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M1 Mac SSDs Could Be Working Overtime
But don’t worry, it’s probably nothing
By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 26, 2021 03:22PM EST Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Key Takeaways
A popular drive analysis tool shows that M1 Macs are writing a lifetime’s worth of data to their SSD in just months.SSDs can only be written to a finite number of times.It’s possible the Macs are just reporting incorrect data. Patrick Lindenberg / Unsplash Apple’s M1 Macs may be overworking their internal SSDs. They’re swapping so much data that drives designed to operate for 10 years might only last a few months. Something weird is going on inside the new Apple Silicon Macs, and the problem may be "swap files." Swapping happens when a computer runs out of available RAM, or just figures that some data kept in RAM would be fine on the slower SSD until needed. Whatever the cause, the operating system is writing way more data than normal. But should M1 Mac owners be worried? "Just use the computer as you expect to use the computer," writes MacRumors forum user deeddawg. "Evaluate the situation as you near the end of your warranty coverage, whether that is one year or three." How to Check Your SSD Usage
For a quick look at your SSD usage, you’ll need the Activity Monitor app, where you can see data being written in real time, as well as the total number of bytes both read and written. If you want deeper stats on your disk use, you’ll need to open Terminal, the text-based window into the Unix underbelly of the Mac. You’ll also need to install something called S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring Tools, which is most easily done by the package manager Homebrew. How to Install Homebrew on a Mac If you run the right command, you’ll see an output like this: That readout shows 150TB written 432 hours of use. That’s 18 days, if the computer was actually on 24/7. Should You Worry About Excessive SSD Use
Should this worry you? Yes and no. First, your M1 Mac might not even be doing this. And even if it is, a modern SSD is equipped to withstand quite a lot of use. They even have additional "hidden" sectors set aside to be pressed into use only when the in-use sectors start to wear out. Still, if your Mac really is tearing up its own SSD, you will shorten its life. Each cell of memory can only be written to a certain number of times. The more you write, the faster you reach that limit, and some users report that their usage already has reached 10% of their limit after just a few months. Marc PEZIN / Unsplash Another possibility is that the SMART data tools are reporting incorrect usage numbers. According to Apple Insider, Apple is aware of the issue, and knows that the S.M.A.R.T. data is incorrect. That is, the S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring Tools are apparently working fine. It's the Macs that are reporting incorrect data. What Can You Do Right Now
If you’re worried—or just curious—about this, then you should install the S.M.A.R.T. tools and take a look, then wait. If this is just a reporting error, there’s nothing to worry about. If it’s a real problem, and the Mac’s SSDs really are going wild, then it will be a warranty issue, and you should check again closer to the end of your warranty period. Either way, don’t panic. Whichever way this ends up, you should be covered. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Set Up Dual Monitors on a Mac The 4 Best Budget PCs in 2022 Speccy v1.32.803 Review (A Free SysInfo Tool) How to Format an SSD Free EASIS Drive Check v1.1 (A Free HD Test Program) The 8 Best Desktop PCs of 2022 How to Connect Three Monitors to a Laptop The 10 Best SSDs for Gaming in 2022 How to Install a Second SSD How to Upgrade a MacBook Pro With an SSD The 7 Best SSDs for MacBook Pro in 2022 The 9 Best Hard Drives for PlayStation 4 of 2022 Should I Upgrade to macOS Monterey? How to Install an SSD in Your Laptop How to Know If You Have an SSD or HDD Hard Drive iMac M1 (2021) Review: A Visual Refresh and the Powerful M1 Chip Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies