Do I need a second Mac to install the SSD in my Mac Mini M4?

You will need access to a second computer to install a new SSD in your Mac Mini M4, but you have two options:

Option 1: Using another Mac:

If you have access to another Mac (any model from 2015 or later), you can:
– Connect your Mac Mini to the second Mac using a USB-C cable
– Use DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode to restore the operating system to your Mac Mini
– Complete the installation process directly

Option 2: Using a Windows PC

If you only have a Windows PC available, you can still complete the installation by:
– Setting up a macOS virtual machine using VMware on your Windows PC
– Using the virtual machine to perform the same restoration process
– For a detailed walkthrough of this method, we recommend watching this tutorial: How to Install macOS on VMware for Mac Mini SSD Installation

The second computer is necessary because your new SSD will be blank with no operating system. Your Mac Mini will need to be put into recovery mode and restored using another device that can run the Mac recovery tools.