Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

                          20 - 40 minutes

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 5 steps
  • Trackpad
  • 3 steps

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0

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook.

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook.

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Step 2

  • The lower case is constructed of rubber-coated aluminum. Do not excessively bend the aluminum during removal, as any permanent deformation will cause tolerance issues after reassembly.
  • Slightly lift the lower case near the vent opening.
  • Continue running your fingers between the lower and upper cases until the upper case pops off its retaining clips.
  • The location of these three clips is shown in the third picture.

The lower case is constructed of rubber-coated aluminum. Do not excessively bend the aluminum during removal, as any permanent deformation will cause tolerance issues after reassembly.

Slightly lift the lower case near the vent opening.

Continue running your fingers between the lower and upper cases until the upper case pops off its retaining clips.

The location of these three clips is shown in the third picture.

Step 3

              Battery
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.
  • It may be easier to use your fingernails to lift up on both sides of the connector.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the logic board.

It may be easier to use your fingernails to lift up on both sides of the connector.

Step 4

  • Remove two 5 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.

Remove two 5 mm Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.

Step 5

  • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully peel back the finger of the warning label to reveal a hidden Tri-point screw.
  • Remove the 5 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

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

Remove the 5 mm Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

Step 6

  • Remove three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the battery near the edge of the upper case.
  • When reinstalling the battery, be sure to install these three screws before proceeding to fasten the Tri-point screws.

Remove three 3.1 mm Phillips screws securing the battery near the edge of the upper case.

When reinstalling the battery, be sure to install these three screws before proceeding to fasten the Tri-point screws.

Step 7

  • Use the battery’s plastic pull tab to lift and remove the battery from the upper case.
  • 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.

Use the battery’s plastic pull tab to lift and remove the battery from the upper case.

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.

Step 8

              Trackpad
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad ribbon cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 9

  • Remove the four 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the upper edge of the trackpad to the upper case.

Remove the four 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the upper edge of the trackpad to the upper case.

Step 10

  • Carefully tilt the trackpad away from the keyboard side of the upper case.
  • Pull the trackpad away from its opening in the upper case to clear the two mounting tabs on its lower edge.

Carefully tilt the trackpad away from the keyboard side of the upper case.

Pull the trackpad away from its opening in the upper case to clear the two mounting tabs on its lower edge.

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Author

                                      with 6 other contributors 


                    Walter Galan

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nih4ever7 - Jun 23, 2013

Reply

Guide is very helpful…makes the replacement of this part easy. Thanks.

Andrew von Moeller - Oct 21, 2013

Reply

My track pad was working intermittently and having a mind of it’s own. Instead of going to a repair shop for a pricey fix, I followed this guide and removed the track pad, cleaned it up and hey presto it’s fine now! Thanks for the guide, very easy to follow!!

Sapeksh Madan - Jan 5, 2014

How did you clean the track pad? Did you just clean the connector. I’m also having similar issues, my tack pad starts having a mind of its on randomly after few minutes/hours.

weeowey weeowey - Aug 3, 2017

dirt can get trapped around or under the trackpad, causing touch malfunctions. removing this dirt usually fixes touch issues and maybe sometimes a click issue if dirt is under the trackpad

paulhjacobs - Dec 28, 2013

Reply

Does anyone have anymore information on the adjustment screw mentioned by John Tipton on Nov 6? I have made some adjustments to it and found tightening it actually locks out the ability of a USB external mouse from operating, and does not correct the problem of the internal track pad click function failing to operate. I suspect adjusting it properly may fix some of our track pad issues, but I have not discovered the proper way of making this adjustment.