HELP! Macbook Air SSD

[kedskit5]

Hi Tech Tip geeks!

 

I am having an issue replacing the SSD in a Macbook Air model a1465.  The current drive died, and I've tried to replace it with 2 separate new SSD drives that upon trying to install OSX from a USB, the SSD isn't found by the system so I cannot install it.  I had no luck with a Samsung Evo 860.  Do I need to purchase a specific brand like an OWC drive?  https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-air/2013-2014-2015? 

 

Please help as I'd like to get this thing up and working again.  

[DrMacintosh]

I have never heard of anyone replacing a MacBook Air SSD with an over the counter M.2 drive. I would say yes, buy the OWC drive, it is specifically branded for the machine. 

[AdamBGames]

I might be wrong, but from what ive heard, apple use a hardware level encryption on their boards which restricts the use of over the counter drives. Linus mentioned this in his recent Imac upgrade video. I might be wrong on that but better to not take that change and get the OWC drive. 

[kedskit5]

2 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

I have never heard of anyone replacing a MacBook Air SSD with an over the counter M.2 drive. I would say yes, buy the OWC drive, it is specifically branded for the machine. 

This is what I figured but I wanted to make sure.  Thank you!

[Terabyte_272]

Ya you would need a branded apple ssd kind of like how to uprgade Imac ram you need special apple sodimm ram

[Guest]

Transcend also makes a kit like OWC does. They seem to trade off on price. I've used both with success. So just get whichever is cheaper right now.