After recently upgrading to the new M4 Mac Mini for my primary desktop computer, I found myself trying to justify keeping my old 2014 Intel-based Mac Mini.
Have an old Mac Mini gathering dust in your closet? Don’t rush to recycle it just yet! These compact powerhouses can enjoy a productive second life with just a little creativity and technical know-how. Whether you’ve upgraded to a newer model or inherited an older one, your Mac Mini still has plenty to offer. From entertainment hubs to home servers, here are ten practical ways to breathe new life into your aging Apple hardware.
1. Set Up a Dedicated Media Server with Plex
Transform your old Mac Mini into an entertainment powerhouse by installing Plex Media Server. This popular application organizes and streams your movie, TV, and music collections to any device in your home.
Why it works: The Mac Mini’s small footprint and relatively low power consumption make it ideal for a 24/7 media server. Even older models from 2012-2014 with 8GB RAM can handle media transcoding effectively.
Getting started: Install Plex Media Server, connect an external hard drive for additional storage if needed, and enjoy your media library from any device in your home.
2. Create a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Solution
Turn your Mac Mini into a centralized file storage system that everyone in your household can access.
Why it works: With 1TB of internal storage and the ability to connect additional external drives, your Mac Mini can serve as an excellent home NAS without requiring specialized hardware.
Getting started: Format your drives, configure sharing options in System Preferences, and consider installing an app like Caffeine to prevent the system from sleeping.
3. Install a Retro Gaming Emulation Station
Relive gaming classics by turning your Mac Mini into a retro gaming powerhouse with emulation software like RetroArch.
Why it works: Even an older Mac Mini with an i5 processor has more than enough power to run emulators for classic consoles from the NES through the PlayStation era.
Getting started: Install RetroArch or other emulation software, connect controllers, and hook it up to your TV for the full experience.
4. Build a Home Automation Hub
Use your Mac Mini as the brain of your smart home setup by installing HomeKit-compatible software like Homebridge.
Why it works: Running 24/7, your Mac Mini can serve as a reliable hub for all your smart home devices, enabling automation and remote control capabilities.
Getting started: Install Homebridge to connect non-HomeKit devices to your Apple ecosystem, and explore additional automation tools to enhance your smart home experience.
5. Create a Network-Wide Ad Blocker
Improve your home internet experience by setting up network-level ad blocking with software like Pi-hole.
Why it works: Despite its name, Pi-hole isn’t limited to Raspberry Pi devices—it works great on a Mac Mini too, blocking ads for every device on your network without needing to install ad blockers on each one.
Getting started: Install Pi-hole using Docker or a virtual machine, configure your router to use it as your DNS server, and enjoy an ad-reduced browsing experience.
6. Set Up a Remote Work Computer
Configure your old Mac Mini as a remote workstation that you can access from anywhere.
Why it works: With 8GB of RAM and an i5 processor, a 2014 Mac Mini can still handle productivity tasks, and macOS makes remote access straightforward.
Getting started: Enable Screen Sharing in System Preferences, set up a VPN for secure access outside your home network, and access your Mac Mini from older or less powerful devices.
7. Use It as a Smart TV Solution
Connect your Mac Mini to your television to create a fully customizable smart TV experience.
Why it works: With VLC for media playback, Safari for web browsing, and various streaming apps available, your Mac Mini offers more flexibility than most dedicated smart TV boxes.
Getting started: Connect to your TV via HDMI, add a Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad for control, and install your preferred entertainment apps.
8. Set Up a Minecraft or Game Server
Host your own game server for Minecraft or other multiplayer games.
Why it works: A Mac Mini with 8GB RAM can comfortably host small to medium-sized game servers for you and your friends.
Getting started: Install the server software for your game of choice, configure port forwarding on your router, and invite friends to join your personal gaming server.
9. Create a Web Development Test Environment
Use your Mac Mini as a dedicated testing server for web development projects.
Why it works: Having a separate machine for testing ensures your development environment doesn’t interfere with your daily work computer.
Getting started: Install development tools like MAMP, Docker, or your preferred web server stack to create a professional development environment.
10. Upgrade It for Better Performance
Before committing to a specific use, consider upgrading your Mac Mini to improve its capabilities. The Intel-based Mac Minis are a snap to upgrade, whether you want to boost the RAM or upgrade the spinning hard drive to an SSD.
Why it works: Simple upgrades like replacing the standard hard drive with an SSD can dramatically improve performance for any of the above applications.
Getting started: Adding an NVMe SSD using a PCIe adapter is a straightforward upgrade that takes about 10-20 minutes and provides significant speed improvements.
Upcycle and Avoid E-waste
Don’t let your old Mac Mini go to waste! With its compact design, reasonable power consumption, and still-capable hardware, it can serve many useful purposes around your home or office. In the end, I went with what seems to be the most popular usage and setting up a dedicated Plex server for media consumption around the house.
Whether you choose to turn it into a media powerhouse, a home server, or a retro gaming machine, these projects not only save your old hardware from the recycling bin but also help you learn new skills while getting additional value from your Apple investment.
What creative uses have you found for your old Mac Mini or there one of these things you’d like me to expand upon? Share in the comments below!