How to Change Hard Drives in a MacBook Pro

Put a new hard drive in your MacBook.

Changing the hard drive in your MacBook Pro can be performed to resolve hardware issues with the original hard drive or to upgrade your MacBook's internal storage capacity to a larger amount. The MacBook Pro's internal layout is simple and the hard drive is easy to access. When replacing your MacBook's hard drive, make sure the drive you put into the computer is a 2.5-inch SATA laptop hard drive; older drives with PATA connectors will not work in your MacBook.

Things You'll Need

• MacBook Pro
• 2.5" SATA hard drive

Instructions

1. Shut down your MacBook Pro and disconnect the battery from the machine. Unplug the AC adapter from the computer. Turn the laptop upside down on your workspace and rotate the machine so that the hinges are facing away from you.

2. Remove the 10 screws that fasten the bottom of the case to the laptop. Set the screws aside for later. Lift the bottom of the case away from the laptop and set it aside.

3. Locate the hard drive in the bottom-right corner of the laptop case. Remove two screws from the bracket that holds the hard drive secure and set the bracket aside. Use the pull tab attached to the hard drive to lift it slowly out of the machine.

4. Hold the sides of the hard drive and disconnect the SATA connector from the hard drive. Remove all four mounting screws from the sides of the hard drive.

5. Screw the mounting screws removed from the old hard drive into the new hard drive and connect the new hard drive to the SATA connector. Gently place the new hard drive into the hard drive bay.

6. Replace the bracket removed in step 3 and secure it with its screws. Replace the bottom of the laptop and secure it into position with the screws removed in step 2.

Tips & Warnings

• The screws removed from the bottom of the laptop have different lengths, so make sure to replace them in the proper positions during step 6.

• Never work on your MacBook Pro when it is connected to a power source; doing so could cause severe damage to the internal components of the computer.

References

• Apple Support: How to Install a Replacement Hard Drive