Studio Display (2026) - Display (Stand)

Before You Begin

Danger

Ensure that the AC power cord isn't plugged into an electrical outlet.

Warning

Read Broken Glass Safety before you begin.

Important

For models configured with the VESA mount adapter, refer to Display (VESA Mount Adapter).

Tools

  • Adhesive cutter

  • Adhesive cutter replacement wheels

  • Cut-resistant gloves

  • Display adhesive strips

  • Display support stand

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Ethanol wipes or IPA wipes

  • Microfoam bag

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Safety glasses with side shields

  • Silicone roller

  • Sticky sheet pad

  • Support foam rest blocks

  • Support wedge, tilt-adjustable stand

  • Support wedge, tilt- and height-adjustable stand

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Caution

This procedure requires System Configuration. To perform System Configuration you will need the following:

  • The latest version of Apple Service Utility installed on an Apple silicon or Intel-based Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip running macOS Sonoma 14.1 or later

  • Internet access

  • A USB-C charge cable or a USB-A to USB-C cable. The USB-C cable must support both power and data. Don’t use Thunderbolt 3 cables.

Removal

Note: If you've already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.

Caution

The adhesive cutter has replacement wheels. You'll likely need to use several wheels because when a wheel is chipped, dented, broken, or no longer flat, you must replace it. Using a damaged wheel can damage the polyester tape on the display. The image shows a damaged wheel and a new wheel.

  1. Tilt the display all the way up and insert the support wedge as shown.

    • Tilt-adjustable stand

    • Tilt- and height-adjustable stand

  2. Cut the display adhesive strips by inserting the adhesive cutter between the display and the housing. Start from a corner and move the wheel around the edges of the display.

    • Important

      • Each adhesive strip has a foam layer surrounded by two adhesive layers. You’ll be cutting mostly through the foam layer, and you'll likely need to move the cutter around the edge of the display multiple times to fully cut through the strip.

      • There are large notches around the edges of the display and the housing. Ensure that you fully cut through the adhesive strips at these locations and throughout the entire perimeter of the display.

      • If the display has a tilt-adjustable stand, continue to step 3.

      • If the display has a tilt- and height-adjustable stand, skip to step 4.

  3. Place the tilt- and height-adjutstable stand support wedge in front of the display as shown. Then skip to step 5.

  4. Place the support foam rest blocks perpendicular to the display with the lines in the blocks running vertically as shown.

  5. Starting from the bottom edge, slightly pull the display away from the housing to ensure that the adhesive has been completely cut away. If not, use the adhesive cutter to cut the remaining adhesive. Repeat this process around the perimeter of the display.

    • Caution: Don't use the black stick to separate the display from the housing. Using the black stick can crack the display, which would require replacement.

  6. Carefully separate the display from the housing, ensuring that the hooks on the display clear the hangers near the top of the housing. Support the bottom of the display while you tilt the top of the display away from the housing. Then rest the display on the stand support wedge or foam rest blocks.

  7. Pinch both sides on the end of the DisplayPort power flex cable. Then slide the end of the cable out of the connector.

  8. Flip open the locking bar on the DisplayPort signal flex cable on the back of the display. Then slide the end of the cable out of the connector.

    • Important: The DisplayPort signal flex cable has a small area of adhesive that adheres to the back of the display. If the flex cable is still adhered to the back of the display, use the black stick to release it.

  9. Pull the tab to open the locking bar on the camera/ambient light sensor (ALS) flex cable. Then slide the end of the flex cable out of the connector.

  10. The dual display backlight power flex cable has two branches at the display end. Pinch both sides on one branch of the flex cable. Then slide that branch out of the connector. Repeat this process to disconnect the other branch of the flex cable.

  11. Set the display on the display support stand.

    • Important: If you don’t have a display support stand, lay the display facedown on a clean, soft towel. To avoid damage to the display, ensure that the flex cables don’t touch the towel.

Reassembly

  1. If you're installing a replacement display, skip to step 2. If you're reinstalling the existing display, use ESD-safe tweezers and the black stick to remove the display adhesive from the perimeter of the display. Lift the adhesive with the flat end of the black stick. Then use tweezers or your fingers to pull off the adhesive strips.

    • Caution

      • To prevent damage to the polyester film on the display, don’t peel adhesive from the corners of the display.

      • Don’t use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes on the display. Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol may damage the polyester film.

  2. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel the display adhesive from the edges of the housing as shown.

  3. Use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes to clean all residual adhesive from the edges of the housing.

  4. Place the display adhesive strips on a flat surface. Refer to the part numbers on the adhesive strips to identify the correct position of the adhesive strips.

    • Left (946-38388) (1)

    • Right (946-38389) (2)

    • Top right (946-38711) (3)

    • Top left (946-38710) (4)

    • Bottom (946-38390) (5)

    • Caution: Damaged display adhesive strips can cause cosmetic gaps and light leakage. They can also weaken the bond between the display and the housing. If the adhesive strips are wrinkled or damaged, replace them.

    • Note: The display adhesive strips have two layers of adhesive with a foam layer between them. There is a paper release liner on the underside and a plastic release liner on the top. The colors of the release liners may vary.

  5. Peel off sections of the paper release liner from the display adhesive strip as you press the adhesive strip to the edge of the housing.

    • Important: Ensure that you match the display adhesive strip pattern to the housing pattern.

  6. Use the flat end of the black stick to firmly press along the entire length of the adhesive strip to adhere it to the housing.

  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to install the display adhesive strips on the right, top left, top right, and bottom edges of the housing.

    • Important

      • If the display has a tilt-adjustable stand, continue to step 8.

      • If the display has a tilt- and height-adjustable stand, skip to step 9.

  8. Position the tilt- and height-adjustable stand support wedge in front of the housing as shown. Place the display on the support wedge in front of the housing. Then skip to step 10.

  9. Position the support foam rest blocks under the housing as shown. Then place the display on the foam rest blocks in front of the housing.

  10. Slide both branches of the dual display backlight power flex cable into the connectors as shown.

  11. Slide the end of the camera/ALS flex cable into the connector. Then flip down the locking bar on the end of the flex cable.

  12. Slide the end of the DisplayPort signal flex cable into the connector. Then flip down the locking bar on the end of the flex cable.

  13. Slide the end of the DisplayPort power flex cable into the connector.

  14. Lift the display onto the housing as shown. Ensure that the two hooks on the back of the display engage the two hangers near the top of the housing.

  15. Place the housing faceup on top of the foam blocks. Remove the support wedge. Then align the display with the housing.

  16. Lift the bottom edge of the display just enough to remove the release liner from the display adhesive strips on the bottom edge of the housing. Repeat this process along the perimeter of the display until the release liners are removed from the left, right, and top adhesive strips.

  17. Remove the liner from the sticky sheet pad. Then clean the silicone roller by rolling it back and forth on the sticky sheet.

  18. Roll the silicone roller across each edge of the display six times.

  19. Press the edge of the display for 30 seconds to help set the adhesive strips. Move around the perimeter, pressing for 30 seconds at each location.

    • Caution: Repeat this process around the entire perimeter of the display to adhere the display to the enclosure.

  20. Leave the display faceup on the two foam blocks and wait 30 minutes for the adhesives to set.

  21. Place the display in the microfoam bag. Then place the bag flat on a clean table with the display side facedown. Wait 30 minutes for the adhesive to attach to both the display and the housing.

    • Caution: Don’t drag the display on the table.

  22. Remove the display from the microfoam bag and stand the display upright.

Repair Completion

Caution

If you replaced the display or logic board, complete the remaining steps to run System Configuration. Ensure that you have a Mac with Apple Service Utility installed and a USB-C charge cable before you continue.

  1. Open the Apple Service Utility app on the Mac. Ensure that all Resources have been installed.

    • Note: The time to download and install Resources will vary based on your network connection speed to the internet.

  2. Apple Service Utility will display a message that says, "Connect a device or tool."

  3. Plug the display power cord into an electrical outlet.

  4. Plug one end of the USB-C charge cable into the Mac. Then plug the other end of the USB-C charge cable into the Thunderbolt 5 port on the back of the display. The Thunderbolt 5 port is the rightmost port.

  5. When Apple Service Utility detects the display, System Configuration will start automatically.

  6. If System Configuration is successful, Apple Service Utility will display a message that says, "Completed System Configuration."

Caution

  • If System Configuration is interrupted, canceled, or encounters an error, Apple Service Utility will display a message instructing you to contact the Self Service Repair Store team for assistance.

  • If you replaced the display, the display’s brightness, True Tone, and Center Stage may not function properly until you complete System Configuration.

  • If you replaced the logic board, an alert symbol and “support.apple.com/display/restore” will appear on the screen until you complete System Configuration.

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