How do you install a 2.5-inch SSD in a laptop?

Written by Steven

Edited on

4 March 2025

·

10:52

How do you install a 2.5-inch SSD in a laptop?

Is your SSD malfunctioning or is your hard drive too slow? Install a new SSD. It's not difficult to upgrade a laptop with a new 2.5-inch SSD. You just have to back up your files, clone the data from your old SSD, and replace this old SSD with the new one.

  • 1: Create backup
  • 2: install cloning software
  • 3: transfer data
  • 4: initialize
  • 5: clone
  • 6: remove old SSD
  • 7: add new SSD
  • 8: check
What do you need to install an SSD

What do you need?

Before you begin, check if your laptop supports a 2.5-inch SSD and whether you can replace the SDD. Consult the manual or the manufacturer's website. All set? Make sure you have the following supplies:

  • Laptop
  • 2.5-inch SSD
  • A small cross-head and/or slotted screwdriver
  • SATA/USB adapter or SSD enclosure
  • External hard drive or cloud storage
  • Antistatic wrist strap
View all 2.5-inch SSDs

Replace the SSD in 8 steps

You can easily replace an old drive with a new SSD. Follow the 8 steps below:

  1. Back up your files to an external drive
  2. Install cloning software on your laptop
  3. Transfer your data from your old to your new SSD
  4. Initialize your new SSD
  5. Clone your data
  6. Remove your old HDD/DD from your laptop
  7. Place your new SSD into your laptop
  8. Boot your laptop and check the SSD
I don't have a laptop, but a desktop
Replace the SSD in 8 steps
Select Control Panel and go to File History

Step 1: back up your files to an external drive

  1. Connect an external hard drive or SSD to your laptop.
  2. At the bottom left of your screen, click the Windows icon (or the search bar next to it) and search Control Panel.
  3. In the Control Panel, go to System and Security and select the option Save backup copies of your files with File History.
  4. Select the external hard drive you want to save your files to and begin backup.
  5. Put the drive aside.
Clone data with Macrium Reflect software

Step 2: install the cloning software

Before you install the new SSD, you have to transfer your operating system (and possibly your data). Otherwise, your laptop won't start. This is also called migrating or cloning and requires you to use cloning software. This kind of software is often included with the SSD, but you can also download it. A program that's often used is Macrium Reflect. This works with any SSD, regardless of brand. Download and install the program accordingly.

Clean install of Windows

Cloning alternative: clean install of Windows

Do you prefer a clean version of Windows? In that case, you won't need any cloning software. Note: You'll lose all your files. Want to clone anyway? Go to step 3.

  1. Look up the Windows serial number. You can find it on the back of your laptop or on the packaging of your Windows product.
  2. Go the the Microsoft website.
  3. Make sure you have a USB flash drive with at least 4GB storage space available. Download Windows and store it on the drive.
  4. Did it work? Skip the next steps and go to step 6.
Connect with SSD enclosure

Step 3: transfer your data from your old to your new SSD

Connect your new SSD to your laptop. There are 2 ways to do this:

  1. Connect a SATA/USB adapter to your new SSD.
  2. Or place the new SSD in an SSD enclosure.

Plug the USB cable of your adapter or enclosure into your laptop's USB port(s) to establish a connection. Install the SSD with the next step, or else Windows won't recognize it.

Initialize SSD

Step 4: initialize your new SSD

  1. At the bottom left of your screen, locate the Windows icon.
  2. Right-click this icon and open Disc Management.
  3. Several bars appear with various blocks. No pop-up window? Click the drive that's not initialized on the right side of the screen.
  4. Select the option New Simple Volume and follow the remaining steps.

This allows your laptop to recognize the new SSD when you've installed it.

Shrink volume in Windows Disk Manager

Note: keep in mind the storage capacity of your new SSD

Does your SSD have less storage capacity than your old storage module? Remove some files from your old drive. If you're not comfortable doing this, there's an alternative:

  1. Reopen Disk Management.
  2. Right-click the Primary Partition.
  3. Select Shrink Volume. This way, you won't lose any important files as you shrink the partition.
Clone data to your new SSD

Step 5: clone your data

  1. Go to the cloning software and select the files you want to transfer.
  2. Select your new SSD as the destination drive.
  3. Note: the transfer may take a couple of hours. Don't disconnect the storage module until everything is transferred. Go to the next step.
Remove SSD from laptop

Step 6: remove the old hard drive or SSD

Remove the current storage module from your laptop.

  1. Unplug the charger and put it aside.
  2. Shut down your laptop completely. Don't put it in sleep mode.
  3. Find a clean and well-lit surface. Place your laptop in upside-down position.
  4. Wrap the antistatic wrist strap around your wrist and attach the crocodile clip to a grounded object, like your radiator.
  5. Unscrew the back-screws to open the laptop. Remove the battery to prevent damage.
  6. Locate the old drive, carefully unscrew it, and take it out of its holder at a 30-degree angle.
Install SSD in laptop

Step 7: add your new SSD

Install your new SSD in the slot that's now available.

  1. Carefully slide it onto the SATA connector. The SSD only fits in one position and needs little force.
  2. If you feel a lot of resistance, check if your laptop really supports an SSD just to be on the safe side.
  3. Re-insert the battery. Screw the laptop's underside back into place.
  4. Plug the laptop's charger into a socket and boot your laptop.
Check SSD by defragmenting and optimizing stations

Step 8: boot your laptop and check the SSD

If all went well, your laptop should recognize your SSD, operating system, and data right away, and you'll be able to pick up where you left off. Run a final check.

  1. In Windows (shortcut: Win+S), search for "defrag...".
  2. Select Defragment and Optimize Drives.
  3. Is your SSD listed as a solid-state drive? That means everything went well.
Does Windows not find your drive?
Install clean version of Windows

Alternative: perform clean install of Windows

Did you choose a clean install, instead of cloning software?

  1. Insert the USB flash drive with Windows on it into your laptop's USB port.
  2. Once you've booted the laptop on F12, follow the steps and select Only install Windows.
  3. Select your new SSD to install Windows, and the installation will begin.
Hard drive enclosure for 2.5-inch SSD

Tip: reuse your old hard drive

If the hard drive or SSD that you replaced still functions properly, you can put it in a hard drive or SSD enclosure. That way, you can turn an internal drive into an external drive. Choose a 2.5-inch hard drive enclosure to be sure you have the right one.

View all hard drive enclosures

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Article by Steven

SSD Expert.

Steven