How to upgrade SSD from HDD for my mac book pro

Solution 1:

You should look at the ifixit HDD replacement guide for this model. This will show you exactly the steps you need to take, including 'unplugging' the logic board from the battery.

You may want to buy a USB to SATA connector cable. This will let you connect the new SSD to the Mac, so that you can copy the contents from the hard drive to the SSD. You need to use cloning apps: either SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner to do this.

If you have a Time Machine backup, you may be able to restore this to the new drive by booting to Recovery (command R) and then restoring the backup.

Then swap the drives, and you can still use the HDD as a temporary external drive with the SATA cable.

Solution 2:

Always install the OS and test your SSD externally before you take out a working HDD / SSD.

• Can Recovery Mode install OS X onto a blank SSD?

Then you know you have a working system before you install it internally. It’s really quite smooth and you can hold option to boot the old or the new back and forth while you test things out. If you make a bad choice migrating apps, erase the SSD and try again - maybe installing just the apps you need and hand migrate the non-cloud files and data.

Good luck - break this down so you know you’re ready before you break out the screws and pop open the Mac. Even better, you know you’ll have the cable needed to boot from the old HDD externally since you know you have all the cables right to just swap the drive.