Disclosed are an apparatus and method for writing data based on a drive state. In one embodiment, a method may comprise receiving a command to store data to a first area of a data storage device, detecting whether the data storage device is in a first state indicating a lowered write reliability, and writing the data to a second area when the first state is detected, the second area having a higher write reliability than the first area. In another embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a processor configured to receive a command to write data to a first area of a data storage device, detect whether the data storage device is in a first mode indicating a reduced writing reliability relative to a second mode, and write the data to a second area of the data storage device when the first mode is detected.