Last year, iFixit released a kit to install a second hard drive inside the 2011 Mac Mini. The install was fairly straightforward, but some Macs are a lot trickier to upgrade.

imacdriveinstall
The company has now released a hard drive install kit for the mid-2011 21.5" and 27" iMacs.

We’ve combined all the components you need and set the price at $69.95. And you’ll be able to use the clearest, bestest instructions on the planet to perform this install –– for free. Check out the 21.5" iMac and 27" iMac dual hard drive installation manuals to get a feel for the install process; the instructions are as clear as can be, but the procedure is still pretty involved since you have remove the LCD to get inside.

The kit includes the required SATA cables as well as the appropriate mounting hardware to install the second drive. As the LCD needs to be removed to access the interior of the iMac, the install isn't for the faint of heart, though iFixit does include suction cups to pull the glass off.

The kit is available for $69.95 from iFixit in 21.5" and 27" varieties.

Top Rated Comments

nagromme Avatar
172 months ago
Just duct tape it on the back, and put the iMac against a wall. Nobody will know.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
baryon Avatar
172 months ago
I always thought it's weird that the iMac, being a desktop computer, is much more difficult to upgrade than the MacBook Pros… I mean taking the screen off, with the possibility of getting dust underneath, is quite a big thing, you shouldn't have to do that to change the HD. And taking it to Apple each time is stupid, since it's a heavy machine and it costs more that way too.

I'm waiting for the time when SSDs will be cheap enough, and they'll be the size of a CF card and you'll just pop it into a slot next to the RAM. Will that ever happen?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tony hatbasket Avatar
172 months ago
Just duct tape it on the back, and put the iMac against a wall. Nobody will know.

Or go for the slightly fancier option and use one of these:

http://twelvesouth.com/products/backpack/

If I had an iMac with an external drive I'd get one
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSayuSay Avatar
172 months ago
Cool concept, ugly computer!
Well yes, it's a plasticky computer as usual from HP. But at least iMac could be designed like that while keeping the great design and aluminum. Easy to maintain, upgrade, disassembly like a DESKTOP computer should. And that HP use 2560x1440 27" display too, so no reason for .. "Uugh iMac use a professional grade display resolution, HP not" anymore.

But no Steve wouldn't want customers "mess up" with the inside. It's a piece of art, not a computer .. right? :rolleyes:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
172 months ago
This is what an iMac should be like. . .

//www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=7OAji8R-_jQ&vq=medium

Not a shipping product. Wait until this ships, and I'd love to see a price list.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nsfw Avatar
172 months ago
Imagine bringing your 27" iMac into the Apple Genius Bar for repair with a second hard drive custom installed! :eek:

Do you think anyone who does this mod would need a "Genius"?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
apple watch ultra yellow

What's Next for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE 3

Friday April 25, 2025 2:44 pm PDT by
This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which launched on April 24, 2015. Yesterday, we recapped features rumored for the Apple Watch Series 11, but since 2015, the Apple Watch has also branched out into the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch SE, so we thought we'd take a look at what's next for those product lines, too. 2025 Apple Watch Ultra 3 Apple didn't update the...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
ipad air magic keyboard feature

iPadOS 19 Rumored to Show Mac-Like Menu Bar When Connected to Magic Keyboard

Thursday April 24, 2025 12:09 pm PDT by
When an iPad running iPadOS 19 is connected to a Magic Keyboard, a macOS-like menu bar will appear on the screen, according to the leaker Majin Bu. This change would further blur the lines between the iPad and the Mac. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously claimed that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS," with unspecified improvements to productivity, multitasking, and app window management,...
Global Close Your Rings Day Pin

Apple Stores Giving Away a Limited-Edition Pin For Free Today

Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last. Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
top stories 2025 04 26

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Air Rumors, Apple Watch Turns 10, and More

Saturday April 26, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
We've known for quite some time about Apple's plans for a thinner "iPhone 17 Air" coming later this year, but wow, the latest dummy models give us our best look yet at just how thin this phone is going to be. Other Apple news and rumors this week included another iOS 18.5 beta, the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch launch, and more management reshuffling in Apple's Siri division, so read...