Can I upgrade the memory or storage in my Mac?
Apple’s pages say the user can upgrade the memory in 7 of the 100 Macs on this site and that the user cannot in 83; for the other 10 they say nothing. For storage they say the user can in 2 Macs and cannot in 0; for the other 98 they say nothing.
Published · Figures read to
The basis
A value is “Yes” only where an Apple page says the user can add or replace the part: Apple’s install guides for iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro memory, its Mac Pro SSD module guides, or a Tech Specs page that calls the memory slots user accessible. It is “No” only where an Apple page says the part cannot be upgraded, is not removable by users or is not user-installable. Apple’s wording is quoted in the footnote to each value. Where Apple’s pages do not say, the cell is a dash, not a “No”: a Tech Specs page that lists options to configure with a Mac is not counted as a statement either way.
This page is about changing the memory or storage inside the Mac you have. Moving to a newer Mac is the subject of the Upgrade pages.
Every Mac 100 Macs
By release date, oldest first
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MemoryNo, as Apple documents12
- StorageNot available3
Sources
Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory ·
↩Apple: “Note: Apple laptops not listed in this table have non-removable memory.”
↩Apple’s Tech Specs page for the Mac and the Apple Support pages listed here do not say whether the user can upgrade its storage.
↩Apple Support (UK) — Install memory in an iMac ·
↩Apple: “Get the memory specifications for the following iMac models, then find out how to install memory in them:” “iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)”
↩Apple Support (UK) — Upgrade or install memory in your Mac mini ·
↩Apple: “Mac mini (Late 2014) has memory that is integrated into the main logic board and can’t be upgraded.”
↩Apple: “Memory in iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015), and iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015) is not upgradeable.”
↩Apple: “Get the memory specifications for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015), then find out how to install memory in this model.”
↩Apple: “Memory is not removable by users on iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014), iMac (21.5-inch, 2017), iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2017) and iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019).”
↩Apple: “Get the memory specifications for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), then find out how to install memory in this model.”
↩Apple’s Tech Specs page for the Mac and the Apple Support pages listed here do not say whether the user can upgrade its memory.
↩Apple: “Mac mini (2018) does not have user-installable RAM.”
↩Apple: “Get the memory specifications for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019), then find out how to install memory in this model.”
↩Apple Support (UK) — Install and replace memory in your Mac Pro (2019) ·
↩Apple: “Find out how to remove and install memory in your Mac Pro.” “You can purchase memory upgrade kits by visiting an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Reseller.” “Follow the steps to remove the housing on Mac Pro (2019) or the access door on Mac Pro (Rack, 2019).” Tech Specs page: “Configure up to 1.5TB of DDR4 ECC memory in 12 user-accessible DIMM slots”.
↩Apple: “Find out how to remove and install memory in your Mac Pro.” “You can purchase memory upgrade kits by visiting an Apple Store or Apple Authorised Reseller.” Tech Specs page: “Configure up to 1.5TB of DDR4 ECC memory in 12 user-accessible DIMM slots”.
↩Apple Support (UK) — Install or replace SSD modules in your Mac Pro (2019) ·
↩Apple: “Mac Pro supports up to one or two solid-state drive (SSD) modules, depending on the capacity.” “To install or replace the SSD modules in your Mac Pro, here’s what you need:”
↩Apple: “Get the memory specifications for iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020), then find out how to install memory in this model.”
↩Apple: “Memory is integrated into the Apple M-series chip package in Mac mini (M6), Mac mini (M5 Pro), Mac mini (2024), Mac mini (2023), and Mac mini (M1, 2020) and can’t be upgraded.”
↩Apple: “Memory is integrated into the Apple M-series chip package in 24-inch iMac models released in 2021 or later and can’t be upgraded.”
↩Apple Support (UK) — Install or replace SSD modules in your Mac Pro (2023) ·
↩Apple: “The solid-state drive (SSD) in Mac Pro is implemented as one or two storage modules depending on capacity.” “To install or replace the SSD modules in your Mac Pro, here’s what you need:”
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