How to Upgrade or Replace Macbook Air 2011 SSD Hard Drive | Cheap! 

The real issue was that when I tried to reinstall my OSX using the recovery options in the menus, I will still receive the error “additional content can’t be downloaded”. OSX was tried to download Lion and Based on my Make and Model, latest supported was High Sierra. Here is I got High Sierra from Internet Recovery and installed without any issues. Hit Power, Keep Pressing Option+Command+R Open Terminal and set date like this date -u (hour)(minute)(month)(day)(year)" ex.) date -u 123408252012 Last 4 are year so if that does not work, go back one year. For me, it was 2010 After date is set, Shutdown and restart with Option+Command+R and start OSX recovery. If you still see different OS, change date and repeat process

This is a good question, i'm looking for the same solution👍👍

From direct experience😂 initially i bought a M.2 SATA with M-key (asymmetrical pins) and had your same problem, you have to look for a B&M-key (symmetrical pins). Hope this helps others too

It won’t work Unless you use a adapter for the m.2 ssd

YEAH

Non, it uses a special proprietary connector that was only ever used for the 2010 and 2011 macbook airs. As can be seen in the video there is a need for an adapter, particularly a 6+12 pin/18 pin to m.2 adapter (name various from seller to seller), past that the m.2 drive needs to be SATA and NOT NVME, otherwise not gonna work.

I have the same problem. did find any solution? thanks.

​@@januszeamon i think i read a solution about this, for what i understand is important which version of OSX you are going to install, because of the EFI firmware that this newer version of OSX have IN PRACTICE : before proceeding installing the NEW SSD, DOwnload the OSX version you want (ex.10.13 High Sierra) in your computer and move this DMG into the new SSD , if you can't just do it in a usb stick just erased in APFS format and put the DMG file in here.| after , right click on the .dmg > show packet content > Contents/SharedSupport > > > > > take this file out " InstallESD.dmg " and paste it just beside the OSX .dmg you download and transfer in ssd/usb stick now restart and press cmd + option + R and install the mac osx version in your new ssd , it will work like a charm and no wake problems

you may consider to upgrade the SSD if you want, backup all of your data with time machine. And 1 tiny note is Original macbook air 2011 SSD is SATA 2 which is quite slower than the new modern SATA SSD which is SATA 3