iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display Hard Drive Replacement

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.

Use the tool like a pizza cutter—roll it along through the gap, and it will cut the foam adhesive through the center.

Run the tool up along the left side of the display.

Continue wheeling the tool up around the top left corner.

Cut the adhesive along the top left of the display.

Continue along the top of the display.

Push the tool around the top right corner of the display.

Wheel the tool down along the right side of the display.

Finish pushing the opening tool to the bottom of the right side of the display.

Set the iMac face-up on a table.

Starting from the top right corner of the iMac, insert a plastic card between the display and frame.

• Be careful not to insert it more than 3/8", or you may damage internal components.

Gently twist the plastic card to open the space between the display and frame.

Move slowly and be careful not to stress the display glass too much—you only need to make a gap of about 1/4".

Slide the card toward the center of the display, to cut any remaining adhesive.

Put the card into the corner again and let it stay there to keep the adhesive from resettling.

Insert a second card into the gap between the display and frame in the top left corner.

Gently twist the card, slightly increasing the space between the display and frame.

Slide the plastic card toward the center, again stopping just before the iSight camera.

Insert the card back into the top left corner.

With the cards inserted as shown near the corners, gently twist the cards to increase the gap between display and case.

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.

Begin to lift the top of the display up from the frame.

While holding the display up with one hand, use the other to unplug the display power cable.

• Lift the display up enough to have easy access to the connections, but not so much that you stretch the cables and stress their connections (about 8").

Flip up the metal retaining bracket on the display data cable.

Disconnect the display data cable.

• This is a delicate connection that can easily be broken. Be sure to pull the display data cable connector straight out of its socket, toward the top of the iMac.

Lift the display up to a near-vertical position.

If necessary, a plastic card can be used to cut any remaining sections of the bottom adhesive strip.

Lift the display up from the frame and remove it from the iMac.

It may be necessary to slowly lift from one side, to peel against the remaining adhesive.

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 .

Remove two 10.0 mm T10 screws.

Unplug the left speaker cable from its socket on the logic board. Be sure to pull straight up out of the socket.

De-route the cable from the gap between the hard drive and logic board.

Use a spudger to disconnect the power button connector from its socket on the logic board.

Lift the left speaker straight up, until the power button cable is exposed (about 0.5").

Gently de-route the power button cable from its groove in the left speaker.

Lift the left speaker straight up and remove it from the iMac.

Pull straight up on the SATA data/power cable to disconnect it from the drive.

Remove two 7.3 mm T10 screws securing the left hard drive bracket to the rear case.

Grab the hard drive and left hard drive bracket together.

Tilt the left side up away from the rear case, and slide the assembly to the left.

Remove the hard drive and left hard drive bracket from the iMac.

Remove the left hard drive bracket.

Remove the four 8.1 mm T9 screw posts from the hard drive, and transfer them to the replacement drive.