Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

                          10 - 20 minutes

Sections

3

  • Bottom Cover
  • 2 steps
  • Antenna Plate
  • 5 steps
  • Fan
  • 4 steps

Flags

0

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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.

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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.

Step 8

              Fan
  • Use a T6 Torx driver to remove the four 7.2 mm screws securing the fan:
  • Two screws securing the fan to the logic board
  • Two screws with rubber shoulders securing the fan to the exhaust vent
  • Rubber grommets secure these screws to the fan, so they may not come out completely. Just make sure they are fully loosened.

Use a T6 Torx driver to remove the four 7.2 mm screws securing the fan:

Two screws securing the fan to the logic board

Two screws with rubber shoulders securing the fan to the exhaust vent

Rubber grommets secure these screws to the fan, so they may not come out completely. Just make sure they are fully loosened.

Step 9

  • Don’t try to remove the fan completely in this step—just lift it so you can access the cable underneath.
  • Lift the fan from the flat edge where it meets the exhaust vent, being careful not to strain the fan cable underneath.

Don’t try to remove the fan completely in this step—just lift it so you can access the cable underneath.

Lift the fan from the flat edge where it meets the exhaust vent, being careful not to strain the fan cable underneath.

Step 10

  • Grasp the fan cable by all six wires and gently lift to unplug it from the logic board.
  • If the cable won’t disconnect, don’t force it, or you may pull the socket off the board. Try holding the socket down with your thumb, then pinch the cable close to the socket with your index finger and gently lift.

Grasp the fan cable by all six wires and gently lift to unplug it from the logic board.

If the cable won’t disconnect, don’t force it, or you may pull the socket off the board. Try holding the socket down with your thumb, then pinch the cable close to the socket with your index finger and gently lift.

Step 11

  • Remove the fan.

Remove the fan.

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.

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                    Jeff Suovanen

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John Malkovich - Jan 21, 2021

Reply

Hi, thank you for this guide. I am getting ready to do the same. Regarding the fan connector: is it perhaps the slide-in type which can be disconnected by pulling the wires horizontally backwards, instead of pulling upwards? The photos are good but still not enough magnification to be able to tell. Thanks in advance.