Software can tell you if your RAM is soldered.

Yes, and it takes ten seconds. CPU-Z (free) on Windows shows you “Number of Slots” under the Memory tab — if it says “0” or “1” with no upgrade path, it’s soldered. On Linux, sudo dmidecode -t memory shows the same info. Mac users: “About This Mac” → “Memory” tells you directly.

I’ve never seen these tools give a false reading on standard laptops. Sometimes they’ll say “4 slots” but two are hidden under the motherboard — still, if it says “0” for empty slots, you’re stuck. HWiNFO64 is another solid choice if you want more detail.

One caveat: some ultra-thin laptops solder the RAM but still report a slot count because of a firmware quirk. If your model is known for soldered-only (like many modern Macs, Surface, or thin Dell XPS), trust the public teardown database over any single tool.

Don’t crack open your laptop just to check. Run CPU-Z, move on with your life.