Up until a decade ago, SSDs weren't really mainstream. Then, as prices dropped, adoption increased, and laptops, not just gaming laptops but even budget ones, shipped with SSDs. That's probably when we, as users, stopped caring. I agree that, in most cases, the SSD outlives the laptop. Everyday tasks like browsing the web, running a handful of apps, or letting Windows continue its background activity are unlikely to have a noticeable impact on your SSD. But there are still aspects you shouldn't ignore.

SSDs have a finite number of write cycles, commonly measured in Terabytes Written (TBW). Even though you are unlikely to hit that limit under normal use, you shouldn't completely ignore it either. Because some common Windows mistakes, things both within and beyond your control, are actually taking you closer to that number. The good news is that it doesn't take much effort to keep your SSD healthy, since it's designed to handle these tasks. But by giving your SSD more breathing room and minimizing write-heavy behavior, you can reduce unnecessary wear.

Built-in services, indexing, and tasks on Windows

Windows writes more data than you realize

If you think that the way you use the PC or third-party apps is solely responsible for SSD activity and wear, you are mistaken. Much of that comes from things Windows does in the background, things within your control but largely overlooked. This includes background activity, heavy file indexing, services such as telemetry, features like hibernation, and even the page file (virtual memory). Disabling many of these can increase your SSD's endurance.

When it comes to background activity, file syncing and telemetry will increase SSD activity. You also have file indexing running constantly, which adds to SSD wear. I agree that these are not inherently bad, but as long as they don't meaningfully improve your Windows experience, there's a lot of benefit in disabling them or toning them down. For instance, don't disable file indexing for the entire drive, but you could disable it for specific volumes, especially those that store your non-critical files. Along the same lines, if your PC has sufficient RAM, you can consider reducing the page file size or moving it to another slightly slower drive if there are two. I wouldn't recommend disabling the page file, since it could introduce instability.

Write-heavy behavior by apps

That's why the idea of scratch disks exists

Beyond the operating system, the apps you run also affect the SSD without you even realizing. It's not just video editing software, but any that actively creates and deletes large cache files on your SSD. For example, video editing software can easily create 20–100GB of cache and then delete it later. Apart from causing wear, this constant activity can also slow the system down because the same drive is used for everything.

That's the reason many recommend using a spare SSD as a scratch disk. While not feasible or practical for everyone, the idea is fast gaining traction. I, too, hadn't considered this so far, but if it helps boost performance and adds a few years to my SSD's lifespan, it's worth considering, especially with rising RAM and SSD prices.

Using nearly full SSDs

Your SSD needs some breathing room

This is possibly one of the worst things you can do to your SSD. An SSD needs free space for better management, especially when it comes to features like wear leveling and garbage collection. Without that free space or breathing room, the SSD will be forced to work harder, writing more data than it should ideally have. It's recommended that you keep 15–20% of your SSD's storage free. And if you try, it's honestly not that hard.

There are built-in Windows utilities to free up storage. With Storage Sense, you don't even have to do it manually. It cleans up the system automatically at the set frequency. Besides, you have to be smart with how you store files. First up, not everything needs to be on your SSD. The idea is simple: anything that doesn't benefit from faster speeds can be taken off your SSD. For instance, if you have an external HDD, move large folders/files and old games to it. These were developed when SSDs weren't mainstream, so there's a good chance no noticeable performance difference can be seen between running old games on an HDD and on an SSD.

Massive downloads and frequent reinstalls

SSDs have a finite write endurance

Another thing you should keep an eye on is frequent downloading of large files or reinstalling large apps. This in no way means that you shouldn't download files or install apps altogether. Your SSD can easily handle that, and much more. The idea is to avoid repeated downloads or installs whenever possible, because this leads to far more writes than there ideally should be.

For example, downloading the same 100 GB file or game repeatedly will cause your SSD to wear out faster. Whether it will actually be noticeable or cause the drive to fail prematurely depends on a wide array of other factors, but by avoiding this, you are doing your SSD a huge favor.

Most SSDs outlive the PC, but smart use matters

As I have repeatedly said, SSD failure from normal use is relatively uncommon, yet you can't ignore the possibility. And if some simple changes, both to how you use the system and how Windows handles background activity, can make a difference, it's the smart choice to adopt those.

Just don't reconfigure or outright disable anything that directly affects your workflow. But if keeping 20% of your SSD free helps improve performance and extend lifespan, that's worth considering. Remember, the idea is to minimize SSD activity and wear without compromising usability or user experience.