An apparatus and method for press-fitting a connector to a circuit board is provided. The apparatus has a universal press block fixedly connected to a machine press head. A bottom plate of the universal press block has multiple locating holes. A locating block is fixedly connected to the bottom plate. A press block is fixedly connected to the locating block at a predetermined position suitable for press-fitting the connector. The press block has a press block head, a press block body and a sensor provided between the head and the body. The press block head is movable to contact the connector to apply a pressing force to the connector. The sensor detects the pressing force and generates a signal indicative of the pressing force. The press block body receives the signal from the sensor and controls the movement of the press block head based on the signal.