Does your hard drive need an upgrade? What you need to know

💡 Need to know

• An SSD upgrade is one of the biggest speed boosts you can make—Older hard drives are often the real reason computers feel painfully slow.
• Not all drives are compatible—Some laptops only support SATA drives, while newer systems may support faster NVMe SSDs.
• Cloning saves a lot of setup time—Copying your old drive first helps keep Windows®, apps, and files intact after the upgrade.
• Storage upgrades can extend a computer’s life—We regularly see older laptops feel dramatically faster after replacing aging drives.

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Every computer includes a storage drive to keep your important data safe—like your operating system, software programs, photos, and personal files. Unlike memory (RAM), which acts as your computer's short-term memory to handle tasks you are doing right this second, your hard drive houses the long-term data you want to save for later.

You may be wondering, “Do I need to upgrade my hard drive?" This is a question Asurion Experts hear often as they help millions of customers get the most out of their tech. Here's our guide on why and how to upgrade your computer's storage.

Signs you may need to upgrade your hard drive

If your computer has been running slow, or if you're getting annoying "Disk Space Low" notifications every time you try to download a file or back up your phone, your storage drive is likely hitting its limit.

While you can temporarily free up space by deleting old downloads or empty files, a drive that is filled to more than 85% capacity will naturally slow down your entire computer. Upgrading your storage gives your operating system the room it needs to breathe and process background files smoothly.

The two ways to upgrade your storage drive

Depending on your computer model and comfort level with tech hardware, there are two primary routes you can take:

1. Add an external drive (Easiest method)

External hard drives and portable external SSDs are incredibly simple to use. You just plug them into your laptop or desktop via a standard USB or USB-C cable. They act like giant thumb drives and are an inexpensive, hassle-free way to instantly offload massive photo folders, movie libraries, and system backups without touching a screwdriver.

2. Replace your internal drive (Maximum Performance)

If you want your actual computer to boot up faster and load apps in the blink of an eye, replacing your internal drive with a larger, faster drive is the ultimate solution.

• M.2 NVMe SSDs: This is what you want. They look like small sticks of gum, generate no noise, and transfer data up to ten times faster than older storage types. They slide directly into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.
• 2.5-inch SATA SSDs: These look like small, thin plastic bricks. They are slightly slower than NVMe drives but are great for older laptops or desktops that use traditional mounting bays.

Note: Swapping an internal drive requires copying (cloning) your old operating system data onto the new drive before the swap so your computer knows how to turn on. If opening up your device or managing data partitions sounds intimidating, a professional tech can handle the process safely.

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FAQ

What’s the difference between a SATA SSD and an NVMe M.2 SSD?

Both are much faster than traditional hard drives, but NVMe M.2 SSDs are significantly faster than SATA SSDs because they connect directly to the motherboard.

Will replacing my internal drive delete Windows or macOS?

Yes—unless you clone the old drive first. Otherwise, you’ll need to reinstall the operating system after installing the new drive.

Can I run games or large apps from an external hard drive?

You can, but traditional external HDDs are often much slower. For gaming or video editing, an external SSD usually performs much better.

Is upgrading to an SSD worth it?

Absolutely. SSD upgrades are one of the biggest performance improvements you can make to an older computer.

How do I know if my computer supports an NVMe SSD?

Check your laptop or motherboard specs. Some older computers only support SATA drives, while newer systems often support both SATA and NVMe.