The quickest way to check your drive type

Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), right-click your main drive, and select Properties or Get Info. Look for the word "Solid State Drive" or "SSD" in the description — if you see it, you have an SSD. If the description says nothing about solid state or mentions "rpm" (revolutions per minute), you have a traditional hard disk drive (HDD). This method works on both Windows and Mac and takes about 30 seconds.

If that description is blank or unhelpful, Windows has a built-in tool that gives you the real answer. Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In the System Information window, look for "Storage" in the left menu. Click it, and you will see a list of your drives with their type clearly labeled as either "SSD" or "HDD".

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click your drive in File Explorer or Finder and check Properties or Get Info for the words "Solid State Drive" or "SSD".
  • On Windows, open msinfo32 and navigate to Storage to see your drive type listed directly.
  • Mac users can open System Report from the Apple menu, click Storage, and look for "Solid State" in the drive description.
  • An HDD will mention "rpm" or show no special designation, while an SSD will explicitly say "Solid State" or "SSD".

Windows: Using the System Information tool

The System Information tool is the most reliable method on Windows because it reads the drive's actual hardware information. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type msinfo32, and press Enter. The System Information window will open.

On the left side, you will see a menu with different categories. Click Storage to expand it. You should see a list of all your drives. Look at the "Type" column — it will say either "SSD" or "HDD" for each drive. If you have multiple drives, this tells you which is which. Write down the drive name or size so you know which one is your main system drive.

Windows: Checking drive properties directly

If you prefer not to use System Information, you can check the drive's properties folder. Open File Explorer and locate your main drive (usually labeled C: or your username). Right-click it and select Properties.

In the Properties window, look at the description area near the top. If it mentions "Solid State Drive" or "SSD", you have an SSD. If it says nothing about solid state but mentions "rpm" or "revolutions per minute", you have an HDD. Some older drives show no special description at all — in that case, use the msinfo32 method instead to get a definitive answer.

Mac: Using System Report

On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select About This Mac. In the window that opens, click the Storage tab. You will see a list of all your drives with their names and sizes.

Click on your main drive (usually called "Macintosh HD" or your computer name). Below the list, you will see detailed information about that drive. Look for the word "Solid State" in the description. If you see it, you have an SSD. If the description mentions "rpm" or shows no special designation, you have an HDD. If the description is unclear, click System Report at the bottom of the window for more technical details.

What the difference means for your computer

An SSD has no moving parts and reads data much faster than an HDD. If you have an SSD, your computer will start up in seconds and programs will open almost instantly. An HDD uses a spinning disk and a moving arm to read data, so it is slower but usually cheaper and holds more storage space for the same price.

Knowing which type you have matters if you are considering an upgrade or troubleshooting slow performance. If your computer is slow and you have an HDD, upgrading to an SSD is one of the most noticeable improvements you can make. If you already have an SSD, the slowness is likely caused by something else — too many programs running at startup, a full drive, or malware.

Checking a second or external drive

The same methods work for any drive connected to your computer. If you have an external hard drive or a second internal drive, right-click it in File Explorer or Finder and check its properties the same way. On Windows, external drives also show up in msinfo32 under Storage with their type labeled.

For external drives, the Properties or Get Info window will also show you the connection type — USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, or USB-C. This matters because a slow external drive might be slow because of the connection type, not because it is an HDD. An SSD connected over USB 2.0 will be slower than an HDD connected over USB 3.0.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tell if I have an SSD just by how fast my computer is?

Not reliably. A slow computer with an SSD might have too many programs running at startup, a full drive, or malware. A fast computer with an HDD is possible if it has a lot of RAM and you do not open large files often. The only way to know for certain is to check the drive properties or use System Information.

What if my drive type shows as "Unknown" in System Information?

This sometimes happens with very old drives or drives with outdated drivers. Try updating your chipset drivers from your computer manufacturer's website. If it still shows as Unknown, right-click the drive in File Explorer, select Properties, and look at the description field. You can also listen to the drive — an HDD makes a faint clicking or whirring sound when it is working, while an SSD is completely silent.

Does it matter if my external drive is an HDD or SSD?

It matters for speed and durability. An external SSD is faster and more durable because it has no moving parts, but it costs more. An external HDD is cheaper and holds more storage, but it is slower and more fragile if dropped. For backing up files you do not access often, an HDD is fine. For working with large video or photo files regularly, an SSD is worth the cost.

Can I have both an HDD and an SSD in the same computer?

Yes. Many computers have a small SSD for the operating system and programs, plus a larger HDD for storage. If you have both, System Information will list them separately with their types labeled. You can tell which is which by the size — the SSD is usually smaller (256 GB to 1 TB) and the HDD is usually larger (1 TB to 4 TB or more).