Difficulty

Easy

Steps

6

Time Required

                          15 minutes            

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Connector
  • 2 steps
  • AirPort Board
  • 2 steps

Flags

0

  • BackMacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case               
  • Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:
  • Eight 3.0 mm
  • Two 2.3 mm

Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:

Eight 3.0 mm

Two 2.3 mm

1024

Step 2

  • Lifting from the edge nearest the clutch cover, lift the lower case off the MacBook Pro.
  • Set the lower case aside.

Lifting from the edge nearest the clutch cover, lift the lower case off the MacBook Pro.

Set the lower case aside.

Step 3

              Battery Connector               
  • Peel back the warning label covering the battery connector.

Peel back the warning label covering the battery connector.

Step 4

  • Using the flat end of a spudger, gently pry the battery connector straight up out of its socket on the logic board.
  • Bend the battery cables back and out of the way, ensuring that the battery connector doesn’t accidentally make contact with the logic board.

Using the flat end of a spudger, gently pry the battery connector straight up out of its socket on the logic board.

Bend the battery cables back and out of the way, ensuring that the battery connector doesn’t accidentally make contact with the logic board.

Step 5

              AirPort Board               
  • Use the tip of a spudger to detach the three antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort board.

Use the tip of a spudger to detach the three antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort board.

Step 6

  • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort board to the logic board.
  • Grasp the edges of the board and slide it out from its connector.
  • Lift and remove the AirPort board.

Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort board to the logic board.

Grasp the edges of the board and slide it out from its connector.

Lift and remove the AirPort board.

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

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                                                                                      32 other people completed this guide.                                             

Author

                                      with 7 other contributors 

                    Jake Devincenzi                     

Member since: 04/18/2011

116,089 Reputation

                                      57 Guides authored                  



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rbouch8828 - Jun 16, 2013

Reply

Is the new AirPort AC card for the 2013 MacBook Pro Retina interchangeable? In other words, can I now upgrade to the new AirPort?

Frederico - Feb 18, 2014

Reply

Yes, it works. I just bought an AirPort AC board from the late 2013 RMBP and installed in my mid 2012 model, and it works perfectly. Highly recommended upgrade.

estradajoe - Dec 14, 2014

Frederico, can you please share which part number you used to upgrade?

Thank you,

Jose

Buggy - Apr 30, 2014

Reply

Frederico, what was the part number for the ac card you bought and used. I’m interested in getting one as well.

Victor Brekenfeld - Dec 3, 2014

Reply

Anyone has an idea, what size the card actually has? Is it a full-size or half-size mini-pci-e? Looks like full-size. I am only running linux on my macbook and the broadcom drivers are really bad, so I would like to change it and I only find official airport boards on the internet.