SSDs can lose stored data during prolonged power loss, especially when they sit in poorly conditioned storage environments.
Ambient temperature drives the risk: every 5 °C increase cuts data retention lifetime in half.
At around 25 °C, stored data lasts approximately two years; at 30 °C, it falls to about one year.
High-end drives retain data longer than budget models, while a 5 °C rise can drop budget storage time from 20 weeks to 10.
Generated by the language model.
As is well known, SSDs are the successors of traditional hard drives that operate using magnetic media. The new generation exceeds the old one with various parameters, e.g. faster reading and writing or no need to defragment. After all, Zack Whittaker in his article proves that data stored on flash drives is vulnerable to corruption just by ... just not supplying power to this device for some time.
The problem mainly concerns rooms that are not properly adapted to provide conditions suitable for storing such disks. We are talking mainly about the prevailing ambient temperature, because it turns out to be the main harmful factor. Depending on the temperature, files can last for several months, weeks, or at worst - just a few days.
To illustrate the problem, Alvin Cox, the drive developer for Seagate, made a demo. It shows that the lifetime of stored data is reduced by half for each 5 ° C increase in ambient temperature. This means that at around 25 ° C the data will last approximately two years. In 30 degrees, this time will be reduced to only one year.
However, the problem does not affect all disks in the same way - it depends on what quality shelf the medium is on. High-end computers can boast of high quality (laptops of all kinds - for example, Apple MacBooks), which offer a data retention time of about two years at an appropriate temperature. The situation is different with budget products - these are more sensitive to temperature than the high-end models, and here the problem is felt completely (an increase by 5 ° C reduces the average data storage time from 20 weeks to just 10). However, it should be remembered that if we use a given disk quite often, nothing should threaten us.
Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the environment in which the SSD drive is located (nowadays this type of devices is more widespread in the consumer sector than in the professional sector - a thorough replacement of drives is an additional cost for the enterprise, and often these have special rooms for computers to they worked in optimal conditions) - for the security of their own data, and then not to worry where our family photos or films "escaped" to us.
Very helpful information, and I was so delighted with these disks ... [Read more]
lemgo
12 Aug 2015 00:57
"As is commonly known ..."
Such mega-manipulation at the very beginning disqualifies the article immediately.
Neither is "known" - because it is not so obvious, not subject to discussion, nor "unive... [Read more]
teofil111
12 Aug 2015 10:29
So this is another confirmation that SDD disks are good as a system disk, but the hard disk remains invariably for archiving terabytes of data. [Read more]
Spid88
12 Aug 2015 10:42
@lemgo
Only that SSDs are the successors of HDDs. It is common knowledge, and "ordinary" people are aware of it. Yes, the technology requires improvement, it is commercially young, which does not change... [Read more]
timo66
12 Aug 2015 16:52
So is the same thing for USB mass storage devices? [Read more]
leonow32
12 Aug 2015 16:57
After all, an SSD is roughly the same as a flash drive. [Read more]
mkpl
12 Aug 2015 17:23
I will ask otherwise ... I have a pendrive that is old and the data is as it was, I have an old mp3 somewhere that plays the music stored on it for a long time without any problems.
Powering the memory... [Read more]
timo66
12 Aug 2015 18:21
That's why I asked so stupidly. Because either I have a super stick that still has data after 5 years without electricity, or it is something else.
Spreading panic? [Read more]
ostrytomasz
12 Aug 2015 20:37
Larger technological dimension than "modern" chips, MLC or SLC memory (once, even without ECC, the memory content was intact for years) and few erase / write cycles (retention time decreases with the number... [Read more]
lemgo
12 Aug 2015 20:52
With these reports of the superiority of A over d B, or B over A - it depends a bit on what is going to come out. Somewhere I saw (unfortunately I do not remember the sources) a counter-report that it... [Read more]
Setel
13 Aug 2015 02:03
"e-books were to be the successors of books, television was to be the successor of cinema, there are countless examples. Both technologies are constantly evolving and are, at best, complementary."
And... [Read more]
Kużdo
13 Aug 2015 08:03
But it has long been known. Data archives have media that enable the longest possible storage time. We use SSDs where we need many fast operations, HDDs where we do something once in a while and are ideal... [Read more]
SQLmaster
13 Aug 2015 08:57
Wait a minute .... how many millions of SSDs have already been sold? Hundreds of millions ... billions? And now someone is trying to tell us that these drives are losing data because someone has not turned... [Read more]
strikexp
13 Aug 2015 11:53
If you are not using the drive as storage in a USB bay. If you're not carrying your laptop in a hot car. Unless you have several laptops and some are not used for several months. If you do not walk... [Read more]
Kużdo
13 Aug 2015 12:03
1. A USB flash drive is a portable drive and I use it to move data from one place to another. SSD disk is not a flash drive, HDD is used for archiving.
2. Of course, this laptop has not been fired for... [Read more]
Setel
13 Aug 2015 15:21
SQLMaster: You write crap. None of your statements are true. I would recommend caution in reviewing endeavors ... [Read more]
SQLmaster
13 Aug 2015 15:40
Oh. You presented great arguments to support your thesis :) [Read more]
VaM VampirE
13 Aug 2015 20:26
The SSD disk in the Asus EEE900 netbook was lying in the drawer for three years, without the battery, because in these netbooks the battery fell after a year, he had no problem when I fired windows 7 that... [Read more]
Setel
13 Aug 2015 23:21
Out of personal curiosity and to cite a specific example on this forum, I found the SunDisk card I wrote down in 2000 and put aside. All data remained intact, even though the card had been in the box for... [Read more]
FAQ
TL;DR: “Ambient heat is kryptonite for flash” — Alvin Cox; each 5 °C hike halves retention, so 25 °C ≈ 2 years, 30 °C ≈ 1 year for an unused consumer SSD [ZDNet, 2015].
Why it matters: Know the limits and back up before heat or idle time bite.
Quick Facts
• JEDEC JESD218A: client SSDs must keep data ≥ 12 months at 30 °C when worn-out [JEDEC, 2016]
• Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB endurance: 75 TBW (≈ 40 GB/day × 5 years) [Samsung, 2015]
• Intel DC S3700 guarantees 3 months retention at 40 °C end-of-life [Intel, 2015]
• Retention halves for every extra 5 °C idle temperature [Cox, 2015]
• 22 % of HDDs failed within 4 years in a 49,000-drive study [Backblaze, 2014]
Do SSDs really lose data after one powerless week?
No. The “week” figure describes a worst-case, worn-out enterprise SSD sitting at 55 °C [Cox, 2015]. Consumer drives must meet JEDEC’s 1-year @ 30 °C spec even at end-of-life [JEDEC, 2016]. Users in the forum reported intact files after 3–14 years of storage [Elektroda, VaM VampirE, #14919550; Elektroda, Setel, #14919701].
Why does temperature hurt flash data?
Stored charge leaks faster as heat excites electrons. Cox showed leakage doubles about every 5 °C, halving retention time [Cox, 2015]. HDD magnetic domains tolerate heat better, so flash suffers first in hot closets or cars.
A new consumer SSD at 25 °C should keep data roughly 2 years; at 30 °C about 1 year [Cox, 2015]. Intel’s DC S3700 still promises 3 months at 40 °C when worn out [Intel, 2015]. Store colder to extend life.
Does write endurance change retention time?
Yes. Each erase/write cycle slightly weakens the floating gate. When total writes approach the drive’s TBW rating, retention drops sharply [Samsung, 2015]. Forum users noted older, lightly-used drives surviving idle years [Elektroda, ostrytomasz, post #14917203]
Which flash type holds data the longest?
SLC (1 bit/cell) retains charge 10× longer than MLC; TLC ranks last [Micron, 2014]. Enterprise SSDs often use SLC/MLC mixes to meet stricter retention specs.
Are HDDs better for long-term archiving?
Magnetic disks can retain bits 5–10 years unpowered if stored cool and dry. However, 8.5 % fail mechanically by year 3 [Google, 2007]. Both media need backups.
How should I store an SSD long-term?
Follow this 3-step guide:
Write-verify all files, then power down.
Seal the drive in an ESD bag with a silica gel pack.
Keep at ≤ 25 °C; plug in and refresh data yearly.
Cold, dry storage slows charge loss [Cox, 2015].
How can I monitor SSD health?
Check SMART attributes “Media Wear-Out Indicator” and “Percentage Used” monthly. Tools like CrystalDiskInfo highlight rising reallocated-block counts. Replace drives before TBW exceeds 90 % [Samsung, 2015].
What’s a sensible backup strategy for SSD users?
1× onsite + 1× offsite copy covers most risks. Many forum members mirror SSDs to HDD RAID or LTO tape [Elektroda, Kużdo, post #14921318] Automate nightly imaging or use cloud sync with versioning.
Can I recover data after retention loss?
Sometimes. Specialized labs can re-program NAND under microscopes, but success odds drop fast and costs exceed €1,000 [DriveSavers, 2023]. Regular backups remain cheaper.
How do I protect a laptop left in a hot car?
Encrypt and back up first, then shut down. Temperatures inside cars can hit 60 °C; at that heat, a worn SSD may lose data in under a month [Cox, 2015]. Use a padded, insulated case to slow temperature rise.
Comments
Very helpful information, and I was so delighted with these disks ... [Read more]
"As is commonly known ..." Such mega-manipulation at the very beginning disqualifies the article immediately. Neither is "known" - because it is not so obvious, not subject to discussion, nor "unive... [Read more]
So this is another confirmation that SDD disks are good as a system disk, but the hard disk remains invariably for archiving terabytes of data. [Read more]
@lemgo Only that SSDs are the successors of HDDs. It is common knowledge, and "ordinary" people are aware of it. Yes, the technology requires improvement, it is commercially young, which does not change... [Read more]
So is the same thing for USB mass storage devices? [Read more]
After all, an SSD is roughly the same as a flash drive. [Read more]
I will ask otherwise ... I have a pendrive that is old and the data is as it was, I have an old mp3 somewhere that plays the music stored on it for a long time without any problems. Powering the memory... [Read more]
That's why I asked so stupidly. Because either I have a super stick that still has data after 5 years without electricity, or it is something else. Spreading panic? [Read more]
Larger technological dimension than "modern" chips, MLC or SLC memory (once, even without ECC, the memory content was intact for years) and few erase / write cycles (retention time decreases with the number... [Read more]
With these reports of the superiority of A over d B, or B over A - it depends a bit on what is going to come out. Somewhere I saw (unfortunately I do not remember the sources) a counter-report that it... [Read more]
"e-books were to be the successors of books, television was to be the successor of cinema, there are countless examples. Both technologies are constantly evolving and are, at best, complementary." And... [Read more]
But it has long been known. Data archives have media that enable the longest possible storage time. We use SSDs where we need many fast operations, HDDs where we do something once in a while and are ideal... [Read more]
Wait a minute .... how many millions of SSDs have already been sold? Hundreds of millions ... billions? And now someone is trying to tell us that these drives are losing data because someone has not turned... [Read more]
If you are not using the drive as storage in a USB bay. If you're not carrying your laptop in a hot car. Unless you have several laptops and some are not used for several months. If you do not walk... [Read more]
1. A USB flash drive is a portable drive and I use it to move data from one place to another. SSD disk is not a flash drive, HDD is used for archiving. 2. Of course, this laptop has not been fired for... [Read more]
SQLMaster: You write crap. None of your statements are true. I would recommend caution in reviewing endeavors ... [Read more]
Oh. You presented great arguments to support your thesis :) [Read more]
The SSD disk in the Asus EEE900 netbook was lying in the drawer for three years, without the battery, because in these netbooks the battery fell after a year, he had no problem when I fired windows 7 that... [Read more]
Out of personal curiosity and to cite a specific example on this forum, I found the SunDisk card I wrote down in 2000 and put aside. All data remained intact, even though the card had been in the box for... [Read more]