Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13 5 Screen Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Feet
6 steps
Upper Case
5 steps
SSD
2 steps
Screen
10 steps

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BackMicrosoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch)
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Introduction

Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won’t affect the guide procedure.

What you need

Step 1

              Flip the device over

Flip the laptop over and place it on your work surface, feet facing up.

Flip the laptop over and place it on your work surface, feet facing up.

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Step 2

              Removal tip

The feet on the bottom of the laptop are meant to be removed with the pointed end of a spudger.
Each foot has a hidden indent that will simplify removal.
To make sure the spudger is in the indent, insert it at the nearest long edge, pushing parallel to the short edges of the laptop, as shown.
Note that the two feet near the rear (screen) edge are different than the two front feet.

The feet on the bottom of the laptop are meant to be removed with the pointed end of a spudger.

Each foot has a hidden indent that will simplify removal.

To make sure the spudger is in the indent, insert it at the nearest long edge, pushing parallel to the short edges of the laptop, as shown.

Note that the two feet near the rear (screen) edge are different than the two front feet.

Step 3

              Remove the rear feet

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two rear feet, at its rear edge.
Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.
The two rear feet are secured with some light adhesive.
Repeat to remove the second rear foot.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two rear feet, at its rear edge.

Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.

The two rear feet are secured with some light adhesive.

Repeat to remove the second rear foot.

Step 4

              Remove the front feet

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two front feet, at its front edge.
Push the spudger underneath the foot and pry up to release it.
The two front feet are secured with plastic clips as well as light adhesive.
Repeat to remove the second front foot.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath one of the two front feet, at its front edge.

The two front feet are secured with plastic clips as well as light adhesive.

Repeat to remove the second front foot.

Step 5

              Reassembly tip

During reassembly:
Note that the front and rear feet are different.
Note that the front feet are directional and only clip in one way.

During reassembly:

Note that the front and rear feet are different.

Note that the front feet are directional and only clip in one way.

Step 6

              Reassembly tip

In place of reusing old, worn out feet on your device, 8 mm rubber furniture pads can be a good substitute.
Peel a pad away from its backing, align it over a foot cavity, and press to secure.

In place of reusing old, worn out feet on your device, 8 mm rubber furniture pads can be a good substitute.

Peel a pad away from its backing, align it over a foot cavity, and press to secure.

Step 7

              Remove the upper case screws

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the four 3 mm screws in the foot cavities securing the upper case to the device.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your laptop.
During reassembly, don’t over-tighten these screws—they strip easily.

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the four 3 mm screws in the foot cavities securing the upper case to the device.

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your laptop.

During reassembly, don’t over-tighten these screws—they strip easily.

Step 8

              Open the display

Flip the device over.
Open the display as far as it will go.

Flip the device over.

Open the display as far as it will go.

Step 9

              Lift up the upper case

The upper case is secured in place by magnets.
Grip the top edge of upper case above the keyboard and lift straight up to release it.
Don’t try to completely remove the upper case just yet, as it’s still connected to the rest of the laptop.
Lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop, taking care to not strain the keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath.
During reassembly, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat.
Check that the upper case sits flush around the entire perimeter. Any gaps between the upper and lower case near the display could cause damage to the display as it closes.

The upper case is secured in place by magnets.

Grip the top edge of upper case above the keyboard and lift straight up to release it.

Don’t try to completely remove the upper case just yet, as it’s still connected to the rest of the laptop.

Lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop, taking care to not strain the keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath.

During reassembly, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat.

Check that the upper case sits flush around the entire perimeter. Any gaps between the upper and lower case near the display could cause damage to the display as it closes.

Step 10

              Disconnect the ribbon cable

The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is secured in place by a magnet connector.
On some models, this connector is surrounded by black tape.
Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath one edge of the ribbon cable connector, and pry up to release it.
Remove the ribbon cable from the motherboard.

The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is secured in place by a magnet connector.

On some models, this connector is surrounded by black tape.

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath one edge of the ribbon cable connector, and pry up to release it.

Remove the ribbon cable from the motherboard.

Step 11

              Remove the upper case

Remove the upper case.
Set the upper case onto a clean surface, keyboard-side down.
Ensure the ribbon cable lays flat, and isn’t twisted or stressed.

Remove the upper case.

Set the upper case onto a clean surface, keyboard-side down.

Ensure the ribbon cable lays flat, and isn’t twisted or stressed.

Step 12

              Remove the SSD screw

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 2.7 mm screw securing the SSD.
Removing the SSD also functions as a battery disconnect and should be performed before all major repairs.

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 2.7 mm screw securing the SSD.

Removing the SSD also functions as a battery disconnect and should be performed before all major repairs.

Step 13

              Remove the SSD

With the SSD screw removed, the SSD will pop up at a shallow angle.
Grip the end of the SSD and pull it away from its board connector to remove it.
During reassembly, insert the SSD at a shallow angle into its board connector, and secure it back into its horizontal position with the SSD screw.

With the SSD screw removed, the SSD will pop up at a shallow angle.

Grip the end of the SSD and pull it away from its board connector to remove it.

During reassembly, insert the SSD at a shallow angle into its board connector, and secure it back into its horizontal position with the SSD screw.

Step 14

              Remove the display connector shields

Use an opening tool to pry up the black shield covering the right bank of display connectors.
Try not to deform the shield too much—you will need to reinstall it during reassembly.
Repeat at different points around the shield until it becomes loose.
Remove the shield.

Use an opening tool to pry up the black shield covering the right bank of display connectors.

Try not to deform the shield too much—you will need to reinstall it during reassembly.

Repeat at different points around the shield until it becomes loose.

Remove the shield.

Step 15

Repeat the previous step to remove the remaining shield from the left bank of display connectors.

Repeat the previous step to remove the remaining shield from the left bank of display connectors.

Step 16

              Disconnect the display cables

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the first display cable up and out of its socket on the motherboard to disconnect it.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the first display cable up and out of its socket on the motherboard to disconnect it.

Step 17

Disconnect the three remaining display connectors.

Disconnect the three remaining display connectors.

Step 18

              Reassembly tip

During reassembly, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the display cables back into their cavity in the lower case.

During reassembly, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the display cables back into their cavity in the lower case.

Step 19

              Tilt open the screen

Open the screen as far as it will go.

Open the screen as far as it will go.

Step 20

              Remove four hinge screws

When removing the hinge screws, make sure to hold the screen steady as it will become more and more loose as the hinge screws are gradually removed.
While holding the screen steady, use a T6 Torx driver to remove the four outermost 5.9 mm screws securing the screen, two on each side.
Leave the two innermost hinge screws in place for now, one on each side.

When removing the hinge screws, make sure to hold the screen steady as it will become more and more loose as the hinge screws are gradually removed.

While holding the screen steady, use a T6 Torx driver to remove the four outermost 5.9 mm screws securing the screen, two on each side.

Leave the two innermost hinge screws in place for now, one on each side.

Step 21

              Tilt the screen vertical

Slowly tilt the screen until it’s approximately vertical.
During reassembly, with the first two hinge screws tightened in place, the screen is free to tilt open for installation of the remaining four hinge screws.

Slowly tilt the screen until it’s approximately vertical.

During reassembly, with the first two hinge screws tightened in place, the screen is free to tilt open for installation of the remaining four hinge screws.

Step 22

              Remove the final hinge screws

While holding the screen steady, use a T6 Torx driver to remove the two remaining 5.9 mm screws securing the screen, one on each side.
With these two final screws removed the screen will be freed from the rest of the device, so hold it steady.
If the screen is exactly perpendicular to the lower case, a screwdriver handle may contact the display during removal. If you’re having trouble, lightly tilt the screen back enough to clear the driver.

While holding the screen steady, use a T6 Torx driver to remove the two remaining 5.9 mm screws securing the screen, one on each side.

With these two final screws removed the screen will be freed from the rest of the device, so hold it steady.

If the screen is exactly perpendicular to the lower case, a screwdriver handle may contact the display during removal. If you’re having trouble, lightly tilt the screen back enough to clear the driver.

Step 23

              Remove the screen

Lift the screen straight up and off of the lower case to remove it.
During reassembly, ensure the replacement screen’s hinges are at a 90 degree angle with the display.

Lift the screen straight up and off of the lower case to remove it.

During reassembly, ensure the replacement screen’s hinges are at a 90 degree angle with the display.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting or search our Answers community for help.

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Author

                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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Abdullah Rayhan - May 1, 2022

Where can I find a spare display?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team