Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

19

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

1

  • Mac mini Late 2018 Disassembly
  • 19 steps

Flags

2

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Out of the box
  • So here it is, exactly the same form factor as the previous Mac mini, but now in Space Gray

So here it is, exactly the same form factor as the previous Mac mini, but now in Space Gray

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Step 2

              Lets flip it over
  • Once flipped over, a familiar black cover is revealed.
  • Pry open the lid to release it from the three large screws
  • The lid had a soft foam inside to dampen the vibrations of the beefed up fan

Once flipped over, a familiar black cover is revealed.

Pry open the lid to release it from the three large screws

The lid had a soft foam inside to dampen the vibrations of the beefed up fan

Step 3

              Take off the metal cover
  • The lid is secured with the same TR6 screws as the 2014 model

The lid is secured with the same TR6 screws as the 2014 model

Step 4

              Reveal the innards
  • The antenna cable is very short, so watch out; rotate the cover to reveal the internals

The antenna cable is very short, so watch out; rotate the cover to reveal the internals

Step 5

              Antenna cable
  • The antenna cable is held down with a little TX6 screw
  • It has a tiny washer to make sure no stress is applied to the cable

The antenna cable is held down with a little TX6 screw

It has a tiny washer to make sure no stress is applied to the cable

Step 6

              Take off the fan
  • The fan has four identical TX6 screws holding it down
  • The screws go trough a rubber tube to reduce vibration

The fan has four identical TX6 screws holding it down

The screws go trough a rubber tube to reduce vibration

Step 7

              Take the fan out
  • Underneath the fan the connector pops off easilly
  • The fan feels solid. Much better than previous models

Underneath the fan the connector pops off easilly

The fan feels solid. Much better than previous models

Step 8

              Next, the motherboard
  • Now, lets take out the motherboard
  • Massive (for the mini) TX10 screws secure the motherboard to the chassis

Now, lets take out the motherboard

Massive (for the mini) TX10 screws secure the motherboard to the chassis

Step 9

              Unplug some wires
  • The power supply can be unplugged by as many wires as possible between your iFixit tweezers and pull upwards
  • Also take off the tiny power led connector

The power supply can be unplugged by as many wires as possible between your iFixit tweezers and pull upwards

Also take off the tiny power led connector

Step 10

              Motherboard out
  • Slide the motherboard out by gently applying pressure to the heatsink

Slide the motherboard out by gently applying pressure to the heatsink

Step 11

              Details on the design
  • Some interesting design choices made here. A full size CMOS battery
  • The wifi wiring runs underneath the large speaker
  • The power button is attached to a ultra flat cable that runs in an arc along the heatsink

Some interesting design choices made here. A full size CMOS battery

The wifi wiring runs underneath the large speaker

The power button is attached to a ultra flat cable that runs in an arc along the heatsink

Step 12

              Motherboard underside
  • We flip over the motherboard to see a massive amount of tiny components
  • Also some familiar pieces of foam all over the place

We flip over the motherboard to see a massive amount of tiny components

Also some familiar pieces of foam all over the place

Step 13

              Memory cover
  • But now what we are all here for. The RAM
  • Four TX5 screws holt it down

But now what we are all here for. The RAM

Four TX5 screws holt it down

Step 14

              Slide off the cover
  • The memory cover slides off at an angle

The memory cover slides off at an angle

Step 15

              Rubber spacers
  • These rubber parts will be a pain to put back on later.
  • There are tiny pieces of rubber in it that need to slide into the metal clips holding the memory in place

These rubber parts will be a pain to put back on later.

There are tiny pieces of rubber in it that need to slide into the metal clips holding the memory in place

Step 16

              Memory out
  • The memory itself sits upside down in its sockets
  • The springs are very strong and will shoot the memory in your face if you’re not careful!

The memory itself sits upside down in its sockets

The springs are very strong and will shoot the memory in your face if you’re not careful!

Step 17

              Power supply connector
  • The power supply is secured in a similar way as with the previous models
  • A little clip has to be removed, and the connector can be rotated

The power supply is secured in a similar way as with the previous models

A little clip has to be removed, and the connector can be rotated

Step 18

              Power supply screws
  • The power supply is held down with three TX6 screws
  • They look just like the fan screws, but they appear just a little bit thicker and with longer thread

The power supply is held down with three TX6 screws

They look just like the fan screws, but they appear just a little bit thicker and with longer thread

Step 19

              End of the line
  • After taking out the power supply we are left with an empty shell
  • I really enjoyed taking this mini apart. My verdict is it’s much easier than the 2014 model as cables are in a more logical place

After taking out the power supply we are left with an empty shell

I really enjoyed taking this mini apart. My verdict is it’s much easier than the 2014 model as cables are in a more logical place

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                                                                                      5 other people completed this guide.

Author

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                    Wouter de Vries

Member since: 11/08/2018

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Sam - Nov 8, 2018

Reply

What happens to the machine if the SSD fails? Will the entire logic board need to be replaced? I have a feeling that the chances of SSD failing would be significantly higher than Ram… So shouldn’t apple make SSD removable as well?

Wouter de Vries - Nov 8, 2018

Failing SSD means a failing motherboard. In my experience, apple ssd-s are very reliable. Upgradable memory allows you to use a device longer. If you configure it with 16GB today, you might want to max out the memory in the future, once prices go down.

Steve Seg - Nov 8, 2018

Reply

What about the CPU, is it in a socket or soldered in?

I didn’t have the courage to take the heatsink off. So we’ll have to wait for someone who does.