I purchased a MacBook Pro A1425 without an SSD and installed an Apple-branded SD5SL2 SSD.
However, the system doesn’t recognize it at all—neither in Disk Utility nor through diskutil list.
Could it be that the SanDisk SD5SL2 isn’t a true OEM SSD for this Mac?
The A1425 (Retina 13-inch, Late 2012/Early 2013) doesn’t take every Apple-branded SSD. Even if it says “Apple,” some models like the SD5SL2 are pulled from other machines (MacBook Air, for example) and won’t work in your MacBook Pro. Double-check Apple part numbers—your Mac likely needs a specific blade SSD.
Maybe the SD5SL2 isn’t the right OEM part for your A1425. It was used in certain MacBook Airs, not your Pro. That’s why it’s invisible. You’ll need to return it and get a compatible SSD.
This post lists some effective ways: How to Fix External SSD that Not Recognized on Mac?
- Backup your data first.
- Check the connections.
- Reboot the Mac.
- Check the SSD in Disk Utility.
- Repair the SSD with First Aid.
- Refomat the SSD after getting back all data.