Solid State Drives (SSDs) have largely replaced traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) in modern computers. SSDs are significantly faster, more reliable, and completely silent. If your computer is running slowly, one of the first things you should check is whether you are running an outdated HDD or a faster SSD.
Windows 11 makes it very simple to check your storage hardware without needing to open your computer case or install third-party diagnostic tools.
Method 1: Use the Task Manager (Fastest Method)
The Task Manager provides a quick, visual overview of all your hardware, including your exact disk type.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to instantly open the Task Manager.
- If the Task Manager opens in a small window, click More details at the bottom.
- Select the Performance tab on the left side of the window (the icon looks like a heartbeat monitor).
- Click on your Disk (usually labelled Disk 0) in the left-hand column.
Look at the very bottom-right corner of the window. Next to the word “Type”, it will clearly state either SSD or HDD. If you have multiple drives installed, you can click on each one in the left column to see their respective types.
Method 2: Use Windows 11 Storage Settings
If you want more detailed information about your drives, such as their partition layout and health status, you can use the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app (press Windows Key + i).
- Click on System in the left-hand menu, then click on Storage on the right.
- Scroll down and click to expand the Advanced storage settings section.
- Click on Disks & volumes.
This screen will list all storage devices connected to your PC. Next to the name of each disk, Windows will clearly label it as a “Solid state drive” (SSD) or a “Hard disk drive” (HDD), along with its total capacity.