The frequency of disk defragmentation depends on the type of storage drive:

1. Hard Disk Drives (HDD): For traditional HDDs, regular defragmentation helps optimize performance by rearranging fragmented data, which can occur over time as files are written, modified, and deleted. Older versions of Windows required manual defragmentation, but modern operating systems like Windows 10 and macOS typically perform automatic background defragmentation on a scheduled basis (e.g., weekly). Monitoring performance is key; if you notice significant slowdowns, manual defragmentation might be necessary.
2. Solid State Drives (SSD): SSDs operate differently from HDDs and do not benefit from defragmentation. In fact, manual defragmentation can reduce an SSD’s lifespan by increasing unnecessary write operations. Instead, SSDs benefit from the TRIM command, which helps maintain performance by marking unused data blocks for deletion.
3. Mixed Drives (Hybrid): Hybrid drives, which combine HDD and SSD technologies, should be managed based on their predominant storage medium. The SSD portion should be treated like a standard SSD (no defragmentation), while the HDD portion can be defragmented as needed.