Mac Studio Storage Not User-Upgradeable Due to Software Block [Updated]

[jimbobb24]

There are a lot of conclusions here without evidence. He swapped them after wiping them. What software prevents this? We dont know. How did it differentiate between the SSD from one Studio and another? And the case is not designed to be opened by users so this isn't a big surprise.

Everything claimed in the article could be true but its premature to conclude it is true based on this evidence.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Watched the video and while his conclusion might be true he has proven nothing.

We now know that you want to be able to salvage a SSD from a dead Studio and just plunk it into another one, thats all,

We don't know if a module can be re-paired to another Studio with special SW
We don't know if Apple will make replacements available
We don't know if you could buy&install a bigger size
We don't know if 3rd parties could make modules to spec
We don't know if the 2nd slot is supposed to be used standalone or only as an extension to the 1st in higher storage configs

And so on.

 

[prime17569]

There are two pretty simple reasons why Apple Silicon Macs don't have user-upgradeable storage yet.

The SEP (Secure Enclave Processor) inside the Apple Silicon chip encrypts the internal storage in hardware. When you swap in a new SSD, the SEP doesn't know how to decrypt it because it doesn't have the keys to the new disk, so the Mac cannot boot.

In addition, iBoot (the Apple Silicon bootloader, inherited from iPhone) is only capable of booting a macOS kernel off of the internal storage, recognizing a Touch ID button press, and putting an Apple logo on the screen. Nothing else. Without a valid filesystem or recovery partition on the startup disk, the Mac cannot boot.

It appears that the only way to get an Apple Silicon Mac to recognize a new SSD is if you perform a DFU restore on it using Apple Configurator on another Mac, which reprovisions the machine and places a valid filesystem on the internal storage. So it makes sense why Apple avoided the trouble of having to explain this and instead decided to say that storage is not user-upgradeable.

 

[gaximus]

Maybe the SSD just has to be formatted a specific way. This might be a security feature (or a way of Apple making more money disguised as security feature), so you couldn't steal someone's drive and read it off your computer.

 

[Chancha]

In fact the real test here would have been to swap the drives without wiping them. You can’t just put a blank drive in a Mac and expect it to boot. It won’t. The boot loader is actually stored on the drive.

He should have tested it one step at a time, probably make a table doing so.

Or maybe this is the intended "result". So a video get posted everywhere proving the "SSDs are locked!".

 

[NapoleonIV]

I wonder if you can clone the drive.. would that work....

That was the first thing I thought of. The real question with that method is whether any of the cloning apps support fully bootable drives on Apple silicon. A better test would have been to swap the drives without wiping them. That would have confirmed that they can be swapped. There are too potential problems which the YouTuber, macrumers, and all these annoying commenters are missing: 1) the boot partition may have been wiped, 2) the controller might need to be paired with the motherboard. The first one can definitely be achieved by a user. The second one probably can.

 

[CWallace]

Even if it is determined that Apple does require that only storage modules "authorized" by them to work in a Mac Studio will work in a Mac Studio, that there could be the ability to later upgrade the internal storage on your Mac Studio - even if only at Apple's egregious pricing - is a plus to me compared to having the storage soldered to the systemboard and therefore not upgradeable at all and external storage connected via TB being the only option.

It also is a plus that if your storage fails, the repair via swapping a module will be quicker and easier for an authorized service center compared to having to do a complete tear-down and replacing the entire systemboard.

 

[emmab2006]

The Lengths apple go's to, to prevent us, their customers from adding to our LEGALLY OWNED hardware is a disgrace. and this is why people get so angry at apple. the Right to repair movement is important. and clearly, the apple only cares about their own pocket.

they also advertise their eco-friendly packaging, and how it's all recycled Aluminium, they do not care about the environment one bit. the fact they lock their products down so much that if it breaks it has to be thrown away is proof that the inner workings of the company are shady. there should be an anti-trust investigation into this. sorry but it's disgusting.

 

[Spock]

These kinds of software lockouts are something that should be against the law. I really hope that Apple catches some crap for this but they won't.

 

[Shreducator]

Not upgradable but don’t worry it comes in eco friendly packaging.

 

[AltecX]

Remember when Macs were upgradeable and Mac OS included lots of nice opensource software in it to make development easy? Pepridge Farms remembers.

 

[jz0309]

So Apple announced it as not user upgrade able, and it is not - so WHY are people complaining???? It does work as advertised, right?
It would be nice if in the future Apple might unlock this feature, but until that point, it does what Apple said it would do.

 

[rjp1]

Someone will make a crack within this year 100% if the part isn’t accessible.

I remember the Xbox 360 blocked users from replacing the internal drives. Someone dumped the firmware from an upgraded drive and then flashed it onto the same drive that was just a Western Digital drive that cost cheaper than the Microsoft approved one.

 

[Chancha]

There are two pretty simple reasons why Apple Silicon Macs don't have user-upgradeable storage yet.

The SEP (Secure Enclave Processor) inside the Apple Silicon chip encrypts the internal storage in hardware. When you swap in a new SSD, the SEP doesn't know how to decrypt it because it doesn't have the keys to the new disk, so the Mac cannot boot.

In addition, iBoot (the Apple Silicon bootloader, inherited from iPhone) is only capable of booting a macOS kernel off of the internal storage, recognizing a Touch ID button press, and putting an Apple logo on the screen. Nothing else. Without a valid filesystem or recovery partition on the startup disk, the Mac cannot boot.

It appears that the only way to get an Apple Silicon Mac to recognize a new SSD is if you perform a DFU restore on it using Apple Configurator on another Mac, which reprovisions the machine and places a valid filesystem on the internal storage. So it makes sense why Apple avoided the trouble of having to explain this and instead decided to say that storage is not user-upgradeable.

He should have at least attempted entering DFU mode in his 2nd test where he (seems to) have not wiped the system. Get in Apple Configurator and at least see what is reported there, maybe the blinking light will have corresponding error popping up there.

 

[legatoboy]

Apple will "sell" you a kit to upgrade your SSD. In other words...we want to make more money from your original purchase.....

Apple really don’t have to do that to alienate users and create a negative user ownership experience. Being more open and can be a win win strategy.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Yeah, Apple is probably not happy about the teardown. I'm not surprised, Apple will do whatever they can to block access from it. I wonder if it will void the warranty.

 

[EnginEAR]

Screw Apple!

 

[AltecX]

There are two pretty simple reasons why Apple Silicon Macs don't have user-upgradeable storage yet.

The SEP (Secure Enclave Processor) inside the Apple Silicon chip encrypts the internal storage in hardware. When you swap in a new SSD, the SEP doesn't know how to decrypt it because it doesn't have the keys to the new disk, so the Mac cannot boot.

In addition, iBoot (the Apple Silicon bootloader, inherited from iPhone) is only capable of booting a macOS kernel off of the internal storage, recognizing a Touch ID button press, and putting an Apple logo on the screen. Nothing else. Without a valid filesystem or recovery partition on the startup disk, the Mac cannot boot.

It appears that the only way to get an Apple Silicon Mac to recognize a new SSD is if you perform a DFU restore on it using Apple Configurator on another Mac, which reprovisions the machine and places a valid filesystem on the internal storage. So it makes sense why Apple avoided the trouble of having to explain this and instead decided to say that storage is not user-upgradeable.

It should be easy for the mac to see this, put up a messaging saying "we dont have keys to decrypt it put in the key, or select the option below to wipe it and install a fresh OS."

It's not much different from plugging in a BitLocker drive. Its encrypted, the new machine doesn't have the Key. You can enter the key, or not boot.

 

[The Clark]

If you're going to do this Apple, then you should really stop touting about how green you are.

 

[MallardDuck]

Apple giveth and apple taketh away.

This is pretty lousy. We've been asking for upgradable (aka aftermarket not horribly overpriced) storage options for years, and then they do this. Bad bad PR at a time when right-to-repair legislation is pending. This is exactly the kind of behavior it's designed to prevent...if Apple doesn't want it to pass, then they need to be more consumer friendly.

 

[now i see it]

Not the end of the world.
In the future, we’ll be able to take our Mac Studio to an Apple repair shop for them to make a drive swap for $150 labor.

Minor inconvenience and added expense but hardly a deal breaker.
Typical Apple. Very very typical.

 

[Doomtomb]

I'm shocked, this doesn't sound like Apple /s

 

[tmoerel]

Why all the anger here? Apple clearly states on their website that the SSD is not user accessible. Instead of being mad that you can not swap the SSD yourself (Apple's statement clearly tells you that you shouldn't expect this) you should be happy that it can be swapped (by Apple) in case of a defect.
Apple is in no way dishonest here. Their statement is clear and on their sales page.
I personally would like it to be different but it is what you sign up for. You are forewarned!

 

[NightFox]

I bet this is to protect our privacy, right Tim?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I followed the link to the YouTube site, and there are folks saying it’s the T2 security chip preventing access, likely for the sake of security. The Mac Pro does this too, and you have to use Apple Configurator 2 to work around it.