Published: 2025-01-12

This guide describes the disassembly and reassembly of the M4 Pro Mac mini (2024). The module removal and replacement procedure is the same for the M4 and M4 Pro models.

Required Tools

• Standard Torx bits. Take care not to strip them.
• Adjustable torque driver
• Orange torque driver
• Bits: 3IP, 5IP, 6IP, 8IP, and T25
• Black stick, including a version with a flat end
• Tweezers
• Hair dryer
• Suction cup
• Voltmeter set for DC
• Tape for the fan flex cable

Disassembly

1. Bottom Cover

1. Measure the battery voltage with a voltmeter set for DC.
2. Press the suction cup to the center of the bottom rubber mat, which is 9 cm in diameter, to secure it. Remove the mat.
3. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to remove the two battery cover screws.
4. Lift the battery cover, which holds the BR1632 battery, off the antenna plate.
5. Use a hair dryer to heat the power button. This prevents damage to the foam during teardown.
6. Insert the flat side of a black stick into the gap and lift to release the clips in order.
7. Gently lift the bottom cover to release the last clip near the power button.
8. Lift the flex cable off its connector to remove the bottom cover. Do not damage the cable while lifting the bottom cover off the housing.

2. Antenna Plate and Cowling

1. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove eight screws.
2. Gently lift the antenna plate and move it toward the front of the housing.
3. Rotate the antenna plate and lay it flat on the housing. Do not damage the flex cable.
4. Remove the four 5IP cowling screws, then remove the cowling. Keep these screws separate from the outer screws, because they are different.
5. Use the flat end of the black stick to lift the wide flex cable.

3. Fan

1. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to remove two screws.
2. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove two screws.
3. Gently lift the fan out of the housing and move it to the left to expose the fan connector.
4. Use tweezers to peel back the tape on the end of the fan flex cable.
5. Flip the locking lever up with the black stick.
6. Use tweezers to slide the end of the fan flex cable out of the connector.
7. Remove the fan. Keep these top screws separate from the left screws, because they are different.

4. Speaker

1. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove three screws.
2. Without touching the speaker cone, gently push the speaker toward the back of the housing and lift it out.
3. Lift the end of the speaker cable off its connector on the logic board.
4. Remove the speaker.

5. Cowling and Flex Cables

1. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to remove three cowling screws.
2. Use the adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to remove the standoff screw.
3. Remove the cowling.
4. Use the black stick to lift the ends of the two flex cables off their connector.
5. Remove the flex cable from the logic board.

6. Front USB-C Ports

1. Stand the computer on its front with the back ports facing up.
2. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to remove four screws. Angle the torque driver to reach the screws. Take care not to strip them. Keep these screws separate from the cowling screws, because they are different.
3. Lay the computer on a surface with the back ports facing you.
4. Lift the front USB-C ports out of the housing.

7. SSD Module

1. Remove the 8IP standoff screw.
2. Pinch the two longer edges of the module and slide it out of its connector on the logic board.

8. Audio Board and Status Indicator Light

1. Use the orange torque driver to remove the two 3IP cowling screws.
2. Remove the cowling.
3. Use the adjustable torque driver and 8IP bit to remove the standoff screw.
4. Turn the computer front side down.
5. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to remove two wall screws from the audio board. Keep these wall screws separate from the cowling screws, because they are different. Angle the torque driver to reach the screws. Take care not to strip them.
6. Use a hair dryer to heat the audio board and status indicator light.
7. Gently peel the status indicator light from its white mount.
8. Use the black stick to lift the flex cable off its connector on the logic board.
9. Gently peel the audio board and status indicator light off the housing.

9. Logic Board

1. Remove the three 8IP screws. Keep the front screw separate from the back screws, because they are different.
2. Remove the two 5IP screws.
3. Hold the heat sink and gently slide the logic board toward the front of the housing until the I/O board clears the edge of the housing.
4. Lift and rotate the logic board to access the power supply connector.
5. Gently detach the flex cable.

10. Power Supply

Air passes over the power supply, so it requires dusting during maintenance.

1. Use the adjustable torque driver and T25 bit to remove four screws from the power supply.
2. Turn the computer back side down.
3. Use the adjustable torque driver and 6IP bit to remove two screws from the AC inlet. Keep these two screws separate, because they are different.
4. Turn the computer top side down.
5. Use the AC inlet to carefully lift the power supply out of the housing.

Reassembly

1. Power Supply

1. Lower the power supply into the housing. Align the AC inlet to its screw mounts.
2. Align the power supply to its screw mounts.
3. Set the adjustable torque driver to 1.2 Nm and reinstall the four T25 screws.
4. Turn the computer back side down.
5. Align the AC inlet to its cutout.
6. Set the adjustable torque driver to 0.3 Nm. Loosely attach the AC inlet in its cutout with the top and bottom 6IP screws. The screws are different, so verify their positions.
7. Lay the computer on a surface.
8. Check the alignment of the AC inlet with a power cord that is not attached to any power source.
9. After confirming alignment, tighten the screws.

2. Logic Board

1. Slide the end of the power supply cable into the connector on the logic board. Do not force the connector. It fits in one way only.
2. Hold the heat sink and tilt the front of the logic board into the housing.
3. Gently snap the back I/O ports into place.
4. Confirm that the busbar alignment pins are inserted in the openings in the logic board.
5. Set the adjustable torque driver to 0.65 Nm and reinstall the three 8IP screws.
6. Set the adjustable torque driver to 13 Ncm and reinstall the two 5IP screws into the busbar.

3. Audio Board and Status Indicator Light

1. Gently press the audio board flex cable into the connector on the logic board.
2. Set the computer front side down.
3. Lightly snap the audio board into place, aligned to its two screw mounts.
4. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to loosely attach the audio board to the housing with the two wall screws. Angle the torque driver to reach the screws. Take care not to strip them.
5. Turn the computer top side down.
6. Check the alignment with an audio cable.
7. After confirming alignment, tighten the screws.
8. Align the two holes in the status indicator light with the two pins in the housing.
9. Use the black stick to press and hold the status indicator light in place for 15 seconds to activate the adhesive.
10. Slide the black stick along the flex for 15 seconds, applying pressure to activate the adhesive.
11. Turn the computer top side down.
12. Place the cowling over the connector and align it to the two 3IP screw mounts.
13. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall two screws into the audio board connector cowling.
14. Set the adjustable torque driver to 0.65 Nm and reinstall the 8IP standoff screw.

4. SSD Module

1. Ensure the contacts are free of dust and debris.
2. Lower the SSD module into the housing at an angle.
3. Slowly slide the module into the connector.
4. Set the adjustable torque driver to 0.65 Nm and reinstall the 8IP standoff screw.

5. Front USB-C Ports

1. Lower the front USB-C ports into the housing and align them with the openings in the housing.
2. Press the ends of the front USB-C ports flex cable into the connector on the logic board.
3. Turn the computer front side down.
4. Use the orange torque driver to loosely attach the USB-C ports to the housing with the four 3IP wall screws. Angle the torque driver to reach the screws. Take care not to strip them.
5. Check the alignment with a USB-C cable. Do not connect the computer to any other device.
6. After confirming alignment, tighten the screws.

6. Antenna Connector Board and Cowling

1. Press the antenna connector board flex cable into the connector on the logic board.
2. Place the cowling over the flex connectors and align it to the three 3IP screw mounts.
3. Use the orange torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall the cowling to the logic board with three cowling screws.
4. Set the adjustable torque driver to 0.3 Nm and reinstall the 8IP standoff screw.

7. Speaker

1. Gently press the speaker cable into the connector on the logic board.
2. Without touching the speaker cone, gently lower the speaker into the housing and rotate it into position.
3. Align the speaker to its screw mounts.
4. Set the adjustable torque driver to 14.5 Ncm and reinstall the three 5IP wall screws. The front wall screw is different from the two side wall screws.

8. Fan

1. Ensure that the antenna connector board flex cable does not get caught under the fan.
2. Confirm that the locking lever is flipped up.
3. Use tweezers to slide the end of the fan flex cable into the connector.
4. Flip the locking lever down with the black stick and press the tab over it.
5. Set the fan in place, aligned to its screw mounts on the logic board and heat sink. Keep the flex cable slack.
6. Set the adjustable torque driver to 19 Ncm and reinstall the two 5IP screws that attach the fan to the logic board.
7. Set the adjustable torque driver to 13 Ncm and reinstall the two 3IP screws that attach the fan to the heat sink.
8. Press the flex cable into the connector on the antenna connector board.

9. Antenna Plate and Cowling

1. Align the cowling to the four screw mounts so the pads cover the antenna and connectors.
2. Set the adjustable torque driver to 11.5 Ncm and attach the cowling to the antenna plate with the four 5IP cowling screws.
3. Gently rotate the antenna plate away from you, then position it on the housing.
4. Align the antenna plate to its screw mounts.
5. Set the adjustable torque driver to 32.5 Ncm and reinstall the eight 5IP outer screws.

10. Bottom Cover

1. Attach the power button flex cable to the connector on the bottom cover.
2. Lower the bottom cover onto the housing.
3. Press the bottom cover down until the four clips snap into place.