Is your SSD freezing in Windows 11 or 10? Follow our step-by-step guide for effective solutions. There is also a free backup tool to help protect your files.
When an SSD frequently freezes Windows 11 or Windows 10, the issue is rarely random. In most cases, system lockups are triggered by software conflicts, misconfigured settings, or early signs of drive instability. If your SSD freezes computer, it can be caused by:
📍 Loose or Faulty Hardware Connections
📍 Incorrect BIOS/UEFI Configuration
📍 Unoptimized System and Power Settings
📍 Outdated SSD Drivers or Windows Builds
📍 File System Corruption and Disk Errors
When your SSD starts freezing, it is recommended to backup your SSD immediately to avoid data loss.
If your system keeps freezing and the SSD is often at 100% usage or becomes unresponsive, please work through the fixes below in order.
Loose or unstable connections are one of the most common reasons for SSD freezing. Follow the steps below to reconnect your SSD:
1. Power off the PC completely and unplug it.
2. Choose one way to reconnect your SSD:
Incorrect or outdated BIOS/UEFI settings can prevent Windows 11/10 from communicating properly with your SSD. Here’s how to fix it:
1. Restart your PC and press Del, F2, F10, or Esc (depending on your motherboard) to enter BIOS/UEFI.
2. Change BIOS/UEFI settings:
3. Save changes and reboot. Many SSD freezing problems caused by low-level conflicts are resolved at this stage.
Unoptimized Windows settings can overload disk operations or trigger power-related SSD interruptions, which often leads to freezing in Windows 11/10. Adjusting the following options can significantly improve SSD stability and overall system responsiveness.
1. Set power mode to best performance
👉 In Windows 11
👉 In Windows 10
2. Disable unnecessary startup programs and background services
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to the Startup apps tab, and disable non-essential programs. Fewer background processes reduce sudden disk spikes that can make the SSD appear unresponsive.
3. Optimize virtual memory (paging file)
Outdated storage drivers and unfinished Windows updates are a major cause of SSD freezing in Windows 11/10. Follow the instructions below to fix it:
1. Update Windows first
Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates, including optional driver and cumulative updates.
2. Install universal drivers
3. Install manufacturer-specific SSD drivers
Visit the official website of your SSD brand (such as Samsung, WD, Crucial, Kingston, etc.) and download the latest NVMe or SATA driver and management utility.
4. Restart and monitor system behavior
After updating, reboot your system and observe whether freezing still occurs.
File system corruption and logical disk errors can cause Windows to repeatedly retry read/write operations, making the SSD temporarily unresponsive and triggering system freezes. Use these steps to fix it:
1. Type cmd in the search box, then right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x and press Enter.
Note: Replace C: with the correct drive letter if your SSD uses a different one.
3. When prompted, type Y to schedule the scan, then restart your computer. Windows will check the SSD for errors and repair file system problems automatically.
4. After Windows starts, open Command Prompt as administrator again and run sfc /scannow. This scans and repairs damaged Windows system files that may be contributing to SSD freezing.
When an SSD starts freezing in Windows 11/10, it’s often an early warning sign of file system corruption, firmware issues, or even impending drive failure. To avoid potential data loss, you may create a full backup of your SSD. The best free Windows backup software - AOMEI Backupper Standard comes to help.
Download AOMEI Backupper and learn how to backup an SSD in detail.
Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Backupper. Click Backup in the left menu, then select Disk Backup.
Step 2. Click Select Source. In the next window, choose the SSD that is experiencing freezingand click OK.
Step 3. Select an external hard drive, another internal drive, or a network location to store the backup image.
Step 4. Click Schedule and Options to enable scheduling, compression, comments, or email notifications if needed. Finally, click Start Backup and wait for the process to complete.
SSD freezing in Windows 11/10 is a frustrating problem that often points to deeper issues such as unstable connections, incorrect BIOS/UEFI settings, outdated drivers, unoptimized system configurations, or file system errors. Luckily, you can follow the solutions offered in this article to get it fixed.
Because repeated freezes may also signal early SSD failure, backing up your drive is essential. AOMEI Backupper makes it easy to back up your system or entire SSD. You can also use it to create a OneDrive full backup. Try it now to discover more!