Are you running out of space on your laptop? Photos are not saved, games are not installed, and the system constantly gives warnings about the disk being full? This problem is familiar to every second user - according to Statista, 47% of laptop owners experience memory shortages in the first 3 years of use. But don’t rush to buy a new device: in 90% of cases, the disk can be expanded without replacing the device.

In this article we will analyze all current ways to increase memory — from upgrading a physical drive to software solutions. You will learn how to choose SSD or HDD for a specific laptop model, what tools to use to clone the system, and why it is sometimes more profitable to rent cloud storage instead of buying a new disk. And also - let's expose the myth about "magic disk cleanup utilities" that often only make the problem worse.

1. Replacing the HDD with an SSD or a larger disk: step-by-step guide

The most radical, but also effective way is to physically replace the old disk. Modern SSD (For example, Samsung 980 Pro or WD Black SN850X) not only increase the volume, but also speed up the laptop by 3-5 times. However, there are nuances here: not all models support NVMe-storage drives, and in some laptops the drive is soldered to the motherboard (as in MacBook Air M1/M2 or Dell XPS 13 9310).

Before purchasing a new drive, check:

  • 🔍 Connection type: SATA III (up to 600 MB/s), PCIe 3.0 x4 (up to 3500 MB/s) or PCIe 4.0 x4 (up to 7000 MB/s). You can find out through Device Manager → Disk Devices or utility CrystalDiskInfo.
  • 📏 Form factor: 2.5" (standard for laptops), M.2 2242/2280 (for ultrabooks). Measure the old drive or check the model specifications on the manufacturer's website.
  • 🔧 Removability: On some laptops (eg Asus ZenBook or HP Spectre) the disk is hidden under the back cover, which is difficult to remove without special tools.

If the disk is removable, follow the algorithm:

  1. Download Macrium Reflect Free or Clonezilla to clone the system.
  2. Connect the new drive via USB-SATA adapter or insert into the second slot (if available).
  3. Start cloning (in Macrium: Select source disk → Clone this disk → specify the target drive → click Next).
  4. Once complete (may take 1-3 hours), replace the drives and boot from the new one.

Check the compatibility of the new drive with your laptop|

Back up your important data to an external drive|

Prepare a screwdriver with a magnetic tip (for screws T5/T6)|

Unplug the laptop and remove the battery (if removable)|

Download a bootable USB flash drive from Windows in case cloning fails -->

⚠️ Attention: If your laptop is older than 2015, when replacing HDD on SSD may be required BIOS update for support NVMe. For example, in Lenovo ThinkPad T440 Without a BIOS update, the new disk will not be detected.

2. Adding a second drive: when possible and beneficial

Many laptops (especially gaming or business class) have a second slot for HDD/SSD. This allows you to leave the old disk with the system and add an additional one for files. For example, in MSI GE76 Raider or Acer Predator Helios 300 there is room for a second one M.2 NVMe and even 2.5" SATA.

How to check the presence of a second slot:

  • 🖥️ Go to Device Manager → Disk Devices — if there is unallocated space, the slot is free.
  • 🔎 Look at the model specifications on the manufacturer’s website (section Storage or Expansion).
  • 🛠️ Remove the back cover (if it is removable) and visually inspect the motherboard.

If there is a slot, buy the disk and install it:

  1. Turn off the laptop, remove the battery (if possible).
  2. Insert the new drive into the slot (for M.2 - at an angle of 30° and secure with a screw).
  3. Turn on your laptop, go to Disk management (Win + X → Disk Management).
  4. Find a new drive (marked as Not distributed), right click → Create a simple volume.
Laptop type Probability of second slot Max. second disk capacity Examples of models
Gaming 90% 2–4 TB ASUS ROG Strix, MSI GT77, Alienware m16
Business class 70% 1–2 TB Lenovo ThinkPad P1, Dell Latitude 9430, HP EliteBook
Ultrabooks 30% 512 GB–1 TB Apple MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13, Huawei MateBook X Pro
Budget 10% 256–512 GB Acer Aspire 3, Lenovo IdeaPad 3, HP 250 G8
📊 What type of laptop do you have?
  • Gaming
  • Business class
  • Ultrabook
  • Budget
  • Other

3. Using an external SSD/HDD: pros and pitfalls

If upgrading the internal drive is not possible (for example, in MacBook Air or Surface Pro), an external drive will be your salvation. Modern SSD with interface USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (For example, Samsung T7 Shield) provide speeds of up to 2000 MB/s - this is enough to run games or work with videos.

How to choose an external drive:

  • 🚀 For speed: SSD with USB-C/Thunderbolt (For example, SanDisk Extreme Pro or LaCie Rugged SSD Pro).
  • 💾 For archive: HDD volume 4–5 TB (for example, WD My Passport or Seagate Backup Plus).
  • 🔒 For safety: models with hardware encryption (Apacer AC233 or Kingston IronKey).

To make an external drive work like an internal one:

  1. Connect it to your laptop.
  2. Open Disk management (Win + X → Disk Management).
  3. Find the disk, right-click → Change drive letter or drive path.
  4. Assign a letter (for example, D:) and format in NTFS.
⚠️ Attention: Some laptops (eg MacBook with chip M1/M2) do not support NTFS for recording. In this case, format the disk to exFAT or use Paragon NTFS for Mac.
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If the external drive will be used for games, install them via Steam Library Folders: Settings → Downloads → Steam Folders → Add Folder and specify the path to the external drive.

4. Optimizing the current drive: what really works

Before purchasing a new drive, try to free up space on your current one. But forget about “magic cleaners” like CCleaner - They often delete critical files. Instead:

Effective methods:

  • 🗑️ Cleaning system junk: run the built-in utility cleanmgr (click Win + R, enter cleanmgr → select drive C:).
  • 🎮 Transferring games: in Steam or Epic Games you can specify a different installation folder (even to an external drive).
  • 📁 Compressing Old Files: right click on the folder → Properties → Advanced → Compress Content.
  • ☁️ Cloud storage: Transfer photos/videos to Google Drive or iCloud, leaving only shortcuts on the disk (Files on request in OneDrive).

For deep cleaning use WinDirStat or TreeSize - they will show which files take up the most space. For example, folder C:\Windows\SoftWareDistribution (update cache) can weigh 10+ GB, and C:\Users\Name\AppData\Local\Temp - up to 5 GB.

How to remove unnecessary Windows update files

Open Settings → System → Memory → Temporary files → check Cleaning Windows Updates → click Delete files. This will free up to 20 GB of space, but do not delete the folder WinSxS by hand!

5. Cloud solutions: when are they more profitable than a physical disk?

If you need to store large files (videos, backups, projects), but don’t want to buy a new drive, consider cloud services. For example, Google One for $10/month gives 2 TB, and Backblaze B2 — 10 TB for $5. It's cheaper than buying SSD for 4 TB for $300.

Comparison of popular services:

Service Cost 1 TB/month Max. download speed Features
Google One $9.99 Up to 1 Gbit/s Integration with Google Docs, family sharing
Backblaze B2 $5 Up to 10 Gbps No volume limit, download fee
pCloud $4.99 Up to 500 Mbit/s Lifetime subscription for $350 (2 TB)
Mega Free (20 GB) Up to 1 Gbit/s End-to-end encryption but limited traffic

How to connect the cloud as a local disk:

  1. Install the service client (for example, Google Drive for Desktop or Backblaze Drive).
  2. In settings select Synchronize with computer.
  3. Specify the folders to sync (for example, Documents or Downloads).
  4. B This computer a network drive will appear (for example, Google Drive (G:)).
⚠️ Attention: When using the cloud for games or programs (such as Adobe Photoshop) lags may occur due to low Internet speed. The best option is a hybrid solution: store frequently used files locally and archives in the cloud.

6. Alternative methods: RAID arrays and network attached storage (NAS)

For advanced users there are two more options:

1. RAID array (if the laptop has 2 disk slots):

  • 🔄 RAID 0: two disks work as one, the speed is doubled, but if one breaks, the data is lost.
  • 🛡️ RAID 1: data is duplicated on both disks (reliably, but volume = size of smaller disk).

You can configure RAID in the BIOS (section Storage Configuration) or through Windows Storage Spaces.

2. Network Attached Storage (NAS):

  • 🖧 Connect an external drive to the router or buy a ready-made solution (Synology DS220+, WD My Cloud).
  • 🌐 Access files from any device on the local network or via the Internet.
  • 🔄 Automatic backup from laptop according to schedule.

NAS is beneficial for a family or small business, but requires an initial investment ($200–$500). For example, Synology DS220j with two disks WD Red 4 TB will cost $400, but will provide 8 TB of protected storage.

💡

RAID arrays and NAS are suitable for stationary use only. For laptops that move frequently, it is better to choose an external SSD or the cloud.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to increase the disk drive on a laptop without replacing the physical drive?

Yes, there are several ways:

  • Add a second drive (if there is a slot).
  • Connect external SSD/HDD through USB-C/Thunderbolt.
  • Use cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive).
  • Optimize the current disk (remove junk, transfer files).

However, if there is less than 10% free space left on the disk, it is better to consider an upgrade.

Which disk to choose for replacement: SSD or HDD?

Depends on the tasks:

  • SSD: if you need speed (booting the system in 10 seconds, fast running of programs). Optimal for OS, games, video editing.
  • HDD: if you need a large volume for little money (for example, 4 TB for $80). Suitable for storing archives, films, photos.

For most users the best option is SSD for 1–2 TB (for example, Crucial P5 Plus or Samsung 970 EVO Plus).

What to do if the disk is soldered in the laptop?

In this case, physical replacement is not possible. Alternatives:

  1. Use external SSD with USB 3.2/Thunderbolt (speed up to 2000 MB/s).
  2. Connect to NAS or cloud storage.
  3. Optimize your current disk (remove unnecessary programs, transfer files to the cloud).

As a last resort, consider buying a new laptop with the ability to upgrade.

How to transfer the system to a new drive without reinstalling Windows?

Use cloning programs:

  1. Macrium Reflect Free: simple interface, supports UEFI And GPT.
  2. Clonezilla: free, but more difficult to use (requires knowledge about partitions).
  3. Acronis True Image: paid, but with automatic partition alignment.

Procedure:

  1. Connect the new drive via the adapter.
  2. Launch the cloning program and select the source/destination drives.
  3. Once complete, replace the drives and boot from the new one.
How much does it cost to increase the disk drive on a laptop?

Costs depend on the method:

Method Cost Examples
Replacement with SSD 1 TB $80–$150 Crucial P3, Kingston KC3000
External SSD 1 TB $100–$200 Samsung T7, SanDisk Extreme
Cloud storage 2 TB $5–$10/month Google One, Backblaze B2
Adding a Second Disk $50–$300 WD Blue SA510 (500 GB), Seagate FireCuda (2 TB)

The most budget option is optimizing the current disk (free). The most expensive is replacement with SSD large volume (for example, Samsung 990 Pro 4 TB costs ~$400).