Remove SSD from the MacBook Air

3 Parts:

Steps

Video: Remove SSD from the Macbook Air

Comments

You're watching VisiHow. In this tutorial, we will show you how to remove the SSD from a Mac computer.

1. 1
   To start with, we will need screwdrivers

   .

   In this video, those are in the yellow case. A different set of screwdrivers can be used, but whatever type we have, we will need to select the smallest Phillips head available.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
2. 2
   In this video, we close the screwdriver case

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
3. 3
   We move the case out of the way

   .

   We won't need it.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
4. 4
   Then what we need to do is simply flip the Mac over and put it onto its top

   .

   If we are concerned about scratches on the top of the Mac, we need to make sure to put something soft under it. In this case, the SSD will be taken out of the Mac. The Mac will be recycled because it has an unfortunate irrecoverable problem with the RAM.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
5. 5
   Next, we take the screwdriver and put it into each of the small screw heads

   .

   Then, we take the screws out.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
6. 6
   When we've taken a screw out, we set it off to the side

   .

   We may want to include it with the Mac if we want to close its lid.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
7. 7
   Once we've finished taking the screws out of the Mac, we can pull up the cover for the headphones and USB

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
8. 8
   Alternatively, we put a small object like fingers under the casing where the fan housing is

   .

   This should cause the case to lift up. It may not lift up evenly. Once we get the sides up, we pull the case up.

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
9. 9
   We set the case off to the side

   .

   

   Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
10. 10
    We can locate the primary area

    .

    This is where the keyboard sits.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
11. 11
    We can locate the fan area

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
12. 12
    Also, we have the SSD

    .

    It is powered by the Mac. What we are going to do now is remove the SSD. In order to remove the SSD from the Macbook Air, we're going to need to know where it is. It's near the fan and headphones. There are a series of holes cut in the top of the casing. They serve to diffuse heat as the drive may get hot sometimes during its operation.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
13. 13
    To remove the SSD, we need to remove its connecting cable first

    .

    This can be done by slowly lifting the black flap. When we've pulled it out, we'll see that the cable will be lifted. We do not want to yank the cable all the way out. This is not necessary. All that we are going to do next is prepare the drive to be removed.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
14. 14
    We take the same little screwdriver that we've used at the beginning

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
15. 15
    We take out the case screws

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
16. 16
    Once the four screws have been removed, we are going to simply lift the drive up a bit

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
17. 17
    When we've lifted the drive, we pull out its attachment on its side

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
18. 18
    Once the attachment is out, we will notice a secondary piece connecting the drive to the bottom

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
19. 19
    There is also another piece powering the SSD on the side

    .

    To pull the power piece out, we simply firmly grasp and pull it. That will pull it out.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
20. 20
    We lift the drive

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
21. 21
    Then, in order to pull the other piece out, we simply pull up the SSD slowly by the sides

    .

    This will pop the drive out of its place. The SSD will be pulled out.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
22. 22
    Now what we are going to do is we remove the drive from the housing

    .

    In order to remove the drive from the housing, we need to firmly hold the drive.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
23. 23
    We take the four screws out of the housing and set them off to the side

    .

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
24. 24
    Once all of the four screws have been removed, we lift off the casing and set it off to the side

    .

    We will see now that this will be the solid-state drive.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
25. 25
    We turn the SSD over

    .

    The drive will be out of its case. We will have the solid-state drive with the attachment. In this video, the solid-state drive is a Toshiba 128 GB drive.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help
26. 26
    We can easily place this SSD drive into another housing or case and reuse it with another system

    .

    We can also simply copy our data off it and then recycle it.

    

    Was this step helpful? Yes | No| I need help

You've been watching VisiHow. This is a tutorial on how to remove the solid-state drive from the Macbook Air. Thank you for watching! Have a great day! Please leave comments, questions, or suggestions in the area below.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

Comments