---
id: external-drives.does-the-speed-test-wear-out-my-ssd
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/does-the-speed-test-wear-out-my-ssd
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Setting up your drive"
question: "Does running the drive speed test wear out my SSD?"
alt_questions:
  - "Is the benchmark bad for my SSD?"
  - "Speed test writes to my drive"
  - "Does Run benchmark shorten SSD life?"
  - "ssd wear storage studio benchmark"
  - "How much does the speed test write?"
  - "Can I run the benchmark many times?"
short_answer: "Not meaningfully. One test writes a single temporary file and deletes it — small compared with everyday use. It needs a little free space; a full or read-only drive can't run it."
tags: ["speed test", "ssd wear", "benchmark"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-does-the-drive-speed-test-work", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/why-is-my-drive-blocked-as-too-slow", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-set-up-my-external-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Does running the drive speed test wear out my SSD?

Not meaningfully. A single test writes one temporary file, reads it back and deletes it — a small amount of writing compared with everyday use such as copying a folder or installing an app. Running it now and then, for example after changing cables, is fine.

If the test can't run, the drive is usually nearly full (it needs a little free space for the test file) or not writable.