By Your ASUS TUF F15 feels sluggish because the storage is full or the old drive is slowing down. This guide walks you through removing the rear panel, swapping the M.2 NVMe SSD, and getting Windows back onto the new drive.
In short: Yes, this is a safe do-it-yourself job that takes about 45 to 90 minutes depending on whether you clone or reinstall Windows. The ASUS TUF F15 uses a standard M.2 2280 NVMe slot that you can replace with a new drive of the same or larger capacity.
Quick picks
Our shortlist for this job · tap one to see today's price
The 970 EVO Plus is a widely trusted M.2 2280 NVMe SSD that fits the TUF F15 slot.
The Sabrent USB-C enclosure lets you read your old SSD externally while you install the new one.
If you want a preconfigured TUF Dash F15 with 1TB of storage already installed.
Check your specific TUF F15 model number first
ASUS uses the same TUF F15 marketing name for several model numbers, such as the FX506HE, FX507ZC4, FX506LC, and FX506HC. Each one has an M.2 NVMe slot, but the internal layout and service manual steps differ slightly. Loaders in this spot often ask about asus zenbook vs vivobook difference as well.
Look at the sticker on the bottom of the laptop. It lists the exact model number, such as FX506HE_TXS. Search that model number in the ASUS support portal to find the correct service manual for your chassis.
If your model number is not listed in this guide, the general steps below still apply. The M.2 slot location and screw pattern are consistent across the TUF F15 family.
| Step | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Check model and order parts | Easy | 5 min |
| Backup and power down | Easy | 30 min |
| Remove rear panel and old SSD | Medium | 15 min |
| Install new M.2 SSD | Easy | 5 min |
| Reinstall Windows or clone | Medium | 30 min |
The official service manual gives you the exact screw sizes and removal order for your specific chassis.
See options on AmazonBefore you start, back up and discharge the static
Before you open the laptop, back up every file you care about to an external drive or cloud storage. A fresh Windows install on a new SSD wipes the old drive completely, so any file not backed up is lost.
Power off the laptop and unplug the AC adapter. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds after unplugging to discharge the residual charge on the motherboard. This prevents a short when you touch the internal components.
Work on a hard, dry surface. Wear a static wrist strap if you have one. If you do not, touch a metal part of the laptop chassis before handling the SSD to ground yourself.
- Back up documents, games, and save files
- Unplug the AC adapter and hold power for 10 seconds
- Ground yourself or use a static strap
Safety first: Never open the laptop while the battery is still connected and charged. Hold the power button for 10 seconds after unplugging the AC adapter. For the detail, see our notes on are asus laptops good.
What you need to open the TUF F15
You need a T6 or T8 Torx security screwdriver to remove the rear panel screws. The TUF F15 uses these security screws on the bottom cover, not standard Phillips screws.
You also need a new M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. The Samsung 970 EVO Plus fits this slot and offers strong sequential read speeds for gaming and file transfers. Check the ASUS support page for your model to confirm the maximum supported capacity.
If you want to keep your old games and files, get a USB external M.2 NVMe enclosure. The Sabrent USB-C enclosure lets you read the old drive while you install the new one, so you can copy data over without reinstalling everything.
- T6 or T8 Torx security screwdriver
- M.2 2280 NVMe SSD, such as the Samsung 970 EVO Plus
- USB-C M.2 NVMe enclosure, such as the Sabrent reader
- Plastic pry tool for the rear panel
The Samsung 970 EVO Plus is a reliable M.2 2280 NVMe drive that fits the TUF F15 slot without issues.
- Innovative V-NAND Technology: Equipped with Samsung V-NAND technology, the NVMe
- Enhanced Detailing with HDR: With 4K detail and High Dynamic Range, you can see the
Remove the rear panel and the old M.2 SSD
Turn the laptop over. Remove all the screws from the rear panel using the Torx driver. Keep the screws in a small cup so you do not mix up the sizes.
Slide a plastic pry tool under the edge of the panel and work around the perimeter. The panel is held by clips, not glue. Lift it off carefully, watching for any ribbon cables or screws that anchor it to the chassis.
Find the M.2 SSD. It is a small stick of metal with a black chip, held down by one screw at the angled end. Disconnect the battery cable if your model has a quick-release battery connector. Then loosen the M.2 screw and pull the old drive out at a 30-degree angle. Before you buy anything, it is worth looking at external ssd not detected.
Safety first: If your model does not have a quick-release battery connector, disconnect the battery wire by gently pulling it straight off the motherboard. Do not twist the connector.
Install the new M.2 SSD and reconnect the battery
Insert the new M.2 SSD into the slot at a 30-degree angle. The gold pins should align with the contacts. Press it down flat until it sits flush against the motherboard.
Secure it with the M.2 screw you removed from the old drive. Do not overtighten. The screw should hand-tighten against the metal tab, not crush the board.
Reconnect the battery cable. Run your finger along the edge of the rear panel to make sure it clips evenly. Replace the screws in the same positions where you found them.
Get Windows back onto the new drive
If you cloned the old drive to the new one using a USB enclosure, just power on and Windows should boot normally. If you are doing a fresh install, you need a Windows 11 USB installer. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and create the USB on a separate PC.
Plug in the USB installer and power on the laptop. Press the ESC key repeatedly during the boot to open the ASUS boot menu. Select the USB drive and follow the Windows setup steps.
During setup, select the new M.2 SSD as the target drive. Format it as NTFS and let Windows install. After the first boot, update the chipset drivers from the ASUS support page for your exact model number.
Test the new SSD and check the temperatures
Open Task Manager and click the Performance tab. The new SSD should show up as Drive 0 or Drive 1. Run a copy of a large game file to check the read and write speeds. An M.2 NVMe drive should show at least 2,000 MB/s for reads.
Download a free SSD health tool and check the drive status. A healthy drive reports a 100 percent health percentage. Also check the temperature. Under light load, the SSD should stay below 50 degrees Celsius.
Play a game for 30 minutes and watch the temperature with a monitoring tool. If the SSD hits 75 degrees or higher under light use, the thermal pad on the chassis may be missing or poorly seated.
The bottom line
The SSD upgrade in an ASUS TUF F15 is a straightforward M.2 swap if you follow the model-specific service manual.
Most readers should get a Samsung 970 EVO Plus in a capacity that matches or beats their old drive, and a Sabrent USB-C enclosure if they want to keep their games without reinstalling.
Start by ordering the drive and tools, back up your files, and then follow the removal steps in this guide.
- Innovative V-NAND Technology: Equipped with Samsung V-NAND technology, the NVMe
- Enhanced Detailing with HDR: With 4K detail and High Dynamic Range, you can see the
Frequently asked questions
Can I just drop in a new SSD without reinstalling Windows?
Yes, but only if you clone the old drive to the new one first. Use the Sabrent USB-C enclosure to read the old SSD, run a disk cloning tool, and copy the Windows partition to the new drive. If you do not clone, the new SSD is empty and you must reinstall Windows.
What size M.2 SSD does the ASUS TUF F15 use?
The TUF F15 uses a standard M.2 2280 NVMe drive. The 2280 refers to the 22 millimeter width and 80 millimeter length. Most consumer NVMe SSDs in this form factor will fit. Check the ASUS spec sheet for your model number to confirm the maximum supported capacity.
Do I need to remove the battery before touching the M.2 slot?
Yes, you should disconnect the battery cable before you touch the M.2 slot. This prevents a short circuit that could damage the SSD or the motherboard. Some TUF F15 models have a quick-release battery connector, while others require you to unplug a small wire from the board.
Will a slower SATA M.2 SSD work in the TUF F15?
No, the TUF F15 M.2 slot is wired for NVMe only. A SATA M.2 drive will not fit the NVMe keying on this laptop. Buy an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD, such as the Samsung 970 EVO Plus, to get the speed the TUF F15 is designed for.