iMac Intel 17" Hard Drive Replacement

Featured Guide

Featured Guide

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

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Upgrade your hard drive to gain more storage space!

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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Access Door  ¶ 

  • Loosen the two captive Phillips screws securing the access door to the iMac.

  • Remove the access door from the iMac.

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Add Note Edit Step 2 — Front Bezel  ¶ 

  • Remove the following four screws:

    • Three 6 mm T8 Torx.

    • One 8 mm T8 Torx.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Flip your iMac over and lay it stand-side down on a flat surface.

  • To lift the front bezel off the iMac, simultaneously:

    • Use your thumbs to press in the RAM arms and hold the iMac down.

    • Use your index fingers to pull the small bridge of material on the front bezel toward yourself.

    • Pull the Front bezel up with your index fingers.

  • Once the small bridge of material has cleared the RAM arms, lift the front bezel by its lower edge just enough to clear the bottom edge of the rear case.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Re-orient your iMac so it sits upright on the stand.

  • Insert a plastic card up into the corner of the air vent slot near the top of the rear case.

  • Push the card toward the top of the iMac to release the front bezel latch.

  • Pull the front bezel away from the rear case.

  • Repeat this process for the other side of the front bezel.

  • It may be necessary to apply several layers of duct tape to the top of the access card to aid in releasing the latches.

  • If the bezel refuses to release, try pressing the lower edge back onto the rear case and repeat this opening process.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Lay your iMac stand-side down on a table.

  • Lift the front bezel from its lower edge and rotate it away from the rest of your iMac, minding the RAM arms that may get caught.

  • Lay the front bezel above the rest of the iMac.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • If necessary, remove the piece of kapton tape(it is ok to toss this) wrapped around the microphone and camera cables.

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Disconnect both the camera and microphone cables.

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Add Note Edit Step 8 — Display  ¶ 

  • Peel up the lower EMI shield from the rear case.

  • It is only necessary to peel the shield up from three sides. Leave it attached to the display.

  • We have found it helpful to tape the EMI shield against the display to keep it out of the way.

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Required Tools

T8 Torx Security Bit Screwdriver

$6.95 · 50+ In stock

Spudger

$2.95 · 50+ In stock

T6 Torx Screwdriver

$4.95 · 50+ In stock

Phillips #1 Screwdriver

$4.95 · 27 In stock

T10 Torx Security Bit Screwdriver

$6.95 · 48 In stock

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