Mac mini (2024) Fan Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 35 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace or clean the fan in your Mac mini (2024).

This guide was written with a baseline M4 Mac mini. Although the internals for the M4 Pro version are slightly different, the disassembly procedure is the same.

Before buying a replacement fan, use this guide to clean your fan to confirm that dirt or dust isn't your issue.

Tools

Step 1

Fully shut down your Mac mini and unplug all cables from it.
Flip over your Mac mini and place it on a clean, flat surface to avoid scratching the chassis.

Step 2

Insert a Jimmy into the gap between the bottom cover and the chassis.
Pry up the bottom cover to create a gap.
Keep the Jimmy inserted under the bottom cover.

Step 3

Insert an opening pick into the gap created by the Jimmy.
Remove the Jimmy.

Step 4

Slide the opening pick along the bottom cover until you feel it snag on a clip.
There are four clips total—one at each corner of the bottom cover.
Twist the pick to lift the clip out of its slot.

Step 5

Continue sliding and prying with the pick along the perimeter of the bottom cover to release the remaining clips.
Don't insert the pick more than an inch near the power button, as you risk damaging the cable.
During reassembly, press along the perimeter of the bottom until you hear and feel all four clips click back into place.

Step 6

Don't remove the bottom cover yet, as it's still connected to the Mac mini with a cable.
Lift the edge of the bottom cover opposite the power button and flip it over to expose the power button cable.

Step 7

Grip the power button cable close to the head and pull it away from its socket to disconnect it.

Step 8

Remove the bottom cover.

Step 9

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
While the Mac mini uses Torx Plus screws, standard Torx bits work. Make sure to apply constant, downward force to prevent stripping.
Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the twelve screws securing the inner plate:
Eight 3.4 mm‑long screws
Four 2.4 mm‑long screws

Step 10

Insert the point of a spudger into one of the clips' slots on the inner plate.
Pry up the inner plate enough so you can grip the edge along the same side as the headphone jack.

Step 11

Pull the inner plate away from the chassis to slide it out from under the lip on the heat sink.
During reassembly, slide the inner plate back under the heat sink and press along its edges to secure it in the chassis.

Step 12

Don't remove the inner plate yet, as it's still connected to the Mac mini by a cable.
Lift the inner plate and flip it over to expose the wireless module cable.

Step 13

Use one hand to secure the wireless module during this step.
Use a Torx Plus 5IP screwdriver to remove the four 2.5 mm‑long screws securing the wireless module cover.

Step 14

Remove the wireless module cover.
During reassembly, look the bottom of the cover to find the foam rectangle. Align the foam rectangle over the wireless module press connector to find the proper orientation for the cover.

Step 15

Use one hand to secure the wireless module during this step.
Insert the point of a spudger under one of the short edges of the wireless module press connector.
Don't insert your spudger anywhere else, as you risk dislodging surface-mounted components.
Pry up to disconnect the wireless module.