If you have an older computer and aren't sure whether to buy a new one, here's something to consider: the age of your hard drive. Your photos, your videos, your music, and your apps and programs—all that precious data stored on your computer, lives on the hard drive. When that goes, so does everything else.
So how long do hard drives last? That depends. We'll break it down.
What's the average life span of a hard drive?
How long your drive lasts depends on the quality and type of your device—hard disk or solid-state—as well as how often you're using it.
Which lasts longer: hard disk drives vs solid-state drives?
Hard drives come in two forms: hard disk and solid-state. Hard disk drives are more common because they offer greater storage options at a cheaper price. Solid-state drives access data faster, but they cost a bit more.
Solid-state drives also have a longer lifespan—about 10 years or more. Hard disk drives have more moving parts and are less durable and more likely to fail than their solid-state counterparts. For this reason, hard disk drives tend to last between 3–5 years.
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How long do external hard drives last?
External hard drives come in those same two types, so they share similar lifespans. But all that portability comes with the increased risk of damage to the hard drive, making them less reliable over time.
Signs of hard drive failure
You can't predict exactly when you'll have to replace your hard drive, but there are a few signs to look out for, including:
- Unusual noises
- Overheating
- System crashes
- Slowed performance
- Missing or corrupted data files
How to prepare for hard drive failure
Your hard drive will eventually fail, but fortunately, you can prepare for it. The best thing you can do is keep your device backed up. Having copies of your data—on external drives or in cloud storage, or both—can save you from losing it—and your mind—if your hard drive stops working.
What to do if your hard drive has failed
Once your hard drive fails, your options are to repair or replace it. Bringing your computer to an expert, like those at your nearest uBreakiFix®by Asurion store will give you an idea of which will be the best option for you.
If you forgot to back up your files and your hard drive stops working, you can try a data recovery service to retrieve lost—and even corrupted—files.
*The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.*
FAQs
Solid-state drives also have a longer lifespan—about 10 years or more. Hard disk drives have more moving parts and are less durable and more likely to fail than their solid-state counterparts. For this reason, hard disk drives tend to last between 3–5 years.
Can a hard drive last 10 years? ›
Unlike film, records, cassettes and CDs, hard drives have a lifespan of only three to five years – maybe 10 at the most – so it's probably time to think about how to preserve that data over the long run.
Which lasts longer, HDD or SSD? ›
SSDs are expected to last longer than HDDs, as they have no moving parts that can wear out over time. However, the lifespan of an SSD depends on the number of write cycles it undergoes, which is determined by usage patterns and workload.
How often should you replace hard drives? ›
In general, a hard drive is estimated to last for about five to ten years. It might crash earlier if exposed to factors such as humidity, external shocks, and changing temperatures.
What is the average life of a hard drive? ›
Most hard disk drives (HDD) last three to five years before some component fails. That doesn't always mean the drive is irrecoverably broken. But three to five years is still about how long they last, whether you're talking about an internal drive for a server, desktop, or an external HDD.
Can a hard drive last 100 years? ›
Hard drives are the most vulnerable parts of any computer and they will most certainly not survive more than 10 years (which is about 10 times shorter period than we need). Distributing copies between different computers helps a bunch: if one hard drive crashes, data is still available in other locatons.
Can you recover data from a dead hard drive? ›
Whether you can get your data back from a dead laptop depends on how dead the hard drive is: Slightly Dead: If the laptop turns on but won't boot, you might be able to transfer the hard drive to another computer and grab your files. Data recovery software can sometimes find lost files if the damage isn't too bad.
How to tell if a hard drive is failing? ›
You'll notice a failing hard drive when something sounds or feels off. It could be a strange clicking or grinding sound. The clearest sign is you can't go into your folders and access your files normally. A failed hard drive is sometimes foreshadowed by blue screens of death.
Can SSD last 100 years? ›
SSDs (Flash memory in general) is the worst solution, the NAND cells loose their data, and rather fast (a few years, not “eventually”)! HDDs a re much better for long-term, high volume data storage. Not for a hundred years, of course!
What is the biggest drawback to SSD drives? ›
What are the disadvantages of SSDs?
- Cost. SSDs are more expensive than traditional HDDs.
- Life expectancy. Some SSDs, for example, those using NAND memory-flash chips, can only be written a specified number of times that is typically less than HDDs.
- Performance. ...
- Storage options. ...
- Data recovery.
Right-click on the disk and select "Properties". In the Properties window, go to the "Tools" tab. Under the "Error checking" section, click on the "Check" button. Windows will now check the disk for errors and report any issues it finds.
Should I replace my hard drive or buy a new computer? ›
Upgrading your computer can bring you more speed and storage space at a fraction of the cost of a new computer, but you don't want to put new components in an old system if it's not going to deliver the speed increase you want.
How would you know if a hard drive needs to be replaced? ›
Here are the most common hard drive failure signs:
- Overheating.
- Strange sounds.
- Corrupted data, files, and folders.
- Major slowdowns.
- Stuck spindle motor.
- Frequent error messages.
- System crashes.
- Blue Screen of Death.
Solid-state drives also have a longer lifespan—about 10 years or more. Hard disk drives have more moving parts and are less durable and more likely to fail than their solid-state counterparts. For this reason, hard disk drives tend to last between 3–5 years.
What is the most reliable hard drive? ›
- Seagate BarraCuda. The best hard drive overall. Average Amazon review: ...
- Western Digital Blue Desktop. The best budget hard drive. ...
- Seagate Firecuda Desktop. The best hybrid hard drive. ...
- Seagate IronWolf NAS. The best hard drive for networks. ...
- Western Digital My Book. The best external hard drive for game consoles.
Considering this fact, we find out that, in general, SSDs are far more reliable than HDDs. This is due to its construction which has no moving parts. So, SSDs are not affected by vibration or thermal issues, which in turn makes them last longer.
Can HDD last 15 years? ›
The average lifespan of a hard drive is generally considered to be around 3 to 5 years, but this can vary greatly depending on the factors mentioned above. In conclusion, while it is possible for a hard drive to last 15 years, it is not guaranteed.
Do unused hard drives degrade? ›
When not in use, HDDs can suffer from issues like stiction, where the read/write head gets stuck to the platter, or lubricant in the bearings drying out. This means that even unused HDDs can degrade over time, making it essential to consider their storage conditions and regular maintenance checks.
How long do hard drives last if not used? ›
The data retention rate of a hard drive varies by manufacturer and the precise architecture used by the device. However, under ideal conditions, a hard drive can remain in storage for as long as 20 years and retain all of its data.
What is the longest lasting hard drive? ›
The 6TB Seagate (model: ST6000DX000) drive is the oldest in our fleet with an average age of 92.5 months. In 2021, it had an annualized failure rate (AFR) of just 0.11%, but has slipped a bit to 0.68% for 2022. A very respectable number any time, but especially after nearly eight years of duty.
