You've invested in the ASUS ROG Ally for its handheld gaming prowess, blistering AMD Z1 Extreme processor, and the freedom of true Windows gaming anywhere. But there's a catch you've likely discovered: the 512GB of built-in storage disappears faster than ever in the age of 100GB+ game installs. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (over 200GB), Baldur's Gate 3 (125GB), and Starfield (140GB) can collectively max out your drive before you know it, forcing a frustrating cycle of uninstall-and-reinstall.
Fortunately, unlike many locked-down handhelds, the ROG Ally has a critical, user-friendly feature: an upgradeable 2230 M.2 SSD slot. This isn't just a small storage bump; it's the single most impactful upgrade you can perform to transform your Ally from a capable handheld into a portable gaming powerhouse with a massive, instantly accessible library. The community has also pioneered an even better solution: using a slightly larger, more affordable, and higher-capacity compact 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD.
This guide will walk you through every step—from choosing the right 2242 SSD to the physical installation and software setup—so you can confidently expand your game library and end storage anxiety for good.
Understanding the Drive: Why a 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD?
The original ROG Ally uses a 2230 SSD: 22mm wide and 30mm long. The 2242 SSD (22mm wide, 42mm long) is a more common, widely available form factor. Thanks to a simple, reversible modification discovered by the community, the Ally can perfectly accommodate this size, opening up a world of better options.
Why choose a 2242 over a 2230?
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Better Value & Availability: 2242 drives are more common, often costing significantly less per gigabyte than their niche 2230 counterparts.
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Higher Capacity Options: While 2230s max out at 2TB, you can find 2242 drives up to 4TB, though the 1-2TB range offers the best balance for the Ally.
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Improved Thermal Performance: The slightly larger surface area can sometimes allow for better heat dissipation.
Crucial Specifications:
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Form Factor: M.2 2242 (Key M)
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Interface: NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 (to match the Ally's slot speed)
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Protocol: NVM Express 1.4
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Key Consideration: Ensure it is a single-sided NAND drive. Double-sided drives with chips on both sides are too thick to fit in the Ally's compact slot.
The XG7000 M.2 NVMe 2242 PCle 4.0 SSD line is a favorite for its reliability, single-sided design, and known compatibility. It effectively quadruples your base storage, providing room for dozens of modern AAA titles.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Check out this article: How to Upgrade the SSD in an Asus ROG Ally? for installing XG7000 2242 to your ASUS ROG Steam Deck
Phase 1: Accessing the SSD Slot
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Remove the Back Plate: Flip the Ally over. Remove the four corner screws and the three shorter screws along the top edge. Note: The top middle screw has a warranty seal.
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Open the Case: Carefully insert the spudger into the seam along the side or bottom. Gently work your way around to unclip all the plastic clips. Take your time to avoid breaking them.
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Disconnect the Battery (CRITICAL SAFETY STEP): Before touching any components, locate the battery connector on the right side of the motherboard. Gently lift the connector straight up to disconnect it. Wait a minute for any residual power to dissipate.
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Remove the SSD Shield: Locate the original 2230 SSD on the left side, covered by a metal foil shield held with a small screw. Remove the screw and peel back the shield.
Phase 2: The SSD Swap & 2242 Mod
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Remove the Original 2230 SSD: Unscrew the single mounting screw at the end of the SSD. The drive will pop up at a 30-degree angle. Gently pull it straight out of the M.2 slot.
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Prepare for the 2242 Drive: You'll notice the SSD slot has a standoff (a raised screw post) at the 30mm position. For a 2242 drive, you need to move the standoff to the 42mm position.
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Using tweezers or small pliers, carefully unscrew or pop out the standoff from the 30mm hole.
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Re-insert it into the empty 42mm hole directly below it. It should click or screw into place.
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Install the New 2242 SSD: Hold your new drive at a 30-degree angle and insert it firmly into the M.2 slot. Press it down flat and secure it with the mounting screw into the new standoff at the 42mm position.
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Reassemble: Place the foil shield back over the new SSD (it may not cover the full 2242 length, which is fine). Reconnect the battery connector firmly. Snap the back plate into place, starting from the top. Reinsert all screws, tightening them snugly but not forcefully.
Phase 3: Software Installation & Setup
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Boot to Recovery: Connect your prepared recovery USB drive to the Ally. Hold the Volume Down button and press the Power button. Release the Power button when you feel a vibration, but keep holding Volume Down until you enter the BIOS boot menu.
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Run Cloud Recovery: Select your USB drive from the boot menu. Follow the on-screen prompts for the ASUS Cloud Recovery tool. This will download a fresh copy of Windows 11 and all original Ally drivers and software directly from ASUS servers. This process can take 30-60 minutes depending on your internet speed.
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Complete Windows Setup: Go through the standard Windows 11 setup. When prompted, sign in with your Microsoft account to automatically restore some settings.
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Reinstall Gaming Platforms: Download and install Steam, Xbox App, Epic Games Launcher, etc. As you log in, your game libraries will sync.
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Restore Your Games: You now have two choices:
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Re-download: The simplest method. With your expanded storage, you can queue up all your favorite games.
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Clone (Advanced): If you prepared by cloning your old drive to the new one before installation (using an external M.2 enclosure), you could skip recovery and boot directly into your old system. The recovery method is safer for most users.
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Performance & Gameplay Impact
Will a new SSD make games run faster? For load times, yes, significantly. A fast PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD like the Sabrent Rocket can reduce in-game fast-travel and level load screens by 20-50% compared to the stock drive. For framerates (FPS), the impact is minimal, as that is primarily handled by the APU and RAM.
The real performance gain is in convenience and capacity. You'll spend less time managing storage and more time gaming, with your entire portable library ready to go.
Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Absolutely. Upgrading to a compact 2242 M.2 NVMe SSD, available up to 2TB, is the definitive modification for the serious ROG Ally owner. It reverses the biggest limitation of handheld PC gaming. The process is methodical but not beyond the reach of a careful beginner with the right guide.
With your new drive installed, you’ve done more than add storage—you’ve future-proofed your device against the ever-expanding size of game worlds and ensured that your powerful handheld can truly hold all the adventures you want to take with you.
