This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 147,195 times.
Learn more...
This wikiHow will show you how to remove the stand from your iMac so you can install another kind of mount. When you buy an iMac, you have the option to buy it with a VESA mount adapter, or you can buy the mount/mount adapter from another retail location if you intend on using it later.[1] X Research source Go to source
Taking Off an iMac Stand
- Turn off the computer and unplug all cables.
- Place the screen down on a soft, flat surface.
- Insert a thin card into the top of the stand to release the latch.
- Push the stand down to lock it into place and reveal the screws.
- Use a TORX tool to unscrew the stand.
Steps
-
1Turn off the computer and make sure all cords are disconnected. You don't want to get accidentally damage the computer, so you'll definitely need to make sure the iMac is off and disconnected.[2] X Research source Go to source
-
2Place the iMac screen-down on a soft surface and lift the stand so the screen rotates down. When the screen is rotated down, the latch inside the stand will be exposed and easier to access.
-
3Release the latch inside the stand. You'll need to use a thin card, like a store loyalty card (not a credit card) or a business card, to slide into the gap where the stand meets the back of the iMac.
- Feel for a spring-latch inside the gap, about ¾ of an inch the way in. If your card goes in more than that, you'll need to remove your card and try again.
- When you hear a quiet snap, you can continue.[3] X Research source Go to source
-
4Push the stand down until it locks. After you hear the click that the stand is locked, you can push the stand down until it locks into place at the bottom. At the top of the stand, you'll see a row of screws revealed.[4] X Research source Go to source
-
5Remove the screws with the TORX tool. You'll need to unscrew about eight screws to remove the stand from your iMac.[5] X Research source Go to source
- You can buy one from the Apple Store or one should have come in the VESA kit you bought. If you don't have access to either of those sources, you can easily find one for cheap from online retailers.[6] X Research source Go to source
-
6Lift the stand off the iMac. Once you remove all eight screws, you'll need to lift the stand off the iMac to remove it.[7] X Research source Go to source
- To re-attach the stand to your iMac, follow these instructions from the end to the beginning.
Things You'll Need
- A thin card, like a store loyalty card (or a business card)
- A TORX tool to remove the screws.
References
- ↑ https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/imac-vesa
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/shut-down-or-restart-your-mac-mchlp2522/mac
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjnAEnPmbEg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFSyl9_9OvU
- ↑ https://itstillworks.com/remove-stand-24inch-imac-7332964.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/uX4cNQYP_xc?t=71
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=80&v=Cmm7jWU-g2s&feature=emb_logo
About This Article
1. Turn off the computer and make sure all cords are disconnected.
2. Place the iMac screen-down on a soft surface and lift the stand so the screen rotates down.
3. Release the latch inside the stand.
4. Push the stand down until it locks.
5. Remove the screws.
6. Lift the stand off the iMac.