How to Check If Your Laptop Has an SSD or HDD (Fast & Simple Guide)
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Last Updated: November 2025
If your laptop takes a while to boot up or freezes during simple tasks, the type of storage inside it is often the culprit. Most laptops come with either an HDD or an SSD, and figuring out which one you have is extremely quick. You don’t need tools, and you don’t need any tech background to check.
👉 For upgrade ideas after you confirm your drive, take a look at our guide on the best laptop SSD upgrades for faster performance.
🔍 Why It Matters Whether Your Laptop Has an SSD or HDD
Your storage drive plays a huge role in how smooth your laptop feels. HDDs rely on spinning parts, which makes them slower and noisier. SSDs use flash storage, which gives you faster boot times, quicker app loading, and a noticeably more responsive feel.
If your laptop is more than five years old, it’s also more likely to still run on an HDD. Upgrading to an SSD can make that older hardware feel almost brand new again.
👉 For a simple, side-by-side comparison of the two technologies, see our guide on SSD vs HDD differences.
🔍 Method 1: Check Through Windows Settings (Fastest Method)
You can confirm your drive type in a few clicks:
- Right-click the Taskbar and open Task Manager
- Go to the Performance tab
- Select Disk 0
- Look in the top-right corner — it will show SSD or HDD
This works the same on Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you see more than one disk listed, check each one.
🔍 Method 2: Check via Windows System Information
Here’s another simple way to confirm:
- Press Windows Key + R
- Type msinfo32 and press Enter
- Expand Components
- Open Storage → Disks
You’ll see details for each drive. Terms like NVMe, M.2, or SSD confirm you’re using solid-state storage.
👉 If you’re wondering how much speed improvement you’ll get, we break it down clearly in does an SSD improve laptop performance?.
🔍 Method 3: Check Through File Explorer (Model Lookup)
If Windows doesn’t label your drive type clearly:
- Open File Explorer
- Right-click C: Drive → Properties
- Open the Hardware tab
- Copy the model number and search it online
This gives you a quick confirmation without digging too deep into system menus.
🔍 Method 4: Physical Check (Only If Comfortable)
If you’re already opening the laptop for cleaning or upgrades, you can check visually:
- A thin, stick-shaped module = M.2 SSD
- A slim 2.5-inch drive = SSD or HDD
- A thicker 2.5-inch drive with a metal shell = HDD
Most users won’t need this method, but it’s helpful if you’re comfortable with DIY hardware.
📌 Key Takeaways
- SSDs offer much faster performance than HDDs.
- Windows shows your drive type in a few clicks.
- Drive model numbers can confirm whether it’s SSD or HDD.
- Many older laptops still run on HDDs but support SSD upgrades.
- Swapping to an SSD is one of the biggest speed boosts you can give your laptop.
🟢 FAQs
Q: Will my laptop be faster if I replace an HDD with an SSD?
Yes — the improvement in speed and responsiveness is immediate.
Q: Can a laptop have both SSD and HDD?
Yes. Many models use an SSD for Windows and an HDD for extra storage.
Q: Is it safe to open my laptop to check the drive?
It’s safe if you’re careful, but the software checks are simpler.
Q: Do all modern laptops use SSDs now?
Most do, especially ultrabooks, gaming laptops, and newer mid-range machines.
✅ Conclusion
Checking whether your laptop uses an SSD or HDD only takes a minute, and Windows gives you everything you need. Once you know what’s inside, you can decide whether an upgrade makes sense. If your laptop still runs on an HDD, switching to an SSD is one of the easiest ways to bring fresh speed to an aging system.
