Ultimate Guide: Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD Upgrade

Benefits of Upgrading the SSD on XPS 15

Dell XPS 15 is a versatile and high-performance laptop that caters to the needs of professionals, creatives, and demanding users alike. Although Dell XPS 15 is already equipped with an SSD, you may still want to upgrade it for two reasons: more storage and more speed.

Upgrading to a higher-capacity SSD or opting for a model with faster read and write speeds can significantly reduce loading times, improve multitasking capabilities, and enhance overall system responsiveness. Then, how to do Dell XPS 15 SSD upgrade? Please read on.

Prepare for Dell XPS 15 SSD Upgrade

In this part, I’ll list the tools you need to upgrade Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD:

• A new M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, such as Samsung 970 EVO and Samsung 970 PRO
• An external enclosure to connect the new SSD externally for SSD cloning
• Torx and Philips screwdrivers and a small pry tool to help remove the bottom cover
• An anti-static wrist strap (not necessary but beneficial)

How to Upgrade Your Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD

With all things prepared, you can start upgrading your Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD.

Transfer OS and Data to the New SSD

To migrate everything from the old SSD to a new SSD and make it bootable, you need to use effective disk cloning software, because Windows itself lacks this feature. Here I recommend AOMEI Backupper Professional for its simplicity and efficiency:

✧ It can clone larger drive to smaller drive with intelligent clone, or make an exact copy of the source disk with sector-by-sector clone.
✧ "SSD Alignment" feature optimizes SSD performance by ensuring all partitions fit snugly onto the new SSD.
✧ Supporting a wide array of SSD brands and models, including Samsung, Crucial, and WD, as well as various interfaces like SATA and M.2 NVMe.
✧ Its intuitive interface makes operations a breeze, catering to both seasoned users and novices alike.

Download this SSD cloning software immediately!

AOMEI Backupper

Easiest hard drive clone software for Windows PC.

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Now follow the guidance below to clone old SSD to new SSD:

1. Attach the new SSD to your laptop using the external enclosure you prepared.

2. Install and open AOMEI Backupper. In the main interface, click on the Clone tab and then select Disk Clone.

3. Select your current SSD as the disk you want to clone from and choose the new SSD as the destination disk to clone to.

4. Check SSD Alignment box to speed up the target SSD as well as prolong its service life. Click on Start Clone to begin the cloning process. AOMEI Backupper will start copying data from the source SSD to the target SSD.

Change the SSD on the XPS 15 9570

After data migration, you can replace the old SSD with the new SSD.

1. Power down your laptop and unplug it from the power adapter.

2. Place the XPS 15 face down. Remove the 10 Torx head screws from the bottom edges and 2 Philips head screws in the center.

3. Pry the cover off gently using a pry tool.

4. Remove the placement screw at the base of the SSD. Gently peel off the gum-like insulation material. (Don't throw it away, as we’ll reuse it later.)

5. Gently lift the old SSD at a 20-degree angle and slide it out. Then insert the new SSD firmly into the slot at the same 20-degree angle.

6. Lay down the new SSD, replace the placement screw and reapply the insulation.

7. Position the laptop's base panel in place and replace the 12 screws.

Boot Your XPS 15 from the New SSD

1. Press the power button in the top right corner to boot the laptop.

2. Immediately press and hold F12 until the Boot Menu appears.

3. Use the arrow keys to select the new SSD to boot from it.

Bonus Tip: How to Switch to AHCI

If you upgrade Dell XPS 15 SSD to a Samsung SSD, you’d better switch to AHCI. Dell ships the XPS 15 (9570) SSD in a RAID configuration for the controller while Samsung SSDs work better under AHCI.

The problem is you cannot just switch to AHCI in the BIOS and then boot straight to Windows 10 – the OS will not load the driver because it's already in use. How to get it around? Follow these steps:

1. Enable Windows 10 Safe Mode for next reboot.

• Type cmd into the Start search bar to get to Command Prompt.
• Right-click on cmd to run as Administrator.
• Type bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal into the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

2. Turn RAID off and enable AHCI in the BIOS.

• Restart the computer, hit F12 when you see the Dell logo and choose BIOS Setup from the menu.
• Navigate to System Configuration > SATA Operation and enable AHCI.
• Save and exit the BIOS settings and let Windows 10 boot into Safe Mode.

3. Disable boot into Safe Mode.

• Type cmd into the Start search bar to get to Command Prompt.
• Right-click on cmd to run as Administrator.
• Type bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot into the Command Prompt and hit Enter.

4. Reboot into regular Windows 10. Your SSD is now running in AHCI mode, and you can go ahead and install Samsung's drivers and software.

Final Thoughts

That’s all about how to perform Dell XPS 15 (9570) SSD upgrade. The whole process seems complicated, but the rewards may be worth it. The best disk cloning software AOMEI Backupper can save you from the trouble of reinstalling Windows from scratch. Actually, it can do much more than disk cloning. For example, it enables you to auto sync files to external hard drive. Don’t hesitate to try it out!