iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display 2020 Display Adhesive Replacement

Follow these assembly directions to put the service wedge together.

Insert the service wedge between the back of the display and the stand.

If you are re-using your existing display, you must also remove the old adhesive from the back of the display.

Peel off the adhesive strips using tweezers or your fingers. Start at the bottom and peel upward towards the top of the device.

After all the old adhesive is removed, carefully clean the surface with 90% (or greater) isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Wipe in one direction, not back and forth.

Lay out the adhesive strips to ensure you install them in the correct place:

Strip 22 on the top left

Strip 23 on the top right

Strip 21 on the right vertical

Strip 25 on the bottom right, dark side facing up—double check to make sure this strip has the necessary cutout for the microphone

Strip 26 on the bottom left, dark side facing up

Strip 16 on the left vertical

Start with strip 21, which goes on the right vertical edge of the iMac frame.

Peel the short piece of backing off the back of the strip.

Insert the tip of a spudger into the hole at the end of the strip where you just removed one layer of backing. Insert the spudger from the side that still has a layer of white backing on it.

With the spudger still poking through the hole in the adhesive strip, push the spudger tip into the corresponding hole in the frame of the iMac.

Using the hole and spudger to anchor the position of the adhesive strip, line the strip up against the right edge, gently pull down against the spudger to ensure the strip is taut, and stick it onto the frame.

Once you're satisfied that the top half of the adhesive strip is neatly aligned, peel the longer blue piece of backing out from behind the strip.

Align the lower portion of the strip with the right edge of the frame, and stick it down.

Use your finger to smooth out the strip. Make sure it is neatly aligned with the right side of the frame and that it sits flat.

Work your way counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the iMac, adding three more adhesive strips in the same manner:

Strip 23 on the top right

Strip 22 on the top left

Strip 16 on the vertical left

On the iMac Intel 27" Retina 5K Display, the top-right strip's blue tabs will not line up with the top antenna in the same way as the non-5K model. This is perfectly acceptable and won't impact the performance of the strips or antenna.

The microphone is a small hole located between two larger holes.

Place adhesive strip 25 on your work surface with the white side facing up and the opening of the microphone notch facing away from you.

Measuring from the center of the microphone notch, make two marks on the adhesive strip as guides for where to cut:

Make the first mark 13/16 inch (23 mm) right of the notch

Make the second mark 1 & 5/16 inch (29 mm) right of the notch

Rotate the adhesive strip so that the notch is now facing toward you.

Measuring from the bottom edge of the strip, make a third mark in between the first two 5/32 inch (4 mm) up from the bottom edge.

Very carefully cut along the marks you made with a pair of scissors or a razor blade.

Before removing the backing, place your adhesive strip on the iMac and make sure the notches line up with the microphones.

Grasp the red pull tab on strip 25 and pull to separate about 2 inches (5 cm) of white backing from the strip.

Fold the loose white backing to a right angle and pinch the crease with your fingers.

Align the adhesive strip to the bottom edge by positioning the microphone notch over the microphone hole.

If your iMac does not have a microphone hole, align the right end of the strip such that the L-bend sits next to the right vertical adhesive. The L-bend should not overlap the right vertical adhesive.

Once you have aligned the strip, carefully set the left exposed edge onto the iMac to secure the alignment.

Peel away the white backing behind the strip to expose the remaining adhesive.

Run your finger from left to right along the length of the adhesive strip to ensure it is straight and unwrinkled, pressing down as you go to adhere the strip to the iMac.

Repeat the previous steps for the bottom left adhesive strip (strip 26), aligning and placing it along the bottom left edge of the iMac.

Gently set the display in place over the iMac and align it carefully.

Use painter's tape or masking tape to temporarily secure the bottom edge of the display to the iMac's enclosure.

Gently insert the display data connector into its socket on the logic board. Be sure to press it straight into the socket, and insert it completely.

Flip the display data connector lock down onto the socket.

Insert the display power connector into its socket on the logic board.

Set the display back on the iMac's rear enclosure.

Plug in your iMac, power it on, and test your repair before sealing up the computer. Be sure to check for full functionality of any hardware you removed or disconnected.

After confirming that your iMac functions properly, disconnect the display cables and carefully lean the display forward.

Remove the film from the two bottom strips by reaching in from above with a pair of tweezers and pulling the blue tabs straight up from the bottom edge of the display.

Reconnect the display power and data cables for the final time.

Steady the display with one hand as you remove the protective film in the following steps, or rest it lightly against the iMac's enclosure.

Remove one side of the protective film from the top left strip by pulling its tab straight up.

Remove the other side of the protective film from the top left strip.

Repeat the previous steps to remove the protective films from all the remaining adhesive strips.

To ensure a strong bond, carefully tip the iMac flat on its back (with the screen facing straight up) and press carefully but firmly around all four edges of the display.

Remove the tape securing the display to the rear enclosure.