How to Check If Your Hard Drive Is SSD or HDD

Not sure whether your computer is using a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)? Knowing the difference can help you understand your system’s performance and decide whether it’s time for an upgrade. SSDs are much faster and quieter, while HDDs typically offer more storage at a lower cost. Here are several easy ways to check if your hard drive is SSD or HDD in Windows.

Method 1: Check Using Task Manager

This is the simplest method and works in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Switch to the Performance tab.

3. In the left panel, click Disk 0 (or Disk 1, etc.).

4. Look at the bottom right corner—the drive type is explicitly shown under the disk name or in the details pane. If you have multiple drives, check each disk listed. The drive containing Windows is usually Disk 0.

Method 2: Check Using Disk Defragmenter

Windows includes a built-in tool that clearly shows the drive type.

1. Press Windows + S and type Defragment and Optimize Drives. Open the tool from the search results.

2. In the Media type column, you’ll see whether the drive is a Solid state drive or Hard disk drive.

Method 3: Check Using PowerShell

If you prefer using command-line tools, PowerShell can quickly display the drive type.

1. Right click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell or Terminal.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

Get-PhysicalDisk

3. Look at the MediaType column. It will show SSD or HDD.

Conclusion

Checking whether your computer uses an SSD or HDD only takes a few minutes. The easiest way is through Task Manager or Optimize Drives. If you discover you're still using an HDD, upgrading to an SSD is one of the most effective ways to speed up your system.