Skip to main content

Weird Mac mini issue prompts Apple to take action

Apple Mac Mini side view showing edges.
Digital Trends

Following multiple reports of specific Mac mini computers failing to power on, Apple has launched a global repair program to sort the problem out.

Apple launched the  M2 Mac mini in January 2023, though the affected units were made between June 16 and November 23 of 2024, according to a notice about the repair program that was first spotted by MacRumors.

Recommended Videos

“Apple has determined that a very small percentage of Mac mini (2023) devices with the M2 chip may no longer power on,” the tech giant said in the notice, which was published on its website. However, it declined to offer any details regarding the cause of the mysterious power issue. Digital Trends has reached out to the company to ask for more details and we’ll update this article if we hear back.

If your M2 Mac mini is one of the affected units, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will fix it, free of charge. The company added that the program covers eligible Mac mini units for three years after the first retail sale of the unit. Finally, if you’ve moved country and taken your Mac mini with you, Apple said it may restrict or limit repair to the original country or region of purchase — get in touch with the company to learn more.

Have an M2 Mac mini? 

If so, here are the steps you should take:

– First, get your Mac mini’s serial number so you can find out if you have an affected unit. You can do this by looking on the underside of the computer, or by checking the packaging that it came in. If your M2 Mac mini is still powering on, you can find the serial number by selecting the Apple icon at the top left of the screen, then selecting About This Mac, which brings up the serial number.

– Enter the serial number into the online checker (available on the service program page) to confirm if your Mac mini is eligible for the repair program.

– If it needs to be repaired, you’ll be asked to choose how you want your Mac mini serviced, including via an Apple Authorized Retailer or an Apple retail store.  

Apple skipped an M3 Mac mini launch and instead brought out the M4 Mac mini in November 2024. The updated model features a smaller footprint and more power, with Digital Trends giving the Pro version a big thumbs-up in its hands-on review.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
iPad is the best secondary screen I’ve used with a MacBook
You can extend your MacBook's screen by using an iPad as a secondary monitor.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time lurking in communities where people share aesthetic desktop setups. One of my friends recently set the group chat on fire with a triple monitor setup that had two vertical screens and an ultrawide curved panel at the center. An impulse swipe later, I achieved a similar makeover for my desk at home.

Here’s the problem, though. My $600 workstation overhaul did bring me visual joy, but not much utility. For reporting assignments, I spend the majority of the year away from home, working from deserted cafes or unnaturally uncomfortable bunk beds. I do miss the convenience of large secondary screens. Interestingly, that yearning is addressed by a rather unconventional device —the humble iPad. 

Read more
The Oppo Find N5 put a Mac in my pocket, and Apple needs to take note.
An Oppo Find N5 is being used for remote access to a Mac.

It’s no secret that the biggest strength of Apple’s ecosystem is the seamless cross-device connectivity it offers. Yet, despite commanding the world’s biggest mobile-computing duopoly, Apple hasn’t offered two-way control for iPhones and Macs to remotely operate each other. It’s a shame, because given Apple’s security-first approach, it’s in the best spot to offer such a facility. 

The situation only changed last year, but only halfway through. With the arrival of iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple finally introduced iPhone Mirroring. However, there’s still no equivalent that allows you to access and control your Mac desktop on your iPhone. Or an iPad. Some third-party options have existed, though, but haven't really been stellar. 

Read more
I love Apple’s minimalist Mac design, and the iPhone 17 Air needs to follow it
Apple Mac Studio 2025 top down view showing desktop.

It’s no secret that Apple’s products are among the best designed devices in the tech industry. Just one peek at the MacBook Pro or the iPhone 16 Pro and you know that you’re looking at quality.

There’s a reason for that, and it’s got nothing to do with blind luck. No, Apple’s design philosophy has long been to strip away the unnecessary elements of a device until you’re left with only the essential components. There should be nothing extraneous, no needless fluff. Instead, the product should be the core expression of a concept, such as a phone or a computer. That has led to some of its best designs.

Read more