Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
23
Time Required
25 - 40 minutes
Sections
4
- Disable Auto Boot
- 1 step
- Lower Case
- 7 steps
- Battery Disconnect
- 7 steps
- Trackpad
- 8 steps
Flags
1
Featured Guide
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BackMacBook Pro 13" Touch Bar 2019
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Introduction
For your safety, discharge your battery below 25% before disassembling your laptop. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
What you need
Step 1
Disable Auto Boot
- Before starting this procedure, you must disable your Mac’s Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide or follow the abbreviated instructions below to disable Auto Boot. This command may not work on all Macs.
- Power on your Mac and launch Terminal.
- Copy and paste the following command (or type it exactly) into Terminal:
- sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00
- Press [return]. If prompted, enter your administrator password and press [return] again. Note: Your return key may also be labeled ⏎ or “enter.”
- You can now safely power down your Mac and open the bottom case, without it accidentally powering on.
- When your repair is complete and your Mac is successfully reassembled, re-enable Auto Boot with the following command:
- sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03
Before starting this procedure, you must disable your Mac’s Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide or follow the abbreviated instructions below to disable Auto Boot. This command may not work on all Macs.
Power on your Mac and launch Terminal.
Copy and paste the following command (or type it exactly) into Terminal:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00
Press [return]. If prompted, enter your administrator password and press [return] again. Note: Your return key may also be labeled ⏎ or “enter.”
You can now safely power down your Mac and open the bottom case, without it accidentally powering on.
When your repair is complete and your Mac is successfully reassembled, re-enable Auto Boot with the following command:
sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03
1024
Step 2
Remove the pentalobe screws
- Before proceeding, unplug and power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.
- Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove the six screws securing the lower case:
- Two 6.2 mm screws
- Four 3.4 mm screws
- Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your device.
Before proceeding, unplug and power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.
Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove the six screws securing the lower case:
Two 6.2 mm screws
Four 3.4 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your device.
Step 3
Open a gap using a suction cup
- Apply a suction handle to the lower case near the front-center area of the MacBook Pro.
- Lift the suction handle to create a slight gap between the lower case and the chassis.
Apply a suction handle to the lower case near the front-center area of the MacBook Pro.
Lift the suction handle to create a slight gap between the lower case and the chassis.
Step 4
Separate the clips
- Insert one corner of an opening pick into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
- Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and halfway up the side of the case.
- This releases the first of the hidden clips securing the lower case to the chassis. You should feel and hear the clip pop free.
Insert one corner of an opening pick into the space between the lower case and the chassis.
Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and halfway up the side of the case.
This releases the first of the hidden clips securing the lower case to the chassis. You should feel and hear the clip pop free.
Step 5
- Repeat the previous step on the opposite side, sliding your opening pick under the lower case and up the side to pop the second clip free.
Repeat the previous step on the opposite side, sliding your opening pick under the lower case and up the side to pop the second clip free.
Step 6
- Insert your opening pick once again under the front edge of the lower case, near one of the two centermost screw holes.
- Give the pick a firm twist to pop free the third clip securing the lower case to the chassis.
- Repeat this procedure near the other of the two centermost screw holes, popping the fourth clip free.
Insert your opening pick once again under the front edge of the lower case, near one of the two centermost screw holes.
Give the pick a firm twist to pop free the third clip securing the lower case to the chassis.
Repeat this procedure near the other of the two centermost screw holes, popping the fourth clip free.
Step 7
- Pull the lower case firmly towards the front of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.
- Pull first at one corner, then the other.
- Pull to the side—not up.
- This can require a lot of force.
Pull the lower case firmly towards the front of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.
Pull first at one corner, then the other.
Pull to the side—not up.
This can require a lot of force.
Step 8
Remove the lower case
- Remove the lower case.
- To reinstall the lower case:
- Set it in place and align the sliding clips near the display hinge. Press down and slide the cover toward the hinge. It should stop sliding as the clips engage.
- When the sliding clips are fully engaged and the lower case looks correctly aligned, press down firmly on the lower case to engage the four hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.
Remove the lower case.
To reinstall the lower case:
Set it in place and align the sliding clips near the display hinge. Press down and slide the cover toward the hinge. It should stop sliding as the clips engage.
When the sliding clips are fully engaged and the lower case looks correctly aligned, press down firmly on the lower case to engage the four hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.
Step 9
Uncover the battery connector
- Carefully peel up the large piece of tape covering the battery connector, on the edge of the logic board nearest the battery.
- Remove the tape.
Carefully peel up the large piece of tape covering the battery connector, on the edge of the logic board nearest the battery.
Remove the tape.
Step 10
- Gently peel back the small piece of tape covering the battery board data cable connector.
- The tape is integrated into the ribbon cable and will not detach completely. Simply peel it back enough to access the connector.
Gently peel back the small piece of tape covering the battery board data cable connector.
The tape is integrated into the ribbon cable and will not detach completely. Simply peel it back enough to access the connector.
Step 11
- Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.
Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.
Step 12
- Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket.
- Slide parallel to the logic board, in the direction of the cable.
Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket.
Slide parallel to the logic board, in the direction of the cable.
Step 13
- Fold the battery board data cable to the side and out of the way.
Fold the battery board data cable to the side and out of the way.
Step 14
- Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.7 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.
Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.7 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.
Step 15
Disconnect the battery
- Use a spudger to gently lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.
- Lift the connector high enough so that it stays separated from its socket. If it accidentally makes contact during the course of your repair, it could damage your MacBook Pro.
Use a spudger to gently lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.
Lift the connector high enough so that it stays separated from its socket. If it accidentally makes contact during the course of your repair, it could damage your MacBook Pro.
Step 16
Remove the trackpad connector screws
- Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.8 mm screws securing the trackpad cable connector bracket.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.8 mm screws securing the trackpad cable connector bracket.
Step 17
- Remove the trackpad cable connector bracket with a pair of tweezers.
Remove the trackpad cable connector bracket with a pair of tweezers.
Step 18
Disconnect the trackpad
- Use a spudger to disconnect the trackpad ribbon cable by gently prying its connector straight up from the logic board.
Use a spudger to disconnect the trackpad ribbon cable by gently prying its connector straight up from the logic board.
Step 19
Heat the trackpad cable
- Prepare an iOpener and lay it on top of the trackpad ribbon cable for about a minute, in order to soften the adhesive securing the trackpad ribbon cable to the top of the battery.
- If you don’t have an iOpener, use a hair dryer to warm up the cable instead. The cable should be warm, but not too hot to touch. Be careful not to overheat the battery.
Prepare an iOpener and lay it on top of the trackpad ribbon cable for about a minute, in order to soften the adhesive securing the trackpad ribbon cable to the top of the battery.
If you don’t have an iOpener, use a hair dryer to warm up the cable instead. The cable should be warm, but not too hot to touch. Be careful not to overheat the battery.
Step 20
Peel up the trackpad cable
- Carefully peel the trackpad ribbon cable up off the battery, and push it out of the way.
- Do not fold or tear the cable.
Carefully peel the trackpad ribbon cable up off the battery, and push it out of the way.
Do not fold or tear the cable.
Step 21
Remove the trackpad screws
- Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the ten screws securing the trackpad assembly:
- Two 4.3 mm screws
- Eight 5.8 mm screws
Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the ten screws securing the trackpad assembly:
Two 4.3 mm screws
Eight 5.8 mm screws
Step 22
- Swing the display open slightly to access the trackpad.
- Carefully thread the trackpad ribbon cable out through the hole in the MacBook Pro’s frame.
Swing the display open slightly to access the trackpad.
Carefully thread the trackpad ribbon cable out through the hole in the MacBook Pro’s frame.
Step 23
- Remove the trackpad assembly.
- Be sure not to lose the six small washers (two circular and four rectangular) resting on the underside of the trackpad.
Remove the trackpad assembly.
Be sure not to lose the six small washers (two circular and four rectangular) resting on the underside of the trackpad.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.
To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting or search our Answers community for help.
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Sam Omiotek
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