does not update automatically. You have to do it manually.
The process of upgrading SSD firmware depends on its manufacturer. You just have to visit the official websites of your SSD manufacturers and follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Go through the step-by-step guide there to know how to update your SSD firmware.
Method 04: Enable Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)
Advanced Host Controller Interface, or AHCI, ensures that the Windows device is capable of supporting all the capabilities that come while operating an SSD. AHCI is essential to manage all such functions, particularly TRIM, which gets rid of data that is no longer necessary. You can follow the below-given steps to set the SATA mode to AHCI:
- Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings app. Click the “Update & Security” button.
- Now, select “Windows Update” from the left pane and click the “Advanced options” button.
- Click on “Recovery” followed by a click on the “Restart now” button.
- After that, the Windows device will restart and boot into the recovery environment. From there, choose “Troubleshoot.”
- Select “Advanced options“ and then click on “UEFI Firmware Settings.“
- Click the “Restart” button.
- Once your PC restarts, it automatically boots into the BIOS menu. In case of a new device, you will get the Startup Menu. From there, you have to select “BIOS Setup” along with its corresponding key.
- Go to the Advanced menu to change from IDE or RAID to AHCI. You must note that each computer has a different BIOS interface, so you have to do a little search to find it.
- After completing the above steps, save the changes and exit.
Method 05: Configure Write Caching
Write Caching is one of the most important features of the Windows Operating system. It provides a better experience on some systems, whereas, on some, it badly affects the SSD’s performance. It is not always a good idea to enable the write caching feature. In case of a power outage or device malfunction, this feature results in data corruption or loss. Therefore, always use this feature with caution.
Go through the following steps to enable write caching:
- Firstly, press the Win + X key and select Device Manager from the menu that appears.
- Locate and click on Disk Drives to expand it, and open Properties. You can also double-click your SSD to open its properties window.
- Now, from the next window that appears on the screen, navigate to the Policies tab and locate the Write-caching policy section.
- Next, from the Write-caching policy section, check the box next to “Enable write caching on the device” and select OK.
Now, you have to use your SSD as you normally do to check if it is working fine. If it is not improved or you notice any sort of data loss, try free data recovery software. This software can help you to recover lost, deleted, and formatted data files from all types of internal and external storage drives up to 1GB completely free.
Is SSD optimization good for Windows 10/11?
Many of you must be wondering whether the SSD optimization is good for Windows 10/11 systems or not. To answer this, we want to let you know that optimization is good for everything. However, you have to ensure that you many not over-optimizing your SSD as many users complain about issues after that. So, if you have to optimize your SSD, make sure you properly apply the methods mentioned in this guide.
Conclusion:
The Windows Operating system keeps getting regular updates and becomes more and more popular with the increase in the number of users. But instances may occur when the SSD of your Windows 10/11 system slows down after installing the updates. In such cases, you have to apply a few methods to improve SSD performance. This guide contains various methods for SSD optimization on Windows 10/11 system. Just apply these methods to boost the speed of your device’s SSD.
