Desktops are way easier.

If you can work a screwdriver and apply moderate pressure, desktops take maybe five minutes. Laptops? They can be a pain.

Desktop RAM is totally beginner-friendly. Open the side panel, find the slots, push down the clips, line up the notch, and push until they click. No special tools, no prying, no tiny ribbons. The whole process is braindead simple.

Laptop RAM is still doable but requires more care. Most modern laptops have a removable bottom panel held by a bunch of tiny screws. Inside, the RAM is either under a shield or sitting in accessible slots. You have to gently pry the clips apart and slide the module out. Some laptops make you disconnect the battery first, which adds another small step. And if your laptop has soldered RAM, you’re out of luck—no upgrade possible.

If you’re not comfortable with delicate electronics, stick to desktop upgrades. If you do attempt a laptop, watch a teardown video specific to your model before touching anything.

Just don’t try to force anything. RAM modules only go in one way, and if it doesn’t click, something is wrong.