Can you clean the inside of your Mac mini?

[Silly John Fatty]

I've been gone for a month or two and the room where my Mini stands has become very dusty. I suppose I am going to void the warranty if I open the Mac to clean it?

It's a new 2023 m2 Pro I bought and now I kind of feel like I ruined it because I let it sit in this dirt. What do you suggest?

 

[nkawal]

I’ve opened up previous Mac mini models and I’ve never found any tamper seals. It’s pretty easy to open up and clean if needed.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I’ve opened up previous Mac mini models and I’ve never found any tamper seals. It’s pretty easy to open up and clean if needed.

Oh that's good to hear. Does it collect a lot of dust and dirt easily?

Also can you damage something easily?

I'm not sure why but I never liked coming close to computers or electronic devices with a vacuum cleaner. For some absurd reason my mind things the vacuum cleaner is going to change the magnetic field and do damage to electronic components of the Mac.

(I remember I was especially scared of that as a kid, with tube TVs lol)

 

[MBAir2010]

did we try compressed air yet?
i would not remove the back cover since that might void the warrantee.

ifixit guide

 

[fricotin]

I've used compressed air on mine every 3 months or so for the last 11 years...

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Is a vacuum cleaner dangerous? Or does it only suck air?

Compressed air is too complicated for me I think, or where do you get it? Do you use an actual compressor @fricotin?

 

[Chuckeee]

Compressed air is too complicated for me I think, or where do you get it?

Easiest is “canned air”. It look like an aerosol can with a skinny straw coming out of the nozzle. You can get on eBay and Amazon if you cannot find it in the store. Next step up would be a small handheld air blower.

 

[fricotin]

Is a vacuum cleaner dangerous? Or does it only suck air?

Compressed air is too complicated for me I think, or where do you get it? Do you use an actual compressor @fricotin?

See above, check the Dollar stores, It goes for about 3-4 dollars.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

Easiest is “canned air”. It look like an aerosol can with a skinny straw coming out of the nozzle. You can get on eBay and Amazon if you cannot find it in the store. Next step up would be a small handheld air blower.

View attachment 2305361

Ahhh I remember seeing this long time ago, thanks! Totally forgot I had ever seen this. I don't know if I trust it though, who knows what's in there? Is it really just compressed air? What air? Air isn't just air, it's a chemical mixture of "stuff", so who knows of what this air here consists of.

I would also be scared that this is so powerful that I'd damage some parts. They're probably loose and not well glued and not made to withstand the forces of compressed air thrown at them.

 

[MBAir2010]

Is a vacuum cleaner dangerous? Or does it only suck air?

Compressed air is too complicated for me I think, or where do you get it? Do you use an actual compressor @fricotin?

ahhhhgrgshsh, My fault, I meant sprayed air, as the photo states
sorry about the verbiage.

how is the project going?

 

[Silly John Fatty]

ahhhhgrgshsh, My fault, I meant sprayed air, as the photo states
sorry about the verbiage.

how is the project going?

It's not going at all lol. I'm just collecting information for "in the future". I've also checked out that ifixit link and I'm scared I'd damage that black part when you open up the Mac.

Do you guys think dust inside the Mac could damage it at all?

 

[cthompson94]

It's not going at all lol. I'm just collecting information for "in the future". I've also checked out that ifixit link and I'm scared I'd damage that black part when you open up the Mac.

Do you guys think dust inside the Mac could damage it at all?

dust inside electronics can always potentially cause issues, but these are really case-by-case. Ive seen/heard stories of people having issues with electronics when their vents are caked in dust and the device basically can't breath, but then on the opposite side devices that work fine (probably internally warmer of course) but also caked in dust.

Dust still being trapped inside of the device is the downside of compressed air and is a good temporary fix in my opinion. It gets the device able to have a good intake and exhaust port, but doesn't solve the dust inside problem. Unless you are going to void any warranties it really is best to just take what you can apart, and if you really are that nervous you can take a soft bristle brush and do you best to kind of scoop/brush the dust out if it is an external port/intake/exhaust (which unfortunately I don't think this method works with the design of the mac mini and I was just stating general).

 

[misterlwc]

Yes dust can build up internally and effect performance of our Macs. Although cleaning out this dust/debris is required every now and again I'd recommend booking a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store and requesting the technician to clean your Mac out while in the appointment. All Apple Stores have repair rooms on site where this can be performed for free, while taking the proper ESD safety precautions to verify component damage does not occur.

 

[MBAir2010]

seems to me these mac minis are designed to reflect dust and airborne particles With slat in the vents.
the only input in the rear is vented out by a fan.
my 2012 never accumulated dust on the logic board compared to an imac from the 2000s.

since your 2023 m2 Pro is new, dust takes years to accumulate.

what you could do to test for dust is use a qtip and carefully that into the back vent.
if you see evidence of dust, i guess bring that in for a clean

here are photos of the mac mini 2012 vent That can explain things more.