replacing old mac mini; how can I keep using the old SSD harddrive

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replacing old mac mini; how can I keep using the old SSD harddrive

long time listener, first time caller.

my 2012 mac mini is working ok, but as it runs on catalina, some programs are not updated anymore; safari had not really been working for many websites for a while but I could circumvent most of that by using Firefox. As of now, apple mail doesn't connect to my gmail accounts any longer (I have to do identity check in safari but as Google doesn't support Safari 15.6 anymore I can't make that work). So I guess it is really time to upgrade the hardware.

to get a 2024 mac mini M4 should be a decent upgrade that would last me for a while, I guess. But I would like to bring my archives of old stuff along as well (quite some music etc).

I built in a 480GB SSD harddrive to the 2012 mac mini back in '21 that really kept it running decently. Is there any way to use that SSD drive with a new Mini? I guess I can't build it in as the mini is quite a bit smaller... Can the old mini be used to connect to, as a networked storage device of some sort? or maybe the drive can be built in something to use it as an external hard drive?

usually I can find answers to my questions on the web in discussion forums etc, but this one seems a bit too specific maybe...

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 4, 2025 8:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

157,596 points

Nov 8, 2025 10:26 AM in response to lwr99

You can certainly repurpose that SSD to be used with your new M4 mini. As Limnos has eluded to, your best bet would be to just get a suitable drive enclosure for it. Then directly attach it one of your new Mac's USB-C ports.

I suggest that you consider drive enclosure from OWC, but there are numerous other sources out there as well.

Ref: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/External-Enclosures

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

425,165 points

Nov 4, 2025 8:20 AM in response to lwr99

I do not know what kind of drive you could have installed in the 2012 mini ( I missed everything between 2012 models and 2024 models). If it is simply a standard size then my feeling is it would be less hassle to simply put it into a new enclosure than to try to use it as a network drive. If you get a fast enclosure you would also take advantage of high speed ports.

Others can probably provide better information than I can but I would also wonder about any issues using a 13 year old drive of any kind, even SSD.

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Answer 3

lwr99 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 4, 2025 12:42 PM in response to Limnos

Thanx Limnos; the SSD is only 4 years old, I added that in 2021. It’s a Kingston 480 GB SATA 3, I guess more or less standard, 6.4 cm. I’ll look into enclosures

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