Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
16
Time Required
40 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
5
- Lower Case
- 3 steps
- Battery Connector
- 2 steps
- AirPort/Camera Cables
- 4 steps
- I/O Board Cable (Top)
- 4 steps
- Right Fan
- 3 steps
Flags
0
BackMacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2015
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Introduction
Note that the right fan is on the right of the machine while you’re using it, and on the left while you’re working on it.
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.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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Author
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Andrew Optimus Goldheart
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James Bond - Jan 9, 2018
Reply
Great tutorial. I did not notice the screw length in the beginning. Thanks. :)
Strange noise came out of my mac. I found a screw on my right fan fell off and got stuck in the right fan.
Gianluca Bruno - Apr 12, 2019
Reply
Complimenti davvero, una guida veramente ben fatta. Il mio mac ringrazia :)
Franklin Byaruhanga - Jul 27, 2019
Reply
completed my first mac repair ever, so excited.
Rachel - Dec 30, 2019
Reply
I was hearing a strange buzzing / grinding noise coming from my right speaker. After ensuring it wasn’t the speakers, I realized it was the fan (would only start making the noise when the fans were kicking into high gear). I opened it up and found that one of the screws on the right fan wasn’t attached to the logic board: Step 14, top right screw (orange) attaches to a silver nut (?) which should be attached to the logic board. The adhesive that attaches the nut to the logic board had detached! Gotta find what type of adhesive I need to get for this, but putting this here for anyone with a similar problem.
CCC - Jul 31, 2021
Reply
Thank you so much - I used this to access and clean (but not replace) the fan.
