iMac and Mac mini Repair
We repair iMac and Mac mini computers, from older Intel models to the newer ones with Apple Silicon chips. Most of the iMacs we see take several minutes to start because they still run on a hard drive or a Fusion Drive, but we also get ones that won’t turn on, run hot or have a cracked screen. We take a look first, tell you what’s wrong and what it will cost, and only then start work.
Slow iMac: fitting an SSD
Many Intel iMacs were sold with a conventional hard drive (on the 21.5″ models often a 5400 rpm one) or with a Fusion Drive, which pairs a small SSD with an ordinary hard drive. After a few macOS upgrades an iMac like this takes ages to start, keeps showing the spinning beach ball and opens Safari as if it has to think it over. The processor is usually still perfectly adequate. It’s the drive that holds it back.
For these computers, an SSD upgrade is the biggest speed boost you can get. We clone the system, apps and data from the old drive to the new one, so you get the same iMac with the same files and settings, only much faster. If the old drive is already failing, we rescue the data first.
Opening an iMac and adding RAM
On the slim iMac models (from late 2012 onwards) the display isn’t held in with screws but with adhesive strips around the edge. We cut through the adhesive with a tool made for the job, lift the display off without flexing it, and fit new strips made for your model when we put it back together. That’s why we don’t open an iMac without a good reason.
On 27″ Intel iMacs (except the iMac Pro) RAM goes in through a small door at the bottom of the case, without removing the display. On the slim 21.5″ models, depending on the year, the RAM is either soldered to the board or can only be reached once the display and most of the internals are out. Give us the model or serial number and we’ll tell you what applies to your iMac and whether it’s worth doing.
Other faults we fix
- Won’t turn on or shuts itself down. On Intel iMacs the power supply sits inside the case and is often the culprit. If it checks out, we move on to the logic board.
- Overheating and a loud fan. Dust builds up inside over the years, and a clean-out with fresh thermal paste usually makes it quiet again.
- Cracked screen or lines across the picture. On the slim models the glass and the panel are a single part, so the whole display is replaced. On older models we’ll tell you if the replacement would cost more than the computer is worth.
- macOS won’t boot (a question mark on the screen, a circle with a line through it, loading that never finishes). We check the drive from macOS Recovery or reinstall the system over the existing one, which doesn’t erase your data. If the system has to be set up from scratch, we move your files off first.
iMac 24″ and Mac mini with Apple Silicon
On models with an M chip the RAM sits in the same package as the chip, and the storage is soldered to the board or tied to it. There’s no upgrading them the usual way, so you stay with the configuration you bought. When the firmware gets stuck, we first do a “revive” from another Mac, and a revive leaves your data untouched. A “restore” wipes the whole drive, and we only do it with your agreement.
Older Mac minis (roughly up to 2014) have room for a regular 2.5″ drive, so they take a standard SATA SSD. The 2018 Mac mini has a soldered SSD and a T2 chip. On T2 models and on Apple Silicon models the drive is encrypted and tied to the board, so data from a dead machine can only be recovered if the board is brought back to life. That’s why we recommend keeping a regular Time Machine backup on these computers. For conventional drives from older models we also do data recovery.
Prices — in the official price list
Labour prices (fitting an SSD with system cloning, cleaning, screen replacement and the rest) are in the price list, and the cost of the part depends on the model. Diagnostics without disassembly are free. We give you the exact amount before we start and do nothing without your approval. If the iMac has to be opened for diagnosis, we agree that with you in advance.
Packing, turnaround and warranty
An iMac is big, and its screen doesn’t cope well with pressure. It’s best to bring it in the original box or well wrapped, with something protecting the glass. If you’re sending it by courier, get in touch before you ship it so we can advise you on packing. A Mac mini travels without any trouble in a sturdy box, padded so it can’t move around.
When the part is in stock, the repair is usually done the same or the next day. Rarer parts have to be ordered, and we tell you how long it will take after the inspection. The warranty on the work and the fitted part is written on your service sheet, and you can track the repair status online.
Independent service
We are not an authorised Apple service. We use “Apple”, “Mac”, “iMac” and “Mac mini” only to describe the computers we repair. We fit quality parts that match your model and tell you when a repair isn’t worth it. For other desktop computers there’s our desktop repair service, and if you have a MacBook, see MacBook repair.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth upgrading an old iMac?
If a slow drive is its only problem, usually yes. Bear in mind that older models don’t get the latest versions of macOS, and an SSD won’t change that. When the logic board fails or the screen cracks on an old model, the repair can cost as much as a second-hand iMac, and we tell you so before you decide.
Do I lose my data when you fit an SSD?
No. We clone the whole system, so your files, apps and settings stay just as you left them. If the old drive has bad sectors, cloning takes longer, and if something can’t be read, we let you know.
My iMac won’t turn on at all. What should I check?
Try a different socket and a different power cable. On the 24″ iMac, also check that the magnetic connector on the back is properly seated. If there’s no sign of life, on Intel models it’s usually the internal power supply, less often the board. Don’t open it yourself: the glass cracks easily, and the power supply can hold a charge even after the computer has been unplugged.
macOS won’t start. Does everything have to be wiped?
No. Reinstalling over the existing system keeps your data. If that doesn’t help either, we get your files off first, then do a clean install and put them back. We don’t delete anything without your approval.
How do I send an iMac by courier?
Call us before you ship it so we can advise you on packing; the original box is the safest option. Once repaired, it comes back to you by courier. If it’s easier for you, you can also bring it to one of our three shops in Belgrade.
Bring it to a shop or send it by courier
Three locations in Belgrade: Arena and Piramida (New Belgrade) and Centar near the Botanical Garden. If you’re sending an iMac by courier, call us before you ship it so we can advise on packing. We repair it and send it back to you by courier.
We cover every Belgrade municipality
Bring your device to one of our three shops or send it by courier — it comes back by courier. Click your municipality for the neighbourhoods we cover and the problems we fix most often: