Need a brief summary of our top picks? Here’s the best SSD replacement for your MacBook Pro depending on your specific needs. For general users who want a quality, affordable SSD, you won’t go wrong with Crucial MX500 — which has exemplary read and write speeds, with awesome energy-saving features that will keep your MacBook from overheating or using up excessive amounts. Jan 28, 2013 Cloning Your Hard Drive The first step is to clone your Mac's hard drive onto the SSD. For this, you can use a utility such as Carbon Copy Cloner, but we're going to show you how to do it with.
The MacBook Air is not really thought of as being expandable or upgradeable, but it turns out that with a little effort and patience, you can replace the SSD on the MacBook Air yourself. Changing the SSD on a MacBook Air can allow you to dramatically increase the storage size of the Mac and can often increase performance too, and while those.
Summary :
To upgrade MacBook Air SSD to a new one can solve a lot of issues like MacBook Air expand storage and corrupted SSD replacement. This article shows you the detailed steps to do such a job. To rescue data from the corrupted SSD, you can use MiniTool Software.
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When You Need to Upgrade MacBook Air SSD?
Two Common Situations You Need to Upgrade MacBook Air SSD
Apple’s MacBook Air is a solid and reliable laptop for you, especially it is a device that is using the solid-state drive (SSD) as the data storage drive. Compared with the traditional hard disk drive, SSD is much faster and durable.
Apple mac security software. What’s the difference between solid-state drive and hard drive? Which one to use for your PC? Read this post to learn more on SSD VS HDD now.
However, as time goes on, there will be more and more files on the MacBook Air SSD. That is, the free space will become less and less. This is an inevitable result that may even influence the performance of the device.
Perhaps, you have taken some measures to release space for new data. But this method is not once and for all. Many users reported that their MacBook Air SSDs became full very soon since new data occupied the drive space quickly.
Due to this, the proper answer for MacBook Air expand storage is to upgrade MacBook Air SSD to a larger one. That is, you can replace MacBook Air SSD with a new and larger one especially when you want to save more data on your MacBook Air and experience the smooth running speed.
Tip: If your Windows computer is running into low disk space, you can read this article, 3 Ways to Help You Get out of Low Disk Space Warning in Windows 7/8.1/10, to learn how to deal with this issue effectively.
Additionally, MacBook Air SSD may get damaged or corrupted, and become unrepairable. If you don’t want to buy a new device, you will need to update your MacBook Air SSD by replacing it with a new one.
So far, we summarize these two common situations in which you’d better upgrade MacBook Air SSD:
- MacBook Air SSD is full or running into low disk space.
- MacBook Air SSD is corrupted or damaged, and unrepairable.
Note: You are not allowed to remove and upgrade the SSD in MacBook Air 2020 because the SSD is welded to the computer.
Why You Should Upgrade MacBook Air SSD on Your Own
Some of you may choose to ask Apple Support for help to replace MacBook Air SSD. But, there is something you need to know: you need to send the device to the support center and it will take days to complete MacBook Air SSD replacement.
Besides, there should be some privacy information on the SSD. Once you send it to a stranger, you will be in the risk of privacy leakage.
Additionally, if you are using a mid-2012 model or even earlier, the machine is on “Vintage” list of Apple, which means the company has disconnected the support for the device.
Actually, it is not a difficult job to replace MacBook Air SSD by yourself. If you have a proper SSD for MacBook Air and enough tools to disassemble and assemble the laptop, you will be able to perform a MacBook Air SSD replacement in a few minutes.
In the following contents, we will show you the exact things you should do to upgrade MacBook Air SSD. You’d better follow every step strictly.
Tip: If your computer is running Windows and you want to upgrade the traditional hard disk drive to an advanced SSD, you can refer to this article to do the job: How to Upgrade Laptop from HDD to SSD Without Reinstalling OS.
Step 1: Select a Proper SSD and Tools
Not all kinds of SSDs can be used to replace your original MacBook Air SSD. You need to select a proper one from the formal purchase channel, like Amazon, Newegg, eBay, and more.
For MacBook Air expand storage use, you need to choose an SSD that has larger capacity compared with the original MacBook Air SSD.
Usually, the alternative SSD comes with installation tools. However, if there are no such kinds of tools, you also need to purchase them together.
If the SSD of the MacBook Air is corrupted and you want to recover data from it, you need to buy a suitable MacBook Air SSD enclosure together. After MacBook Air SSD replacement, you can install the previous SSD into the enclosure, connect it to your computer, and then use a data recovery software to get your files back. In the last step, we will tell you how to rescue your data from the damaged SSD.
Note: You need to make sure that the enclosure you select supports the original SSD of your MacBook Air.
Step 2: Back up Data on the MacBook Air SSD
After buying a MacBook Air SSD from the internet, you can make full use of time to do something meaningful, such as backing up your data on the MacBook Air’s original SSD. A well-known method to back up Mac data is to use Time Machine, which is a built-in backup feature of Mac.
Note: You are only allowed to back up your files using Time Machine when your MacBook Air can run normally. If the SSD is corrupted and the device is unbootable, you can just skip to the next step to replace the damaged SSD.
Time Machine can automatically back up all of your files on MacBook Air, such as apps, music files, photos, email, documents, system files, and more. Once a backup is created, you can restore your files from the backup if the original files are deleted from the machine, or the SSD of your MacBook Air is erased, replaced, or corrupted.
Before using Time Machine to back up your files, you need to prepare an external drive that is large enough to save the backup file.
Note: The backup process will erase all files on the external drive. Thus, you need to make sure that there are no important files on that drive.
Here, you need to pay attention to the file system of the external drive since macOS only supports a handful of common file systems, including HFS+, FAT32, and exFAT. Make sure that the file system of the external drive is supported by your MacBook Air.
When you want to format Ext4 Windows but failed to do that, don’t get disappointed. This post will provide you with solutions to format disk to Ext4 Windows.
When everything is prepared, you can refer to Apple’s previous backup guide to make a backup of your Mac files with Time Machine: Back up your Mac with Time Machine.
Step 3: Replace MacBook Air SSD by a New One (Assembly)
After receiving your needed MacBook Air SSD, you can go to remove the old SSD and then install the new one in the device.
Here is a detailed guide:
1. Close the MacBook Air and unplug the power.
2. Lay it down on a soft cloth and flip the device over.
3. Remove the screws from the bottom of the case and put them into a place where you can find them easily.
4. Lift the case bottom off. In this step, you can also clean the dust and debris in the device to reduce power consumption, solve the laptop overheating issue, or fix other kinds of issues.
5. Pop off the battery connector to disconnect the battery.
360 gear software. 6. Remove the screws that are used to secure the SSD and then gently pull the drive out of the slot.
7. Install the new SSD to the slot.
8. Tighten the screws to secure the SSD.
9. Re-connect the battery to your MacBook Air.
10. Reassemble the laptop bottom case.
See! It is so easy to replace MacBook Air SSD with a new one. Every ordinary user can operate it smoothly. Next, it’s time to make the new SSD bootable.
Step 4: Make MacBook Air Boot from the New SSD
Usually, some MacBook Air SSDs are advertised to have macOS pre-installed. In this situation, you can boot the device directly.
If there is nothing in the new SSD, you will have to do something to make the MacBook Air bootable.
Remember that you have used Time Machine to back up your original files and system in step 2. Now, you can directly restore both macOS and your files to the new SSD with Time Machine.
In case there is no available backup file, you will need to perform a clean install of the operating system on the MacBook Air. To use Windows or macOS, or both, you can have your own choice. Now, you can search for a guide on the internet on your own.
Step 5: Rescue Data from the Damaged/Corrupted MacBook Air SSD
After the above four steps, you can use the MacBook Air as normal again. In this step, we will talk about how to rescue data from your previous SSD if it is damaged.
No matter you are running Windows or Mac, you always have the chance to rescue data from a damaged SSD with a third-party file recovery tool.
Take out the MacBook Air SSD enclosure you have bought and then install the original MacBook Air SSD into it. After that, connect the enclosure to your computer…
If You Are Running macOS:
If you are using macOS, you need to use a Mac data recovery software to rescue your data from the damaged or corrupted drive. As a free Mac data recovery tool, Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is a good choice.
This software can run on macOS and then rescue your data from different kinds of storage devices like hard drive, SSD, memory card, and more. As long as the drive is not physically damaged, this software can always work to recover data from it.
It has a trial edition and you can first use it to see whether it can find your needed data. Go to the MiniTool download center to get this free software.
Here is a guide on how to use Stellar Data Recovery for Mac to rescue data from a damaged drive.
1. Install this software on your computer and then open it.
2. On the following interface, you can choose to recover everything or customize the scanning range according to your actual requirements.
3. Click Next to continue.
4. Select the drive you want to scan on the following interface.
5. Click Scan.
6. When the scanning process ends, you can see the scan results. Then, you can go to check whether you can find your needed files.
If Stellar Data Recovery for Mac can find your needed files, you can upgrade this software to a full edition and then recover your needed files without limits.
If You Are Running Windows OS:
MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a special data recovery software designed for Windows OS. You can first use the trial edition of this software to check whether it can find the files you want to rescue. This software can even support HFS+ file system.
Press the following download button to download and then install this software on your computer.
Then, it’s a step-by-step guide on how to restore your files from the corrupted SSD with MiniTool Power Data Recovery.
1. Open the software to enter This PC interface.
2. Select the target SSD and press the Scan button to continue.
3. Likewise, when the scanning process ends, you will see the scan results that are listed by the path. You can open each path to find the files you want to restore. Or, you can also use the Type and Find features to find your needed data easily.
4. MiniTool Power Data Recovery Trial Edition doesn’t allow you to recover files. You need to enter the MiniTool official store to get a suitable edition, register the software, and then restore your files to a safe location.
These are the integrated 5 steps you should do to upgrade MacBook Air SSD.
Bottom Line
Want to upgrade MacBook Air SSD by replacing it with a new one? This article tells you all the things you need to do, including the preparations, data backup, SSD assembly, operating system installation, and data recovery.
Should you have any questions when performing MacBook Air SSD upgrade, you can contact us via [email protected], or let us know in the comment. You can also share your suggestions and solutions here.
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In this article I will show you, how to install a SSD into the Apple MacBook Pro. All the essentials of material and tool that is required for the installation are linked in the article.
For the installation of the SSD we have to unscrew the MacBooks, therefore it makes sense to upgrade the main memory (RAM) right now. In a a previous article I have already put together suitable memory recommendations: Apple MacBook Pro: RAM upgrade (HowTo)
Difficulty level:
- Data migration
- Installation
Frequently asked questions
What are the advantages of a SSD?
- short start times for operating system and apps
- comfortable and faster work under Mac OS X
- SSD work completely silent
- SSD has no mechanical parts, thus insensitive to hits and external influences
To what should I pay attention with a SSD?
When choosing the SSD, care should be taken that the memory size of the new SSD is not too low. It is advisable to choose an SSD with at least 120 GB or better even 240GB. With regard to the height both SSDs with 7 and 9.5 mm can be installed. All SSDs recommended below meet these requirements.
What are the differences between Samsung EVO/Pro series?
The main difference is the flash memory which is used in the SSD. The new Evo series is designed for the home user and relies on TLC flash memory. This one is reasonable to produce but on the other hand a bit slower. Therefore Samsung could recover this performance disadvantage in the EVO series with a so-called turbo-Write buffer and achieve a similar performance to the Samsung Pro.
I have a detailed explanation of the differences (incl. Advantages and disadvantages) in a separate article: SSD Comparison: Differences between Samsung 860/850 Pro and EVO series
Clone Macbook Pro Ssd
Can I install an SSD with SATA 3 in a MacBook Pro with SATA2?
Yes, SATA3 is fully backward compatible. Therefore SSDs with SATA 3 can be easily operated on SATA2.
Which MacBook Pro models can be upgraded with a SSD?
Apple-Modell | Display Size | Designation | Upgradable |
---|---|---|---|
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012) | 15 inch 13 inch | MacBookPro9,2 MacBookPro9,1 | |
MacBook Pro (Early + Mid 2011) | 17 inch 15 inch 13 inch | MacBookPro8,3 MacBookPro8,2 MacBookPro8,1 | |
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010) | 17 inch 15 inch 13 inch | MacBookPro6,1 MacBookPro6,2 MacBookPro7,1 | |
MacBook Pro (Early + Mid 2009) | 17 inch 15 inch 15 inch 13 inch | MacBookPro5,2 MacBookPro5,3 MacBookPro5,4 MacBookPro5,5 | |
MacBook Pro (Early + Mid 2008) | 17 inch 17 inch 15 inch 13 inch | MacBookPro5,1 MacBookPro4,1 |
Suitable SSDs for Apple MacBook Pro
[Last update: 15.04.2018]
Notation
On the market there are a variety of solid-state drives (SSD), but they differ seriously in speed and durability. For this reason I have compiled only high quality and fast SSDs that I could test in MacBook personally in my professional life and as a result I can recommend in good conscience.
On the market there are a variety of solid-state drives (SSD), but they differ seriously in speed and durability. For this reason I have compiled only high quality and fast SSDs that I could test in MacBook personally in my professional life and as a result I can recommend in good conscience.
MacBook Pro Non-Retina (2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012)
- Samsung 860 Pro Series, 2,5 Zoll, SATA IIITip
(Available sizes: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB) - Samsung 860 EVO, 2,5 Zoll, Sata IIITip
(Available sizes: 250GB / 500GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB) - Samsung 850 Pro, 2,5 Zoll, SATA III
(Verfügbare Größen: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB) - Samsung 850 EVO, 2,5 Zoll, SATA III
(Available sizes: 120GB / 250GB / 500GB / 1TB / 2TB / 4TB) - Crucial MX500, 2,5 Zoll, SATA III
(Available sizes: 250GB / 500GB / 1TB / 2TB)
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Data migration
Before the existing disk is exchanged for a SSD, all data and settings must be saved. There are different approaches.
Option 1: Clone hard drive to SSD
- Before making any modifications create a backup via Time Machine, in case of emergency there is a backup
- Connect the SSD via USB to the MacBook Pro (e.g. using SATA to USB3.0 Adapter)
- The new SSD must first be formatted using Disk Utility (as “Mac OS Extended Journaled“)
- Then subsequently create a fully bootable 1:1 copy of your hard drive to the SSD with SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. (This process may take several hours).
Option 2: OS X reinstall and restore the backup
Clone Macbook Hdd
- Before making any modifications create a backup via Time Machine for later restore.
- Create a bootable OS X recovery stick (instruction)
- Now the new SSD have to be installed in the MacBook Pro (introduction see installation)
- After the SSD is installed into the MacBook, insert the USB flash drive. Then turn on your MacBook while holding down the ALT key.
- You will be asked which medium should be used for booting. Select the USB stick.
- Before reinstalling the SSD, it first must be formatted (as “Mac OS Journaled Extendet”) via the Disk Utility. After that OS X can be installed on the new SSD. In order to this just follow the instructions on the screen.
- Finally, the data and settings from the Time Machine backup will be restored now.
Installation
In principle, everyone who doesn’t have two left feet can do the installation. The important thing is to allow oneself plenty of time for the installation and proceed with caution. There are two ways to install a SSD in the MacBook Pro:
Option 1: Install SSD as a second drive
Everybody who needs a lot of memory or uses the DVD drive rarely, can install a second hard drive / SSD to the place of the Super Drive. For this purpose, a special frame (conversion kit) is required in which the hard disk will be installed. Then the removed SuperDrive comes in an portable USB enclosure, which is included in the conversion kit.
I made very positive experience with the following four conversion kits:
- OWC Data Doubler Optical Bay Hard Drive/SSD Mounting Solution (~ $20)
- Hard Drive Caddy Tray for Apple MacBook Pro 13/15/17 inch (~ $8)
Option 2: Replace hard drive with SSD
The replacement of the existing hard drive with a SSD is the easiest way. This reconstruction is completed quickly with little effort (about 10 minutes). For this purpose, no special accessories or conversion kits are required, only a proper SSD and the appropriate screwdrivers.
After the SSD is built into the MacBook, it makes sense to use the removed hard drive as an portable hard drive. A good portable enclosure with a fast USB3.0 interface is, for example ORICO portable USB3.0 enclosure
Tools
If you decide on the installation variant 1, the conversion kits I mentioned have already all tools needed for. At the Flancrest kit there is even a SATA-USB adapter enclosed to clone the hard drive without a separate 2.5 “USB hard drive. Otherwise, the mini screwdriver set from Hama is recommended that contains the required PH00 and Torx6 screwdrivers.
Safety recommendation
Basically, it is recommended when working within range of electronic components, to wear an antistatic wrist strap. It protects against electrostatic charging, thus preventing possible damage to electrical components in the Macbook. The bracelet is slipped over the arm and has a cable with alligator clip which is simply clamped to the radiator. Corresponding bracelets are already available for a few dollars (e.g. Rosewill Anti Static Wrist Strap).
Preparation
Clone Macbook Pro Hard Drive To Ssd
Basically a Time Machine backup should be created. If this is completed, the MacBook Pro can be shut down. Afterwards unplug the power cord and other cables and place them upside down on a soft surface.
Instruction
The following Youtube video explains the installation procedure in great detail:
Starting up / completion
After installation, the MacBook can now be started for the first time from the SSD Pro. Please do not be alarmed if the boot should not be noticeably faster after a new installation. Because Spotlight must rebuild the index from scratch, which can take some time.
Should there still be any problems (e.g. durable high-revving fan), in addition the SMC (introduction) and NVRAM / PRAM (introduction) should be reset.
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