Dell XPS 13 SSD Replacement

Written By: The Raptor
  • Comments: 37
Dell XPS 13 SSD Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

15 minutes

Introduction

This guide shows how to replace the SSD in the Dell XPS 13. If your old SSD still works, be sure to create a full backup or clone the drive before you begin. You can use this guide either to upgrade to a higher-capacity drive, or to replace a faulty drive. If you install a blank SSD, you’ll need to reinstall Windows (or the OS of your choice) when you’re done with the repair.

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    • Remove the eight 4 mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom cover.

    Missing a step about removing the tiny Phillips head screw under the XPS flip up cover in the middle. Also, there are hooks all the way around the cover so it doesn’t simply lift off.

    curtis_p_brown -

    What about step 3???

    Peter Hecht -

    Please dont hurry , take your Time to follow this procedure. It takes 20 min (not 5) and step 4 requires half of this Time. Good luck.

    Peter Hecht -

    +1 Peter Hecht is right - getting the little clips the back is snapped on with is time consuming and a bit fiddly for people not used to “spudging” off covers. Starting from the back is the key those come loose much easier and help with the rest

    Doug Steinschneider -

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    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry open the 'XPS' flap in the middle.

    No flap or screw on the XPS 9370, just a press-fit latch at the centre of the cover. This can be gently prised off.

    Alan Thomas -

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    • Remove the single Phillips screw hidden beneath the flap.

    XPS 13 9370 doesn't have it.

    Kes Bond -

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    • Use opening picks or a plastic pry tool to pry open the case clips, beginning from the back edge.

    It’s not that easy to lift actually, cause there are latches. Had t release them gently all around beforehand.

    Davit Barbakadze -

    Also there’s one additional screw under that plate on the bottom!

    Davit Barbakadze -

    Maybe the later models are different, since it should be from the front: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFIE2SKs...

    shigmas -

    Very difficult step, Proceed very carefull

    Peter Hecht -

    If you are replacing the battery of a 9360 or latter (2016 onward) make sure to do the FRONT first. There are latches on the back that you may break if you try to force it open that way. After prying up the front and the sides, just lift up the front like you would open a hinged box. You shouldn’t feel that much resistance as the back hinges off towards you after you’ve lifted it around 30-40 degrees.

    Giacomo P -

    Very easy with XPS 13 9370 - just used my nails (rather short!)

    Kes Bond -

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    • Remove the bottom cover.

    good evening, is there a site that sells the back part because it's broken

    marios cocka -

    good evening, is there a site that sells the

    back part because it's broken

    marios cocka -

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    • Pull the battery cable connector towards the battery to disconnect it from its socket.

    • If the connector is stubborn, push a little at one side, then the other, to "walk" it out of its socket.

    • If you have trouble walking the connector out of the socket, use the point of a spudger to gently push on the connector indent to slide the connector out.

    • Do not pull up.

    • Open the display and press the power button for five seconds to drain any remaining charge from the system.

    DO NOT OPEN THE DISPLAY!!! When I did, on my Dell XPS 13 9360, I cracked something in the top right corner where the power button is, and the plastic part of the button came out. I can still press it, but there is now a gap there and dust can get it.

    Asher Grossman -

    I opened they display, very carefull. No problem. Open just enough to press they button.

    Peter Hecht -

    Take care on later models. This is not a breakdown for the 9360, I learned that the hard way.

    Giacomo P -

    Agree with Asher Grossman, open at your peril!

    James White -

    First put the bottom cover back, with 4 screws, one at each corner. Then you can safely open the display and press the button. Then close the display and take the bottom cover off again.

    Patrick Bower -

    I did not do the open display and drain the battery because I did not understand this part and I know my battery was essentially dead, hence why I ordered one. Did everything else and voila! Works perfectly!

    Terri DiChito -

    Opening the display worked fine for me, but when I closed it again, something definitely didn’t quite go right – I think it was trying to push against the missing back cover. I managed to carefully close the display by pushing against the metal corner thingy that was meant to push against the cover, and so far the laptop still seems to work, but I concur with Asher and James, be careful at least. Patrick’s suggestion sounds great if I’d seen it in time :)

    Lucas Werkmeister -

    Ich konnte den Stecker schliesslich mit Hilfe einer Plektren sehr gut entfernen. Das Display habe ich nicht geöffnet.

    Ursulina Kölbener -

    Much better to ensure the old battery is fully depleted (unplug from mains & switch on & let it expire) before you begin replacement.

    This allows you to leave the unit face down whilst you work on replacing the battery.

    duncan cresswell -

    NO PROBLEMS with lifting the main body while the laptop is upside down, to reach the power button (XPS 13 9370). Also no problems with closing.

    Kes Bond -

    I confirm Duncan Cresswell's method. Let your old battery discharge completely until your laptop turns off by itself. This does require some patience. It took longer than expected to use up the last procent of the battery but it worked.

    NeoK -

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    • Remove the black, 4 mm Phillips screw securing the SSD.

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    • Slide the SSD out of its socket.

    • Try not to lift the SSD any more than necessary.

    • During reassembly, make sure the slot in the SSD lines up with the slot in its socket. Do not touch the gold-colored contacts with your fingers.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

The Raptor

Member since: 28/11/16

6219 Reputation

12 comments

I’m kinda new on pc upgrading. So once I install a new m.2 I’ll need to install a new window 10 right

burin.int -

Yes, you have to install windows again. or you can clone your existing ssd onto the new one using some adapters easily found online

Anirban Mukherjee -

You will have to reinstall unless you are buying a samsung m.2 which comes with a disk duplicator utility. The xps 13 cames with a samsung early life evo disk (128GB) and transferring from 1 evo to another is very easy with the app. I believe its the same with every disk though I havent tried the latter.

kamathmanoj -

Dell has some nice recovery tools:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us...

I downloaded a recovery image to use from a USB drive. I am using it to reinstall the Windows that came with the PC. You don't have to be the original owner but you do need to have the Dell asset number usually stored in the bios

Justin Vander Ziel -

My screws were a T6 not T5 and it took about 20 minutes not 15. I suspect different versions of the XPS 13 have different screws etc. mines a 9370.

it would have been helpful if the guide title or preamble mentioned the specific model these instructions were written against.

The process was the same though and the guide helpful, thanks!

Laurence Hurst -

I viewed another video before this one and was surprised to learn how easily the back snapped off after removing all of the screws and following the instructions to start near the back. Nice

Justin Vander Ziel -

Back up your data: Before you begin, make sure you have backed up all your important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Shut down your laptop and unplug it from the power source.

Open the laptop: Use a Torx screwdriver to remove the screws on the bottom of the laptop. You may need to use a plastic spudger tool to pry open the bottom cover.

Locate the SSD: The SSD is a small rectangular chip connected to the motherboard. It may be covered by a metal shield or tape.

Remove the SSD: Unscrew any screws holding the metal shield or tape in place. Gently lift the SSD out of its socket, being careful not to bend any pins.

Install the new SSD: Carefully insert the new SSD into the socket, making sure it's properly aligned. Tighten any screws or clips to secure the SSD in place.

Close the laptop: Replace the bottom cover and secure it with screws.

Power on the laptop: Plug in the power source and turn on the laptop. Check to make sure the new SSD is detected in the BIOS.

AJEFFERY95 -

check this here: Back up your data: Before you begin, make sure you have backed up all your important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Shut down your laptop and unplug it from the power source.

Open the laptop: Use a Torx screwdriver to remove the screws on the bottom of the laptop. You may need to use a plastic spudger tool to pry open the bottom cover.

Locate the SSD: The SSD is a small rectangular chip connected to the motherboard. It may be covered by a metal shield or tape.

Remove the SSD: Unscrew any screws holding the metal shield or tape in place. Gently lift the SSD out of its socket, being careful not to bend any pins.

Install the new SSD: Carefully insert the new SSD into the socket, making sure it's properly aligned. Tighten any screws or clips to secure the SSD in place.

Close the laptop: Replace the bottom cover and secure it with screws.

Power on the laptop: Plug in the power source and turn on the laptop. Check to make sure the new SSD is detected in the BIOS.

AJEFFERY95 -

Hey, thanks for the help. What's the max SSD capacity allowed on this XPS model ?

Pascal Pascal -

Is it true this doesn't work for the 9315 because the SSD is soldered to the motherboard?

XPSERIC -