Computers and electronics have been getting increasingly harder to repair and upgrade over the past decade or so, and that's especially true of tablets. But Microsoft has been bucking that trend for a while now, with every Surface Pro since the Surface Pro 7+ in early 2021 giving you the ability to easily remove the SSD so you can install a new one. This has held up all the way through the latest Surface Pro 11, and if you have any of these devices, replacing the SSD is a breeze. We're here to guide you through the process if you're unsure.

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What you'll need

The process of replacing the storage is essentially the same in all Surface Pro models that support it. Here is a list of all the Surface Pro models that have a replaceable SSD:

In addition to having one of these models, you'll also need the following equipment to replace the SSD:

  • An M.2 2230 SSD: This smaller SSD is less common than the typical M.2 2280 SSDs you'd find on most laptops and desktops. However, they're much more common these days thanks to devices like the Steam Deck.
  • Torx T3 screwdriver: This is a screwdriver that will let you remove the drive from the Surface Pro 9. You can buy a set on Amazon with the link below.
  • SIM ejection tool: This tool will let you open the door under the kickstand on the Surface Pro 9 5G model to access the SSD for removal.
  • USB drive with 32GB of capacity: This will be used to restore your Surface Pro to its original state. Recovery images vary in size, but 32GB will be enough for any device. In some cases, 16GB may be enough. We recommend getting a USB-C flash drive for ease of use, but you can also use a USB Type-A drive if you have an adapter.

Step 1: Create a recovery drive

Before even removing the SSD from your Surface Pro, you should create a recovery drive. You also should back up your personal files to the cloud or another external location other than the USB drive we're using for this guide. If you have an external SSD or HDD, you can use that. With that out of the way, let's create a recovery drive for your Surface Pro:

  1. Visit the Surface Recovery page. Scroll down to Select your Surface and select the Surface Pro model you have, then enter the serial number for your model. You can find it printed under the kickstand. Click Continue.
  2. Click the Download image link and wait for it to download. The file downloaded will be a ZIP file.
  3. Insert the USB drive into one of the USB ports on your Surface Pro.
  4. In the search box on the taskbar, type recovery drive, then select Create a recovery drive or Recovery Drive from the results.
  5. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
  6. Click Next, then select your USB drive from the list and choose Next followed by Create. The process will take a few minutes and your USB drive will be erased.
  7. When the recovery drive is ready, select Finish. Keep the flash drive plugged in.
  8. Find the file, and double-click the ZIP file that you previously downloaded to open it.
  9. Select all the files from the recovery image folder by hitting Ctrl + A on your keyboard.  Then, hit Ctrl + C to copy the files.
  10. Navigate to the USB drive and press Ctrl + V to paste the files into the USB recovery drive you created. When prompted, select Choose to replace the files in the destination.
  11. When the files have been copied over, remove the SSD from your Surface Pro 9 and turn off the system.

We suggest keeping the original SSD from your Surface Pro 9 as is and not erasing or resetting your Surface. This is so that you have a working Windows installation in case something goes wrong.

Step 2: Replace the SSD on your Surface Pro model

Surface Pro 9 storage slot

Now that you've done a backup and have installation media, you can replace the SSD on the Surface Pro. It's a fairly simple process, all things considered, so let's get started:

  1. Lift up the kickstand on your Surface Pro so it's fully open.
  2. On the right side of your device, you'll see what looks like a little rectangular-shaped door, which is the cover for the SSD.
  3. Open the compartment cover for the SSD.
    1. For the Surface Pro 9 or newer (excluding the Surface Pro 9 with 5G), you can just press down to pop out the door and remove it using your finger.
    2. On the Surface Pro 7+ for Business, Surface Pro 8, and Surface Pro 9 with 5G, you need a SIM ejection tool to remove the door. Insert it into the hole on the SSD door to release it, then remove the door with your finger.

  4. Use the Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the screw holding the SSD in place.
  5. Slowly pull out the SSD to release it.
  6. (Optional) You'll see the SSD has a heat shield. If you want, you can pull the shield out of the SSD using a thin shim tool. You can then clean the thermal paste off, and reapply the thermal paste to the new SSD. This shouldn't be necessary, though.
  7. Place your new SSD into the Surface Pro by aligning the notch in the connectors. Slide it in at a 45-degree angle and make sure it's fully connected and making contact with all pins.
  8. Secure the SSD with the Torx screw. Be careful not to overtighten.
  9. Put the SSD cover back on.

Step 3: Reinstall Windows 11 after replacing the SSD

With your new SSD inside your Surface Pro, you can begin the process of using it by reinstalling Windows. This will require you to press a combination of different buttons. Here's what you'll need to do.

  1. Plug in the recovery drive into the Surface Pro. Make sure the laptop is plugged in and charged.
  2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.
  3. When you see the Surface logo, release the volume-down button.
  4. Select the language and layout for your keyboard.
  5. Select Troubleshoot.
  6. Select Recover from a drive.
  7. Choose your recovery drive, and follow the instructions on the screen to reinstall Windows.

Otherwise, the steps are relatively similar to installing Windows 11 on a new PC.

Save on storage by upgrading the SSD on your own

Once you've finished setting up, you'll be back on your Windows desktop and your Surface Pro will be as good as new. All you need to do now is reinstall any software you might need and restore the files you backed up before the reset. If you want, you can repurpose the original SSD for something else, such as putting it in a portable SSD enclosure.

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