Mac mini Late 2018 Fan Replacement

ID: 115480

Description: If your fan is noisy or clogged with dust, use...

Steps:

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

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

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

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

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

14. The antenna cable connector and socket are fragile.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. If you need more slack in the cable, you can temporarily pry it from the clips securing it to the antenna plate.

18. Remove the antenna plate from the Mac mini.

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

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

25. Grasp the fan cable by all six wires and gently lift to unplug it from the logic board.
26. 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.

27. Remove the fan.