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Follow this guide to replace the fan on a 2020 iMac 27" Retina 5K.
Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won't affect the guide procedure.
Removing the display on the 2020 iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display requires cutting adhesive with a specialized iMac opening tool. After you've completed your repair, you'll need to follow our display adhesive guide to scrape off the old adhesive and replace it with new double-sided adhesive strips.
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.
Be very careful not to touch the capacitor leads or any exposed solder joints on the back of the power supply.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0iMac Intel 27" Cardboard Service Wedge$4.99
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With the hinge free to move, the iMac will be unbalanced and hard to work on. Repairs can be completed with the iMac laying down, but are faster and easier with an iMac service wedge.
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If you are using the iFixit cardboard service wedge, follow these assembly directions to put it together.
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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 case.
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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 wheeling 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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Set the iMac face-up on a table.
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Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, insert a plastic card between the display and frame.
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Gently twist the plastic card to open the space between the display and frame, and cut any remaining adhesive near the corner.
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Slide the card toward the center of the display, to cut any remaining adhesive.
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Put the card into the corner again and let it stay there to keep the adhesive from resettling.
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Insert a second card into the gap between the display and frame in the top left corner.
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Gently twist the card, 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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Insert the card back into the top left corner.
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With the cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards to increase the gap between display and case.
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If there are any sections that seem to stick and won't separate, stop twisting and use one of the cards to cut the adhesive in the problem area.
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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 to unplug the display power cable.
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Flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.
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Disconnect the display data cable.
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Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.
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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. Lay the display face down on a flat, soft surface.
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It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.
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Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the fan cable's connector from its socket on the logic board.
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Use your fingers to peel the black tape connecting the fan to the exhaust duct back slightly.
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Leave the tape in place on the exhaust duct, you only need to expose the join to free the fan.
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Use a T10 Torx screwdriver to remove the three 12.4 mm screws securing the fan.
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Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.
To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.
To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.
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Hey Sam I came across this post today and I believe this is not an iMac 2020 model more looking like a 2019 model. as you may know the 2020 model doesn’t come with the HDD at all they have only SSD soldered on the board
Hi Babak, thanks for noticing this and pointing it out. When a new model has an identical repair procedure to an older one we sometimes reuse photos from prior guides to save time. Guides like this will always have a disclaimer in the introduction: “Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won't affect the guide procedure.”
As long as the steps are followed exactly as written there shouldn’t be any issues, but please let us know if you come across any.
This article is great and links to all the tools needed, which is awesome -- however, there's nothing telling me how I can find the right replacement fan for my iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) display.
Is there a recommended fan to use to replace the default fan? And is replacement really the best solution if there is a tremendous amount of fan noise? Thanks a lot.
Does the adhesive strip kit that is recommended on this page work just fine. I have a 2020 model and the kit says up to 2019. Also where do I purchase the replacement fan?
