Looking to upgrade your MacBook storage or replace your faulty hard drive? Removing the hard drive from a MacBookPro is one of the easiest maintenance tasks you can perform and you can remove the hard drive in just a couple of minutes.
How to Change the Hard Drive of a MacBook?
Turn off the MacBook. Remove the cable from the power adapter. You must shut down your Mac before opening the panel, or you risk shorting out its components. Flip the MacBook over on a work surface. You will access the back panel of the MacBook. Place it on a table or workbench that gives you easy access without having to bend over.
Remove the ten screws holding the rear panel. These run along the edges of the bottom panel. The exact location of these screws varies by model, but there are always ten. You will need a Phillips screwdriver to remove them. There are usually two types of screws:
- Seven 3mm Phillips
- Three 13.5mm Phillips
- The 13 “MacBook Pro may have slightly different screw configurations, but there will still be ten screws.
- Lift the bottom panel.
- Place your fingers in the space between the vent and the lower case and lift the panel up.
- You will release two clips that secure the panel as you do so.
- Disconnect the battery connector.
- This connector provides power to the logic board and must be disconnected before proceeding to avoid shorting the components.
- It’s black and it’s located along the edge of the logic board, and it’s the largest connector attached.
- Be sure to pull the connector out to avoid damaging the connection.
- If there is a tab attached to the battery connector, use it to remove it from the socket.
- If there is no tab attached, you can use a spudger or cocktail picker to remove the connector.
- Locate the hard drive.
- The hard drive is rectangular and will be located in one of the corners.
- Most hard drives have labels indicating their storage and speed.
- Check the label if you are not sure.
- Many hard drives have shiny metal exposed, although not all do.
- Remove the screws holding the unit.
- There will be two small Phillips screws that secure the hard drive in place.
- These two screws run along one edge of the hard drive and must be removed to release the drive.
- The screws will remain attached to the bracket that holds the drive in place.
- Lift the bracket out.
- Once you have loosened the screws, you can pull the bracket they are attached to directly from the box.
- Pull out the tab protruding from under the unit.
- Gently pull the tab to remove the hard drive from the case.
- Do not pull it out all the way as there is still a wire attached underneath.
- If there is no tab attached, you can use your fingers to gently lift the unit.
- Disconnect the hard drive.
- Grip both sides of the connector attached to the top of the hard drive.
- Take it out directly from the hard drive.
- It may be well connected, so “pull out” the connector by gently pulling the alternate sides of the connector.
- Pull the hard drive completely out of the MacBook so that you can access the screws on the sides of the drive.
- Remove the screws from the hard drive.
- The hard drive will have four Torx T6 screws, two on each side.
- These are used to secure the drive in the bay.
Installing a New Hard Drive
- Screw the four Torx screws into the drive.
- Install the four Torx screws in the same holes that came out on the old drive.
- Hand-tighten them, but do not over-tighten them as you may damage the hard drive cage.
- Connect the hard drive cable.
- Insert the large hard drive connector directly into the slot at the top.
- It can only go in one direction.
- Make sure the connector is secure and fully inserted.
- Put the hard drive in the bay.
- Gently rest the hard drive in the bay, making sure it is aligned correctly.
- The Torx screws on each side should fit into the slots that hold the hard drive in place.
- Secure the bracket.
- Reinsert the bracket on the side of the drive and secure it with the two screws.
- Again, hand-tighten but do not overtighten the screws.
- Connect the battery.
- Reconnect the battery connector to the logic board.
- Make sure not to touch any of the circuits, especially after reinserting the connector.
- Close the case.
- Replace the rear panel and secure it with the ten screws.
- Make sure the rear panel has snapped into place.
