Defragment and Optimize Tool in Windows 11/10
What is Storage Optimizer in Windows 11/10
The Storage Optimizer in Windows 11/10 now takes care of maintenance activities like compacting data and complying with file system allocation to enable capacity reclamation on thinly provisioned disks. If your storage platform supports it, Storage Optimizer will consolidate lightly used ‘slabs’ of storage and release those freed storage ‘slabs’ back to your storage pool for use by other Spaces or LUNs. It does so periodically, without any user intervention from the user, and completes the task provided the task is not interrupted by the user. In Windows 8, when the Storage Optimizer detects that the volume is mounted on an SSD – it sends a complete set of TRIM hints for the entire volume again – this is done at an idle time and helps to allow for SSDs that were unable to clean up earlier – a chance to react to these hints and cleanup and optimizer for the best performance.
What is TRIM
In short, TRIM, introduced in Windows 7, is a way of communicating with SSDs about sectors that are not needed anymore. You can learn more about it at TechNet. Read: How to check, disable, and enable TRIM support.
Solid State Drives and Windows 11/10
In Windows 7, Microsoft had turned off defragmentation for Solid State Disks. In Windows 11/10/8, however, since the tool has changed into a general disk optimization tool, you will see it enabled by default for SSDs too. In this scenario, where an SSD is present, the tool sends ‘TRIM’ hints for the entire volume. A traditional defrag is not performed on SSDs, says Microsoft. Read here about the Storage Diagnostic Tool in Windows 11/10.
Does defragging speed up the computer?
If you are using an HDD, i.e., a storage device that came with a mechanical head and disks, then yes, you can speed up the computer using defragmentation. During fragmentation, Windows rearranges data, so they are easy to fetch, and there is the least movement of the mechanical head. In turn, this method increases the life of the HDD.
How often should you defrag?
Usually, one month is enough. However, if the volume of data copy and move is on the higher side, you can defrag in 15 days or 20 days. It will ensure data fetch is faster than usual.
