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Difficulty

Easy

Steps

7

Time Required

                          5 - 15 minutes

Sections

3

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

Flags

1

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  • BackMacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 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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                                                                                      312 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 7 other contributors 


                    Phillip Takahashi

Member since: 08/22/2011

85,204 Reputation

                                      87 Guides authored                  



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lowellallen2433 - May 26, 2017

Reply

Many thanks to Phillip and the other contributors who put this guide together. My late 2011 MacBook Battery was headed downhill fast. Having used IFixit before, I headed back to the site and found the parts and help that I needed. My new battery arrived two days after placing the order and I went to work. Everything went smooth as silk(again thanks to some IFixit tools, etc.)and I was up and running in no time. Thanks for this great site and for encouraging do-it-yourself repairs with great guides. Hooray to all who like to fix things and boo to manufacturer who design products that make this difficult. Cheers and keep up the great work. Lowell Allen, May 26.

Handyman Dream - Aug 21, 2017

Reply

Thanks a lot, was great help and needed this greatly for one of my macbook.

Best regards from,

http://www.handymandream.com/

Alex - Feb 5, 2019

Reply

Replacing the original battery was easy, but the replacement battery loses a charge very fast.

20 minutes, I’ve lost 11% charge.

Franck Bourgeois - Sep 10, 2019

Reply

Thx a lot to everyone at iFixit, now my MacBook Pro Unibody Late 2011 can take a second breath

Christi Ruby - Mar 5, 2020

Reply

Thanks for the easy to follow instructions! My battery install kit did not come with a spudger, so I used a plastic knife and my finger nails. I was careful to make sure the little seated edges didn’t break off (that’s when I transitioned to my nails).