How Long Does Data Last on an SSD?

A little-known fact about SSDs: they can lose data if left unpowered for a long time. Unlike hard drives, which retain data for years on a shelf, SSDs rely on an electrical charge that slowly fades.

The shelf-life question

An SSD left unpowered in storage can begin losing data after months to a couple of years, depending on the drive, temperature, and how much it was used. Higher temperatures speed up the fade.

What this means

• SSDs are great for active, frequently powered storage
• They're not ideal for long-term cold storage
• Hard drives retain data longer when unpowered

How to keep data safe

If you're archiving data for years, use a hard drive or another medium, and keep multiple copies. For an SSD, power it on periodically and refresh the data, or use it for active storage rather than long-term archives.

Treat an SSD as active storage, not a time capsule. For data that must sit untouched for years, a hard drive or multiple copies is the safer choice.