How to install an SSD in a laptop
See how to install a solid state drive (SSD) in your laptop with step-by-step instructions to make the process easy.
For desktop installations, use our quick guide to desktop SSD installation.
Looking for an NVMe SSD Install Guide?
Check out our article on How to Install an NVMe™ PCIe® M.2 SSD
Transferring data to your new hard drive
If you are replacing your existing drive, we recommend the use of data migration (cloning) software to move all the files from your existing drive onto your new hard drive. Data migration software is available at Crucial.com.
To install an SSD in a Mac® system, the process is different – follow our Mac-specific SSD install steps here.
Precautions before installation
- Static electricity can damage the components in your system. To protect your system’s components from static damage during the installation process, touch any of the unpainted metal surfaces on your computer’s frame or wear an ESD wrist strap before touching or handling internal components. Either method will safely discharge static electricity that’s naturally present in your body.
- To protect your new SSD, do not touch the connectors on the drive.
- Do not open the SSD. Doing so will void your warranty.
Laptop SSD installation instructions
1. Make sure you’re working in a static-safe environment
Remove any plastic bags or papers from your work space.
2. Gather supplies
- 2.5-inch Crucial® SSD
- Screwdriver
- Your computer’s owner’s manual (which will specify the type of screwdriver you need)
3. Shut down your system
Disconnect the power cable and remove the battery. Refer to your system’s owner’s manual for how to do this.
4. Hold down the power button for 5 seconds to discharge residual electricity
5. Open your laptop’s case
Refer to your owner’s manual for how to do this.
6. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface
This is an extra safeguard that protects your drive and components from static damage during the installation process.
7. Locate the storage bay
Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact location and note the size of the bays. Remove the old storage drive. Look closely at the old storage drive for any brackets, adapters, support frames, braces, pull tabs, or screws that might be attached to it. If anything is attached to the old drive, remove it and put it on the SSD in the same manner
8. Plug the SSD into your system
Don’t force the connection – it should plug in easily and fit snugly.
If the SSD doesn’t fit snugly, use the spacer that comes with your Crucial® SSD and attach it to the SSD by peeling off the adhesive and sticking the spacer onto the drive. Attaching the spacer allows the SSD to achieve the same level of thickness as the existing drive you removed. Note: Many installations don’t require the spacer, so you might not need to use it.
9. Reassemble your laptop
10. Power on your computer
Your SSD is now installed in your laptop!
Have some fun and see how much faster your laptop boots up and apps load! You can make your SSD even faster by downloading our Crucial Storage Executive software and enabling the Momentum Cache feature. Click here to download Storage Executive
1. Enable the Momentum Cache feature in Storage Executive to get up to 10x faster performance, validated by testing included in the “Enhance Burst Performance on Micron and Crucial SSDs Using Momentum Cache” whitepaper.
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