Can You Upgrade RAM On A Laptop?

Not all laptops are upgradable. While most laptops do allow for memory and storage upgrades, you have to check in advance to be sure whether you can upgrade memory or not.

If your laptop comes with an easy access panel on the back, it is most likely that you can upgrade RAM on it. However, you have to be sure about it before you can proceed with the process.

Since you are reading this article, it must mean you are thinking about upgrading the memory on your laptop at home.

How To Check If You Can Upgrade RAM On Laptop?

The process of upgrading RAM is simple, but first, you need to make sure that the RAM is upgradable.

All laptops are not upgradable, and some won’t even allow you to open the back panel easily. Hence, you should be 100% sure before accessing the back panel whether the memory is upgradable or not.

The first method is easy. You can check for an easy-access panel at the back of your laptop that allows for memory and storage upgrades.

You don’t have to open the whole back panel in modern laptops as they come with a separate dedicated access panel for memory and storage so that you can easily access them, upgrade them, or replace them.

Secondly, you can check the manufacturer’s website to see if the laptop supports upgradability. Find out the specific model of your laptop from the System Information window and then you can search for your laptop on the internet.

Most of the time, you will be able to find out whether your laptop is upgradable or not from the official webpage of the manufacturer.

But, if you have trouble finding out, you can use dedicated online tools like the Crucial Upgrade Selector Tool at https://www.crucial.com/store/advisor.

Once you enter the make and model of your laptop on this website, it will tell you whether you can upgrade RAM or not.

Unfortunately, if your laptop comes with on-board memory, then you won’t be able to upgrade it. Similarly, if your laptop is already at its maximum memory limit, you cannot upgrade it.

On the other hand, if it has RAM slots, one or more, then you can upgrade RAM, if there is room for upgrade.

Also Read: How To Replace A Laptop Hard drive & Reinstall Operating System?

How To Upgrade RAM On Laptop? – A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you have ensured that your laptop is upgradable, you can purchase RAM or order it online and upgrade your laptop at home.

Let’s dive into a detailed step-by-step guide that will help you upgrade RAM on your laptop.

Step 1: Purchase RAM

First of all, you need to purchase RAM. If your laptop comes with 2 memory slots, it is recommended to install both memory sticks of the same speed and manufacturer as poorly matched memory sticks can reduce the overall performance of your system.

However, if the laptop has only one slot for memory, then you can get a single memory stick and it would be good since you will be replacing the whole RAM with a new one.

Step 2: Power Off Laptop & Access Memory Panel

Shut down your laptop and remove it from charging. Also, remove the battery if it is removable. Once you have removed the battery, press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds to remove any charge.

After that, you can access the back panel of the laptop. If your laptop comes with an easy-access panel, it will be easier to open it. However, if you have an older laptop, you might have to open the whole back panel.

In case of the latter, we recommend that you are extra careful as you will have to open a lot of screws, and also if you are doing it for the first time, it’s best to seek help from a professional.

Also Read: Best Gaming Laptops Under $400

Step 3: Install Memory

Now that the back panel is open, you will be able to see one or two memory slots installed on your laptop.

Depending on the laptop, you might have SO-DIMM sticks which can be easily removed and replaced.

Remove the clips from both sides and make sure you install the new memory sticks in the correct orientation.

After you have installed them, put the new clips in place to fix the memory sticks.

Step 4: Close The Access Panel

Next, you just have to install the back panel back on and put in the screws. The process is simple. Just do it the same way you undid it in the second step.

Step 5: Turn On The Laptop

Turn on the laptop and check to see if it is working properly. Go to system properties and see if the installed memory is showing up there.

If everything went well, the memory should appear in system properties and now you will be able to enjoy upgraded performance on your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to upgrade the RAM on every laptop?

No, it is not possible. Some laptops like Ultrabooks and Chromebooks come with on-board memory that is irreplaceable. Hence, if you have one of those laptops, you won’t be able to upgrade the RAM.

Is it possible to add faster RAM to a laptop?

Memory on laptops is backward compatible. So, even if you install faster memory, it will work. However, the speed of the system will show up in the installed module. Hence, you should only install memory that is specifically compatible with your laptop model.

Is 32 GB RAM overkill?

It depends on the specific requirements of your system. If you want to enjoy high-end gaming on your laptop then 32 GB is quite normal and you might even need to upgrade to 64 GB. However, for normal usage, even 16 GB is considered more than enough.

Wrapping Up!

Summing it all up, not all laptops come with upgradable memory. So, you will have to check to ensure whether you can upgrade the memory on your laptop or not.

The above guide mentions several methods to help you inspect whether the memory on your laptop is upgradable or not and also helps you with how you can upgrade memory. Good Luck!

Can You Upgrade RAM On A Laptop? – Ultimate Guide