Identify the drive type
Open Optimize Drives to see whether Windows identifies the device as a solid-state drive or hard disk drive.
Let Windows choose the operation
Windows normally trims SSDs and defragments hard drives as appropriate. Use Optimize rather than third-party forced defragmentation.
Do not repeatedly defragment SSDs
SSDs do not benefit from traditional repeated defragmentation and unnecessary writes are not a performance fix.
Check free space and health
Optimization cannot repair a failing drive or compensate for extremely low free space. Back up immediately if the drive reports errors or unusual noises.
Keep scheduled optimization enabled
The default Windows schedule is suitable for most PCs and reduces the need for manual maintenance.
These steps provide general educational guidance and cannot guarantee a repair. Software cannot physically repair failed storage, damaged memory, overheating components, broken connectors, or liquid damage.