Upgrading the RAM in a 2020 Mac Mini

Question

Level 1

9 points

Upgrading the RAM in a 2020 Mac Mini

Hi , I have just been told by an Apple adivser that the RAM in a 2020 MacMini cannot be upgraded as the RAM units are soldered in? This seems at odds with an earlier post on the community (from vysladkzl, April 21, 2020) who posed the same quesiton to be told the RAM can be upgraded, but of course not the SSD which is soldered onto the mobo.

Come on Apple - which is it? Are the memory sticks plug-in SODIMM DDR4 that can be exchanged by an engineer, or are they soldered in? It's a big deal if you are buying a machine and you can't ever upgrade the RAM !

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Aug 13, 2020 2:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Community+ 2026

Level 10

220,580 points

Aug 13, 2020 3:29 PM in response to R-ando-m

It can be done, its not super straight forward, but also not too difficult.

Actual Apple retail Stores will not perform the upgrade, but Apple Authorized service providers should.

Upgrade or install memory in your Mac mini - Apple Support

You can also try to do it yourself: https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac-mini-2018-memory/Macmini8-1/

They are not soldered. They are regular sdram modules that slide into sockets.

Reply

Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,706 points

Aug 15, 2020 3:32 AM in response to R-ando-m

The labor cost (yours or an Apple Authorized Service Provider) will exceed any RAM savings by not ordering the mini from Apple with the anticipated RAM requirement. It is a project unto itself to disassemble the entire mini, and yes, the RAM is upgradeable. If this is a DIY project, you will need specialized tools, and your Apple warranty will go out the window if anything is damaged in the RAM upgrade process.

Reply

Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

93,334 points

Aug 13, 2020 3:25 PM in response to R-ando-m

rylandgoldman is spot on, on both accounts.

The new Mac Mini's are still listed and identified as 2018 model Mac Mini's.
Apple is discouraging users RAM upgrades, because the Mac Mini must be disassembled.

If you feel up to it, see > https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/owc/apple-mac-mini/2018

Reply

Answer 4

Lanny

Level 6

13,235 points

Aug 15, 2020 9:10 AM in response to R-ando-m

Visit the iFixit and OWC web sites. They will have pictures and/or videos that will show what is involved. Personally, I wouldn’t buy anything with less than 16 GBs of RAM.

Reply

Answer 5

R-ando-m Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 15, 2020 9:00 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for your helpful replies: the concensus seems to be that two sets Apple geniuses didn't know thier stuff (worrying) and that the Mac Mini RAM can be upgraded but its a chaff to do it. My mistake buying the 8GB version and believing the press that said it could be done in the future: I wouldn't even mind paying the outrageous costs for the Apple RAM - its that Apple are actively not interested in helping (the cost of the upgrade to 32GB is an extra £600 at point of purchase, which involves slotting in RAM modules that are less than a quarter that price). Also, I must admit I hadn't anticpiated the how significantly the smaller RAM would impact the Mini's performance.

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 13, 2020 2:43 PM in response to R-ando-m

There is no 2020 Mac Mini, so I can assume you are talking about the last released model, the 2018 Mac Mini. According to the link below, the RAM is not upgradeable by users, but can be upgraded by Apple. I’m not sure, but I can assume that you can do it yourself, but risk doing something wrong and messing your computer up or voiding the warranty.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205041

Reply

Answer 7

R-ando-m Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 13, 2020 3:16 PM in response to rylandgoldman

THanks for your prompt reply, of course you are right - the machine is the 2018 model, but was puchased in 2020.

I agree the link you gave implies it can be done by the Apple centres - that was my understanding. But when I contacted my my local Apple store (Metrocentre, UK) they stated unquivocally that their 'genius' said the RAM is soldered to the motherboard and could not be done by them. (Note the SSD is defintely soldered to the mobo, but I hoped they'd know the difference). A separate contact today via the online Apple Support chat line also told me that 'It is unmodifiable' and that 'However, third party places may unsolder and resider (sic) new RAM if they offer that service'.

I was quite willing to pay for the Apple service guys to do it but now I wonder if they know what they are doing?!

Reply

Answer 8

Aug 16, 2020 5:04 AM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX wrote:

The labor cost (yours or an Apple Authorized Service Provider) will exceed any RAM savings by not ordering the mini from Apple with the anticipated RAM requirement. ...

It won't cost $600 to get 16GBx2, (32GB total) $120 RAM installed!

Reply

Answer 9

Lanny

Level 6

13,235 points

Aug 14, 2020 6:54 PM in response to R-ando-m

The modules are not soldered for the 2018 Mac mini. They are slotted.

Reply

Upgrading the RAM in a 2020 Mac Mini

Similar questions