Macbook Pro 15 Retina Display Mid 2015 I O Board Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          40 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Lower Case
3 steps
Battery Connector
2 steps
AirPort/Camera Cables
4 steps
I/O Board Cable (Top)
4 steps
Right Fan
3 steps
I/O Board
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

It’s not strictly necessary to remove the SSD in order to replace the I/O board, but doing so provides some additional clearance to make this process easier. If you are comfortable replacing the I/O board without removing the SSD, feel free to skip the SSD steps.

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

              AirPort/Camera Cables

Use a spudger or tweezers to pry the three AirPort antenna cables straight up off of their sockets on the AirPort board, and bend them up and out of the way.
The cable connection points are very fragile. Be careful to lift only on the connector, and not on the socket or cable.
To reconnect, align the connector carefully into position over the socket, and press it down firmly with the flat of your spudger.

Use a spudger or tweezers to pry the three AirPort antenna cables straight up off of their sockets on the AirPort board, and bend them up and out of the way.

The cable connection points are very fragile. Be careful to lift only on the connector, and not on the socket or cable.

To reconnect, align the connector carefully into position over the socket, and press it down firmly with the flat of your spudger.

Step 7

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

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

Step 8

Use the tip of a spudger to push the camera cable connector out of its socket on the logic board.
Be sure to push parallel to the board, pushing first on one side, then the other to “walk” the connector out of its socket.

Use the tip of a spudger to push the camera cable connector out of its socket on the logic board.

Be sure to push parallel to the board, pushing first on one side, then the other to “walk” the connector out of its socket.

Step 9

Use your fingers to pull the AirPort/Camera cables up off the fan.
The cables are adhered to the fan, so peel them up carefully to avoid damaging them.
Carefully de-route the cables from the plastic cable guide.
On reassembly, there should be enough adhesive still on these cables to stick them back down to the fan.

Use your fingers to pull the AirPort/Camera cables up off the fan.

The cables are adhered to the fan, so peel them up carefully to avoid damaging them.

Carefully de-route the cables from the plastic cable guide.

On reassembly, there should be enough adhesive still on these cables to stick them back down to the fan.

Step 10

              I/O Board Cable (Top)

Remove the four 2.2 mm T5 Torx screws securing the I/O board cable connector covers.

Remove the four 2.2 mm T5 Torx screws securing the I/O board cable connector covers.

Step 11

Remove the left connector cover.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Remove the left connector cover.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Step 12

Remove the right connector cover.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the right end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Remove the right connector cover.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the right end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Step 13

Peel the I/O board cable up from the adhesive securing it to the fan.
Remove the cable.

Peel the I/O board cable up from the adhesive securing it to the fan.

Remove the cable.

Step 14

              Right Fan

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the following three screws securing the right fan to the logic board:
One 5.0 mm screw with a 2.0 mm long shoulder
One 4.0 mm screw with a wide head
One 4.4 mm screw

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the following three screws securing the right fan to the logic board:

One 5.0 mm screw with a 2.0 mm long shoulder

One 4.0 mm screw with a wide head

One 4.4 mm screw

Step 15

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the right fan ribbon cable ZIF socket.
Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the right fan ribbon cable ZIF socket.

Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

Step 16

Lift the fan and push it gently towards the back edge of the MacBook to free the fan cable from its socket.
The fan cable may be adhered to the logic board—to avoid tearing the cable, gently peel it up while lifting the fan.
Remove the fan.

Lift the fan and push it gently towards the back edge of the MacBook to free the fan cable from its socket.

The fan cable may be adhered to the logic board—to avoid tearing the cable, gently peel it up while lifting the fan.

Remove the fan.

Step 17

SSD

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

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

Step 18

Lift the end of the SSD up enough to pass over the speaker directly behind it.
Do not lift the SSD too high, or you could damage the contacts or socket.
Pull the SSD straight out of its socket on the logic board.

Lift the end of the SSD up enough to pass over the speaker directly behind it.

Do not lift the SSD too high, or you could damage the contacts or socket.

Pull the SSD straight out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 19

Use the point of a spudger to flip up the locking mechanism on the I/O board connector.
Flip the spudger around and use the flat end to slide the I/O cable out of the connector.
Push on the opened locking mechanism for an easy way to slide the I/O cable out of the connector. This could help prevent accidental damage to the cable or connector contacts.

Use the point of a spudger to flip up the locking mechanism on the I/O board connector.

Flip the spudger around and use the flat end to slide the I/O cable out of the connector.

Push on the opened locking mechanism for an easy way to slide the I/O cable out of the connector. This could help prevent accidental damage to the cable or connector contacts.

Step 20

Remove the two 3.1 mm T5 Torx screws from the I/O board.

Remove the two 3.1 mm T5 Torx screws from the I/O board.

Step 21

Slightly lift the interior edge of the I/O board and pull it toward the center of the MacBook, away from the side of the case.
Remove the I/O board.

Slightly lift the interior edge of the I/O board and pull it toward the center of the MacBook, away from the side of the case.

Remove the I/O board.

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      13 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 6 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

Bryan Lunt - Jun 20, 2021

Be VERY careful with the connector on the end of the I/O cable. Especially since it abuts to the speaker. It is easy to insert it diagonally but that could break the edge pins on the connector. Step 19 of this job (and the inverse) needs at least three hands.

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team