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How to update firmware on a Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive

I put one of these in my MacBook Pro (2011) with High Sierra, and it sure hasn't sped anything up. So I'm wondering if it's in need of a firmware update. However, Samsung's app to do all that is Windows only, and I can't find anything that gives a very simple, straightforward way to do this. Does anyone know how? Thanks...

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 18, 2021 6:07 PM

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Posted on Jul 18, 2021 7:16 PM

Yes… there IS a way.. and You are Right. the Samsung Magician software IS windows only.. step one.. backup your data to another disk… then..


you could in theory use a USB stick.. BUT.. you do have a working Cd/dvd burning drive in your 2011 MacBook Pro.. so follow the instructions… burn a cd… after it has finished burning succcessfully, label it with a sharpie ? On the label side. SAMSUNG 860 EVO Firmware. Reboot, holding down the ‘C’ key on the keyboard to boot from the cd/dvd drive. Slip the Cd/dvd you made into the cd/dvd drive label side UP.. and let it run…


thats all I got

john B

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 18, 2021 7:16 PM in response to Saxman

Yes… there IS a way.. and You are Right. the Samsung Magician software IS windows only.. step one.. backup your data to another disk… then..


you could in theory use a USB stick.. BUT.. you do have a working Cd/dvd burning drive in your 2011 MacBook Pro.. so follow the instructions… burn a cd… after it has finished burning succcessfully, label it with a sharpie ? On the label side. SAMSUNG 860 EVO Firmware. Reboot, holding down the ‘C’ key on the keyboard to boot from the cd/dvd drive. Slip the Cd/dvd you made into the cd/dvd drive label side UP.. and let it run…


thats all I got

john B

Jul 19, 2021 8:24 AM in response to Johnb-one

Thanks, I was able to find this information, finally, on line, and used it, only to find out that my firmware was already updated! Or maybe just up-to-date. So, that's great, after wasting a couple hours of searching for the process, I find I didn't need to do it anyway, and am back to Square One in trying to address the issue that caused me to do an update in the first place! I have not seen any increase in speed on my laptop, it is as slow if not slower than when I had the old hard drive installed.


Any ideas as to how to check &/or boost the performance of the drive? I hate to think I spent the extra money, and did the installation, only to find it makes no difference in the performance of my computer...


Also, your last instruction didn't make a lot of sense. You do reboot from the CD, but since it's already in the CD drive, you can't put it back into the drive to let it run, it just runs once the laptop is booted up.

Jul 20, 2021 6:07 AM in response to Saxman

I’m just trying to help you, Saxman and figure out what can be done to increase the speed and performance of said drive in your 2011 MacBookPro. Your RAM is maxed out and your battery is fine… so those those shouldn’t affect your speed and performance… you may wish to enable TRIM.. see link.. this works in Sierra, High Sierra and El Capitan, etc,,,LINK…

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/285266/how-to-natively-enable-trim-in-sierra-for-a-3rd-party-ssd


john b

Jul 20, 2021 4:26 PM in response to Saxman

Run DriveDx and EtreCheck so we can check the health information on the SSD to see if you may have an issue with some third party software. Post the DriveDx and EtreCheck reports here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper.


There is a chance you may have a bad hard drive SATA Cable or possibly bad or incompatible memory. I have seen posts that some Samsung SSDs may have compatibility issues with some older Macs, but I'm not sure which models of either one.



How to update firmware on a Samsung 860 EVO SSD Drive

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