Mac mini (2024) Inner Plate Removal

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 27

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Prerequisite only guide to remove the inner plate from the Mac mini (2024).

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.

Den Mac vorm ausschalten noch vom Account trennen. Sonst kann es zu Schwierigkeiten bei der Neuanmeldung kommen.

MacGyverModeOn -

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 when sliding 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.

"Don't insert the pick more than an inch near the power button" is incorrect wording.

I think you mean "Don't insert the pick less than an inch from the power button".

David -

Hi David!

For that warning, it's about not inserting the pick too deep under the bottom cover that you risk hitting the cable as you work around the perimeter. The wording is confusing though, so I'll change it!

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl -

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.

It's not necessary to remove the power connector and remove the bottom cover (the next step), just flip it over gently to take out the 3 screws underneath (in Step 9).

James -

Skip this step, really fragile connector

Ravire -

it tore open immediately. DO NOT TRY THIS.

Chad Prestridge - 20/02/25

Nicht notwenig man kann den Bodenteil einfach "überlegen"

Christian Studer -

Change these instructions, I also damaged my connector.
This one is different from other connectors, pull up, not along the length of the cable.

Or even better just move it aside or use the 4 Torx to remove it.

James -

How did you fix the connector afterwards? I‘ve the same problem. I broke the connector…

Christof - 23/03/25

Please change these instructions I just ripped the cable out before reading the comments

Sully -

And one more connector just died!

Johannss -

Sorry, what do you do if the connector pulls apart? Utterly evil design. This step needs a rewrite and a serious warning on it!!!!!

Adam P -

Achtung, den Connector auf keinen Fall lösen. Bei mir ging dieser kaputt - hoffe, ich kann ihn noch reparieren!

Christof - 23/03/25

another wrecked connector come on fix it change this step

Donald Gillis -

Step 8

Remove the bottom cover.

The power button is better to be completely unscrewed then to pull at the connector as it shattered in a 8th of a second.

Chad Prestridge -

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

You don't need to remove the 4 x 2.4 mm-long screws to install the new SSD. Jus the eight 3.44-long screws.

James -

die orangenen schrauben (4 x 2,4 mm länge) müssen Nicht entfernt werden

Christian Studer -

Die orange markierten Schrauben müssen nicht entfernt werden, um die SSD zu tauschen!

Oskar -

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.

you do not need to do this to install new SSD

James -

Auch hier das entfernen des Drahtlos Moduls ist Nicht notwenig

Christian Studer -

Auch das "Drahtlos"-Modul muss nicht entfernt werden, um die SSD zu wechseln.

Oskar -

Für den reinen SSD-Wechsel direkt zu Schritt 16. Immer dran denken, die Kabel nicht zu sehr zu belasten.

Oskar -

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.

you do not need to do this to install new SSD

James -

dito auch nicht nötig

Christian Studer -

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.