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Difficulty

Easy

Steps

7

Time Required

                          10 - 30 minutes

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Connection
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 3 steps

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1

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  • BackMacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the following ten screws:
  • Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws
  • Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws
  • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws
  • When replacing the small screws, align them perpendicular to the slight curvature of the case (they don’t go straight down).

Remove the following ten screws:

Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws

Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws

Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws

When replacing the small screws, align them perpendicular to the slight curvature of the case (they don’t go straight down).

1024

Step 2

  • Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.
  • Remove the lower case.

Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.

Remove the lower case.

Step 3

              Battery Connection
  • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.
  • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to “walk” it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to “walk” it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

Step 4

  • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

Step 5

              Battery
  • Remove the following two screws:
  • One 5.6 mm Tri-point screw
  • One 13 mm Tri-point screw

Remove the following two screws:

One 5.6 mm Tri-point screw

One 13 mm Tri-point screw

Step 6

  • Carefully peel the battery warning label off the upper case between the battery and the optical drive.
  • Do not remove the label from the battery.

Carefully peel the battery warning label off the upper case between the battery and the optical drive.

Do not remove the label from the battery.

Step 7

  • Use the attached plastic pull tab to remove the battery from the upper case.
  • If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:
  • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.
  • If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

Use the attached plastic pull tab to remove the battery from the upper case.

If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

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                    Andrew Bookholt

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tim - Nov 24, 2012

Reply

Be careful with the four little “shouldered” screws on the bottom of the case towards the touchpad. They go back in at a slight angle. If you can’t get the screws flush with the case, try tilting them a bit before screwing them in.

LeFixur - Jul 22, 2020

That was extremely helpful!

naveednajam - Jul 27, 2015

Reply

Just replaced the battery of MacBook Pro Early 2011. Shipment was blazing fast. I ordered on Saturday and received the battery on Monday morning. It took me just 15 minutes with the right tools to change the battery. iFixit’s step by step guide helped me to accomplish the task perfectly in the right way.

Drew Dittmann - Feb 10, 2017

Reply

I ordered a replacement battery from iFixit to squeeze some more life out of my early 2011 Macbook Pro. The new battery is great, my computer lasts way longer now which is super helpful. The guide helped me easily swap out the battery in less than 20 minutes. :)

Cara Bunker - Jun 8, 2017

Reply

I ordered a new battery and the required supplied to replace the batter in my early-2011 13" MacBook Pro. The process was extremely easy and took about 15-20 minutes. I was a little disappointed with the actual battery performance. Before replacing, my battery lasted about 30 minutes. Now it’s about 2-2 1/2 hours. I was hoping the new battery replacement I purchased from them would have a longer life than 2 1/2 hours.