The hard drive is one of the essential components in any computer, and in the case of Apple equipment, this can be a point of possible improvement or repair over time, so the user's mind can enter the idea of replacing your iMac's hard drive.
As hard drives age, they can lose speed and capacity, which can significantly impact the performance of your iMac. Additionally, the need for more storage space or seeking faster performance with a solid state drive (SSD) may lead many users to consider replacing their hard drive.
Therefore, throughout this article we will give you a detailed guide on how to change the hard drive of your iMac, ensuring that it works optimally.
The importance of replacing an iMac hard drive with a quality SSD
Although they tend to last a long time, traditional hard drives can become slow and less reliable, especially affecting older iMac versions that did not use SSDs.
As software and files take up more space, your iMac's overall performance may decrease. Whether you need more space or want to improve overall system speed, installing a new solid state drive (SSD) is an effective solution.
SSD drives are not only faster, but they are also more durable and less prone to failure than traditional mechanical hard drives. For this reason, many iMac users choose to swap out their original hard drive for an SSD, which can breathe new life into a computer that might otherwise feel outdated.
Yes, important. When changing an SSD, make sure it is from a reputable manufacturer and offers reliable performance testing. In general line, We recommend that you stay away from the “manual Chinese chustas” which are often low-performing or even worse, scams, like the ones we share below:
Preparations before starting the replacement
Before embarking on the process of replacing your iMac's hard drive, it's crucial that you make some preparations to ensure that you don't lose anything.
The first and most important thing is make a complete backup of your data, which is essential to avoid the loss of important information during the process and for this you can use time Machine, Apple's backup tool. If you don't know how it goes, we advise you to Take a look at this post where we explain it.
Another aspect to consider is acquiring the necessary tools to carry out the replacement, since you will need specialized tools such as a Torx screwdriver, a suction cup to lift the screen, a plastic card to separate the screen from the body of the iMac without damaging it or even a heat gun. If you don't want to get too complicated, we recommend this iFixit pack that will also help you open mobile phones.
We are going to change the hard drive of our iMac
As we have hinted before, replacing the hard drive in an iMac is not a simple task and requires patience and precision. But if you are already involved and are willing to do it, here is the step by step guide on how to do it:
Turn off and unplug your iMac
This is a no-brainer, but come on, just in case someone had the brilliant idea of turning it on... still standing still!. The first step is Turn off your iMac and disconnect it from power, something vital to guarantee your safety and avoid damage to the internal components of the equipment.
Separate the screen from the body of the iMac
One of the most delicate steps in the process is separating the screen, which is where the risk itself lies.
Modern iMacs use adhesive to keep the screen attached to the chassis, so you will need a cutting tool to carefully separate the screen or even heat the corners with a heat gun at low temperature to soften the glue.
But if you don't have the heat gun, you can use a suction cup to gently lift the screen while you insert the cutting tool between the screen and the frame of the iMac, being very careful to avoid damaging the screen or the connection cables. Once the screen is partially raised, you must disconnect the cables that connect it to the iMac logic board to remove it completely.
Ready to replace your iMac's hard drive
When you have everything disassembled, you have to locate the old hard drive, which is generally mounted in a bracket with Torx screws. And as soon as you have it in sight, unscrew the screws and remove the hard drive and note the orientation of the hard drive and connected cables, as you will need to connect the new drive in the same way.
Connect the new emulator as the old one was, reconnect the screen cables to the iMac logic board and when you have everything well connected, you will have to put the iMac screen in its place.
If you see that the adhesive is not reusable, we advise you to use T8000, an epoxy adhesive that is used to replace screens on mobile phones, which is great for these purposes.
Configuring the new hard drive so that everything is OK
Once you've turned on your iMac with the new hard drive installed, it's time to configure the system. Now it will be your turn reinstall macOS, to put an operating system on your computer.
After installation, you will be able to restore your files from the backup you previously made with Time Machine, allowing you to recover all your previous files and settings without complications.
And if all this makes you lazy, don't worry, because thanks to the USB and Thunderbolt ports that are present on your iMac, you can also use external hard drives to be able to extend their capacity without having to take all this beating. Do you dare to change the hard drive of your iMac?