Macbook Pro 15 Retina Display Mid 2015 Heat Sink Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          20 minutes

Sections

Lower Case
3 steps
Battery Connector
2 steps
Heat Sink
5 steps

Flags

BackMacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2015
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

Don’t forget to clean and re-apply thermal paste if you remove the heat sink. Follow this guide to learn how.

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case

Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:
Eight 3.1 mm
Two 2.3 mm

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

Eight 3.1 mm

Two 2.3 mm

1024

Step 2

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

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

Step 3

The lower case has two plastic pegs (red) that fit into plastic clips in the upper case (orange).
During reassembly, gently push down the center of the lower case to reattach the case to its two plastic clips.

The lower case has two plastic pegs (red) that fit into plastic clips in the upper case (orange).

During reassembly, gently push down the center of the lower case to reattach the case to its two plastic clips.

Step 4

              Battery Connector

Peel back the sticker covering the battery connector.

Peel back the sticker covering the battery connector.

Step 5

Gently lift each side of the battery connector to pry the connector out of its socket on the logic board.
Bend the connector back toward the battery, ensuring that the battery connector doesn’t accidentally make contact with the logic board.

Gently lift each side of the battery connector to pry the connector out of its socket on the logic board.

Bend the connector back toward the battery, ensuring that the battery connector doesn’t accidentally make contact with the logic board.

Step 6

              Heat Sink

Peel the rubber cover up off the right fan and fold it out of the way.

Peel the rubber cover up off the right fan and fold it out of the way.

Step 7

Peel the rubber cover up off the left fan and fold it out of the way.

Peel the rubber cover up off the left fan and fold it out of the way.

Step 8

Remove the small rubber cap from the screw at the end of the heat sink.

Remove the small rubber cap from the screw at the end of the heat sink.

Step 9

Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
One 3.8 mm T5 Torx screw
Two 3.4 mm T5 Torx screws
When you remove these screws, springy metal brackets securing the heat sink will be released. Take care not to lose these screws when the brackets spring free.
One 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw

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

One 3.8 mm T5 Torx screw

Two 3.4 mm T5 Torx screws

When you remove these screws, springy metal brackets securing the heat sink will be released. Take care not to lose these screws when the brackets spring free.

One 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw

Step 10

Flip the two spring clamps out of the way of the heat sink.
Remove the heat sink from the MacBook Pro.
On reassembly, be sure to clean the CPU and heat sink and reapply thermal compound to the CPU. Follow this guide to learn how.

Flip the two spring clamps out of the way of the heat sink.

Remove the heat sink from the MacBook Pro.

On reassembly, be sure to clean the CPU and heat sink and reapply thermal compound to the CPU. Follow this guide to learn how.

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      74 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors

                    Andrew Optimus Goldheart

Member since: 10/17/2009

491,689 Reputation

                                      411 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       44







                                                        +41 more badges

Team

                       iFixit                        

                                                  Member of iFixit 



                    Community                     


                                            141 Members                     


                                            15,767 Guides authored

Mark Barner - Apr 26, 2019

Rahul S - Aug 6, 2019

I don’t have much to add other than that these squares on the GPU and CPU were hindering my ability to completely clean off the previous thermal paste. I actually would like to remove the squares, but would like to hear from folks who might have a sense of how essential it is for thermal transfer (or any other purpose it serves).

AlexMorse - May 28, 2019

Hey guys when I refreshed the thermal paste on my 2015 15” (top spec) mbp, I noticed four little metallic sponges in that area, one of those came off… I still have it, how critical is it? Should I replace it? If so are there any guides?

Many thanks

I have the same issue as well— 2 of mine came off, and I just stuck them back where they were before and let the pressure of the heat sink hold it in place for now. But any expertise on this issue is appreciated!

rfmorrow - Jul 19, 2022

I too am missing some of those “little metallic sponges”. Has anyone found a good replacement for them. I cannot find them online. I’m sure it’s because I don’t know their “official” name. Maybe I can make my own from thermal pads?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team