How to Upgrade a Mini PC’s RAM and SSD: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Adding memory or a bigger SSD is the cheapest way to make a mini PC last longer, and on most models it takes about fifteen minutes with a small screwdriver. The catch is that many recent mini PCs have soldered memory that can’t be changed. This guide shows how to check what your model allows, which RAM and SSD to buy, and how to do the upgrade without losing your data or your Windows installation.

By StéphaneUpdated Oct 12, 202611 min read

Can you upgrade your mini PC?

You can upgrade the memory only if it sits in SO-DIMM slots; soldered LPDDR memory is fixed for life. The SSD can be replaced or added on almost every mini PC, because nearly all of them use M.2 slots.

The quickest check is the spec sheet or the Amazon listing: “DDR5 SO-DIMM, 2 slots, up to 96GB” means upgradeable; “LPDDR5X” or “onboard memory” means soldered. Soldered memory is faster and more efficient, which is why the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Strix Halo chips use it, but you must choose the capacity when you buy.

Also check the warranty terms. Most brands allow memory and SSD upgrades, and in the US the FTC has warned companies that “warranty void if removed” stickers generally can’t be used to deny coverage. Still, damage you cause while opening the case isn’t covered, so take your time.

Which RAM should you buy?

Buy the same memory type as your mini PC (almost always DDR5 SO-DIMM today, DDR4 on older models), in a matched pair of two identical modules, at the speed your processor supports (DDR5-5600 for recent Ryzen chips).

• Type: DDR5 SO-DIMM (262 pins) and DDR4 SO-DIMM (260 pins) are not interchangeable; the notch is in a different place. Laptop memory is SO-DIMM, so “laptop RAM” fits.
• Two identical modules: filling both slots enables dual channel, which nearly doubles memory bandwidth. It matters most for integrated graphics: a Radeon 780M with a single module loses a large share of its gaming performance.
• Speed: faster modules work but run at the speed the processor supports. Mini PC BIOSes rarely offer XMP or EXPO, so don’t pay extra for gaming kits.
• Capacity: 16GB is the minimum for Windows 11 in 2026, 32GB is the comfortable choice for most people, 64GB suits virtual machines and heavy editing, and 96–128GB is for local AI models or home labs. Check your model’s official maximum; 2 × 64GB kits work in many recent mini PCs, but not all.
• Intel N-series: the N100, N150 and N97 support a single memory channel. Intel lists 16GB as the maximum; many owners run 32GB, but it isn’t guaranteed.

Matched DDR5 pair

Crucial 32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM kit (2 × 16GB)

A 2 × 16GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM kit that also runs at 5200 or 4800 if your processor requires it: the standard 32GB upgrade for Ryzen and Intel Core mini PCs.

Check current price on Amazon

Memory32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM

Pros

• Matched pair for dual channel
• Runs at lower speeds automatically
• Wide compatibility

Cons

• Brand discontinued: stock is limited
• Prices up sharply in 2026

For older DDR4 mini PCs (many Intel 10th–12th gen and Ryzen 5000 models), the same rules apply with DDR4 SO-DIMM at 3200 MHz: for example the Crucial 16GB DDR4 kit or the Corsair 32GB DDR4 kit.

Which SSD should you buy?

Buy an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD; PCIe 4.0 is the right generation for nearly every mini PC from 2022 onward. Check the length and the PCIe generation of a second slot before buying, because some are shorter (2230 or 2242) or slower.

• Length: the four digits are the size: 2280 is 22 mm wide and 80 mm long. Second slots in compact models are often 2242 or 2230 (the GEEKOM A9 Max’s second slot, for example, is 2230).
• Generation: a PCIe 5.0 SSD runs at PCIe 4.0 speed in a mini PC and gets hotter; it’s money wasted. PCIe 3.0 drives are fine for a second storage drive.
• Thickness: remove any large heatsink; mini PCs use a thin thermal pad or a metal cover instead. Single-sided drives are safer in thin cases.
• Capacity: 1TB is the practical minimum for Windows and apps; 2TB or more for games, photo libraries or local AI models (a single large model can take 40GB or more).

Fast PCIe 4.0

Samsung 990 PRO

A top PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with consistent speed under load, a good main drive for gaming and editing.

Check current price on Amazon

StorageM.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe

Pros

• Among the fastest PCIe 4.0 drives
• Samsung Data Migration for easy cloning
• Versions without heatsink fit mini PCs

Cons

• More than most mini PC users need
• Buy the version without heatsink

Gaming drive

WD Black SN850X

A fast PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD sold up to 8TB, a good choice for a large game or media library in a mini PC.

Check current price on Amazon

StorageM.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe

Pros

• High capacities available
• Fast in games and file copies

Cons

• Avoid the heatsink version in mini PCs

Budget second drive

Crucial P3

A PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD for storage rather than speed: fine as a second drive for documents, media or backups.

Check current price on Amazon

StorageM.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 NVMe

Pros

• Low cost per terabyte
• Low heat

Cons

• Slower on long transfers (QLC memory)
• Brand discontinued: stock is limited

Your old SSD needn’t go to waste: in a USB enclosure such as the UGREEN NVMe enclosure it becomes a fast portable drive for backups. More options on our external storage page.

Before you start

Back up your files, save your BitLocker recovery key, shut the mini PC down completely and unplug it. You need a small Phillips screwdriver (PH0 or PH1) and, ideally, a plastic opening tool.

1. Back up anything you can’t lose, even for a RAM upgrade.
2. Save your BitLocker recovery key. Many Windows 11 PCs encrypt the drive automatically. After a hardware change, Windows may ask for the 48-digit key at startup. Find it at account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey or in Settings › Privacy & security › Device encryption, and write it down.
3. Download your mini PC’s manual to see where the screws and slots are. Some models hide screws under the rubber feet; others have a magnetic or snap-on lid.
4. Shut down fully (Shift + Shut down in Windows), unplug the power adapter and every cable, then press the power button once to drain residual power.
5. Discharge static by touching a metal object, and work on a hard, clean surface rather than carpet.

How to replace the RAM, step by step

Open the case, release the two clips on each side of the old module, insert the new module at a 30-degree angle until the gold contacts disappear, press it down until it clicks, then close the case and let the first boot finish.

1. Open the case. Remove the bottom screws (or lift the lid), and gently lift the cover. Watch for a Wi-Fi antenna or SSD cable attached to the lid; don’t pull on it.
2. Remove the old modules. Push the two metal clips at the ends of a module outward; it pops up at an angle. Slide it out.
3. Insert the new module. Line up the notch with the slot key, push the module in at about 30 degrees until the contacts are almost fully inside, then press it down flat until both clips snap in. Repeat for the second slot (start with the lower module if they are stacked).
4. Close the case without pinching any cable, and reconnect the power and a monitor.
5. Wait during the first boot. DDR5 systems train the new memory at the first start: the screen can stay black for one to several minutes. Don’t switch off; it happens only once.
6. Check the result. In Task Manager › Performance › Memory, check the total, the speed and “Slots used: 2 of 2”.

How to add or replace the SSD, step by step

To add storage, fit the new SSD in a free M.2 slot and initialize it in Windows. To replace the main drive, either clone the old SSD to the new one first, or install Windows fresh on the new drive; Windows reactivates automatically on the same mini PC.

1. Choose clone or fresh install. Cloning keeps everything as it is: connect the new SSD in a USB enclosure (or in the free slot) and copy the old drive with Samsung Data Migration (for Samsung drives) or Clonezilla. A fresh install is cleaner: create a USB installer with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
2. Open the case as for the RAM. The SSD is a small card held by a single screw or a plastic latch, sometimes under a metal cover or a fan bracket.
3. Remove the old SSD (if replacing it): unscrew it; it lifts to an angle; slide it out. Keep the thermal pad if there is one.
4. Insert the new SSD at an angle into the M.2 slot, press it flat and secure it with the screw or latch. Don’t overtighten.
5. Put the thermal pad and cover back, close the case and reconnect.
6. Boot. For a cloned drive, Windows starts as before (enter the BitLocker key if asked). For a fresh install, boot from the USB installer (usually F7, F11 or F12 at startup) and install on the new drive.
7. Set up a second drive. If you added a drive, open Disk Management (right-click Start), initialize it as GPT, then create a “New Simple Volume” to see it in File Explorer.

Troubleshooting

A black screen after a RAM change is usually memory training (wait) or a module not fully seated (reseat it). A new SSD that doesn’t appear usually just needs initializing in Disk Management.

FAQ

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