How to Trim SSD on Windows 10?

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are known for their fast read and write speeds, but like all storage devices, they can suffer from performance degradation over time. One important feature that helps maintain an SSD’s performance is “Trim.” The Trim command enables the operating system to inform the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use and can be erased, helping to improve both performance and lifespan.

In this article, we will walk you through how to enable and manually run Trim on your SSD in Windows 10.

What is TRIM and Why Does It Matter?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what Trim is and why it’s important:

• TRIM is a command used by modern operating systems to inform an SSD which blocks of data are no longer in use. Over time, when you delete or move files on an SSD, the unused blocks are not immediately erased. Trim helps the SSD efficiently manage free space, which in turn prevents slowdowns, enhances speed, and extends the life of the drive.
• Without Trim, your SSD could become slower as it fills up with stale data. By actively cleaning and organizing data, Trim ensures that the SSD performs optimally.

How to Check If TRIM is Enabled on Windows 10

Windows 10 has Trim enabled by default, but it’s always a good idea to double-check. Here’s how you can verify that Trim is working:

1. Open Command Prompt with Administrator privileges:
   • Press Win + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin), or search for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-click on it, and select Run as Administrator.
2. Check the status of Trim:
   • In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
   • If the result is “DisableDeleteNotify = 0”, it means Trim is enabled.
   • If the result is “DisableDeleteNotify = 1”, Trim is disabled.

If Trim is already enabled, you’re good to go! But if Trim is disabled, follow the steps below to enable it.

How to Enable TRIM on Windows 10

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (as explained earlier).
2. Enable Trim by running the following command: fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0
3. Press Enter.
   • This command ensures that Trim is enabled. After doing this, you don’t need to worry about it unless you disable it later.

How to Manually Run Trim on Your SSD

Even though Windows 10 runs Trim automatically through the Scheduled Defragmentation tool, sometimes it’s useful to run it manually, especially if you’ve recently deleted a large number of files or want to ensure that your SSD is running optimally.

Follow these steps to manually trigger a Trim operation:

1. Open the Start Menu and type “Defragment” in the search bar.
2. Click on Defragment and Optimize Drives.
   • This will open the Optimize Drives window where all of your system drives are listed.
3. Select your SSD from the list of drives.
   • You should be able to recognize your SSD by its drive type. SSDs will typically say “Solid State Drive” in the “Media Type” column.
4. Click on the “Optimize” button.
   • This will initiate the Trim process. Windows will run the Trim operation on the selected drive to clean up unused blocks and optimize performance.

Note: The process might take a few minutes to complete, depending on the size of your SSD and the amount of unused space.

How to Schedule TRIM to Run Automatically

By default, Windows 10 is set to run the Trim operation automatically, but if you want to ensure it’s scheduled correctly, follow these steps:

1. Open the Task Scheduler:
   • Type Task Scheduler into the Windows search bar and press Enter.
2. Find the Disk Defragmenter Task:
   • In the Task Scheduler window, on the left side, expand the Task Scheduler Library.
   • Navigate to Microsoft > Windows > Defrag.
3. Check the Defrag Task:
   • Look for the “ScheduledDefrag” task.
   • Right-click on it and choose Properties.
4. Verify the Trigger:
   • Under the Triggers tab, ensure that the task is scheduled to run automatically (usually daily or weekly) and that it is set to run on your SSD.
5. Confirm the Action:
   • Under the Actions tab, ensure that the action is set to “Optimize” the drive, which will run Trim when needed.

Other Tips for SSD Health and Longevity

While Trim is an essential tool for SSD maintenance, here are a few additional tips to ensure your SSD stays in top shape:

• Avoid overfilling the SSD: SSDs perform best with free space. Keeping your SSD at less than 75% capacity will help prevent performance issues.
• Disable disk defragmentation for SSDs: Unlike traditional hard drives, SSDs don’t require defragmentation. Windows automatically disables defragmentation for SSDs, but it’s always a good idea to check.
• Keep your firmware updated: SSD manufacturers often release firmware updates to improve performance and reliability. Make sure to check for updates regularly.
• Avoid frequent writes: SSDs have a limited number of write cycles. While modern SSDs have a high endurance, it’s still a good idea to avoid unnecessarily writing large amounts of data to your SSD frequently.

Conclusion

Trim is an essential tool that helps maintain the speed and efficiency of your SSD on Windows 10. By ensuring Trim is enabled and running regularly, you can extend the life of your SSD and avoid slowdowns due to unnecessary data buildup. While Windows handles this automatically for most users, it’s good practice to know how to manually run Trim when needed, as well as how to schedule it for consistent maintenance.

With these simple steps, you’ll be able to keep your SSD in peak performance for years to come!