Macbook Pro 13 Two Thunderbolt Ports 2020 Antenna Bar Assembly Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Lower Case
7 steps
Battery Disconnection
7 steps
Antenna Bar Assembly
13 steps

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BackMacBook Pro 13" Two Thunderbolt Ports 2020
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Introduction

For your safety, drain your MacBook Pro’s battery to 25% charge or less before you begin.

Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won’t affect the guide procedure.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the lower case

Before starting this procedure, you should 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 to disable Auto Boot.
If your MacBook is running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not work. You can proceed normally, but make sure to disconnect the battery as soon as you’re inside.
Completely power off and unplug your MacBook before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.
Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove the six screws securing the lower case:
Two 6.8 mm screws
Two 5.3 mm screws
Two 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 starting this procedure, you should 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 to disable Auto Boot.

If your MacBook is running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not work. You can proceed normally, but make sure to disconnect the battery as soon as you’re inside.

Completely power off and unplug your MacBook before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.

Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove the six screws securing the lower case:

Two 6.8 mm screws

Two 5.3 mm screws

Two 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.

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Step 2

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 separation 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 separation between the lower case and the chassis.

Step 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

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.
It may help to pull first at one corner, then the other.
Pull to the side—not up.
This may 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.

It may help to pull first at one corner, then the other.

Pull to the side—not up.

This may require a lot of force.

Step 7

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 8

              Disconnect the battery

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 9

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 10

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.
Locking tabs on ZIF connectors are fragile, so be gentle when using the tip of the spudger.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the small black locking tab securing the cable in its connector.

Locking tabs on ZIF connectors are fragile, so be gentle when using the tip of the spudger.

Step 11

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 12

Fold the battery board data cable back and out of the way.
If you’re replacing your battery, you may need to completely remove and transfer this cable to your new battery. Disconnect both ends and carefully remove the cable. During installation, be careful not to install it upside-down or backwards—note the orientation in the photos.

Fold the battery board data cable back and out of the way.

If you’re replacing your battery, you may need to completely remove and transfer this cable to your new battery. Disconnect both ends and carefully remove the cable. During installation, be careful not to install it upside-down or backwards—note the orientation in the photos.

Step 13

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 14

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 15

              Remove the antenna cable assembly

Remove the four 3.3 mm T3 Torx screws securing the plastic covers on top of the display hinges.

Remove the four 3.3 mm T3 Torx screws securing the plastic covers on top of the display hinges.

Step 16

Remove both plastic hinge covers.

Remove both plastic hinge covers.

Step 17

Remove the two 3.1 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the main display cable.
Remove the cover.

Remove the two 3.1 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the main display cable.

Remove the cover.

Step 18

Remove the two 1.7 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the display cable flex connector.
Remove the cover.

Remove the two 1.7 mm T3 Torx screws securing the aluminum cover on top of the display cable flex connector.

Step 19

Pry the display board flex cable straight up from its socket to disconnect it from the display board.

Pry the display board flex cable straight up from its socket to disconnect it from the display board.

Step 20

Remove the four 1.5 mm T3 Torx screws securing the two aluminum covers on top of the two display cable connectors.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two aluminum covers.

Remove the four 1.5 mm T3 Torx screws securing the two aluminum covers on top of the two display cable connectors.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the two aluminum covers.

Step 21

Remove the four 3.3 mm T5 Torx screws (two on each side) which secure the antenna cable assembly.
Also remove the twelve 1.1 mm P2 pentalobe screws (six on each side).
These small screws can strip easily, so make sure your P2 pentalobe driver is in good condition before applying pressure.

Remove the four 3.3 mm T5 Torx screws (two on each side) which secure the antenna cable assembly.

Also remove the twelve 1.1 mm P2 pentalobe screws (six on each side).

These small screws can strip easily, so make sure your P2 pentalobe driver is in good condition before applying pressure.

Step 22

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the plastic antenna cable cover.
This cover is secured with some light adhesive.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the plastic antenna cable cover.

This cover is secured with some light adhesive.

Step 23

Carefully disconnect the two antenna coax cables by prying them straight up from the logic board.
Slide your tweezers or the flat end of your spudger underneath each cable until it’s near the socket, and then gently twist or pry up to disconnect it.

Carefully disconnect the two antenna coax cables by prying them straight up from the logic board.

Slide your tweezers or the flat end of your spudger underneath each cable until it’s near the socket, and then gently twist or pry up to disconnect it.

Step 24

To reconnect each antenna cable, use tweezers to align the connector directly over its socket, and then press down with a spudger so it snaps into place.

To reconnect each antenna cable, use tweezers to align the connector directly over its socket, and then press down with a spudger so it snaps into place.

Step 25

Remove the 3.7 mm T5 Torx screw securing the two antenna coax cables to the main board.

Remove the 3.7 mm T5 Torx screw securing the two antenna coax cables to the main board.

Step 26

Use an opening pick to lever out the antenna cable assembly in the areas shown.
Don’t slide the opening pick from side to side, because there are two display cables that can be damaged.

Use an opening pick to lever out the antenna cable assembly in the areas shown.

Don’t slide the opening pick from side to side, because there are two display cables that can be damaged.

Step 27

Carefully remove the antenna assembly while simultaneously feeding the antenna cable bundle out from underneath the heat pipe.
Remove the antenna cable assembly.
During reassembly, gently pinch the cable bundle together and guide it under the heat pipe into the correct position on the board. If needed, use your tools to help guide it through, but don’t force it.

Carefully remove the antenna assembly while simultaneously feeding the antenna cable bundle out from underneath the heat pipe.

Remove the antenna cable assembly.

During reassembly, gently pinch the cable bundle together and guide it under the heat pipe into the correct position on the board. If needed, use your tools to help guide it through, but don’t force it.

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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Author

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                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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