Engadget outlines ways to check a MacBook’s storage health

Engadget has published a guide to assessing a MacBook’s storage health, focusing on ways to identify potential file-system or hardware problems before they result in lost data. The guide notes that storage failure can make file recovery difficult or impossible without a backup.

It recommends regular backups using Apple’s Time Machine, which can protect files, apps and other data not covered by iCloud. iCloud synchronises and protects selected information, but is not presented as a complete backup of a Mac’s drive.

For suspected problems, Engadget says Disk Utility’s First Aid is the best starting point for most users. Apple recommends checking the individual volumes first, followed by the container and then the physical drive. First Aid checks and attempts to repair file-system errors, but does not provide a comprehensive physical examination of the drive.

Potential warning signs include corrupted or missing files, frozen applications and macOS alerts saying the storage requires servicing. Disk Utility can also display a drive’s basic S.M.A.R.T. status, which tracks health indicators reported by the hardware. A “verified” result means no serious problem has been flagged, but does not guarantee that the drive is healthy.

For deeper hardware monitoring, the guide identifies the paid DriveDx application as an option. It can surface additional health information, run SSD diagnostics and monitor changes over time, with particular usefulness for external hard drives and SSDs where Disk Utility may not show S.M.A.R.T. data. Engadget says the tool is generally a luxury rather than a necessity for maintaining a modern MacBook.