How to upgrade your laptop's hard drive to a solid-state drive (SSD)

Whether you wanted to save some money during the initial laptop purchase, the manufacturer you purchased your laptop from only offered hard-deejay drive (HDD) options, or you lot're fixing up a laptop from a time before solid-state storage, upgrading to an SSD is a relatively common DIY practise. Yet, before ripping the back off your laptop and poking around within, there are a few things to consider and continue in mind when going about this chore.

Why upgrade your laptop's hard drive?

HDDs were the standard form of large storage for PCs for a long fourth dimension, but their spinning platters and actuator arms can only operate so fast. SSDs, which have no moving parts inside and usually rely on NAND wink retentiveness, offer speeds that far surpass HDDs. They're also quite a bit more stable and should last longer due to the lack of moving mechanical parts.

SSDs are likewise a lot more compact since they don't need to accommodate the platters and arm, and they're usually found in lightweight, thin Ultrabooks. No matter what size y'all choose, the biggest positive impact you'll see from a replacement should be speed, particularly when using a PCIe passenger vehicle. Windows 10 boots in seconds, and you'll probably even notice a deviation when working with large files and apps.

Earlier standing whatsoever further with a DIY replacement project, you desire to ensure that your laptop can indeed be opened upwardly and tin can accept its hard drive accessed. Some laptops will stop you from even getting by the outer chassis, while others will allow you lot in before dashing your hopes with a cached drive.

Your all-time bet is to do some research on your specific model to come across if it is indeed upgradeable, or check out our roundup of great laptops that are hands upgraded at home.

SSD vs. HDD: Which should I have in my PC?
What is an SSD and why would I want 1?
Best upgradeable laptop in 2022

Back up your data

At present that you know your laptop can indeed have its drive replaced, it'due south fourth dimension to support your existing drive. If you'd like to offset over completely fresh without whatsoever of your onetime files and programs, you tin gloss over this section and become straight to choosing a replacement SSD.

Upgrading your hard bulldoze? Don't bother with cloning, just practise a make clean Windows 10 install

If you desire to pick up where you left at that place are a few popular options. Yous can clone your one-time bulldoze to your new SSD for an exact replica, y'all tin can create an image and restore your familiar OS with all apps and settings, or you lot tin can dorsum up files to a cloud service, like OneDrive. There are a few other options every bit well, detailed in our guide to easy and constructive means of backing up your PC.

If you're interested in cloning or imagining, these guides should help you go started (and finished!) with the process.

How to brand a full backup of your Windows x PC
How to clone your PC difficult bulldoze using Macrium Reflect
How to apply Macrium Reverberate to create an epitome of your PC hard drive

Choose a replacement solid-state drive

Whether or not you're bringing your sometime data over to your new bulldoze, information technology's time to pick out a quality SSD that makes the unabridged upgrade worthwhile.

First, figure out what blazon of interface the bulldoze in your laptop is compatible with (normally SATA or PCIe) and determine which grade factor volition fit (often 2.5-inch or the slim One thousand.2). From there, it's upwards to you to residuum price, performance, and size. If you demand a hand, we've put together a list of the best SSDs on the market today.

All-time solid-state drives for Windows PCs

Use the right tools

Gathering upwardly whatever array of tools you have lying around the home or office and sitting down to operate on your laptop'due south innards likely won't exercise. At that place are enough of delicate parts within, and nosotros all know how everything starts looking like a nail when all you take is a hammer to piece of work with.

Luckily, specialized toolkits are more often than not inexpensive and should incorporate everything yous demand for a successful upgrade, including specialized screwdrivers, suction cups, pry tools, tweezers, and spudges. For our Razer Blade SSD swap, we used the E.Durable kit (about $12) and oasis't looked back.

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Equally an added bonus, you can invest in an anti-static mat or anti-static wrist strap to preclude whatsoever accidental damage while working.

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How to upgrade your laptop's hard bulldoze

Video tutorial on replacing the SSD in a Razer Blade.

Because laptops differ so much when it comes to internal layout, it'south hard giving a specific footstep-by-stride explanation that covers everything. In general, though, you remove the dorsum of the laptop's chassis, loosen the erstwhile bulldoze, unclip the bus, and remove the old hardware.

In some cases ― similar with the Acer Aspire 5 ― there will be an easy-access panel that lets you rapidly and painlessly add extra storage without fifty-fifty taking autonomously your laptop.

There are plenty of tutorials online that will help with replacing the drive in a specific laptop, including a few of our own.

How to replace the bulldoze in your Dell XPS 13 (9350)
How to upgrade the RAM, SSD, and HDD in the HP Omen 15
How to upgrade the Razer Blade with a Samsung 960 EVO SSD
How to upgrade the SSD in a Dell XPS 15 (9550)
How to upgrade the storage and RAM on the ASUS GL552
How to upgrade the storage and RAM on the ASUS G752

Wrapping upwards

Equally a reminder, ever create a backup (unless you desire to start completely new), always research what type of SSD your laptop is uniform with, ever use the right tools, and upgrade to an SSD that will remain relevant (consider size and speed) for years to come.

Take any extra tips or tricks for anyone looking to become down this DIY road? Be certain to striking up the comments department!

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