The Beelink EQ13 has an M.2 slot you can access in about ten minutes with a screwdriver

The Beelink EQ13 comes with either a 256GB or 512GB SSD installed, but you can add a second drive to expand storage without replacing the original. The machine has one empty M.2 2280 slot (that's the physical size: 22mm wide, 80mm long) on the motherboard inside. You reach it by removing the bottom panel, inserting a new drive into the slot at a 30-degree angle, and pressing down until it clicks. The whole job takes about ten minutes and requires only a Phillips screwdriver and an anti-static wrist strap if you have one.

Before you buy a drive, confirm what you already have. The EQ13 ships with either a SATA SSD or an NVMe SSD depending on the model year and configuration. If your existing drive is SATA, you can still add an NVMe drive to the M.2 slot—they use different protocols and will not conflict. If your existing drive is already NVMe in the M.2 slot, the second slot will accept another NVMe drive. Either way, both drives will work together and the system will recognize both automatically after you restart.

Key Takeaways

  • The Beelink EQ13 has one empty M.2 2280 slot on the motherboard that accepts NVMe SSDs.
  • You access the slot by removing the bottom panel with a Phillips screwdriver; no soldering or special tools are needed.
  • New drives install at a 30-degree angle and click into place when fully seated.
  • The system recognizes a new drive automatically after restart; you may need to initialize it in Disk Management on Windows before you can use the space.

What you need before you start

Gather a Phillips screwdriver (size #1 or #2, depending on the screw head), an anti-static wrist strap if you own one, and the new M.2 2280 NVMe SSD you plan to install. The strap clips to your wrist and grounds you to the case, reducing the risk of static discharge damaging the drive or motherboard. If you do not have a strap, touch the metal frame of the case before you touch any components inside.

Buy an NVMe SSD rated for the M.2 2280 form factor. Common brands include Samsung (970 EVO Plus, 980), Kingston (A2000, NV2), Crucial (P3, P5), and Western Digital (SN850X). Capacity ranges from 256GB to 2TB; the slot will accept any size in that range. Check the product listing to confirm it says "M.2 2280" or "2280 form factor"—do not buy a 2242 or 2260 drive by mistake, as those are shorter and will not fit properly.

Power off the Beelink completely and unplug it from the wall. Wait at least 30 seconds before opening the case to allow any residual charge to dissipate.

How to open the case and locate the M.2 slot

The Beelink EQ13 has a removable bottom panel held by four Phillips screws. Flip the unit upside down on a soft surface (a towel or mousepad works well to avoid scratching the top). Locate the four screws around the perimeter of the bottom panel and remove them. Set the screws in a small container so you do not lose them.

Gently lift the bottom panel away from the case. You will see the motherboard, RAM, and other components. The M.2 slot is a narrow horizontal slot on the motherboard, usually located near the center or toward one edge. It looks like a thin rectangular opening with a small notch on one end. If you see two slots, the one that is already occupied (with a drive installed) is the primary slot; the empty one is where you will insert the new drive.

If you cannot locate the slot visually, consult the motherboard manual or search online for "Beelink EQ13 motherboard M.2 slot location" with your specific model number. The model number is printed on a label on the case or inside the bottom panel.

Installing the new SSD step by step

Remove the new SSD from its packaging and hold it by the edges only—do not touch the gold connector pins or the components on the drive itself. If you are wearing the anti-static strap, clip it to your wrist now and touch the metal frame of the case to ground yourself.

Locate the small screw hole at the far end of the M.2 slot (the end opposite the notch). This hole holds a brass standoff that supports the drive. Some Beelink models come with a small screw already in place; others have an empty hole. If the hole is empty and no screw is present, you may need to install a standoff screw yourself—check whether one came loose inside the case or in the drive packaging.

Hold the new drive at a 30-degree angle above the slot, with the gold connector pins facing down and toward the notch. Align the notch on the drive with the notch in the slot. Slide the drive into the slot smoothly until it is fully inserted, then press down firmly on the far end of the drive until you hear or feel a click. The drive should now lie flat against the motherboard.

If your model includes a mounting screw, insert it through the hole at the end of the drive and thread it into the brass standoff. Tighten it by hand—do not use the screwdriver to force it, as you can strip the hole.

Closing the case and powering on

Replace the bottom panel and reinsert the four screws. Tighten them evenly by hand; do not over-tighten. Flip the Beelink right-side up and plug it back into power. Press the power button to start the system.

Windows will detect the new drive during startup. Open Disk Management (right-click the Start menu, select "Disk Management") to see whether the drive appears. If it shows as "Unallocated" or "Unknown", right-click it and select "Initialize Disk". Choose MBR or GPT depending on your system (GPT is standard for newer systems); then right-click the unallocated space and select "New straightforward Volume" to create a partition you can use.

Once the drive is initialized and partitioned, it will appear in File Explorer as a new drive letter. You can now move files to it or use it as a backup location. The system will recognize both drives from this point forward.

Troubleshooting if the drive does not appear

If the new drive does not show up in Disk Management after restart, power off the Beelink and reseat the drive. Remove it by pressing down gently on the far end until it clicks out, then reinsert it at the same 30-degree angle and press down until it clicks in again. Power on and check Disk Management again.

If the drive still does not appear, check the BIOS. Restart the Beelink and press Delete or F2 during the boot screen (the timing window is usually two to three seconds). Look for a menu option called "Storage", "SATA", or "M.2" and confirm that the new drive is listed there. If it is listed but not showing in Windows, the drive may need initialization in Disk Management. If it is not listed in BIOS at all, the drive may be defective or incompatible—try a different drive or contact the manufacturer.

If you see the drive in BIOS but Windows still does not recognize it, restart Windows in Safe Mode and open Disk Management again. Sometimes a fresh scan in Safe Mode will detect a drive that Windows missed on the first boot.

When to call for help

If you are uncomfortable opening the case or handling the drive, or if you damage a screw or the case during removal, take the Beelink to a local computer repair shop. Most shops charge between $30 and $75 to install an SSD, and they can also verify that the drive is compatible before you buy it.

If the drive is still under warranty and something goes wrong during installation, the warranty may not cover damage caused by user modification—check the warranty terms before you open the case. A repair technician can also help if you encounter BIOS or driver issues that you cannot resolve on your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a SATA SSD instead of NVMe?

No. The M.2 slot on the Beelink EQ13 is designed for NVMe drives only. SATA SSDs use a different connector and will not fit. If your original drive is SATA, it is installed in a different location (usually a 2.5-inch bay or a separate SATA M.2 adapter), and you can keep it while adding an NVMe drive to the M.2 slot.

Will adding a second SSD slow down the first one?

No. Both drives operate independently on the same M.2 bus, and modern NVMe drives are fast enough that sharing the bus does not create a noticeable bottleneck. You may see a very small performance difference in benchmarks, but you will not notice it during everyday use.

What is the maximum storage I can add?

The M.2 2280 slot accepts drives up to 2TB. Beelink does not publish a maximum tested capacity, but 2TB drives are widely available and compatible with the form factor. If you need more storage, consider an external USB drive instead.

Do I need to reinstall Windows after adding the SSD?

No. Windows will recognize the new drive as a separate storage device. You do not need to reinstall the operating system unless you want to move Windows itself to the new drive, which requires additional steps and is not necessary for basic expansion.

Can I remove the original SSD and keep only the new one?

Yes, but there is no advantage to doing so. Both drives can coexist, and keeping the original drive gives you extra storage. If you do remove it, follow the same 30-degree angle procedure in reverse: press down gently on the far end until it clicks out, then slide it away from the notch.