Macbook Pro 17 Models A1151 A1212 A1229 And A1261 Keyboard Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          25 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Battery
1 step
RAM Shield
2 steps
Upper Case
7 steps
Keyboard
14 steps

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BackMacBook Pro 17" Models A1151 A1212 A1229 and A1261
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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Battery

Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery and lift the battery out of the computer.

Use your fingers to push both battery release tabs away from the battery and lift the battery out of the computer.

1024

Step 2

              RAM Shield

Remove the four identical Phillips 3.4 mm screws from the memory door. These screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

Remove the four identical Phillips 3.4 mm screws from the memory door. These screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

Step 3

Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

Lift the memory door up enough to get a grip on it, and slide it toward you, pulling it away from the casing.

Step 4

              Upper Case

Remove the three Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch. Apple was nice enough to tilt these screws at a slight angle to make them easier to remove. On the A1261 these screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

Remove the three Phillips screws in the battery compartment near the latch. Apple was nice enough to tilt these screws at a slight angle to make them easier to remove. On the A1261 these screws have 4 mm diameter heads rather than the 3 mm heads on the body screws.

Step 5

Remove the following six screws:
Two 14.5 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.
Four 3.4 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

Remove the following six screws:

Two 14.5 mm T6 Torx screws on either side of the RAM slot.

Four 3.4 mm Phillips screws along the hinge.

Step 6

Remove the four 3.4 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Remove the four 3.4 mm Phillips screws on the port side of the computer.

Step 7

Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

Rotate the computer 90 degrees and remove the two Phillips screws from the rear of the computer.

Step 8

Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

Rotate the computer 90 degrees again and remove the four Phillips screws from the side of the computer.

Step 9

Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.
Lift up the back of the case and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

Do not yank the upper case off quickly. The case is attached to the logic board via a ribbon cable.

Lift up the back of the case and work your fingers along the sides, freeing the case as you go. Once you have freed the sides, you may need to rock the case up and down to free the front of the upper case.

Step 10

Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board.
Remove the upper case.

Disconnect the trackpad and keyboard ribbon cable from the logic board.

Remove the upper case.

Step 11

              Keyboard

Use a spudger to pry up the translucent plastic sheath covering the keyboard connector.

Use a spudger to pry up the translucent plastic sheath covering the keyboard connector.

Step 12

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the black plastic flaps locking down the keyboard and keyboard backlight ribbon cables.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the black plastic flaps locking down the keyboard and keyboard backlight ribbon cables.

Step 13

Slide the orange keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Slide the orange keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Step 14

Peel up the orange tape covering the keyboard backlight connector.

Peel up the orange tape covering the keyboard backlight connector.

Step 15

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the brown plastic flap locking down the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the brown plastic flap locking down the keyboard backlight ribbon cable.

Step 16

Use a spudger or your finger to slide the keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Use a spudger or your finger to slide the keyboard backlight ribbon out of its connector.

Step 17

Carefully peel up the orange ribbon cable which carries the power and sleep signals.

Carefully peel up the orange ribbon cable which carries the power and sleep signals.

Step 18

Peel up the two black protective sheaths on the bottom of the keyboard. It is not necessary to fully remove these, but only to peel them back enough to access the screws beneath.

Peel up the two black protective sheaths on the bottom of the keyboard. It is not necessary to fully remove these, but only to peel them back enough to access the screws beneath.

Step 19

Remove the ten identical Phillips screws attaching the keyboard to the casing.
The keyboard on A1261 models is secured with twelve screws. Their locations are shown in the second picture.

Remove the ten identical Phillips screws attaching the keyboard to the casing.

The keyboard on A1261 models is secured with twelve screws. Their locations are shown in the second picture.

Step 20

There are four locking tabs along the back edge of the keyboard holding it in place. These tabs must be straightened before you can remove the keyboard.
The keyboard on A1261 models has five locking tabs. Their locations are shown in the second picture.

There are four locking tabs along the back edge of the keyboard holding it in place. These tabs must be straightened before you can remove the keyboard.

The keyboard on A1261 models has five locking tabs. Their locations are shown in the second picture.

Step 21

The first frame shows a tab in the “locked” position and the second frame shows the same tab in the “unlocked” position.
Use needlenose pliers or a spudger to bend each of the four tabs so that they are all in the “unlocked” position.

The first frame shows a tab in the “locked” position and the second frame shows the same tab in the “unlocked” position.

Use needlenose pliers or a spudger to bend each of the four tabs so that they are all in the “unlocked” position.

Step 22

Slide the keyboard ribbon out of its connector.
If the keyboard ribbon won’t slide out, make sure that the black plastic flap holding the ribbon in place is vertical.

Slide the keyboard ribbon out of its connector.

If the keyboard ribbon won’t slide out, make sure that the black plastic flap holding the ribbon in place is vertical.

Step 23

Place the upper casing on its edge and use a spudger to push the keyboard away from the casing, poking the spudger through the central keyboard screw hole. Grasp the keyboard as it separates from the casing.

Place the upper casing on its edge and use a spudger to push the keyboard away from the casing, poking the spudger through the central keyboard screw hole. Grasp the keyboard as it separates from the casing.

Step 24

Maintaining your hold on the keyboard, lay the casing flat and gently bow the keyboard until the two tabs on either side of the keyboard come free.
Slide the keyboard away from the trackpad and out of the upper case.

Maintaining your hold on the keyboard, lay the casing flat and gently bow the keyboard until the two tabs on either side of the keyboard come free.

Slide the keyboard away from the trackpad and out of the upper case.

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

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                                      with 5 other contributors

                    iRobot

Member since: 09/24/2009

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rgotty - Feb 8, 2013

I was able to complete the process but the keyboard backlight does not work. When I press the up/down buttons for the keyboard backlight intensity, the widget for showing the keybaord backlight intensity is displayed on the screen but with a zero with a slash through it and no bars for the intensity. I rechecked the two steps having to do with the backlight cable to ensure it was firmly connected but I still don’t get backlight anymore. :(

Max Mara - Aug 10, 2021

This is not a problem because your backlight is not broken in any way. Simply try again when it’s dark and it will work properly.

Francesco Juan R - Dec 26, 2013

Grazie ! Guida Eccezzionale ! Cambiata tastiera senza nessun problema !

andreaxausa - Jan 11, 2016

hi, can hi use the keyboard of macbook pro 15 A1226 for a macbook pro 17 A1229?

thanks!

posso utilizzare la tastiera del macbook pro 15 A1226 e installarla in un macbook pro 17 A1229?

Grazie!

Introduction#

What you need#

Introduction

What you need