SSD Running Very Hot: Causes and Solutions

Your SSD is suddenly running very hot? High temperatures can have various causes. A temperature up to 60 °C is safe. If the SSD is hotter than 60 °C, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent (further) damage and avoid data loss.

2021-07-05 · Lars Müller, Head of Data Recovery Lab

Your SSD is suddenly running very hot? High temperatures can have various causes. A temperature up to 60°C is safe. If the SSD is hotter than 60°C, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent (further) damage and avoid data loss.

Reading the SSD Temperature

A popular tool for reading the SSD temperature is HWMonitor. After installation, open the tool and search for your SSD in the list. The temperature is displayed automatically. If the temperature exceeds 60°C, you should investigate the cause of the heat buildup. The following causes for a hot SSD are possible:

Clogged/Defective Fan and Nearby Devices

The fan regulates the SSD temperature. If the fan is clogged with dust or not functioning properly, the cause is clear.

Open the PC/laptop case and check whether dust is blocking the air intakes.
Make sure no cables are blocking the air intakes.
Test all connectors and connections to rule out potential sources of error.
Install the SSD in a different PC/laptop to check whether the problem persists.
Devices located near the SSD or the PC/laptop could be responsible for the heat buildup. If in doubt, position them at a sufficient distance.

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Problem Still Persists?

PCB repair and soldering in data recovery

If all causes have been ruled out and the problem persists, the SSD may be defective. Causes such as power surges or material fatigue may be responsible. To prevent data loss, you should take the following measures:

Close all active applications. Write operations must be avoided at all costs with a defective SSD.
Save unsaved documents to a separate medium or to the cloud.
Try to back up already saved files to an intact medium as well.
Disconnect the storage device from the power supply as quickly as possible to prevent further damage and data loss.

Professional Help for an Overheated SSD

If your SSD continues to overheat despite all measures or if data has already been lost, contact us. Our experts provide professional SSD data recovery even from heat-damaged SSDs - with a non-binding online cost estimate and fixed-price guarantee. Learn more about how SSDs work and how to extend your SSD's lifespan.