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Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement

What you need

  1. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement, Bottom Cover: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • The bottom cover is clipped onto three screw posts.

    • Pry near, but not right on the screw posts.

  2. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 3 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 3 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Use the plastic opening tool to pry the bottom cover up off of the Mac mini.

  3. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Lift and remove the bottom cover.

  4. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement, Antenna Plate: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following TR6 screws from the antenna plate:

    • Three 4.1 mm screws

    • Three 1.9 mm screws

  5. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Do not completely remove the antenna plate; it is still connected to the Mac mini by an antenna cable.

    • With the I/O ports facing you, flip the antenna plate to the right to allow access to the antenna cable connector.

  6. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 3.4 mm T6 screw and washer from the antenna cable.

    • Be careful not to lose the washer when removing the screw.

  7. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • Use the point of a spudger to lift the antenna connector straight up off its socket on the airport card.

  8. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Carefully pull the antenna cable out from the gap between the power supply and case.

  9. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the antenna plate from the Mac mini.

  10. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement, Fan Assembly: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 12 mm T6 screws from the fan.

    • Loosen the 27 mm T6 captive screw–it will get removed with the fan assembly.

  11. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • The fan connector is trapped under the edge of the fan and cannot be disconnected until the fan is moved.

    • Do not attempt to remove the fan entirely.

    • Lift the fan straight up to free the captive screw from its hole in the logic board.

    • Pull the fan away from the SSD until you can easily access the fan connector.

  12. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Use the point of a spudger to lift the fan connector straight up out of its socket on the logic board.

  13. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the fan from the Mac mini.

  14. Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement, Fan: step 14, image 1 of 2 Mac mini Late 2014 Fan Replacement, Fan: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the captive screw from the rubber grommet in the fan screw hole.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

22 other people completed this guide.

Sam Goldheart

Member since: 10/18/12

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3 Comments

Had a problem with a noisy fan. Apparently the blades were scratching its housing, so i just bend the aluminium housing a bit and spin the fan to see if its still had a contact. It works like a charm.

Syahmie Ramley - Reply

Just got my first ever Mac yesterday, used it all day without realizing the fan wasn't working. Opened it up this morning to find the fan completely unplugged from the board. Plugged it back in and now it's working great! Thanks so much!

Jacob Begley - Reply

good instruction, thanks. But: the replacement fan from iFixit is lots more louder than the orig from Apple - sad.

M. Hanke - Reply

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