Macbook Pro 15 Retina Display Mid 2012 Heat Sink Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          25 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Lower Case
2 steps
Battery Connector
2 steps
Heat Sink
4 steps

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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

              Heat Sink

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the rubber heat sink cover on the right fan.
Slide the spudger underneath the length of the cover, releasing the adhesive.
Lift the cover and rotate it off of the heat sink.

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the rubber heat sink cover on the right fan.

Slide the spudger underneath the length of the cover, releasing the adhesive.

Lift the cover and rotate it off of the heat sink.

Step 6

In the same manner described above, release the adhesive and flip back the heat sink cover on the left fan.

In the same manner described above, release the adhesive and flip back the heat sink cover on the left fan.

Step 7

Remove the following ten screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
Two 2.4 mm T5 Torx screws
Six 3.4 mm T5 Torx screws
One 5.2 mm Raised Head T5 Torx screw
One 3.5 mm T5 Torx screw

Remove the following ten screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

Two 2.4 mm T5 Torx screws

Six 3.4 mm T5 Torx screws

One 5.2 mm Raised Head T5 Torx screw

One 3.5 mm T5 Torx screw

Step 8

Grasping the heat sink from one side, lift the heat sink off of the MacBook Pro, pulling it free from the computer.
The thermal paste may make it difficult to remove the heat sink. Pull the heat sink off gently but forcefully to avoid damaging any components on the logic board.
When installing the new heat sink, do not forget to replace the thermal paste underneath the heat sink. See our Applying Thermal Paste guide for further instructions.

Grasping the heat sink from one side, lift the heat sink off of the MacBook Pro, pulling it free from the computer.

The thermal paste may make it difficult to remove the heat sink. Pull the heat sink off gently but forcefully to avoid damaging any components on the logic board.

When installing the new heat sink, do not forget to replace the thermal paste underneath the heat sink. See our Applying Thermal Paste guide for further instructions.

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

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Author

                                      with 7 other contributors

                    Brett Hartt

Member since: 04/12/2010

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sakada - Nov 24, 2012

would doing this void the warranty?

Shaggot96 - Jul 10, 2014

Hello everybody!!! I tried to follow this guide… I removed the bottom case, no problem… but when it was the time to remove the upper 2.4mm T5 torn screw… it stripped and now i cannot remove it! How can i remove that screw?

And if this is not enough one of the 3mm pentalobe screw of the bottom stripped too! so what can i do?!? please help me!

Sorry for my bad english

Sam Goldheart - Jul 11, 2014

I’m sorry to hear that! Try checking out this stripped screw guide and reading through this Answers post. Hope this helps with your repair!

Benjamin H - Dec 7, 2019

I won’t call this moderate but rather easy instead, seems like ifixit expect that easy is something you just unplug without even open the computer

Boro J. - Mar 5, 2020

Where can I get new screws if I want to replace them?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team