If you have an Apple MacBook Pro that could use a little extra kick in the pants, you can upgrade your memory, which some people still call RAM. More memory will let your applications run without needing to access storage for additional information quite so often. If you like to run a lot of open applications at the same time — switching back and forth between them — more memory can help your Mac feel snappier.
The question, though, is how much memory do you really need on a MacBook Pro? Or on a Mac mini or on an iMac? While more is almost always better, some people simply won’t use it. It’s the difference between knowing when to buy a dump truck and when to buy a pickup truck.
Optimized Storage in macOS Sierra and later. can save space by storing your content in iCloud and making it available on demand. When storage space is needed, files, photos, movies, email attachments, and other files that you seldom use are stored in iCloud automatically. Note that the images from this article are from a 15 inch (38.1 cm) 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, but the steps are general to many other Mac laptops. Note that recent MacBook Pros do not have removable memory that you can upgrade. These steps do not apply to retina display MacBook Pros manufactured after 2012. If you have an old MacBook Pro with one foot in the grave, the single best thing you can do to breathe new life into it is replace its traditional spinning hard drive with a solid-state drive.
For most people, 4GB is the absolute least amount of memory you want to be using in 2014 on a relatively new Mac, and 8GB is much better. While Apple has made strides in memory management on Macs, 8GB will give you the general-purpose breathing room you want. Plus, when you upgrade your Mac with a super-fast SSD flash-based drive, your Mac will feel like a whole new machine.
How Much Memory Is Enough for a Mac?
Can I Upgrade Storage On Macbook Pro Model
While I believe that most people will get by with 8GB of memory on 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros, MacBook Pros dating back to 2011 will actually support up to 16GB of memory. Note: Old Apple online documentation says they will only support up to 8GB, but third-party memory manufacturers have been able to create two 8GB memory modules that pair up to make 16GB of memory that function at full capacity.
So, should you get 16GB for your MacBook Pro, Mac mini, or iMac? If you’re starting to work a lot with video editing, playing a lot of games, or you do a lot of complicated work with many apps and windows open on your Mac, by all means, max it out with 16GB of memory.
If you just want a snappier experience to get you through another year or two before you buy a new MacBook, then bump yourself up to 8GB. Don’t overthink this decision: If you’re not a power user, 8GB should work great.
Crucial offers versatile 8GB and 16GB kits for MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini.
Of course, I have to say, the biggest and best upgrade I’ve ever made was upgrading my standard hard drive with a new solid-state drive (SSD). You’ll wake from sleep quickly, boot up much faster, and apps will open with just one bounce on the dock. If you’re going to crack your Mac case, consider doing both upgrades. I heartily recommend 8GB of memory paired with a new SSD drive. See also, 7 Steps: How to Upgrade Your MacBook Pro With an SSD.
Step 1: Identify Your Mac
You need to know your generation of MacBook Pro, which is usually the year it was introduced. Apple has a special page for helping you identify your MacBook Pro model. You’ll end up learning that your Mac is something like, “MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011).” Use this information to make sure you’re getting the right memory modules.
Step 2: Find and Buy the Right Memory Module
Basically, MacBook Pros first delivered in 2012 in both 13 and 15-inch configurations can take up to 16GB of 1600MHz DDR3 memory. The 2011 MacBook Pros will take up to 16GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 memory. The 2008-2010 MacBook Pros can take up to 8GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory. And 2006-2010 MacBooks can handle from 2GB to 16GB of different types of memory depending on the models.
My recommendation is to simply buy Crucial or OWC memory. Both have good reputations and customer support.
OWC offers a wide range of easy-to-find memory modules for most every Mac.
Macbook Pro Storage Options
Crucial has an online Crucial Advisor tool to help you find the right specs, but its latest 16GB kit is the most versatile and seems to work well — it runs at the faster 1600MHz speed but also runs at 1.5 or 1.35 volts (2011 MacBook Pros, for instance, use 1.35 volts while the 2012s use 1.5). Plus, the Crucial kits have nearly a 1,000 reviewers on Amazon that have said what type of Mac they put it in — confirming that it works. Owners of 2011 MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Mac minis have raved about it. Oh, and Amazon typically offers better pricing than going direct from Crucial, along with free shipping.
OWC produces its own line of Mac upgrades for both memory and SSDs, and they have a great reputation. The OWC website is usually a little easier to figure out, but the pricing can be slightly higher than Amazon. The benefit is that you buy direct from OWC and the company lives and breathes with a Mac focus.
Oh, and don’t forget to buy a toolkit — for instance, you’ll need a tiny Phillips #00 screwdriver to open up your MacBook Pro.
Step 3: Find an Online Walkthrough Guide or Video
Apple has some simple memory installation guides, but I prefer the color photo closeups offered by Crucial on its Crucial Memory for Mac Systems support page. OWC has massive library of installation videos — totally worth checking out if you have any fear over the process. Prep yourself by walking through one of these guides before you open up your Mac.
Step 4: Install Your Mac Memory
Find a quiet spot and 30 minutes of time. Install your Mac memory. Boot up. Enjoy your new Mac. And seriously consider upgrading to an SSD drive, too.
Best home interior design software for mac. Get the Memory You Need:
iFixit 26 Bit Driver Kit [also handy for SSD upgrades]
Optimized Storage in macOS Sierra and later* can save space by storing your content in iCloud and making it available on demand. When storage space is needed, files, photos, movies, email attachments, and other files that you seldom use are stored in iCloud automatically. Each file stays right where you last saved it, and downloads when you open it. Files that you’ve used recently remain on your Mac, along with optimized versions of your photos.
* If you haven't yet upgraded to macOS Sierra or later, learn about other ways to free up storage space.
Find out how much storage is available on your Mac
Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click Storage. Each segment of the bar is an estimate of the storage space used by a category of files. Move your pointer over each segment for more detail.
Click the Manage button to open the Storage Management window, pictured below. This button is available only in macOS Sierra or later.
Manage storage on your Mac
The Storage Management window offers recommendations for optimizing your storage. If some recommendations are already turned on, you will see fewer recommendations.
Store in iCloud
Click the Store in iCloud button, then choose from these options:
Desktop and Documents. Store all files from these two locations in iCloud Drive. When storage space is needed, only the files you recently opened are kept on your Mac, so that you can easily work offline. Files stored only in iCloud show a download icon , which you can double-click to download the original file. Learn more about this feature.
Photos. Store all original, full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud Photos. When storage space is needed, only space-saving (optimized) versions of photos are kept on your Mac. To download the original photo or video, just open it.
Messages. Store all messages and attachments in iCloud. When storage space is needed, only the messages and attachments you recently opened are kept on your Mac. Learn more about Messages in iCloud.
Storing files in iCloud uses the storage space in your iCloud storage plan. If you reach or exceed your iCloud storage limit, you can either buy more iCloud storage or make more iCloud storage available. iCloud storage starts at 50GB for $0.99 (USD) a month, and you can purchase additional storage directly from your Apple device. Learn more about prices in your region.
Optimize Storage
Click the Optimize button, then choose from these options.
Automatically remove watched movies and TV shows. When storage space is needed, movies or TV shows that you purchased from the iTunes Store and already watched are removed from your Mac. Click the download icon next to a movie or TV show to download it again.
Download only recent attachments. Mail automatically downloads only the attachments that you recently received. You can manually download any attachments at any time by opening the email or attachment, or saving the attachment to your Mac.
Don't automatically download attachments. Mail downloads an attachment only when you open the email or attachment, or save the attachment to your Mac.
Optimizing storage for movies, TV shows, and email attachments doesn't require iCloud storage space.
Empty Trash Automatically
Empty Trash Automatically permanently deletes files that have been in the Trash for more than 30 days.
Reduce Clutter
Can I Upgrade Storage On Macbook Pro 2020
Reduce Clutter helps you to identify large files and files you might no longer need. Click the Review Files button, then choose any of the file categories in the sidebar, such as Applications, Documents, Music Creation, or Trash.
You can delete the files in some categories directly from this window. Other categories show the total storage space used by the files in each app. You can then open the app and decide whether to delete files from within it.
Learn how to redownload apps, music, movies, TV shows, and books.
Where to find the settings for each feature
The button for each recommendation in the Storage Management window affects one or more settings in other apps. You can also control those settings directly within each app.
If you're using macOS Catalina, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Apple ID, then select iCloud in the sidebar: Store in iCloud turns on the Optimize Mac Storage setting on the right. Then click Options next to iCloud Drive: Store in iCloud turns on the Desktop & Documents Folders setting. To turn off iCloud Drive entirely, deselect iCloud Drive. In macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Options next to iCloud Drive. Store in iCloud turns on the Desktop & Documents Folders and Optimize Mac Storage settings.
In Photos, choose Photos > Preferences, then click iCloud. Store in iCloud selects iCloud Photos and Optimize Mac Storage.
In Messages, choose Messages > Preferences, then click iMessage. Store in iCloud selects Enable Messages in iCloud.
If you're using macOS Catalina, open the Apple TV app, choose TV > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Files. Optimize Storage selects “Automatically delete watched movies and TV shows.” In macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes, choose iTunes > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Advanced. Optimize Storage selects “Automatically delete watched movies and TV shows.”
In Mail, choose Mail > Preferences from the menu bar, then click Accounts. In the Account Information section on the right, Optimize Storage sets the Download Attachments menu to either Recent or None.
Empty Trash Automatically: From the Finder, choose Finder > Preferences, then click Advanced. Empty Trash Automatically selects “Remove items from the Trash after 30 days.”
Other ways that macOS helps automatically save space
With macOS Sierra or later, your Mac automatically takes these additional steps to save storage space:
Detects duplicate downloads in Safari, keeping only the most recent version of the download
Reminds you to delete used app installers
Removes old fonts, languages, and dictionaries that aren't being used
Clears caches, logs, and other unnecessary data when storage space is needed
How to free up storage space manually
Even without using the Optimized Storage features of Sierra or later, you can take other steps to make more storage space available: Adobe dc software.
Music, movies, and other media can use a lot of storage space. Learn how to delete music, movies, and TV shows from your device.
Delete other files that you no longer need by moving them to the Trash, then emptying the Trash. The Downloads folder is good place to look for files that you might no longer need.
Move files to an external storage device.
Compress files.
Delete unneeded email: In the Mail app, choose Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail. If you no longer need the email in your Trash mailbox, choose Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items.
Increase Storage On Macbook Pro
Learn more
Macbook Pro Retina Storage Upgrade
The Storage pane of About This Mac is the best way to determine the amount of storage space available on your Mac. Disk Utility and other apps might show storage categories such as Not Mounted, VM, Recovery, Other Volumes, Free, or Purgeable. Don't rely on these categories to understand how to free up storage space or how much storage space is available for your data.
When you duplicate a file on an APFS-formatted volume, that file doesn't use additional storage space on the volume. Deleting a duplicate file frees up only the space required by any data you might have added to the duplicate. If you no longer need any copies of the file, you can recover all of the storage space by deleting both the duplicate and the original file.
If you're using a pro app and Optimize Mac Storage, learn how to make sure that your projects are always on your Mac and able to access their files.