In newer models, it is soldered onto the motherboard, so it cannot be replaced.

Permission denied errors to files that were previously fineįollowing the steps we provide below, you can upgrade SSD in older Macs only.

Sluggish performance in resource-intensive apps such as Adobe Photoshop.

If, however, you’re noticing any of the following issues, an SSD upgrade will most certainly help: That might be the only fix you need (this way, junk that is clogging up your system, such as old files, images, apps, duplicates, and iPhone backups, will be cleared away). If your system feels a bit sluggish, try running CleanMyMac X first to clean away any resource-hogging junk. If you only really use your Mac to browse the web and do some word processing, your current hard drive is probably fine. Do I really need to upgrade my Mac hard drive?įitting a solid state drive in your MacBook Pro is a quick and simple way to boost performance, but an upgrade might not always be needed. It’s also surprisingly easy, even if you don’t know your way around the insides of a Mac. Swapping out your old hard drive for a modern SSD is surprisingly affordable and results in 5X better performance: a reputable 500GB MacBook SSD can be had for around $150, while 1TB options are available for around $300 - both considerably cheaper than a new MacBook. But to help you do it all by yourself, we’ve gathered our best ideas and solutions below.įeatures described in this article refer to the MacPaw site version of CleanMyMac X. If it is and you're afraid to go it alone, check out ifixit for more guides.So here’s a tip for you: Download CleanMyMac to quickly solve some of the issues mentioned in this article. NOTE: your computer may be slightly different. And that's it! Everything unscrewed and removed! Now let's put it back together again. Remove the four posts on the side of the hard drive with the T6 screwdriver. Remove those and you'll be able to lift up the hard drive and unplug it. It's being held in place by 4 more screws.

With the panel removed you can see the hard drive. Be sure to place them somewhere safe so they don't roll away into oblivion. Use the #00 screwdriver to remove all the screws on the back. So shut down your laptop and flip it over.

But since you've already gotten this far you're probably both inclined to get it done AND have a machine past warranty anyway. Opening up your MacBook Pro opens you to the possibility of messing something up and voiding your warranty so if that bothers you you can just sit tight with what you have.

Upgrade macbook pro hard drive 2013