Can I update the 2017 MacBook Pro 15" SSD?

Hi,

Bottom line is you can't upgrade the SSD or anything on that model as RAM and storage are both soldered onto the logic board.

"(you can ask a third party service place, but since apple did not intend for it to be upgraded, you might void the warranty."

If you could find the part (Apple will not sell it to you) and someone with the equipment and expertise to do it, and who would actually take a one time job, you WILL void the warranty. This is not a realistic option. You need to buy the amount of storage you want when you purchase the Mac from Apple.

With a proprietary connector and form factor, that very special SSD may as well be soldered to the board in that 'Function-keys' model as well. There is nowhere to obtain a replacement of any description, and since later models have the components soldered in place, no one is likely to develop a compatible part.

Hey JSCX5,

It is impossible to upgrade the MacBook Pro 2017 afterwards. I´m using the MBP2017 13" with 512 GB, 3.5 Ghz and 512 GB. I also have to edit videos and have to do some stuff for School and I´m programming in Swift, Java and C++. 512 GB is enough for all of it. Just offload unimportant data like old videos or old projects and use the iCloud and a NAS or external HDD/SSD to store the old data which you don´t use. This way you have enough space for all! And it is much more cheaper and more scalable if you are planning to cut many videos.

Greetings,

Karim

Several Users have already tried to explain this to you, but let me be a bit more blunt:

The SSD in the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models in NOT a subassembly or a component. There are NO connectors or sockets. The chips that make up the SSD are directly soldered to the board using Surface Mount technology. They are not replaceable in any normal way.

Even removing the components without Trashing the board requires expensive equipment and substantial training -- it is not a job you can do at home with a soldering iron.

"There are NO connectors or sockets. The chips that make up the SSD are directly soldered to the board using Surface Mount technology. They are not replaceable in any normal way."

This answer is excellent if it is true. ;-)

I just got a new 2017 (no touchbar) macbook pro and when I got it the person told me it is not upgradeable. So I would recomend an external hard drive, I'm thinking about getting one. That would probably be the closest to an upgrade on storage. Also if you open up the computer in any way, it will void the warranty. I hope this helps.

Csound1 wrote:

It is.

Yep. Basically what they've managed to do is shrink the SSD to two NAND flash chips on either side. It would be one thing to replace the chips. It would be another to reprogram the firmware to make it behave like there's a new SSD ready to be formatted. And increasing the capacity? Good luck with that.

You can't upgrade the SSD on a new MacBook Pro after original purchase of the computer.

There is nothing wrong IMHO with the products sold by OWC.

incanter wrote:

Not the original poster, but... OWC SSDs are not recognized as such by Apple and APFS could not be restored from TimeMachine backups to the "rotational" target. Not necessarily OWS's fault, but not a recommended upgrade any more.

OWC doesn't have anything for a 2017 MacBook Pro, and despite one earlier claim I don't believe a 2017 MBP (of any size/type) has a removable SSD.

Kémaël wrote:

I don't mean to start a debate but does that mean that Apple replaces the entire motherboard in order to fix a bad SSD or RAM?

Yes. Or alternatively replace the entire device with a new or refurbished one, and send the old device back to the manufacturer for refurbishing. Apple's contract manufacturers have workers who are very good at it.

That's kind of the way it is with modern BGA assembly. It's not easy to remove all those packages and place new ones in there, or even to fix a bad solder joint. It's almost impossible to probe (without test headers) a BGA package since the solder balls are hidden. There are services that say they'll do it, but I'd be skeptical that they could do it without returning it in nonworking pieces. If a technician could isolate a broken solder connection, it might be possible to "re-ball" the package and reinstall. But that's a big if. During manufacturing they almost never bother to try and repair a board that fails testing. Scrapping an entire board is just considered a manufacturing cost.

Not the original poster, but... OWC SSDs are not recognized as such by Apple and APFS could not be restored from TimeMachine backups to the "rotational" target. Not necessarily OWS's fault, but not a recommended upgrade any more.

jalber1 wrote:

This is a total disgrace and yet another sign of self-defeating corporate greed. Want a 2TB hard drive in your Macbook? Either pay £4,000 for a new computer (£4,000!!!!! and you're not able to replace the hard drive or CD drive if they give out, since everything is soldered in). Or keep going with your 2011 Macbook and install a new hard drive in it. Not only does this tarnish Apple's reputation, but they're losing revenue. If their products were priced correctly, I'd be more than happy to upgrade to a new Macbook

Worst case scenario is that if the internal SSD is damaged that one can still operate off of an external boot drive. With an external SSD and Thunderbolt it can be pretty fast. I remember there was a topic where someone was OK with it compared to the cost of a new logic board.

It's certainly a design decision, but not one that doesn't have certain advantages when it comes to physical compactness and reliability.

Most people don't really need a 2 TB internal drive. Many make do with a smaller drive and with an inexpensive external hard drive for the bulky data like video that doesn't really need to be that fast.

You could consider getting a very small SSD "stick" in a tiny bus-powered enclosure, and taping it to the lid or the side somewhere. This one is 0.4 in thick, by 2-in by 4.5In. 0GB for US$100:

OWC Envoy Pro - SSD Enclosure for 2013-Current Macs

Unless you have the equipment and knowhow to flow solder I would strongly advise against any do it yourself attempts to replace them.

Except for warranty, the question is what would be the sort of the upgraded SSD. The OWC parts have bad reputation, one way would be to buy a destroyed model with higher SSD and transfer the memory, but it will be expensive with considerable risks.