How to Install a Second Drive Inside a 2011-2012 Mac mini with the OWC Data Doubler

Add a second drive to your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or Mac mini.
The innovative Data Doubler is the precision-engineered solution to expanding your Mac’s internal storage. Replace the optical drive in your Mac with the Data Doubler and an OWC SSD, and increase capacity and performance. Data Doubler gives you incredible storage possibilities.

Video Jump Points:
00:00 – Title, Notes, Difficulty Level, and Tools Required
00:08 – Introduction / Overview
00:31 – Part 1 – Removing the Lower Drive Bracket
03:15 – Part 2 – Installing a New Drive in the Drive Bracket
07:09 – Drive Formatting Instructions
07:17 – Closing, Legal Stuff, and Copyright

Add up to an additional 1.5TB of internal storage to your MacBook or MacBook Pro. Add a Solid State Drive (SSD) for near-instantaneous boot and app load. Even create a RAID array!

Configuration flexibility is yours when you replace your MacBook Pro's internal SuperDrive with
the OWC Data Doubler.

[Fetucinee]

Thanks for the video. Over the years I've dove in to my 2012 Mini about a 1/2 dozen times, replacing and upgrading drives. Be careful with the IR cable socket; I broke a couple of prongs last time in but am not losing sleep over it as I've never used IR and never will. 10 years later I've installed Monterey (officially not supported) to keep the device current with updates.

Something you may want to attend to: once the logic board is removed, flip it over and you'll see the PRAM battery, a standard watch CR2032 button. If you've never replace, do so. It may save you an extra disassembly session.

[Jeffero]

Thanks, did the upgrade, plan to use it as a plex media server. Two issues I ran into.
One, I broke the IR sensor. I was gentle with it but apparently not gentle enough. Not worth trying to repair it, only downside is there is no light now to indicate when the mac mini is on.
Two, I didn't seat the fan power cord all the way to the logic board. I should have checked to make sure the fan was spinning before putting the back cover on. Thankfully I noticed it was getting hotter than normal after about 20 mins of use and fixed the issue.

Also the gentleman that gave the advice about pushing the logic board removal tool all the way down before attempting to slide it out, thank you.

[ahmadferoz]

Thank you for this video. Truly. I’ve updated my late 2012 model yesterday and it works flawlessly 🙏🏼

[MGBNAM]

I’m about to upgrade my current 120GB SSD / 500GB HDD Fusion Drive, with a 512GB SSD / 2TB HDD, this tutorial is very helpful, thanks.

[joec]

I bought the satachi add on with the ssd compartment . Simple quick and you have a ssd back up in 10 minutes.

[patrickpowell]

Did all this today and it’s not difficult but the logic board was difficult to get out - didn’t just slide out - and the same was the case with the power unit. And inserting the grommets is not easy at all. I eventually rolled them in my palms and squeezed them to warm them up to be more pliable. Soft they ain’t.

[JamesKBoodley]

For first-timers, this is *not* a project for the faint-of-heart. Give yourself at least a full morning or afternoon. Or both. Be hyper-organized. Plastic ice cube trays are a good way to separate screws used at each step of the process. Ideally, label each space in the tray to indicate where the screws fit in your mini. Don’t plan to “remember” where the screws went after more than a few hours; you probably won’t as you get tired. *Note: The video sometimes changes the orientation of the demo unit from scene to scene. Double-check that the orientation of your unit matches that in the video.*

• The hard drive can be removed after removing the long logic board screw. That will give you more room for this next step:

• When detaching the IR cable, *gently* pry up from the lower corners next to the drive bay using the pry tool.
The video makes prying out the power supply cable look *much* too easy. As you pry it out at each end, the opposite end will slide back into place. Use the flat screwdriver to hold one end from sliding into place while prying out the opposite end. Work slowly. Do NOT attempt to pull out by the wires. Large needle-nose tweezers would be helpful, if you have them.

• (From Kirtan Dreamrezzer ) IMPORTANT!!! : The logic board removal tool needs to be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries. *This is tricky! You may have to insert the tool to release one catch then reverse it to release the other catch. (JKB)*
The rubber grommets in the kit are too thick to allow the kit HD screws to thread into a new HD. Insert the rubber grommets into the mini’s carrier holes then use a sharp blade to cut them in half flush with the carrier. These half-thickness grommets work fine.

Reassembly:

• When reinstalling the power supply, make sure the longer tab on the PS socket will face toward the bottom of the mini after being turned clockwise into place. Confirm the PS socket’s orientation before reseating the PS. (See 3:00-3:03 in the video.) *(Note: You’re working on the mini while it’s upside down; be sure to note what’s the bottom and the top of your unit.)*

• The silver metal tab closes the gap between the top black tab of the PS socket and the top of the case. Insert it carefully as it’s easily bent. The video makes it look super-easy. It’s not. Looking at the tab from the inside of the case as you attach it to the top black tab is helpful.

• Look at the power supply socket *before* you reinsert the logic board into your mini to get a better idea of how the PS cable will fit in place.

• When pushing the logic board into final position, be sure the black insulation surrounding the power socket doesn’t bunch up into the power socket.

• To get the upper drive to fit into the available space *and* allow the SATA cables to attach properly, I left the mounting pins off. *(Note: I replaced the original drive with an SSD.)* The kit SATA cable is a hair too long and will need to be pressed gently but firmly into the logic board’s SATA port.

• The black cowling screw fits *into* the screw head underneath the black cowling.

• The Airport cable is diabolical. It’s a tiny COAX cable. To reattach it, turn the Airport grate counterclockwise so it’s at a right angle to the mini. Focus on getting the cable’s connector over its logic board port without moving the cable too much. Carefully push down on the cable’s round connector so it attaches to the logic board's round port. It’s a friction fit. Immediately push down on the insulation tape above the connector to hold it into place. As you hold down on the insulation tape, adjust the cable as needed so you can move the grate into position. Keep holding down the left side of the grate until you screw it down with a 2mm hex screw.

• Reminder: The fan connector pushes *down* into its socket.

After you’ve finished, powered up, and if everything works, congratulate yourself. Good job.

[kirtandreamrezzer]

IMPORTANT!!! : The Logic Board Removal Tool needs to touch be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries.

[drgerm]

I've disassembled several Mac minis and never had a problem until the most recent attempt where the IR connector broke when I removed the cable. I was able to find replacement connectors, but I can't get the tip of my soldering iron in past that post that sits next to the connector.

Does anyone know if that post can be temporarily removed in order to access the solder points on the connector?

Meanwhile, I'm searching for a very thin right-angle soldering iron/tip.

[dazagrt]

He makes it look very easy. I'm yet to try mine.

[GeorgeWS]

Does it matter where the bootable drive is placed (i.e. Top or bottom) or either will be fine?

[FernandoMaldonaldo]

May i use átb ssd hdd (for audioo server for roon or audirvana apps)?

[cleitonpena]

Congratulations for the excellent tutorial.
In my case I want to add a PCIe ssd and keep the original hdd of my mac mini late 2012. Have you a tutorial for my case?

[jasonbenedictos]

Hi OWC, i have a 2012 mini, which is better- adding a second drive or replacing the main one with an SSD? also, would a 8gig ram to 16 make a significant difference?

[niketkale]

If I install two SSDs the video is not clear how to connect the second SSD to motherboard?

[chrisadams]

I’m about to order the parts kit to do this and don’t know which to buy, for lower or upper drive bay? My Mac doesn’t tell the location so which one is upper and which is lower? Is the upper the first you see when the mini is upside down and you open it up?

[middytube]

Have you got a video for a Late 2014 version or is it the same? Thanks

[admcts]

Embarrassingly I've just taken it all apart with a 256GB SSD and dual SATA cable bought ready to install only to find that I've already a second drive in the slot. I hadn't realized that's how Apple achieved the Fusion drive - I'd assumed it was a custom 2.5" package, but no 2 x 2.5" drives. Luckily it's not a long job to complete, so now to go buy an enclosure!

[tyemiller]

Thanks for this, will be ordering some items in the near future. Only, I do not understand the need or benefit of second drive? I have a Mac mini 2011 I want to up grade...

[amitdhamdhame]

Hi, what is the cable to add SSD as a primary drive, 821-1500-A, or 821-1501-A cable. The existing hdd is at top when mac mini is on its correct side up. Pls advice. Are the cables inter changeable?