Mac mini Late 2018 Fan Replacement

Written By: Jeff Suovanen

Comments: 52

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

10 - 20 minutes

Introduction

If your fan is noisy or clogged with dust, use this guide to remove it for cleaning or replacement.

Tools

Step 1

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.

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.

My antenna plate seems to have TR7 Torx security screws

DougPA - 26/07/19

My Screws were also TR7, 2020 build

Eric Ford - 12/09/20

Step 3

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.

Does anybody know the bolt diameter and tread size of the TR6 screws? Eg M2.5 screws? Planning a mod for my MAC mini and will be great if someone knows the exact specs of the screws Apple uses :)

Daniel Lee - 03/07/19

My Mac mini screws are smaller than T6 or T5!!!

Michael - 23/01/20

The screws are T6 “Tamperproof” requiring the T6 Torx driver with the hollowed tip, not the standard T6 Torx.

Michael - 24/01/20

Stripped all of those screws instantly. Anyone know how to fix that so I can finish the upgrade?

Preston Miller - 22/04/20

The RED screws are Torx T7H and the YELLOW are Torx T6H from their toolkit. fyi.

Michael Kelly - 26/04/20

I used a TR6 (Torx security with the hollowed tip, as per the ifixit instructions) on both the “red” and “yellow screws”, Mini 2020 model.

Also, the red ones had a small amount of blue stuff (thread compound?) around the threads, which made it slightly trickier to reinsert them straight. No big problem though

Chris Thompson - 28/04/20

Make sure you have decent quality screwdriver for the T6 security screws. I bought a crappy one from Amazon that wore out after turning three screws.

Edward Fox - 18/08/20

In my case with a Mac mini 2020, all 6 screws were T7H.

Colin Ng - 21/08/20

Bei mir ging es nur mit einen T7 Torx Schraubendreher (MacMini2018)

Heinz Berger - 21/10/20

This is the third MacMini that I have done some kind of upgrade. The first two were circa 2012. One thing I learned after the first one is to make sure I kept the little tiny screws (LTS) in the right place and segregated for each step of the process. So, what I do now is print the image (from this guide) of the step which requires removal of the LTS and as I remove each one I tape the LTS with a piece of Scotch tape on to the page with the image where it needs to be reattached. It makes it so much easier to reassemble the unit. The time required as listed is a bit understated. I just finished upgrading the memory chips on the 2018 MacMini and it took me one hour and 10 minutes from start to finish. Hope this tip helps.

magnetic - 23/02/21

Intel Mac Mini, purchased June 2021. All screws were TR6 Torx

Aaron Dudek -

Intel Mac mini, purchased in April 2021. All screws were TR6 Torx too.

Richard Bao -

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.

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.

Interestingly on my Mac mini there was no torx screw holding this on at all, it was just attached to the logic board. There isn’t actually a screw hole to screw it into on the logic board as it appears to be a river of some kind instead.

Rick Curran - 09/09/19

There wasn’t one in mine either. Wondering if it’s because I bought refurbished. What can be done about this? Is it risky to proceed without one?

Gary - 28/09/20

interesting! mine definitely did - it should be noted that this screw is incredibly small and should be taken out and stored with care

Anthony LaManna - 25/10/19

What can you do when you accidentally rip off the connector from the logic board? A piece has become un-soldered and now I have a brick. This was an EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY FRAGILE part. For future folks who are trying this, be extra careful and try to find info on exactly where you should be pulling from. Apparently I lodged my spudger underneath the entire socket where it soldered, rather than above it where its simply connected. It’s very easy to rip the so ket right off the logic board. Now I’m looking for micro-soldering repair places. Do I have other options?

John Deligiannis - 10/01/20

If the 2.8 mm screw securing the antenna cable to the Mac mini's logic board “disappears” and cannot be located after the motherboard is extracted, the screw has propably settled in below the speaker. There is a neodymium magnet in the speaker and it will attract the screw. Loosen the speaker to collect the screw - do not try to push the screw out with a tool as you might do damage to the motherboard. The whole operation of retracting the screw is less than 2 minutes.

Quartz - 28/01/20

Under the speaker is where I found my antenna screw !!

peter Tucker - 31/07/20

This is the most delicate part of replacing the RAM. Be very care full when open the lid and removing the WiFi connector.

steinmb - 09/06/20

I have only ever cursed Apple a couple of times (as opposed to the several million times for Microsoft!), and this was one of them. That damned antenna screw, putting it back in was a trial of patience and perseverance.

lsutherland - 07/07/20

It is a tiny tiny tiny screw. The shaft is as short as the head itself.

vic - 21/11/20

One trick for putting the screw back in is to mount it to the screw driver first. Then wrap tape around both. There's not much screw head for the tape to stick to, but it doesn't need much because it is so light. The tape comes out with the screwdriver as soon as the screw is partially threaded.

Jonathan Skarda - 16/03/21

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.

Pry the cable… not the whole socket off the board

Ray Foss - 11/09/19

Sorry Ray… I didn’t follow your directions. When I took mine apart, the connector pulled clean off the motherboard. I looked at the icon on the back antenna cover, and it appeared to be a wifi symbol. Not a big deal for me since my Mini is always plugged in via ethernet. So I finish putting it back together… thankfully Mini boots as expected and new memory is registered.

But… everything seems to work fine. Wifi… bluetooth… internal speaker… what antenna is this connector attaching?

Brian Clement - 27/12/19

I had a similar experience. I finished the RAM install and as I was trying to reconnect the antenna I noticed I pulled the connector clean off the motherboard. I was able to boot the Mac mini and everything seems to be working fine, including Wifi and Bluetooth. I don’t know what the purpose of the antenna is for and I can’t find anything online. I have my Mac mini connected to Wifi and a dedicated ethernet cord just in case the Wifi acts up. It would be nice to know what I broke. I’m just thankful I don’t have a paperweight.

Jake Webb - 17/04/20

Re-connecting the antenna lead plug was by far the hardest part of the entire operation for me. I found it easiest to roughly position it and then screw the guide in loosely before trying to get plug properly back into the socket. When it goes in you will feel a very slight click. You can tell it is correctly located by comparing it with the two sockets beside it. If it looks like them, then you have it in correctly.

Michael - 24/01/20

Put the screw into the retaining clip before reseating the antenna cable and screwing it down.

Trying to guide that tiny screw into the right position after the antenna’s plugged back in without it spinning off into the depths of your Mini is an exercise in futility.

Alex Librie - 11/02/20

Thumbs up on this comment. I had to thread the screw into the hole/slot on the clip, but it stayed seated and it was easy to guide the clip back to the hole that receives the screw.

maltovich - 19/05/20

The cable connector socket is ridiculously fragile. Be extremely careful to apply pressure exactly as shown in the Step 6 photo (zoom in for a better look) — which is to say, on the metal wire clamp away from the connector. I used a spudger, but must have caught the socket on the logic board, because the whole assembly snapped off. Have successfully done this sort of disconnection a number of times on previous Mini models, but it’s far more delicate on this model — access and visibility are limited, so be very careful.

AlphaDog Support - 19/02/20

Totally agree with Michael above. Re-connecting the antenna was the most fiddly part of the entire operation. First connecting it and secondly lining up the small guide plate where the screw keeps everything in place.

My tip would be that the connector isn’t particularly difficult as such. It’s just very small.

It is at the top of the cable so line that up. When it is lined up some gentle pushing secures it in place. Definitely don’t try to force it as it looks easily damaged. Like everything, when it’s lined up it’ll be easy and you’ll know it’s all good hearing and feeling it gently fasten.

The screw was easier by comparison. After a couple of attempts the hole was visible enough and it took the screw.

Max MacLeod - 15/05/20

I found it easier to move the antenna plate (instead of the connector) until the connector was over the socket, and then gently push down with my finger until there was a clear click. The same strategy helped me get the metal tab correctly positioned over the hole.

Tony Piper - 29/08/20

I found lining the antenna up with the socket and using a spudger was easier than tweezers.

alan - 24/11/20

I agree 100%. To remove the antenna was a little difficult. The cable was underneath that heat tube. But for me it was very difficult to reconnect that antenna. It took me long time trying to align the connector. It’s most likely because of the tight confinement of that connector.

Adalberto Padro - 24/11/20

Getting antenna back on was the most difficult of the whole operation. Rescrewing connector first helped align the socket.

Paul Clissold - 19/12/20

When I disconnected the antenna, a small foam block popped out with it. What is this and do I need to put it back?

Jay Pastelak -

The solder joint broke while I was putting back the antenna. nevertheless I screwed it back on and placed it in the initial position as if nothing had happened. I prayed very hard that it worked.

Well, this had no impact on the quality of WiFi reception. Oo'

I guess I got lucky. This part of the reassembly disassembly is really very delicate. Everything else is a piece of cake.

djorll torkadreuz -

I slipped a small hook under the cable and gently worked it off. Definitely a little nerve wracking based on the posts here. When placing it back, I also partially screwed the clip down which I believe made it easier to reattach. But still getting the antenna to "pop" back into the socket was tedious and more complex than expected. Appreciate Alex's comment above

Scott Koppel -

Step 7

Remove the antenna plate from the Mac mini.

Step 8

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.

2020 Mac Mini has two more screws at the other end of the blower attaching it to the heat sink. You can actually see them in your picture…

John - 14/06/20

Where are they John, I don’t see two extra, only the 4 previously mentioned

David Hervig - 16/06/20

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.

The only scary moment was removing fan from Vent. The two vertical 7.2 mm Torx T6 screws at the top of the fan are easy to remove, in fact almost all of the screws for me were easy to remove because I was careful to get a good lock fit on top of the screws and slowly, while pressing downward just enough to get traction and the screw would loosen. The angular 7.2 mm screws attached to the fan vent with grommets is hard to get a direct angle with original orientation, to get the best lock and traction and use more force as they are very tight. Started to use too much pressure when it wouldn’t move and without direct even tension, I slipped a few times and that always leads to stripping the screw head and your screw driver. Carefully see how they turned the case around, so you can get a better straight angle and once the top screws are off you can gently shift the fan around to loosen the screw grips with the rubber grommets and carefully unscrew .

TuQuynh Nguyen - 26/11/19

Note here in the photo that you can see that the fan is taller than the enclosure (it extends above the metal “rim”). When I was reassembling I inserted and removed the fan three times assuming that I had mis-aligned it somehow!

colmcostelloe -

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.

Be super careful here, socket on board can easily break and end up coming-off with the fan’s cable.

jimthing - 05/03/19

I damaged the socket and it is no longer attached to the board. What do I do now?

neckersco - 16/10/19

Uh-Oh, me too… Really gently lifted off the fan connector and the socket came off the board.

The six pins that hold the socket to the board are incredibly close, and if this happens to you I strongly recommend you take it to someone who’s been soldering since before they were born, and knows exactly what they’re doing, to fix the socket back to the board.

It’s taken me two days (buying a decent soldering station etc.) and my ears hurt just as badly as the appendages between my legs, because the Mrs is extremely disappointed!

Suggestion for iFixit: please show this step in more detail, and warn everybody just how easily the socket can come off the board (please and thank you). Good luck everybody.

Mike Sims - 26/10/19

This use to happen to me when upgrading 2012 mac mini’s. Have to use a spludger or something to hold connector down while you pull it upwards, flipping lightly on back of cable. it clips in, so don’t try to”plug” or insert.

TuQuynh Nguyen - 24/11/19

When putting the fan back, step 10 should come before step 11, no?

So …12, 10, 11, 9, 8…

Michael Morphis -

I had the same problem as neckersco & Mike Sims. Evaluating next steps. I really do wish I had read these comments first!

Alan H -

Same here. Socket is broken. I really wish I hadn't tried to this because now I have to take it into a shop anyway.

Billy Brazelton -

Step 11

Remove the fan.

Conclusion

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.

Author

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 06/08/13

406802 Reputation

2 comments

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.

John Malkovich - 21/01/21

It appears to be the type of connector to slide laterally rather than needing to be pulled vertically in order to be disconnected.

Zac Hall -