A Phillips screwdriver is usually all you need.

Yes. For most laptops with socketed RAM, a #0 or #1 Phillips head screwdriver is the only tool you’ll need. Maybe a plastic spudger if the bottom panel is clipped in, but 90% of the time it’s just unscrewing a few screws, popping the old stick out, and snapping the new one in.

The trick is knowing which screws. Some laptops hide them under rubber feet or stickers. Others use tiny Torx screws instead of Phillips, but that’s rare on consumer models. If you hit a screw that looks like a star, that’s Torx – grab a T5 bit. Also, touch a metal surface before handling the RAM to avoid static discharge. A wrist strap is overkill for this job, but don’t work on carpet in socks.

And if your laptop has soldered RAM, set the screwdriver down. You can’t replace it no matter how many tools you own.