Check Your Mac Hard Drive For Failure

Slow applications, repeated errors or missing files can have several causes; they do not prove a drive has failed. macOS Disk Utility can report some disk problems, including a warning that a disk is about to fail. A clean result does not guarantee that every hardware fault has been ruled out.

Protect your files before troubleshooting

Check whether you have a recent, usable backup. If the drive is readable and stable, prioritise copying important files to separate storage. If it is making unusual mechanical noises or repeatedly disconnecting, stop using it and seek advice before further testing. Do not erase or reformat a disk containing files you still need.

What Disk Utility can tell you

First Aid can address some file-system problems, but it cannot repair failing hardware. Apple advises backing up and replacing a disk reported as about to fail. Read Apple’s Disk Utility guidance for the appropriate procedure.

Arrange a Mac storage assessment

Recovery and replacement options depend on the Mac model, storage hardware, encryption and the fault. Recovery cannot be guaranteed. Tell us your Mac model, the symptoms and whether you have a backup when you contact PCFIXIT.

For related guidance, see when to seek help with data recovery and why you should check your backups.

Older third-party tools mentioned in this article

The original article listed the utilities below. Check their current compatibility with your Mac and macOS version before considering them.

Voltan Smart Utility
http://www.volitans-software.com/smart_utility.php

Core Code SMARTReporter
http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter/

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