How to tell if your Mac's hard drive is failing and what you can do to fix it

💡 Need to know

• Slow doesn't always mean dying: Low storage, outdated software, or too many startup apps can mimic hard drive problems.
• Strange noises are a warning sign: Clicking, grinding, or repeated spinning sounds from older Macs can point to drive failure.
• Back up first, troubleshoot second: If you suspect a failing drive, protecting your data is more important than finding the exact cause.
• The symptoms usually get worse over time: Frequent crashes, corrupted files, and long startup times rarely fix themselves.

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Your Mac® hard drive stores all your data—documents, photos, videos, and more. But no hard drive lasts forever, and when yours fails (or starts to fail), it can feel like a real hassle.

Don't worry, though—it doesn't have to be. At Asurion, we make tech easy, whether you need to fix your favorite devices or want to protect them from the unexpected. Here's how to tell if your Mac hard drive is failing and what you can do about it.

What causes your hard drive to fail?

If only hard drive failures were as simple as a giant flashing warning light that said, “Hey, back up your files right now.” Unfortunately, storage drives are a little more subtle than that. Your Mac can seem perfectly fine one day and start acting strangely the next.

On older Macs with traditional hard drives, years of wear and tear on moving parts are often to blame. Newer Macs use solid-state drives (SSDs), which are faster and more durable but can still run into trouble from power surges, liquid damage, software corruption, or simply years of heavy use. Fortunately, your Mac will often start dropping hints before the drive fails completely.

How to tell if your Mac hard drive is failing

Typically, there are some clear signs that something's wrong with your hard drive before it fails. Knowing what to look for can help save your Mac and its precious files.

Some common warning signs depend entirely on how old your Mac is. Older Macs use mechanical hard drives with moving parts, while modern Macs use silent Solid-State Drives (SSDs). Watch out for these symptoms:

• A flashing question mark folder at startup: This is the universal sign that your Mac's operating system can no longer find or communicate with your internal hard drive.
• Frequent Kernel Panics and system crashes: If your Mac suddenly restarts on its own and displays a message saying Your computer restarted because of a problem, your drive may be struggling to read vital system files.
• Missing or corrupted files: Files or app components vanishing entirely, or folders throwing read/write error codes when you try to open them.
• Extreme slowdowns or freezing: A spinning beachball pointer that locks up your screen for minutes at a time while trying to save or open small files.
• Clicking, whirring, or grinding noises: If you are using an older Mac, loud clicking means the physical reading arm on the mechanical hard drive is failing.

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What to do if your Mac hard drive is failing

If you suspect your Mac hard drive is failing, there are a couple of things you can do to know for sure—and potentially make your life a little easier.

Back up your data

From iCloud® to Time Machine, Apple® gives you a few ways to back up your personal data. If you'd rather not have your data stored securely in the cloud, you can use an external hard drive. Whatever you choose, you want to move or copy your data before it's too late.

Check your disk's health

Mac computers come with hardware that lets a disk test itself for potential problems. Here's how to check disk health on your Mac:

1. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities.
2. Double-click to open Disk Utility.
3. Select your primary internal drive (usually labeled Macintosh HD) from the left-hand sidebar menu.
4. Click the First Aid button located along the top toolbar, then click Run.

The system will automatically scan your file system mapping blocks. If it detects minor file tracking or directory errors, it will repair them on the spot. If it reports a critical hardware failure error, drop what you are doing and immediately back up your computer.

Use macOS Recovery to repair a broken drive

If Disk Utility reports that your drive can't be repaired, won't unmount, or your Mac won't boot normally, try running First Aid from macOS Recovery.

1. Shut down your Mac completely.
2. Enter macOS Recovery:
   • Apple silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4, and newer): Press and hold the power button until Loading startup options appears. Click Options, then Continue.
   • Intel Macs: Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold Command (⌘) + R until you see the Apple logo.
3. If prompted, select a user account and enter your administrator password.
4. From the macOS Recovery window, select Disk Utility and click Continue.
5. In Disk Utility, click View > Show All Devices. This displays the full drive hierarchy, including volumes, containers, and physical disks.
6. Run First Aid on each item, starting at the bottom of the hierarchy and working your way up:
   • Select the lowest volume and click First Aid > Run.
   • Once the scan finishes, move to the next item above it.
   • Continue until you've run First Aid on every volume, container, and finally the physical disk itself.
   • ⚠️ If First Aid is unavailable for a particular item, skip it and move on to the next one.
7. When you're finished, close Disk Utility and restart your Mac.

Get expert help

If you see a message saying your disk has a fatal hardware error, you'll need to reach out to a Mac hard drive repair expert to replace the drive. Use whatever time your drive has left by backing up as much data as possible.

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How to tell if your Mac hard drive has failed

If your hard drive has failed, you'll usually see one or more of these three clear indicators:

• Your Mac gets stuck on the Apple logo: The computer powers on but never finishes starting up.
• Your Mac crashes shortly after startup: You make it to the desktop, but the system freezes, restarts, or displays a black screen within minutes.
• Disk Utility reports serious drive errors: Running First Aid returns explicit messages that the drive can't be repaired or mounted properly.

At that point, you're usually dealing with more than a temporary software glitch. The drive may no longer be able to reliably read or write data.

What to do if your hard drive fails

Unfortunately, hard drive failures aren't usually DIY-friendly. Dealing with a broken storage drive requires specialized repair tools.

On older Macs, replacing a failed drive often requires opening the computer and working around delicate internal components. On newer Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4, and newer), the storage is built directly into the logic board, making repairs significantly more complex.

If your drive has failed, it's best to stop using the Mac and get it evaluated as soon as possible. Visit your nearest

uBreakiFix® by Asurion store and our technicians can diagnose the issue, determine whether data recovery is possible, and help you understand your repair options.

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FAQ

What are the signs of a failing Mac hard drive?

Common signs include slow performance, frequent crashes, missing or corrupted files, startup problems, and unusual clicking or grinding noises.

Can a Mac hard drive fail without warning?

Sometimes, but most drives show warning signs first, such as sluggish performance, file errors, or repeated system crashes.

How do I check the health of my Mac hard drive?

You can use Disk Utility's First Aid tool to scan for errors and identify potential issues with your drive.

Can a failing hard drive cause a Mac to run slowly?

Yes. As a drive begins to fail, it can struggle to read and write data, causing slow startups, lagging apps, and freezing.

Should I replace a failing hard drive or buy a new Mac?

It depends on the Mac's age and condition. For older models, replacement may make sense, while newer Macs may benefit from professional hard drive repair or Mac data recovery services first.