Studio Display (2026) - Display (VESA Mount Adapter)

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 tilt-adjustable stand or tilt- and height-adjustable stand, refer to the Display (Stand).

  • Some of the images in this procedure show a stand installed instead of a VESA mount adapter, and some show a different Studio Display model. But the steps to remove and reinstall the display are the same.

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

  • Two people are needed to perform some of the removal and reassembly steps.

  • Some images show the power cord removed from the display, but during this procedure, the power cord should remain connected to the display.

  • 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. Place the display flat on the support foam rest blocks with the display faceup.

  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.

  3. Move your fingers along the edge of the display to check that the adhesive has been sufficiently cut. If the adhesive is not completely cut, use the adhesive cutter to cut any remaining adhesive.

    • 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.

  4. Stand up the display with the top of the housing (camera side) on the table.

  5. Place both support wedges in front of the display as shown.

    • Caution: You'll need another person to assist you to complete steps 6 through 9.

  6. Have another person hold the housing from the back. Then carefully separate the display from the housing starting from the bottom (non-camera) side.

  7. Carefully separate the remainder of the display from the housing, ensuring that the hooks on the display clear the hangers near the top (camera side) of the housing. When the display is separated from the hangers in the housing, lift up the display and rest it on the two support wedges.

  8. Disconnect the following cables from the display:

    • Note: The display cables are adhered to the housing. Use a black stick where necessary to release the adhesive from the display cables.

    • Slide the ends of the dual display backlight power flex cables and DisplayPort power flex cable out of the connectors (1).

      • Important: 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.

    • Open the locking bars on the camera/ambient light sensor (ALS) flex cable and DisplayPort signal flex cable (2) Then slide the ends of the flex cables out of the connectors.

  9. Set the housing faceup on the two support foam blocks. Then 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 damaging 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 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 the display 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 or your fingers to remove the display adhesive from the edges of the housing.

  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 and ensure that they aren't damaged or wrinkled. 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. Place the housing on the support foam rest blocks with the interior faceup.

  6. Peel off sections of the paper release liner from the left adhesive strip as you press the adhesive strip to the edge of the housing. Then use the flat end of the black stick to firmly press along the length of the adhesive strip to adhere it to the housing.

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

  7. Repeat step 6 to install the adhesive strips on the right, upper left, upper right, and the bottom edges of the housing. Then continue to step 8.

    • Caution: You'll need another person to assist you to complete steps 8 through 10.

  8. Have another person stand up the housing with the top of the housing (camera side) on the table. Place the two stand support wedges in front of the housing.

  9. Lift up the display and rest it on the two stand support wedges.

  10. Connect the following cables to the display:

    • Slide the ends of the dual display backlight power flex cables and DisplayPort power flex cable into the connectors (1).

    • Slide the camera/ALS flex cable and DisplayPort signal flex cable (2) into the connectors. Then close the locking bars.

  11. Position the display in the housing by aligning the edges. Ensure that the hooks on the back of the display engage the two hangers near the top (camera side) of the housing.

  12. Place the two support foam rest blocks on the table with the lines in the blocks running vertically as shown. Place the housing on the foam blocks with the display side faceup.

  13. Separate the display just enough to remove the release liner from the bottom edge of the display. Repeat the motion along the perimeter of the display until the release liners are removed from the left, right, and top edges.

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

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

  16. 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.

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

  18. 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.

  19. Remove the display from the microfoam bag.

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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