Before starting, make sure your laptop is fully powered off and unplugged from any power source. Use the right tools—typically a screwdriver set included in the package—and work on a non-conductive surface to prevent static electricity damage.
This tutorial will guide you in detail how to remove the Apple A1618 /Macbook Pro 15" A1398 Retina (EMC 2910) battery.
Step 1
Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:
* Unplug your MacBook Air and power it off before you proceed.
Step 2
Lifting from the edge nearest the clutch cover, lift the lower case off the MacBook Pro.
Step 3
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).
Step 4
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.
Step 6
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.
Step 7
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.
Step 9
- Use your fingers to pull the AirPort/Camera cables up off the fan.
- Carefully de-route the cables from the plastic cable guide.
Step 10
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.
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.
Step 13
- Peel the I/O board cable up from the adhesive securing it to the fan.
- Remove the cable.
Step 14
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.
Step 16
- Lift the fan and push it gently towards the back edge of the MacBook to free the fan cable from its socket.
- Remove the fan.
* The fan cable may be adhered to the logic board—to avoid tearing the cable, gently peel it up while lifting the fan.
Step 17
Peel the left rubber cover up off the fan and fold it out of the way.
Step 18
Remove the following three screws securing the left fan to the logic board:
- One 3.6 mm T5 Torx screw with a wide head
- One 5.0 mm T5 Torx screw with a 2.0 mm long shoulder
- One 4.4 mm T5 Torx screw
Step 19
Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the left fan ribbon cable ZIF socket.
* Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.
Step 20
- Lift the fan and push it gently towards the back edge of the MacBook to free the fan cable from its socket.
- Remove the fan.
* The fan cable may be adhered to the logic board—to avoid tearing the cable, gently peel it up while lifting the fan.
Step 21
Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the SSD to the logic board.
Step 22
- Lift the end of the SSD up enough to pass over the speaker directly behind it.
- Pull the SSD straight out of its socket on the logic board.
* Do not lift the SSD too high, or you could damage the contacts or socket.
Step 23
- Use the point of a spudger to flip up the locking mechanism on the I/O board connector.
- Flip the spudger around and use the flat end to slide the I/O cable out of the connector.
Step 24
Remove the two 3.1 mm T5 Torx screws from the I/O board.
Step 25
- Slightly lift the interior edge of the I/O board and pull it toward the center of the MacBook, away from the side of the case.
- Remove the I/O board.
Step 26
- Remove the two 2.2 mm Torx T5 screws securing the touchpad cable connector cover to the logic board.
- Remove the cover.
Step 27
Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the touchpad cable connector from its socket in the logic board.
* Be careful to only pry up against the connector, and not the logic board socket.
Step 28
Remove a small rubber cap off the screw at the end of the heat sink.
Step 29
Remove the following six screws securing the logic board assembly to the upper case.
- One 3.8 mm T5 Torx screw
- Two 5.7 mm T5 Torx screws
- One 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw (this one is silver and has a taller head than the others)
- One 2.6 mm T5 Torx screw
- One 3.2 mm T5 Torx screw
Step 30
The following steps will detail disconnecting these six connectors. Be sure to read each step, as these connectors come in different styles that disconnect differently.
- Microphone cable
- Left speaker cable
- Keyboard data cable
- Right speaker cable
- Keyboard backlight cable
- Display data cable
Step 31
- Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the microphone ribbon cable ZIF socket.
- Pull the microphone ribbon cable out of its socket, parallel to the logic board.
Step 32
- Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left speaker connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
- Gently fold the cable up and out of the way of the logic board.
Step 33
Peel back the tape covering the top of the keyboard data cable connector.
Step 34
- Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard data cable ZIF socket.
- Pull the keyboard data cable out of its ZIF socket. Be sure to pull parallel to the logic board, and not straight up.
Step 35
- Use the tip of a spudger to pry the right speaker connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.
- Gently fold the cable up and out of the way of the logic board.
Step 36
Use the point of a spudger to pry the keyboard backlight connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Step 37
Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the MagSafe 2 power port side of the computer.
Step 38
- Pull the display data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.
- Gently bend the display data cable toward the display hinge, to expose the screws on the MagSafe 2 board.
Step 39
Remove the two 4.0 mm T5 Torx screws from the MagSafe 2 board.
Step 40
Lift and pull the entire logic board assembly away from the wall of the upper case.
Step 41
Remove the following screws securing the left speaker to the upper case:
- 2.7 mm T5 Torx screw
- 6.9 mm T5 Torx screw (with 4.5 mm shoulder)
- 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw
Step 42
Remove the left speaker by pulling it slightly away from the side of the upper case, and out from under the aluminum tab blocking it in.
Step 43
Remove the following screws securing the right speaker to the upper case:
- 2.7 mm T5 Torx screw
- 6.9 mm T5 Torx screw (with 4.5 mm shoulder)
- 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw
Step 44
Peel the right speaker cable up to free it from the upper case.
Step 45
Remove the right speaker by pulling it slightly away from the side of the upper case, and out from under the aluminum tab blocking it in.
Step 46
Peel back the tape covering the trackpad connector ribbon cable, near the front edge of the MacBook Pro.
Step 47
Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the black locking tab on the trackpad ribbon cable ZIF connector.
Step 48
- Insert an opening pick between the trackpad ribbon cable and the battery.
- Carefully slide your pick underneath the length of the ribbon cable to separate the adhesive securing it to the battery.
Step 49
Remove the trackpad ribbon cable.
Step 50
Remove the two 3.2 mm T5 Torx screws securing the battery board.
Step 51
To protect your display, place a sheet of aluminum foil between the display and keyboard and leave it there while you work.
Step 52
With the front edge of the MacBook Pro facing you, lift the right side and prop it up at a slight angle, using a sturdy foam block or book.
Step 53
Apply a few drops of adhesive remover (not included) evenly along the elevated edge of the outer right battery cell.
Step 54
Lift and remove the battery.