What Is Trim?
The most succinct and clear definition of what Trim is (and does) I have found came from a CNet article written by Dong Ngo (June 20, 2016):
“TRIM allows the operating system to actively inform an SSD which blocks of data are no longer in use and can be wiped internally. This helps the drive work more efficiently and leads to faster performance and most importantly, longer lifespan. The bottom line is that, in order to prolong the life of your SSD, you need to make sure TRIM is running on your Mac.”
Apple must feel that Trim has value, as the program is enabled by default on all new Apple computers with SSD’s. If you are using El Capitan (10.11 or newer), Apple has included a Trim program for third party SSD’s.
How Do I know If Trim Is Already Enabled?
- Click the Apple icon at the top left corner of your screen.
- Click “About this Mac”.
- Click “System Report”.
- In the left column of options, under Hardware, click SATA/SATA Express.
- In the right and larger column, under the manufacturer’s name for the SSD, scroll down and find “Trim Support”.
- If you see a “Yes” next to “Trim Support”, then Trim is enabled (see image above)
How Do I enable Trim?
Note: Enabling Trim will work on most SSD’s; however, it may not work on yours. There is some risk of data loss here. Be sure to backup your drive before you enable Trim.
- From the Terminal, run sudo trimforce enable and press Enter.
- Type in the password for the account you are using, the press Enter.
- You next will see a screen telling you of the risks involved. To proceed, type y and press Enter.
- The System will notify you that it will reboot your computer, type y and Enter.
- Should you choose to disable trim, at the Terminal, type in the command: sudo trimforce disable and press Enter.
To learn more about trim with a video, click HERE.
To see how to install an SSD in an early 2008 iMac, click HERE.
