This video guide shows how to install a new 2.5-inch SSD in a MacBook Pro 2011 notebook, but is applicable to almost any Mac laptop that accepts 2.5-inch storage devices. (Up to and including 2012 Macbook Pro)
This video is just about installing the hardware only. If you want to clone the data from your old hard drive onto the new SSD we recommend Carbon Copy Cloner or Superduper.
Note, before installing your SSD, it must be initialised. You can do this before you install the SSD in your system by connecting it to your computer with a cloning cable, then follow these steps (applicable to MacOS El Capitan or newer (version 10.11 or higher)).
How to Format your SSD
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Press command and space to open spotlight, then start typing Disk Utility, then choose the Disk Utility app.
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Once Disk Utility is open, you will see a message telling you that the SSD cannot be read by the computer.
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Click on the Initialise button that appears in the message and your SSD will be visible in Disk Utility.
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Click 'show all devices' on the top left
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Highlight your SSD (the very top option) and click the Erase button.
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Type in a name for the new partition (this where you’ll save data on the drive and it’ll be the name for your SSD).
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On the menu settings, verify that the partition is set to GUID Partition Table.
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Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled) for old systems pre High Sierra but for Macs with Catalina or above use APFS.
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Select Erase. The drive will now be partitioned, formatted, and ready for use.