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How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024)

How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024)

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

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Última actualización: March 16, 2025

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Introducción

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Use this guide to replace the SSD, or flash storage module, in your Mac mini (2024).

This guide was written with a base model M4 Mac mini. Although the SSD for the M4 Pro model is longer and in a different position, the disassembly procedure is the same.

While the Mac mini's SSD looks like a normal M.2 SSD, its lacks a storage controller. Apple integrates the storage controllers into the Apple Silicon SoC, which means that normal M.2 SSDs are incompatible.

This guide is purely instructional for how to replace the SSD with another of the same type.

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  1. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Before you begin: paso 1, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Before you begin: paso 1, imagen 2 de 2
    • 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.

  2. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Create a gap: paso 2, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Create a gap: paso 2, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Create a gap: paso 2, imagen 3 de 3
    • 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.

  3. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Insert an opening pick: paso 3, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Insert an opening pick: paso 3, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Insert an opening pick: paso 3, imagen 3 de 3
    • Insert an opening pick into the gap created by the Jimmy.

    • Remove the Jimmy.

  4. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Release the clips: paso 4, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Release the clips: paso 4, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Release the clips: paso 4, imagen 3 de 3
    • 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.

  5. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 5, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 5, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 5, imagen 3 de 3
    • 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.

  6. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 6, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 6, imagen 2 de 2
    • 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.

  7. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the power button: paso 7, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the power button: paso 7, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the power button: paso 7, imagen 3 de 3
    • Grip the power button cable close to the head and pull it away from its socket to disconnect it.

  8. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the bottom cover: paso 8, imagen 1 de 1
    • Remove the bottom cover.

  9. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the inner plate screws: paso 9, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the inner plate screws: paso 9, imagen 2 de 2
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    • 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 eight 3.4 mm‑long screws securing the inner plate.

  10. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Separate the inner plate: paso 10, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Separate the inner plate: paso 10, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Separate the inner plate: paso 10, imagen 3 de 3
    • 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.

  11. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 11, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 11, imagen 2 de 2
    • 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.

  12. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 12, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 12, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 12, imagen 3 de 3
    • Don't remove the inner plate, as it's still connected to the Mac mini by a cable.

    • Lift the inner plate and flip it over the edge of the chassis. Let it rest against the chassis.

  13. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the fan screws: paso 13, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the fan screws: paso 13, imagen 2 de 2
    • Remove the four screws securing the fan:

    • Two 2.4 mm‑long Torx Plus 3IP screws

    • Two 7.9 mm‑long Torx Plus 5IP screws

  14. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Reposition the fan: paso 14, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Reposition the fan: paso 14, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Reposition the fan: paso 14, imagen 3 de 3
    • Lift the fan out of its recess in the chassis and flip it over to expose its wire and connector.

    • Let the fan rest on the chassis and heat sink.

  15. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the fan: paso 15, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the fan: paso 15, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Disconnect the fan: paso 15, imagen 3 de 3
    • Use tweezers to peel back the tape covering the fan ZIF connector.

  16. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 16, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 16, imagen 2 de 2
    • Use the point of a spudger, or your fingernail, to flip up the locking tab on the fan ZIF connector.

  17. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 17, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 17, imagen 2 de 2
    • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to slide the ZIF connector straight out of its socket.

  18. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the fan: paso 18, imagen 1 de 1
    • Remove the fan.

  19. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the SSD screw: paso 19, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the SSD screw: paso 19, imagen 2 de 2
    • Use a Torx Plus 8IP screwdriver to remove the 4.1 mm‑long screw securing the SSD.

  20. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the SSD: paso 20, imagen 1 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the SSD: paso 20, imagen 2 de 3 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024), Remove the SSD: paso 20, imagen 3 de 3
    • Insert the point of a spudger into one of the holes along the bottom edge of the SSD.

    • Use the spudger to pull the SSD away from its socket, alternating sides as necessary, until it's fully disconnected.

  21. How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 21, imagen 1 de 2 How to Replace the SSD in your Mac mini (2024): paso 21, imagen 2 de 2
    • Grip the corner of the SSD, tilt it up against the headphone jack, and lift it out of its socket.

    • During reassembly, insert the SSD at an angle and gently wiggle it into place until it sits flat to the logic board.

Conclusión

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

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Mac mini (2024) Answers Community for help.

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Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

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10 comentarios

"Apple's unique SSDs aren't sold by Apple and aren't currently available by a third party." is no longer correct. https://expandmacmini.com has tested options to upgrade SSD to 2TB.

Alpha - Contestar

Thanks, as always, for such a wonderful job in explanation and photos as to how this disassembly and upgrade of the M4 Mac Mini. I and many others thank you for this work that you do so well. I have just purchased an M4 Mini with only 256 GB internal drive, although, I did opt for an upgrade of the RAM to 32 GB; but, as everyone knows, and extra $500 as a charge from Apple for this much extra RAM makes for quite an expensive addition to the cost. But, now that I have an option to upgrade the internal drive to 2 TB, my Mini will be really powerful, with lots of room to spare!

Bruce - Contestar

After the installation, (or prior to?) how does one install the OS? Thank you

Jim Willett - Contestar

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