---
id: external-drives.my-fast-drive-is-failing-what-should-i-do
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/my-fast-drive-is-failing-what-should-i-do
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Upgrading, transferring and backing up the drive"
question: "My fast drive seems to be failing — what should I do?"
alt_questions:
  - "External SSD making errors"
  - "Drive keeps disconnecting on its own"
  - "How to rescue files from dying fast drive"
  - "fast drive failing storage studio"
  - "Disk Utility says my external drive has errors"
  - "Get my data off a bad external drive"
short_answer: "Copy it off quickly: connect a healthy drive and use More → Drive → Transfer Drive… to move everything and switch over. Try a different cable and port first, since random disconnects are often the cable, and check the drive with Disk Utility's First Aid."
tags: ["drive failure", "transfer drive", "rescue"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-move-everything-to-a-new-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/transfer-drive-vs-backup-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-checks-run-before-transfer-drive-starts"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# My fast drive seems to be failing — what should I do?

Copy everything off it as soon as possible, while it still works.

1. Connect a healthy external drive with enough space.
2. Use **Transfer Drive…** (More → Drive) to copy everything to it, verify it and switch over — your moved apps and folders then work from the new drive.
3. If the transfer can't complete, use **Backup Drive…** or copy the most important folders yourself in Finder.

You can also run **First Aid** on the drive in Disk Utility to check it. Frequent random disconnects are often a cable or port problem, so try another cable and plug directly into the Mac first.