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Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement

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Use this guide to replace the antenna plate that serves as a mount for the antenna as well as the hard drive.

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  1. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement, Bottom Cover: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement, Bottom Cover: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

    • Place your thumbs in the depressions cut into the bottom cover.

    • Rotate the bottom cover counter-clockwise until the white dot painted on the bottom cover is aligned with the ring inscribed on the outer case.

    • You do not need to apply much downward pressure while turning.

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  2. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Tilt the mini enough to allow the bottom cover to fall away from the outer case.

    • Remove the bottom cover and set it aside.

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  3. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement, Fan: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Remove the two 11.3 mm T6 Torx screws securing the fan to the logic board near the antenna plate.

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  4. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Lift the ear of the fan nearest the RAM up off the standoff secured to the outer case.

    • Removing the standoff screw is not necessary to remove the fan. You need only raise the fan enough to lift it off the standoff screw.

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  6. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0

    • Lift the fan out of the mini for enough clearance to access its connector.

    • Grab all the wires at once and gently pull straight up to disconnect the fan from the logic board.

    • Do not pry at the socket, or you may rip it from the logic board.

    • Remove the fan.

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  7. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement, Cowling: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Remove the single 3.5 mm T6 Torx screw securing the cowling to the heat sink.

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  8. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Lift the cowling from the end nearest the antenna plate.

    • Rotate the cowling away from the outer case and remove it from the mini.

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  9. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement, Antenna Plate: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Remove the following screws securing the antenna plate to the mini:

    • Two 6.6 mm T8 Torx screws

    • Two 5.0 mm T8 Torx or 2.0 mm Hex screws (either screwdriver will work)

    • When putting back together:

    • It can be difficult to get the hard drive seated correctly such that the antenna plate fits in place correctly. If the screw holes don't line up with those on the hard drive, make sure that the two pins that are in the back of the hard drive are properly seated in the holes at the back of the case, above the housing for the second hard drive.

    • The antenna attaches directly to the hard drive (red markers), therefore attaching the antenna can move the hard drive around and loosen the connection of the hard drive cable to the logic board.

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  10. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

    • Slightly lift the antenna plate from the end closest to the RAM.

    • Carefully pull the antenna plate away from the circular rim of the outer case.

    • Do not remove the antenna plate yet. It is still attached to the AirPort/ Bluetooth board.

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  11. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry the antenna connector up from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

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  12. Mac mini Mid 2011 Antenna Plate Replacement: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0

    • Remove the antenna plate from the mini.

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Walter Galan

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when opening my 2011 mac mini, I noticed removing the fan and the cowling is unnecessary to access the antenna plate

Gregor Samim - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

The difficult part is putting the grill back in.

stevechang64 - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

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