Replacing a MacBook SSD or expanding storage: is it possible?

Your MacBook's storage is full and you want more space. Can you replace your MacBook's SSD or expand the storage? On older models yes, on most newer ones no: there the storage is fixed to the logic board. This article explains which MacBooks can be upgraded, what the alternatives are and what to look for in an external SSD.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. We are regularly asked "can a bigger drive go in?". The honest answer depends on the year.

Which MacBooks have a removable SSD?

• MacBook Pro and Air up to about 2015-2017: these have a removable SSD with Apple's own connector. It can be replaced by a bigger one, with a matching SSD or an adapter.
• 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2016-2017 without Touch Bar: also still a removable SSD.
• From about 2018 and all MacBooks with an Apple chip: the storage is soldered to the logic board. Upgrading is not possible in the normal way.

You can see which model you have in About This Mac. Also see macOS versions at a glance for how long your model still gets updates; on a very old model a bigger SSD is not always the best investment.

Replacing a removable SSD: what to watch

• The right connector. Apple used different SSD connectors per generation. An SSD for one model does not simply fit another.
• macOS and firmware. Some older MacBooks first need a recent macOS version before they recognise a different SSD properly.
• Your data. After replacing, the new SSD is empty. Make a Time Machine backup first and restore it afterwards, or clone the old drive.

Soldered storage: what then?

On MacBooks with soldered storage you cannot in practice enlarge the internal SSD. Your options:

1. Clear up. Check in System Settings, General, Storage what takes space. Large videos, old iPhone backups and downloads are often the biggest.
2. Use iCloud. With the option to store files in iCloud, only what you used recently stays on the Mac.
3. An external SSD. Fast, small and affordable. Ideal for photo and video libraries and Time Machine backups.
4. Choose more storage on your next Mac. See deleting apps on a Mac to make room now.

Choosing an external SSD

• USB-C or Thunderbolt: a USB-C SSD is fast enough for most people. Thunderbolt is faster, for people working with large video files.
• Format: APFS for Mac only, ExFAT if you also use it on Windows. See formatting a drive on a Mac.
• A short cable or an SSD you can attach to the laptop, so nothing pulls on the port.

A full drive makes your Mac slow

With less than about ten percent free space any Mac gets slow and updates can fail. So even when upgrading is not possible, it pays to keep space free.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

On older MacBooks with a removable SSD we replace the SSD and transfer your data if you wish. For an SSD that shows errors, we check what can still be saved. On newer models we say honestly what is and is not possible. More on our pages about MacBook repair in Amsterdam and MacBook data recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Can the storage of a MacBook Air M1 or newer be upgraded?

Not in the normal way: the storage is fixed to the logic board. An external SSD is the practical solution.

Will my Mac get faster with a new SSD?

On older models with a slow or nearly failing drive, often yes.

Can I put apps on an external SSD?

Many apps work from an external drive, but it is handier to keep apps internal and store files externally.