Mac Mini Late 2018 Antenna Plate Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          5 - 10 minutes

Sections

Bottom Cover
2 steps
Antenna Plate
5 steps

Flags

BackMac mini Late 2018
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Bottom Cover

Power off and unplug your Mac mini before you begin.
Use an opening tool to pry the bottom cover up off of the Mac mini.

Power off and unplug your Mac mini before you begin.

Use an opening tool to pry the bottom cover up off of the Mac mini.

1024

Step 2

Lift and remove the bottom cover.
To reinstall the cover:
Align it carefully so that the words “Mac mini” can be read when the ports are facing you.
Then, press down on the cover to snap its three hidden clips into place.

Lift and remove the bottom cover.

To reinstall the cover:

Align it carefully so that the words “Mac mini” can be read when the ports are facing you.

Then, press down on the cover to snap its three hidden clips into place.

Step 3

              Antenna Plate

Remove six TR6 Torx security screws securing the antenna plate, of the following lengths:
Three 4.1 mm shoulder screws
Three 1.8 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Mac.

Remove six TR6 Torx security screws securing the antenna plate, of the following lengths:

Three 4.1 mm shoulder screws

Three 1.8 mm screws

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Mac.

Step 4

Do not completely remove the antenna plate; it is still connected to the Mac mini by an antenna cable.
With the Mac mini’s ports facing you, carefully lift the antenna plate and slide it about an inch to the right.

Do not completely remove the antenna plate; it is still connected to the Mac mini by an antenna cable.

With the Mac mini’s ports facing you, carefully lift the antenna plate and slide it about an inch to the right.

Step 5

Use a T6 Torx driver to remove the 2.8 mm screw securing the antenna cable to the Mac mini’s logic board.

Use a T6 Torx driver to remove the 2.8 mm screw securing the antenna cable to the Mac mini’s logic board.

Step 6

The antenna cable connector and socket are fragile.
Use the point of a spudger or fine tweezers to gently pry the antenna cable connector straight up off its socket on the logic board.
To reconnect the cable, use tweezers to position it carefully over its socket on the logic board, and then press it straight down until it snaps into place.
If you need more slack in the cable, you can temporarily pry it from the clips securing it to the antenna plate.

The antenna cable connector and socket are fragile.

Use the point of a spudger or fine tweezers to gently pry the antenna cable connector straight up off its socket on the logic board.

To reconnect the cable, use tweezers to position it carefully over its socket on the logic board, and then press it straight down until it snaps into place.

If you need more slack in the cable, you can temporarily pry it from the clips securing it to the antenna plate.

Step 7

Remove the antenna plate from the Mac mini.

Remove the antenna plate from the Mac mini.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      3 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors

                    Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 08/06/2013

401,010 Reputation

                                      261 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       48







                                                        +45 more badges

Team

                       iFixit                        

                                                  Member of iFixit 



                    Community                     


                                            141 Members                     


                                            15,769 Guides authored

willg - Jun 5, 2019

willg - Jun 6, 2019

“a RAM upgrade on their 2014 Mac Mini” should be “a RAM upgrade on their 2012 Mac Mini”

Achyuta A - Dec 7, 2019

What’s the antenna cable for? My WiFi works without connecting it

Joon - Dec 22, 2019

Me too.It just works without plate. Not sure whether it’s assistant antenna for further and reliable signal… or just fake parts to check whether users tried to tear down and give Apple chance to reject customer service…you know it’s quite fragile part.

Ignacio Sala - Sep 12, 2020

Broke the female connector in the process of replacing the ram. It detached from the board. It’s there a way to fix it? Wifi signal is still working but not as strong. Everything else working. Thanks

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team