Upgrade macOS Disk to New HDD/SSD with Complete Guide in 2024

Updated by

Tracy King 

Updated on Dec 23, 2024

Upgrading your macOS disc can unlock a world of advantages, from increased speed and storage to access to the latest macOS features. Whether you want to increase storage capacity or ensure your Mac can run more recent apps is frequently the best course of action.

It's important to safeguard your important information before you start. To prevent any data loss during the upgrade, you must make a backup of everything on your existing macOS disc. You can use Time Machine or another trustworthy backup technique to protect your files.

Ready to get started? Follow this comprehensive guide for a smooth and successful macOS disk upgrade.

Prepare All Necessities for macOS Disk Upgrade.

Gather these essentials before upgrading your macOS disc to ensure a smooth and successful process. This checklist will help you prevent interruptions and safeguard your data during the upgrade.

These preparations will streamline your macOS disc upgrade, ensuring a smoother transition and safeguarding your data. When everything is set, you can start the upgrade process!

Connect New HDD/SSD to Mac and Format It to APFS

To begin the macOS upgrade, plug your new HDD or SSD into your Mac with the USB enclosure. After connecting, you should format the disc to APFS (Apple File System). This format is designed for macOS and works better, especially with SSDs. Follow these simple steps to format your new disc:

• Insert the new HDD or SSD into the USB enclosure and plug it into your Mac’s USB port.
• Open Disk Utility and go to Finder > Applications > Utilities.
• In Disk Utility, under the "External"  section, locate your new HDD or SSD on the left sidebar.
• Click on the new disk, then select Erase from the top menu.
• In the pop-up window, set Format to APFS and choose a name for the disk. 
• Confirm the action by clicking Erase to begin formatting.

• Once the formatting process is complete, the disk will appear as APFS-formatted in Disk Utility.

After formatting it to APFS, your new disc will be ready for macOS installation. Follow the guide for a successful upgrade!

Clone macOS Disk to New HDD/SSD

EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, with its Clone function, makes cloning your macOS disc to a new HDD or SSD straightforward. This program enables you to easily clone your macOS CD to a new drive, saving time and ensuring all data and settings are transferred.

Instead of interrupting the cloning process, let it finish to avoid losing data or having issues. Carefully follow the guide below to ensure a smooth transfer:

Step 1. Install and connect another new disk to Mac computer, run EaseUS Partition Master for Mac, then, click "Clone" under the Abilities section. Click the "+" icon to browse and locate the macOS disk and target new disk.

Step 2. Select the Source and the Destination disk and click "Select" to confirm.

Step 3. Confirm if you've selected the correct macOS OS disk and the new target disk you'd like to clone and upgrade the macOS disk to. Then, click "Start" and click "Yes" to confirm if EaseUS Partition Master for Mac requests you to confirm the operation.

Step 4. Wait patiently and let EaseUS Partition Master for Mac to complete cloning the old macOS disk to the new target disk.  

With EaseUS Partition Master and its dependable cloning feature, you can easily upgrade your macOS disc and get started on your new drive quickly! If you like this cloning feature, share this guide online to help more Mac owners upgrade their macOS disk with ease:

Open Mac and Install a New HDD or SSD to the Computer

After you have cloned macOS onto your new HDD or SSD, installing it directly into your Mac is the next step. These steps will help you safely open your Mac and replace the old disc with the new one you prepared.

Take your time with each step in this guide to prevent any harm to your device. The instructions are simple for everyone, no matter their experience level.

• Shut down your Mac.
• Remove the screws on the back panel using a P5 Pentalobe and T5 Torx screwdriver and gently lift off the back cover.
• Find the current HDD or SSD, typically held in place with screws. Carefully unscrew them, then disconnect the drive.
• Place the new disk in the same slot and connect it. Secure it with screws and ensure that it's perfectly placed.
• Reattach the back cover and tighten the screws after the disk is placed correctly.

Reassemble your Mac and power it on to enjoy your improved disc! Complete the setup using the remaining steps in this guide.

Close Mac Computer and Clean Old Mac Disk for New Usage

Now that your new HDD or SSD is installed, it's time to close up your Mac and prepare the old disk for future use. Follow these steps to finish the upgrade process smoothly.

Step 1. Close and Reboot Your Mac

• Reattach the back cover and secure it with screws, ensuring it's tightly closed.

• Power on your Mac and let it boot into macOS from the newly installed disk. Confirm that everything is working correctly, and check your files and applications.

Step 2. Prepare the Old Disk for New Usage

• Place the old macOS disk into the USB enclosure and connect it to your Mac.
• Open Disk Utility by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Erase the Old Disk: in Disk Utility, select the old disk from the sidebar under the "External" section.
• Click Erase, set the format to APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) (based on intended use), and give it a new name.
• Confirm by clicking Erase to wipe the disk, making it ready for storage or any other purpose.

These steps will upgrade your MacOS disc and prepare the old drive for new purposes. With your upgraded Mac, you'll have more storage and speed! That's the complete process for upgrading the macOS disk drive on your own. If you like this guide, share it online to help more Mac owners upgrade their disk drives like an expert in simple clicks:

Conclusion

Your macOS CD can be upgraded easily. The thorough instructions above will help you navigate the procedure easily and confidently. New HDDs and SSDs can expand Mac performance, storage, and functionality.

To sum up, back up your vital files before upgrading your macOS disc, and make sure the new HDD or SSD has more storage capacity than your present disc and is compatible with your Mac model.

Use dependable software like EaseUS Partition Master for Mac to clone your macOS to the new drive quickly. Proceed slowly with cloning and installation. Avoid interruptions to save data. Follow the upgrading instructions at each stage for a smooth transfer. Check that your Mac boots from the new disc and that all apps and data are intact after installation.

Using these tips, you can upgrade your macOS disc and boost your Mac's performance and capacity. Now that you have the skills to finish this procedure, start your upgrade trip!

FAQs of macOS Disk Upgrade

1. When should I change my Mac disk?

Mac disc replacement is necessary for performance and storage. Key upgrade indicators: If you often get low disc space warnings, your storage is low. Upgrade to a bigger HDD or SSD to fix this.

• Slow Mac systems often signal outdated discs. Moving to an SSD can speed up boot times and improve responsiveness.
• A failing hard disc can cause frequent crashes or unexpected behavior. Replacing it protects data and restores reliability.

Before upgrading your operating system, make sure your disc matches the requirements. This can improve performance, and increasing your disc capacity can allow you to store more large files. These variables will assist you in deciding when to replace your Mac disc.

2. How to download macOS Sonoma?

Here is how you can download macOS Sonoma:

• Make sure macOS Sonoma is compatible with your Mac.
• To protect sensitive files, use a time machine or another backup technique.
• Choose App Store by clicking the Apple menu in the upper-left corner.
• In the search bar, type "macOS Sonoma" and hit Enter.
•  Click the Download icon.
•  Double-click the installer in the Applications folder and follow the instructions.
• Adjust your preferences after allowing your Mac to restart to complete the installation multiple times. 

Following these instructions, you can quickly download and install macOS Sonoma on your Mac. Savour the new features!

3. Can a Mac HDD be changed with a SSD?

Yes, a Mac HDD can be changed with an SSD. Changing from an HD to an SSD will improve your Mac's speed and give you faster application loading and boot times. Before starting the upgrade, make sure your Mac model is compatible.