iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 Display Replacement
crwdns2944107:0crwdnd2944107:0Sam Goldheartcrwdnd2944107:0crwdnd2944107:0crwdnd2944107:07crwdnd2944107:0crwdne2944107:0
crwdns2944111:0December 18, 2024crwdne2944111:0
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crwdns2942287:0crwdne2942287:0Removing the display on the iMac Intel 21.5" EMC 2638 requires cutting adhesive with a specialized iMac opening tool.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0iMac Intel 21.5" Cardboard Service Wedge$4.99
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Before beginning any work on your iMac: Unplug the computer and press and hold the power button for ten seconds to discharge the power supply's capacitors.
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Starting on the left of the display, near the power button, insert the iMac Opening Tool into the gap between the glass panel and the rear enclosure.
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Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.
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Run the tool up along the left side of the display.
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Continue running the tool up around the top left corner.
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Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.
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Continue along the top of the display.
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Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.
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Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.
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Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Plastic Cards$2.99
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Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, wedge a plastic card between the display and frame.
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Gently twist the plastic card sideways to create a gap between the display and frame.
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Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".
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Slide the card toward the center of the display to cut any of the remaining adhesive along the top right corner of the iMac.
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Wedge the plastic card into the top right corner once again, and leave it there to prevent the adhesive from resticking.
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Insert a second plastic card into the gap between the display and frame near the top left corner of the iMac.
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Gently twist the card upward, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.
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Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.
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Wedge the plastic card back into the top left corner.
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With both plastic cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards sideways to increase the gap between display and case.
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Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.
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While holding the display up with one hand, use the other hand to unplug the display power cable.
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Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.
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Carefully pull the display data cable from its socket on the logic board.
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Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Plastic Cards$2.99
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Grasp the small tab at the end of one of the bottom edge display adhesive strips and pull the adhesive toward the top of the iMac to remove it.
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Repeat this step with the other adhesive strip and remove it.
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Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.
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It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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I just broke mine... when i put inside the master card.... :(((( how to proceed? its a screen not a glass - need to repair whole screen from apple.... i was trying to put ssd drive inside...
Сracks only at the edge in one place and its work but :(((((( how can get in now???
Hi, where can I buy a replacement display for my iMac EMC 2742 (2742 is the same as 2638, I assume?)...Thanks so much!
I put off replacing my hdd with an ssd on my late 2013 iMac because it looked a bit tricky. This guide and an iMac opening tool made the job really strait-forward. Just be gentle and patient and the screen comes off with very little bother. Thanks ifixit!
Used this and the adhesive guide to replace the cracked display on a relative’s 21.5 inch iMac. Thank you, iFixit! These guides and the toolkit I purchased from iFixit years ago have saved me roughly $200.00 vs. having a repair shop do it. I still have a 2008 24inch iMac up and running thanks to this website!
I used this guide and successfully replaced the stock HDD with a Crucial 1TB SDD MX500 and upgraded the RAM to 16GB, blew out all the internal dust and now it runs beautifully and didn’t have to buy an entirely new iMac.
