Swapping in a 2TB SSD for the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ Handheld

July 27, 2026 - 17:33

If you do a lot of gaming, 1TB might not be enough default storage. For owners of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, the internal drive is accessible and replaceable, letting you jump to a 2TB SSD without much trouble.

The process is straightforward but requires care. You need a small Phillips head screwdriver and a plastic spudger or guitar pick to open the case. The SSD sits under a metal shield held by a few screws. Once that is off, the drive slides out of its M.2 slot. Most 2230 or 2280 form factor NVMe drives will work, though the system uses a specific keying. A 2TB upgrade gives you room for a large game library without juggling external drives or cloud downloads.

After installing the new SSD, you will need to reinstall the operating system. You can use a USB recovery drive or a Windows installation tool. The Claw's BIOS is easy to navigate and recognizes the new drive immediately. The whole swap takes about 20 minutes if you are careful with the ribbon cables inside.

The result is a handheld that can hold dozens of modern titles. For anyone who travels or plays on the go, the extra space removes the hassle of deleting games to make room. It is a simple upgrade that makes the device feel more capable for the long haul.