Can You Upgrade the SSD in the M6 & M5 Pro Mac mini? (Short Answer: No)

Thinking about a new M6 or M5 Pro Mac mini and planning to upgrade the storage later? Read this first. Based on the first teardowns (September 2026), the SSD in the M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini is soldered directly to the logic board — so there's no removable module and no internal storage upgrade after purchase. That's a step back from the M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini, which used a removable SSD you could upgrade.

What changed with the M6 & M5 Pro

For a brief window, the Mac mini was one of the few Apple Silicon Macs with user-accessible storage. When the M4 Mac mini launched, teardowns revealed the SSD sat on a removable module — not soldered — which opened the door to aftermarket storage upgrades.

With the M6 and M5 Pro, Apple has gone back to soldering the NAND flash onto the logic board, exactly as it did on the M1, M2 and M3 Mac mini. No slot means there's nothing to swap, and no way to add internal storage down the track.

Which Mac mini can you upgrade?

Smart ways to add storage instead

Because you can't upgrade the M6 or M5 Pro internally, the only way to get more built-in storage is to configure it when you order — and Apple's built-to-order storage jumps are expensive. Before you pay a premium for a larger internal SSD, consider a faster, more flexible option.

1. A Mac mini stand-hub with a built-in SSD slot. The neatest fix for a Mac mini: a stand-hub that sits directly under your mini, adds a bank of extra ports, and takes an internal-style NVMe SSD in a built-in enclosure — so you can add fast storage that tucks completely out of sight. Brands like Satechi, RayCue and Acasis make these for the M4, M5 and M6 Mac mini.

2. A Thunderbolt 5 or USB-C external SSD. A portable external SSD gives you huge, blazing-fast storage that plugs straight in — typically at a fraction of Apple's per-terabyte upgrade cost, and you can move it between machines. For most people, a sensible internal SSD paired with a fast external drive (or a stand-hub) is the better-value setup.

Already have an M4 Mac mini? You're fine

Good news for M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini owners — nothing changes. Your Mac mini still uses a removable SSD module and can be upgraded. If you're running low on space, an internal upgrade is a cost-effective way to add fast storage.

What about the Mac Studio?

At the time of writing, Apple's own repair guide still shows a removable SSD in the Mac Studio, so it may remain upgradeable — but this isn't yet confirmed by a teardown. We'll update this article as soon as it is.

The bottom line

The M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini are not SSD-upgradeable — their storage is soldered. Only the M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini can be upgraded internally. If you're buying new, either configure enough storage upfront, or plan to expand later with a fast external SSD.

Based on Mac mini teardowns reported by Expand Mac mini and 9to5Mac, September 2026.