Check SMART data using your OS tools (Windows: WMIC/PowerShell; macOS/Linux: smartctl)
Use a reputable SSD utility to view health metrics (e.g., Samsung Magician, Crucial Storage Executive, WD Dashboard)
Review SMART attributes, especially:
Reallocated/Remapped sectors
Reallocated event count
Current pending sectors
Uncorrectable errors
Media wearout indicators (e.g., “Percent Lifetime Used” / “SSD Life Remaining”)
Total host writes / Total NAND writes
Check drive temperature and ensure it stays within manufacturer limits
Verify available free space is adequate (avoid near-full conditions)
Look for error logs (system event logs, disk errors, I/O errors)
Run a manufacturer-supported diagnostic test (short/extended/self-test where available)
Confirm TRIM support is enabled (Windows: query/ensure TRIM; Linux: verify discard/TRIM; macOS: typically handled by the OS)
Check for firmware/driver updates from the SSD manufacturer
If available, review endurance metrics and remaining write cycles
Monitor health over time (re-check periodically and after heavy workloads)