How to check, enable (or disable) TRIM for SSDs on Windows 11

Q: How can I run TRIM manually on Windows 11?

You can manually run TRIM using PowerShell with the Optimize-Volume -ReTrim command or by using the "Optimize" option in the Defragment and Optimize Drives tool.

TRIM is a critical SSD maintenance command that helps Windows 11 maintain speed and reduce unnecessary wear on Solid-State Drives.
Windows 11 automatically enables TRIM and runs it weekly, but users can check, enable, disable, or run it manually.
You can verify TRIM support using the Command Prompt with the fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify command.

On Windows 11, you can check, enable, or disable TRIM support for Solid-State Drives (SSDs), and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this process.

TRIM is an essential maintenance command that ensures your device’s SSD remains fast and healthy over time. Unlike traditional hard drives with rotating platters, SSDs cannot simply overwrite old data. They must erase “blocks” before writing new information. TRIM tells the storage which specific blocks of data are no longer in use so that the drive can clean them up in the background.

This feature is important to maintain speed, as without TRIM, the Solid-State Drive would slow down because it’d have to perform a “read-modify-write” cycle every time you save a file.

By organizing data efficiently, this feature reduces unnecessary wear on the drive’s flash memory cells.

Windows 11 is designed to handle TRIM automatically on a weekly schedule, but you can check whether it’s enabled, manage the support, and even run it manually.

Quick fact. Even though you often see it written in all capital letters (TRIM), it doesn’t stand for anything.

In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to manage the TRIM feature on Windows 11.

Check TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11
Enable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11
Disable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11
Run TRIM manually for SSDs on Windows 11
FAQs about managing TRIM on Windows 11

Check TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11

To check whether TRIM is enabled on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type this command to check whether TRIM support is enabled on your computer and press Enter:
```
fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
```
Confirm the output of the command. DisableDeleteNotify = 0 means that TRIM is enabled (this is what you want), and DisableDeleteNotify = 1 means that TRIM is disabled.

Once you complete the steps, the command output will indicate whether TRIM support is enabled or disabled.

Enable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11

To enable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type this command to enable TRIM on Windows 11 and press Enter:
```
fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0
```
(Optional) Type this command to check whether the feature is enabled on your computer and press Enter:
```
fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
```

After you complete the steps, if “DisableDeleteNotify” reads “0,” then TRIM is now enabled on Windows 11.

Disable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11

To disable TRIM support for SSDs on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type this command to disable TRIM on Windows 11 and press Enter:
```
fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 1
```
(Optional) Type this command to check whether the feature is enabled on your computer and press Enter:
```
fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
```

After you complete the steps, if “DisableDeleteNotify” reads “1,” then TRIM has been successfully disabled on the computer.

Run TRIM manually for SSDs on Windows 11

To run TRIM on an SSD manually on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type this command to run TRIM on an SSD manually on Windows 11 (replace C with your drive letter if needed) and press Enter:
```
Optimize-Volume -DriveLetter C -ReTrim -Verbose
```

Once you complete the steps, the TRIM command will optimize the specified SSD (in this case, “C”). Also, the “Verbose” flag allows you to see exactly what is happening. This process should only take a few minutes.

Alternatively, you can also use the defrag C: /O command in Command Prompt to invoke the retrim feature. However, PowerShell provides a dedicated command that is more precise for SSD optimization.

You can even use the “Defragment and Optimize Drives” tool by selecting the drive and using the “Optimize” button.

For most users, you don’t need to run TRIM manually at all. Windows 11 is designed to handle this automatically in a weekly schedule to keep your SSD healthy without you having to think about it.

However, you should run this maintenance feature to manually optimize a specific drive after a specific scenario. For example, if you just uninstalled a 150GB game or deleted a massive folder of old videos, running TRIM immediately tells the SSD controller right away that those blocks are free. This ensures your next big download or file move happens at maximum speed.

FAQs about managing TRIM on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about managing TRIM for SSDs on Windows 11.

What is TRIM on Windows 11, and why is it important?

TRIM is a maintenance command that tells an SSD which data blocks are no longer in use, allowing the drive to clean them up in the background. This helps maintain performance and reduces unnecessary wear on the SSD over time.

Is TRIM enabled by default on Windows 11?

Yes. Windows 11 enables TRIM automatically on supported Solid-State Drives and runs it on a scheduled basis, typically once per week, without user intervention.

How do I check if TRIM is enabled on my Windows 11 PC?

You can check the TRIM status using Command Prompt or Terminal with administrative privileges by running fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify. A result of 0 means TRIM is enabled, while 1 means it is disabled.

Should I ever disable TRIM on an SSD?

In most cases, no. Disabling TRIM can lead to reduced performance over time. It is generally only disabled temporarily for testing, troubleshooting, or very specific storage scenarios.

Does TRIM improve SSD speed on Windows 11?

TRIM does not increase peak SSD speeds, but it helps maintain consistent performance by preventing slowdowns caused by inefficient write operations as the drive fills up.

Is TRIM the same as defragmentation on Windows 11?

No. TRIM is designed specifically for SSDs, while defragmentation is for traditional hard drives. When you optimize an SSD on Windows 11, the system runs TRIM instead of defragmenting the drive.

How can I run TRIM manually on Windows 11?

You can manually run TRIM using PowerShell with the Optimize-Volume -ReTrim command or by using the “Optimize” option in the Defragment and Optimize Drives tool.

When should I run TRIM manually?

Regular users never need to. Manual TRIM can be useful after deleting very large files, uninstalling massive games, or freeing up significant storage space, so the SSD can immediately reclaim those blocks.

Does TRIM reduce SSD lifespan?

No. TRIM actually helps extend SSD lifespan by reducing unnecessary write operations and preventing inefficient read-modify-write cycles.

Does TRIM work on all SSDs in Windows 11?

TRIM works on modern SSDs that support the command and are connected using supported storage interfaces. Almost all consumer SSDs used with Windows 11 fully support TRIM.