Want to upgrade the SSD on your XPS 15 laptop for better performance? Learn how to swap SSD without reinstalling Windows and all your apps from this page.
Dell XPS 15 is a versatile and high-performance laptop that caters to the needs of professionals, creatives, and demanding users alike. Although Dell XPS 15 is already equipped with an SSD, you may still want to upgrade it for two reasons: more storage and more speed.
Upgrading to a higher-capacity SSD or opting for a model with faster read and write speeds can significantly reduce loading times, improve multitasking capabilities, and enhance overall system responsiveness. Then, how to do Dell XPS 15 SSD upgrade? Please read on.
In this part, I’ll list the tools you need to upgrade Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD:
With all things prepared, you can start upgrading your Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD.
To migrate everything from the old SSD to a new SSD and make it bootable, you need to use effective disk cloning software, because Windows itself lacks this feature. Here I recommend AOMEI Backupper Professional for its simplicity and efficiency:
✧ It can clone larger drive to smaller drive with intelligent clone, or make an exact copy of the source disk with sector-by-sector clone. ✧ "SSD Alignment" feature optimizes SSD performance by ensuring all partitions fit snugly onto the new SSD. ✧ Supporting a wide array of SSD brands and models, including Samsung, Crucial, and WD, as well as various interfaces like SATA and M.2 NVMe. ✧ Its intuitive interface makes operations a breeze, catering to both seasoned users and novices alike.
Download this SSD cloning software immediately!
Easiest hard drive clone software for Windows PC.
Now follow the guidance below to clone old SSD to new SSD:
1. Attach the new SSD to your laptop using the external enclosure you prepared.
2. Install and open AOMEI Backupper. In the main interface, click on the Clone tab and then select Disk Clone.
3. Select your current SSD as the disk you want to clone from and choose the new SSD as the destination disk to clone to.
4. Check SSD Alignment box to speed up the target SSD as well as prolong its service life. Click on Start Clone to begin the cloning process. AOMEI Backupper will start copying data from the source SSD to the target SSD.
After data migration, you can replace the old SSD with the new SSD.
1. Power down your laptop and unplug it from the power adapter.
2. Place the XPS 15 face down. Remove the 10 Torx head screws from the bottom edges and 2 Philips head screws in the center.
3. Pry the cover off gently using a pry tool.
4. Remove the placement screw at the base of the SSD. Gently peel off the gum-like insulation material. (Don't throw it away, as we’ll reuse it later.)
5. Gently lift the old SSD at a 20-degree angle and slide it out. Then insert the new SSD firmly into the slot at the same 20-degree angle.
6. Lay down the new SSD, replace the placement screw and reapply the insulation.
7. Position the laptop's base panel in place and replace the 12 screws.
1. Press the power button in the top right corner to boot the laptop.
2. Immediately press and hold F12 until the Boot Menu appears.
3. Use the arrow keys to select the new SSD to boot from it.
If you upgrade Dell XPS 15 SSD to a Samsung SSD, you’d better switch to AHCI. Dell ships the XPS 15 (9570) SSD in a RAID configuration for the controller while Samsung SSDs work better under AHCI.
The problem is you cannot just switch to AHCI in the BIOS and then boot straight to Windows 10 – the OS will not load the driver because it's already in use. How to get it around? Follow these steps:
1. Enable Windows 10 Safe Mode for next reboot.
2. Turn RAID off and enable AHCI in the BIOS.
3. Disable boot into Safe Mode.
4. Reboot into regular Windows 10. Your SSD is now running in AHCI mode, and you can go ahead and install Samsung's drivers and software.
That’s all about how to perform Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD upgrade. The whole process seems complicated, but the rewards may be worth it. The best disk cloning software AOMEI Backupper can save you from the trouble of reinstalling Windows from scratch. Actually, it can do much more than disk cloning. For example, it enables you to auto sync files to external hard drive. Don’t hesitate to try it out!