Featured

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

6

Time Required

                          10 - 45 minutes

Sections

2

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 4 steps

Flags

1

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

  • BackMacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2010

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:
  • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.
  • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.
  • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

1024

Step 2

  • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.
  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Step 3

              Battery
  • Remove the two 7.4 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.
  • Note: For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), removing the battery is not necessary but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not remove the battery, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.
  • You do not necessarily have to follow steps 3-6 to remove the battery in order to replace the hard drive. However it is recommended to remove all power sources from electronics before working on them.

Remove the two 7.4 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.

Note: For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), removing the battery is not necessary but it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not remove the battery, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

You do not necessarily have to follow steps 3-6 to remove the battery in order to replace the hard drive. However it is recommended to remove all power sources from electronics before working on them.

Step 4

  • Use the tip of your finger to carefully peel back the corner of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-point screw.
  • Remove the last 7.4 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Use the tip of your finger to carefully peel back the corner of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-point screw.

Remove the last 7.4 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Step 5

  • Lift the battery by its plastic pull tab and slide it away from the long edge of the upper case.
  • Do not try to completely remove the battery just yet.

Lift the battery by its plastic pull tab and slide it away from the long edge of the upper case.

Do not try to completely remove the battery just yet.

Step 6

  • Tilt the battery away from the logic board enough to access the battery cable connector.
  • Pull the battery cable connector away from its socket on the logic board and remove the battery from the upper case.
  • Pull the battery cable connector away from the center of the logic board.
  • If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:
  • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.
  • If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

Tilt the battery away from the logic board enough to access the battery cable connector.

Pull the battery cable connector away from its socket on the logic board and remove the battery from the upper case.

Pull the battery cable connector away from the center of the logic board.

If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      383 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 14 other contributors 


                    Walter Galan

682,038 Reputation

                                      1,203 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       54







                                                        +51 more badges

justincberger - Apr 10, 2015

Reply

I would only add one additional part (and half of a step). Get so,e Threadlock Blue 242 and apply a little bit to the threads of the screws when re-placing the back case. If you open the back up a lot, this helps keep the screws from coming undone and falling out (for years before I figured this out I used to have patches of gaffer’s tape on the bottom side of my computer).

Alyrxc - Aug 21, 2015

Reply

Cela c’est bien passé, j’ai commandé un tournevis Y, mais je me suis rendu compte que j’en avais déjà un à la maison… Probablement, moins dispendieux d’acheter dans un magasin d’occasion d’informatique.

J’ai payé 42,44$CAN avec FedEx pour les frais de douanes en plus du prix de la batterie autour de 175$CAN, presque 200$CAN pour une batterie plus un tournevis Y. Riddicule!! Ebay doit être une meilleure aubaine côté prix.

Toutefois, je dois admettre que le nombre de cycle est plus élévée avec cette batterie, on parle de 4800 cycles de recharge disponible tandis que la batterie originale de Apple comptait 1000 cycles. La batterie une fois installée est chargé à 75% environ. Tutoriel très simple et facile à comprendre même pour les francophones, je le recommande.

joelkevinjones - Jan 9, 2016

Reply

On my Macbook Pro 15", Mid 2010, a Y0 trip-wing bit worked much better than the Y1.

Zen Khalil - May 30, 2016

Reply

What kind of battery is compatible with the Macbook pro 15 mid 2010 A1286? Thanks in advance.

Andrew Optimus Goldheart - Jun 2, 2016

Here you go! MacBook Pro 15" Unibody (Mid 2009-Mid 2010) Battery