A failing MacBook SSD shows clear signs. Back up now even if you see none.

Yes, there are signs, but you should be backing up anyway. If your MacBook Air is acting flaky, a failing SSD is one possible culprit, but not the only one.

The most obvious sign is the folder with a question mark when you boot up — that means the Mac can’t find the system. Less dramatic: frequent kernel panics (the machine suddenly restarts), apps crashing for no reason, or the infamous spinning beach ball that never goes away. If files are corrupted, you can’t copy them, or Disk Utility throws errors when you try to run First Aid, those are red flags.

SSDs fail silently sometimes. You can check the S.M.A.R.T. status using DriveDx or the built-in Disk Utility (though