Youtuber manages to expand MacBook storage; see the process

A YouTuber known as iBoff, who calls himself a “Mac logic board enthusiast,” has just demonstrated a feat that many considered impossible (or at least very difficult) – expanding SSD storage on modern MacBooks.

This news is particularly interesting for Mac users who have long craved more flexibility on their devices. With a little ingenuity, iBoff managed to circumvent the limitations imposed by Apple, opening up new possibilities for customization and longevity of MacBooks.

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The ability to upgrade components on Macs has been steadily declining over the years. The turning point came in 2016, when Apple began soldering SSDs directly onto the logic boards of MacBook Pros with Touch Bar. Although some models still retained upgradable SSDs, this option was completely eliminated in 2019.

Interestingly, Apple made a brief return to expandable Macs with 2018’s Mac mini, allowing users to upgrade RAM modules. However, this feature disappeared again with the introduction of M1 chips in 2020.

The 2023 Mac Studio seemed to offer hope with its seemingly modular SSD bays, but in practice, the upgrade isn’t as simple as it seems.

However, YouTuber iBoff, although he did not reveal all the details of the SSD slot installation process, showed how it is possible to remove and exchange SSD modules for higher capacity drives.

The most impressive aspect of iBoff’s solution is that once the SSD slot is installed, no additional micro-soldering is required. In his video, he demonstrates upgrading a 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 chip, increasing storage from 256GB to an incredible 2TB.

After changing the drivers, iBoff uses Apple Configurator to restore the computer, thus completing the update process. The upgrade doesn’t take up much additional space, allowing the MacBook Pro to be closed normally.

Furthermore, iBoff demonstrates that the speed of the SSD remains unchanged, offering the same performance as Apple-soldered drives. Another significant benefit is improved repairability. If the integrated SSD modules fail, the MacBook will be unable to charge, a problem that can be overcome with this modification.

While installing the SSD slot isn’t a process that regular users can easily perform, iBoff’s demo proves that it’s technically possible for Apple to offer expandable SSDs in its MacBooks if it so chooses.