Removing and Re-Installing the Apple Cinema Display/iMac Stand/Vesa Mount

[@stevemcgrath01]

End of 2023 and this video is still relevant and has made my upgrade day a whole lot easier !!!. Thank you very much for the detail. Steve. Dublin, Ireland.

[@roysgti]

7 years later, and this video will now help me accomplish what I need. Thanks again!!!

[@guillaumemolter]

4 years later, I keep coming back to this video....still helpful thanks!

[@JayPonder-b8b]

This is a classic! I had seven of these old (but great!) Apple monitors that needed to have the stands removed for transport and then reinstalled. I would never have figured out how to get the stands back on without this video... 629K views over seven years says it all!

[@stephendixon8575]

2 years later - You is still d’Man! Thank you soooooooo much. When I first tried (before watching this video) I read the installation instructions only to find these’s no mention of the reverse procedure. So I thought, what the hell I’ll just give it a try. Then that cold sinking feeling of like, OMG what have I done? Found your video and after a few attempts, I was back in business! Thank you so much man. Real huge help 👍

[@MarcelloDiLorenzo]

Nice video! An off topic question. If I plug a DVI-D (Single Link) male connector into a DVI-I (Dual link) female connector, does the connection go smoothly, or do I need a converter? I'm talking about a _Cinema Display_ screen that fits into a _Mac Pro_ (2010).

[@notanothershrubbery]

Thank you for being sane, The first video I watched had a guy pacing the screen side of his iMac face down on a marble bathroom vanity. I quickly hit stop. The second video consisted of a guy using a hacksaw to cut off his iMac stand. I screamed. I was a bit nervous opening your video.

[@robbgm3]

YOU ARE THE MAN. I never would have got this reinstalled if not for this video. Thank you!!!

[@kx250rider661]

Excellent video, and great explanation! I'm a licensed electronics tech with 35 years experience, and I could not have found that latch to release the base without this information.

[@Samiam173]

..Well being an electronic tech isn't exactly the same as disabling and re attaching a mount then is is.....LoL.

[@danielrost8488]

Thank you soooo much! The trick with the bent plastic piece was genius! Without it it was impossible to reorient the stand. After more than an hour of struggle your video saved my sanity!

[@ThatSunwho]

R.i.p @Daniel Rost 's sanity

[@zhiwoo]

Life saver mate. Managed it with a thicker paper card. Trick is indeed the bend and the simultaneous action to place the stand back.

[@jfmaz259]

@Shucker - you live in history! 7 years alter this is exactly what I needed!!

[@MisterAlexEsquire]

I still had to futz with it for several minutes, but the latch eventually released. Thanks for the guidance! Wish we had a see-through model or diagram so we could know exactly how/where the mechanism operates... 🙃

[@davidhall2139]

Worked like a charm! Removed my Thunderbolt monitor from its stand and leaned it against the stand so it’s lower on the desk. Now, I don’t have to stare upward at it all day. Bravo!

[@davidabbott1734]

I'd like to add my thanks to all the others. Even in 2020 this is still useful. A friend gave me a 2010 27 inch iMac that I've decided to mount on the wall above my piano keyboard as a dedicated screen/computer to learn how to play. I managed to get the VESA mount installed, but would never have figured out on my own how to get it to pull back into the mac and function properly. The instructions that came with the VESA mount didn't show anything like this, I wasted an hour searching all over the internet until I found yours. Again, many thanks.

[@dambo60]

Even in 2021 this is still useful! Thanks shucker27.

[@wessumner8877]

Tried for half and hour without the bend on a piece of plastic. Found your video. Added a wee bend. Worked first try. Thanks!

[@HarryRauer]

Amazing!! No way to find that without your clear explanation. Used the card that was delivered with the Apple VESA mount kit and just bended it according to your instructions - worked perfect - thanks again!

[@eyesonphilly]

I never leave comments on KZbin videos, but you my friend, are a lifesaver! Thank you!

[@notanothershrubbery]

I also never leave comments on youtube videos.

[@6789uiop]

@@notanothershrubbery ya

[@henrymolinari4683]

Oh shit !!!! , I was almost crying and insulting steve job's engineers like 20,000 times and you saved my life.

[@ScottStonefield]

Yes used your video last year to remove the mount and wham the data cable failed I just use it again to put it back on to return to work.

[@StrongFrontTV]

Funny how there is always one screw that doesn't wanna go back in. Thanks for the video,

[@smoore69]

Fast forward four years, and I found this very helpful. Took my Thunderbolt off of a wall mount and couldn't for the life of me remember how it went back on.

[@wmlifestyle8812]

So I want to ask, for iMac models that's 2013 or newer, does this method work? I really want to put my 2017 iMac on a monitor arm but hate how some of the stands out there have to "carry" the stand below. I want a very clean approach.

[@360booth6]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. For me, the card that came with my VESA mount did the trick, but it was the part where you showed us pushing the stand down (counterintuitive) that made the difference. Thank you!

[@harinaidu8683]

hi it was great seeing how easy to loosen the stand. In fact i was struggling few months to do it. Now it is solved with your video thanks ! from Singapore

[@roberthancock813]

Still relevant after 5 years. Was struggling to fit stand back to 27 inch Apple Thunderbolt display after it had been mounted on a Vesa. Your video was just the hint I needed and found that an expired laminated Japanese driving license with bent edge was just the right thickness and strength. Apple could provide much better instructions about this.

[@jamesfreeman959]

I would never have figured this out without your video - took a few attempts, and a few reshapes of my plastic but I got there. Thank you!

[@mattminetzke1994]

It works PERFECTLY! Thank you very much. I know, that I've done it at least once, but that was a long, long time ago. I was about to rip the remainder of my hair out, when I came across your video. Thank you, Thank you!

[@grahamtillotson7397]

What a fantastic video! I had exactly the same problem and this video, together with the excellent commentary, enabled me to solve this problem within a few minutes. The "useless piece of plastic" I used was something I cut out of a plastic punnet that had contained strawberries, folded double for strength but I also exploited the lip of the punnet to get my 45˚ bend on the end! Thanks for troubling to make this video!!

[@whoDatBeDare]

Too smart!

[@amradio1968]

My Mac display was on a vesa mount for nearly 8 years and the spring was very very stubborn even with the card but this video worked! and now the monitor will help out a teacher I’m donating it to who needs a good monitor for remote teaching her students with Zoom during Covid. Thank you.

[@dmaccollum]

Thank you so much for this video! If anyone is struggling to find the right piece of plastic that will do the trick here, what worked for me was cutting a flat piece off the plastic container of Costco Eggs I had in my recycling bin. Cheers!

[@fdb4233]

This is a really good post. Thank you for the trick to place back again the screen into the mount. Just for anyone in an office you can simply use a take out container lid. I just used an exacto knife to cut into a credit card shape, bent it and it was back into place instantly. Thanks again.

[@joelwrose]

Super helpful! Fortunately I had a very similar piece of plastic. Took me about 5 min of trying and rewatching yours, then it just clicked!

[@kensandy4095]

Thank-you! Thank-you! This was the most perfect video at exactly the right time. Moved house and the movers took off the stand of my trusty Thunderbolt display and couldn't get it back on. The curved card is genius. Was moments away from trashing my monitor out of frustration when I found your instructions.

[@bexnewt]

Thank you! I got an old display from a friend and thought it had been broken in the move- the screws were exposed and the screen tilted way forward. Helped me figure it out without breaking anything :)

[@petercurtis3761]

You have no idea how much time you have saved me (in fact you almost certainly do) with this video. Thank you so much and good luck with your channel. 👍

[@AquilaRossaVideo]

Thank you infinitely! I bought a Digitus DA90356 adapter for a Thunderbolt monitor, and the instructions provided tell only how to unblock and uncover the 8 screws, but NOT how to put the adapter back in. I continued to try without knowing you had to push it down more!

[@writebrains]

I had a 27" iMac that was stuck in the closed position. I thought the hinge mount was broken. I tried your trick and it worked. The 90 degree angle is the key. I tried several flat tools, cards, etc, and nothing worked until this! I cut a piece of plastic from a retail blister pack that was really thick and worked perfectly.

[@taregsami]

Does it work for iMac 27' 2017 model ? Thanks in Advance..!

[@fredc1592]

Great post!! I ended up bending the card that came with the Vesa mount, just like you did with your of piece of plastic, and it worked. Thank you

[@aletheiachen5814]

I was trying to put my stand back on but couldn’t get it with the flat card - but the bend in the card did the trick! Thank you!

[@johnalber1661]

Great video, I was struggling to get it back on and your hint worked great - I actually used a cardboard business card, put the bend in it and it worked first time

[@tovopro]

I’m looking into desk mounting my cinema display pretty soon, so thank you so much for this!!!

[@petercoonen]

Thank you so much !!!! After 10 min of struggling, your video made it happen in the first trial.

[@horeageorgian7766]

It works just fine with a credit card. The trick is to push it at an angle toward the top of the monitor, not perpendicular to the back of it. Pushing it as I described does exactly what your folded tool does. The lock is perpendicular to the inside of the monitor case, so you have to push it from the side so it pivots out of the way of the foot and snaps back after you press the foot in.

[@MrCazzie14]

Confirmed! Slide the card in an upward direction, rather than inserting like an ATM machine.

[@horeageorgian7766]

@@MrCazzie14 exactly. As the lock is perpendicular to the inside of the monitor case, pressing the card like in an ATM machine simply puts the card paralell with the lock. But you want to touch and press the lock.

[@SJ-qt9pd]

@@MrCazzie14 oi let me ask u. which model yr do you have? i have a 2019 I'm gearing to do this but its a lot of hardware purchase needed don't want to waste money and find it doesn't work. thank u in advance .

[@atplaypics380]

1. Great video. Short, to the point and informative. 2. Great artwork on your walls. 3. Nice addition of the whip!

[@pedrohsouzaz7442]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jumbomosaic1]

I never have commented on a video before, but this saved me from reefing on the stand and breaking it. Thanks for posting!

[@19tjk54]

Thanks for demonstrating something Apple should have explained how to do years ago!

[@davidmaye6764]

Thanks for the great video. I still had the original 'access' card and did not even need to put a bend in it. It just needed to be stiff enough to release the latch and viola! Everything is back to normal.

[@brucemielke3082]

Very helpful, thank you. The bent plastic did not work for me to release the stand back into the iMac. However a tiny screwdriver angled in from the side did the trick.

[@N0MansMedia]

OMG thank you SOOOO MUCH!!! I don't know that I ever would have figured this out (it's certainly not in the manual). What an insane pain. You have helped to navigate the nonsense, and for this nerds everywhere owe you a debt.

[@simpletingstudio9687]

Watching this with great gratitude and it’s a honor to be present in moments like these I’m happy I found this video your a genius 💯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@hrngffcr]

I agree with all the other comments. This was a great video. Could not have gotten the stand back on (when I sold the iMac) without this video. Thank you very much.

[@patdonahoe8244]

Thanks. Worked almost immediately to get the mount back on. (The most difficult part was locating a vendor who had the right screws to replace the original ones that had been lost. Apple changed the types of screws during the production run! ...ugh!..

[@don_wynn]

Thanks man...was getting frustrated until I tried this and it worked

[@alexwilson7235]

Man, I just gave up, I've been trying more than one hour and I did try everything and I did watch your youtube more than ten time :(

[@gearboxworks]

I knew there was a trick to it, but had absolutely no idea what that trick was! Thank you.

[@chadebrownnyc]

I don't care how perfect this is design wise, it really shouldn't be so hard. gimma a break

[@emptyjay488]

Thanks! I was able to get the stand back on a Thunderbolt display that's been VESA mounted for most of a decade, at least. I used the card with the mount kit and got it on the 2nd try. The key was to push the stand down while pushing the card in to unlock it.

[@emptyjay488]

And a year later it worked just as easy. Took about 5 seconds!

[@paulovmendes]

Thanks man, this video helped a lot. Had to re attach the stand to an imacpro, after removing the vesa and eas not working.

[@willsoul007]

Once I pop that off and unscrew the stand how do I install a vesa mount? The ones I’ve seen attach to the existing stand 🤷

[@russellwaller393]

Genius! Thanks! Tried this before checking your video and realised quickly I was doing something wrong. I used a the hard but flexible piece of plastic I cut from a modded padlock packaging which I had not opened yet and it worked instantly using the 45 degree bend you recommended. Thank you very very much!

[@danupson]

can't believe how hard this to get right when getting stand back on. thanks for the video

[@ohyea2723]

Taken that stand off would absolutely make it easier to transport my iMac to a different country when I move using a suitcase. I just need to make sure the screen doesn’t bounce around inside suitcase. Thanks for this video

[@emm4rie]

I know this was 7 years ago but thanks for the guide, bought one of these monitors used and it came with the stand popped down with the screws visible and I had no idea how to pop it back up. Rest in peace to the pcie slot shield I used to pop it back up though lol.

[@SeaTheWorldWithChrisYT]

Thank you for this. I was trying to replace the original stand and gave up for a week or two. After watching your video after a few tries I got it.

[@synthshed]

genius. was trying with the original Vesa mount card, only worked once I put a bend in the end as you suggested. thank you!

[@franciscojosegarciacozar7024]

Thanks so much! You saved my life. At least most of my afternoon! I really appreciated that you took some time to make that video! Actually I did it with a credit card, It was harder to get it got the job done

[@toveesevenstorm6409]

thank you so much been trying to figure out how I'm gonna move this baby to a new country without the foot so this help immensely

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

That’s amazing that’s one of the best tricks I’ve seen in a long time thank you for sharing!

[@willow-wf3jf]

i have tried this and tried this but could not even hear the click so the stand would reveal the screws. Do you think it's broken?

[@josephdyer772]

Very informative, I followed the instructions and it simply worked just as you said. London UK 🇬🇧

[@mallorywalczesky6229]

This was amazing! I was looking all over the interwebs trying to find how to fix my hand-me-down Thunderbolt Display. Thank you so much. :)

[@darryl9488]

THANK YOU! for putting up this helpful video. Saved me from a load of frustration....

[@arbez101]

Good instruction shucker27. It worked very easily and quickly for me. I couldn't find thin, rigid plastic, so instead of plastic I used a thin piece of aluminum. This aluminum was originally the disposable stand that comes with mosquito repellent coils, such as PIC or KING brand. It worked like a charm! Thank you for the demonstration!

[@danielrico]

Thank you for the video. Please, what year is that imac?

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thanks. Changed the mount 3 years ago but now wanted to put the sand back on

[@justvanningit]

What year model was this imac ? All I find on the net is that you can’t do it . Ordered all the gear to do it and can’t get it done .. Used all sorts of plastic and can’t locate the spring at all .

[@catb50]

Honestly I was struggling doing this for the first time didn't know what I was really feeling for. The reason for the thinner card is to reduce binding so you can feel the mechanism. I ended up using one of those thin metal disassembly tools. It hits the internal lever about 1/4inch in then you will feel the spring resistance another 1/2inch in and the lock is released. Obviously you cannot jam Metallic objects into the back of a computer so if you don't hit the latch after 1/4inch back it out and try again going on the upper edge aiming for the apple logo.

[@MichaelUhl]

This video saved me a lot of grief, as I had a helluva time getting the monitor back onto the original stand, until I watched these very helpful tips! Thank you.

[@michaelmalinak7951]

Thanks. I was struggling with this for the Mount Plus MP-MAC-A VESA mount. I just needed up folding one of those store cards and that did the trick.

[@matthewowen5574]

Hi there. Good video. I cannot get my stand to return to its original position for the life of me. I’ve tried everything including your method and while I’m hearing the latch click like you, the stand appears to be stuck or catching on something when I try to lift it up and it won’t lift up. This is for an iMac Pro that I have. The plastic card it came with does seem to be doing the job and I have the end at a 45 degree angle like you do. Any tips or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

[@no2ndbest]

2024 checking in, thanks for the 45 degree tip!

[@givemeakidney]

Super helpful! I found that a flat card worked fine too reinstall the stand. I just had to try and reach upwards with it. Thanks again🙏

[@derekscha]

Epic save with this video. Just used the top from a cardboard box of eye glass/lense cleaning wipes from Walmart. lol Worked perfectly.

[@MrAndyStenz]

THANK YOU! The little push down, that was the key! Thank you thank you thank you!!

[@Talon38Driver]

Thanks for your helpful video. Saved me lots of time putting the stand back on. Thanks again!!

[@jerousseau86]

Saved my life! The 45° angle with the plastic was the trick. Thanks so much!

[@wlh227]

I have late 2009 21 inch iMac and spent over an hour trying what worked in seconds for you but no joy. I did manage to dislodge 14 year of dirt in the slot which I suspect is causing the latch inside to jam and not function.

[@ericjackson2915]

Great video, Thanks for sharing! - extremely helpful demonstration for removing and reinstalling mount stand!

[@DartLuke]

Apple: "we made easy thing to do hard"

[@musclebro2015]

How donu take the entire back off to clean out dust from the inside??

[@vickyzheng7532]

Help!!! I was able to take the stand out, but I can't screw it back as the black panel with holes are inside, how to pull that out so that I can screw the stand before I use my plastic card to put it back in place?

[@Bamber11999]

Well Done! Had been looking around on the net for teardown instructions as the mac I just received was tilted all wrong. This is the only video I'd found that handles this issue.

[@subversivevegan]

And here it is in 2025 and it remain relevant and helpful! Thank you.

[@BenGreggSweden]

My problem is what to do when the connector part retracts completely into the housing. I have no idea how to get it back out!

[@rickyjohnson442]

Im in my 4th hour trying all the tips here. Thanks by the way.,,,. Is my latch seized maybe?. I cant it to release. Thick cards, thin cards stand up stand down. tongue out , hard squint...

[@earthtolowen]

Same here. Let me know if you figure anything out!

[@MrJferro76]

Check the year on your iMac. Late 2013 27” model this will not work. The stand is not removable.

[@GrooveYouVerse]

This was very helpful. I was still able to hit the switch with a gift card to return the stand in normal position. It was just a matter of seeing what you’re talking about and pushing the switch.

[@travislohmann5405]

i have the 2004 Apple Cinema Display, is there any way to like..... lower the height of the monitor at all?

[@jillianthagard]

Thank you!! I used a piece of thin cardboard bent at a 45 degree angle and it worked right away!!

[@СергейРевука-р9ж]

this is 100% useful video! It didn’t work for me right away, somewhere from the tenth attempt (I watched the video several times, the essence is at 2:55), it’s important to completely lower the leg, then insert the card (plastic, I had a thin business card), and then raise it at the same time leg and put pressure on the card. Thank you very much for the video!)