https://www.xda-developers.com/your-unpowered-ssd-is-slowly-losing-your-data/ Menu XDA logo Sign in now [ ] Close * + News + PC Hardware [ ] Submenu o CPU o GPU o Storage o Monitors o Keyboards & Mice + [ ] Software Submenu o Productivity o Self-Hosting o Home Lab o Other Software + [ ] Operating Systems Submenu o Windows o Linux o macOS + Devices [ ] Submenu o Single-Board Computers o Laptops o Gaming Handheld o Prebuilt PC + [ ] Home Submenu o Networking o Smart Home + Gaming [ ] Submenu o Game Reviews * Sign in * Newsletter [ ] * * * * * * * * * Menu XDA logo Follow Followed Like Threads 3 More Action Summary Generate a summary of this story Sign in now [ ] ESP32 Windows 11 NotebookLM Gaming Forums [ ] Close [ ] The unpowered SSDs in your drawer are slowly losing your data a samsung and crucial ssd next to each other on a table 4 By Tanveer Singh Published 1 day ago After a 7-year corporate stint, Tanveer found his love for writing and tech too much to resist. An MBA in Marketing and the owner of a PC building business, he writes on PC hardware, technology, and Windows. When not scouring the web for ideas, he can be found building PCs, watching anime, or playing Smash Karts on his RTX 3080 (sigh). Sign in to your XDA account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread 3 Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I'm 5 Give me a lighthearted recap SSDs have all but replaced hard drives when it comes to primary storage. They're orders of magnitude faster, more convenient, and consume less power than mechanical hard drives. That said, if you're also using SSDs for cold storage, expecting the drives lying in your drawer to work perfectly after years, you might want to rethink your strategy. Your reliable SSD could suffer from corrupted or lost data if left unpowered for extended periods. This is why many users don't consider SSDs a reliable long-term storage medium, and prefer using hard drives, magnetic tape, or M-Disc instead. Your SSD data isn't as permanent as you think Non-volatile with an asterisk Unlike hard drives that magnetize spinning discs to store data, SSDs modify the electrical charge in NAND flash cells to represent 0 and 1. NAND flash retains data in underlying transistors even when power is removed, similar to other forms of non-volatile memory. However, the duration for which your SSD can retain data without power is the key here. Even the cheapest SSDs, say those with QLC NAND, can safely store data for about a year of being completely unpowered. More expensive TLC NAND can retain data for up to 3 years, while MLC and SLC NAND are good for 5 years and 10 years of unpowered storage, respectively. The problem is that most consumer SSDs use only TLC or QLC NAND, so users who leave their SSDs unpowered for over a year are risking the integrity of their data. The reliability of QLC NAND has improved over the years, so you should probably consider 2-3 years of unpowered usage as the guardrails. Without power, the voltage stored in the NAND cells can be lost, either resulting in missing data or completely useless drives. This data retention deficiency of consumer SSDs makes them an unreliable medium for long-term data storage, especially for creative professionals and researchers. HDDs can suffer from bit rot, too, due to wear and tear, but they're still more resistant to power loss. If you haven't checked your archives in a while, I'd recommend doing so at the earliest. A graphic showing a hand holding an SSD. Related 5 SSD myths that are simply untrue Don't fall for these common SSD misunderstandings. Posts 12 By Jacob Roach Mar 8, 2025 But, most people don't need to worry about it Archival storage isn't that common The scenario I described above isn't relevant to people outside enterprise, enthusiast, and solopreneur usage. The need to store tons of data for years on drives that aren't plugged in isn't a concern for most people, who use one or two SSDs on their PC that might be left without power for only a few months, at the maximum. You've probably lost data on your SSD due to a rare power surge or a faulty drive rather than voltage loss. Some factors, like temperature and the quality of the underlying NAND flash, can accelerate this voltage loss. SSDs aren't eternal, even if you keep them powered on forever. The limited write cycles of NAND flash will eventually bring an SSD to the end of its lifecycle, but the majority of users will probably replace the drive before that ever happens. So, you don't need to worry about writing too much data to your SSD or leaving your PC turned off for days, weeks, or even months. Just don't trust an unpowered SSD that's gathering dust in the house for years, which brings me to my next point. The Aiffro NAS with four SSDs slotted in Related 3 ways to extend your SSD's lifespan Don't waste your new SSD with needless writes. Posts 6 By Samuel Contreras Jul 29, 2024 You should always have a backup anyway Prevention is better than cure Backing up your data is the simplest strategy to counteract the limitations of storage media. Having multiple copies of your data on different types of storage ensures that any unexpected incidents protect your data from vanishing forever. This is exactly what the 3-2-1 backup rule talks about: 3 copies of data on at least 2 different storage media, with 1 copy stored off-site. For most people, this condition can easily be fulfilled by using their primary computer, a NAS, and cloud storage. Redundancy is the underlying principle that safeguards your data. Whether it's the limited lifespan of your SSD, the potential for harmful exigencies like power failure, or the limits of data retention on flash storage, your backup will ensure your peace of mind. Yes, SSDs aren't the best choice for cold storage, but even if you're using hard drives, having a single copy of your data is asking for trouble. Every user will come face-to-face with drive failure sooner or later, so investing in a robust backup system isn't really optional if you care about your data. An iMac set up as a NAS in a closet. Related 6 backup mistakes that put your NAS at risk Let's clear up NAS backup misconceptions Posts By Karandeep Singh Mar 2, 2025 Store it and forget it doesn't work for SSDs As long as you're using consumer SSDs for primary storage on your PC, it's all well and good. You'll most likely replace your drive long before exhausting its P/E cycles. For long-term storage, however, relying on SSDs is risky, since they can lose data if left without power for years. This data loss can occur anytime from 1 to 3 years of keeping your SSDs unpowered, so using alternate storage media and investing in a backup system should be your priorities. carbuzz logo Love XDA? We have so much more. image/svg+xml Follow us on Google Discover! * Storage * SSD Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread 3 Sign in to your XDA account We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful. Reply / Post Images Attachment(s) [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam. Your comment has not been saved Send confirmation email Sort by: [Popular] * Andy User Display Picture Andy User Display Picture Andy #GX845755 Member since 2025-09-11 Following 0 Topics 0 Users Follow Followed 0 Followers View But, most people don't need to worry about it..... I would also give that advice about this article, it's totally pointless. 2025-11-24 02:29:53 Upvote 4 Downvote Reply Copy * SID User Display Picture SID User Display Picture SID #JZ487630 Member since 2025-03-22 Following 0 Topics 0 Users Follow Followed 0 Followers View 1. Data Retention (powered-off storage)Consumer SSDs are usually rated for 1 year at 30degC after heavy use (JEDEC standard).But new or lightly used SSDs retain data much longer, often 5-10 years or more.[?] The "1-year" figure often quoted online refers to:a worst-case scenarioat elevated temperature (40-55degC)for a worn drive with high TBW usage So it doesn't apply to a new SSD stored at room temperature.Fresh, unused SSDs stored cool can hold data for many years without degradation. 2025-11-24 07:17:26 Upvote 1 Downvote Reply Copy * ghislain User Display Picture ghislain User Display Picture ghislain #ID564092 Member since 2025-11-24 Following 0 Topics 0 Users Follow Followed 0 Followers View So, how do I prevent this ? Is it ok to just power the SSD for a limited duration or do I have to read and rewrite every file in order to keep the data for another year ? 2025-11-24 16:11:57 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy * Lonnimations User Display Picture Lonnimations User Display Picture Lonnimations #GO555660 Member since 2025-11-24 Following 0 Topics 0 Users Follow Followed 0 Followers View You people are keeping unpowered SSDs in your drawer? 2025-11-24 09:52:32 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy * Terms * Privacy * Feedback Recommended A WIndows 11 laptop running PowerToys showing the File Locksmith and PowerRename tools 4 days ago Microsoft doesn't understand the dislike for Windows' new direction, and people are keen to explain Person using HP - 15.6 5 days ago I found one of the few 15-inch laptops worth considering at $300 Using Obsidian Canvas as media library on desktop PC, lego and lamp in view 4 days ago I use Obsidian for everything now, and it's all thanks to these 3 plugins Maingear Super 16 4 days ago The Maingear Super 16 is a powerhouse packed in a surprisingly thin and light laptop * Today's best deals Western Digital 4TB WD Blue SN5000 NVMe Internal Solid State Drive SSD This 1TB M.2 SSD makes it easy to upgrade on a budget 1 day ago Seagate Expansion 20TB External USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive This is the perfect way to add 22TB of storage for cheap 1 day ago TP-Link Deco X50-PoE AX3000 PoE Mesh on ceiling This is the mesh network to get if you've thinking about moving over to PoE 2 days ago See More Trending Now Accessing a Semaphore LXC 8 Proxmox utilities every home labber should use The inside of a PC build, with a black air cooler, EVGA 3080 and large intake RGB intake fans. 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