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Follow this guide to remove and replace a Bottom Cover in your Framework Laptop 12.
The Bottom Cover (aka base cover, bottom case, or bottom panel) is the plastic shell that forms the bottom half of the laptop. You can use this guide to swap a different colored Bottom Cover, or replace a cracked cover.
You'll encounter some component terms in this guide:
- The Input Cover is the part that contains the keyboard and trackpad.
- The Top Cover is the plastic shell that houses the display.
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Before you begin repairs, unplug your laptop and shut it down from the operating system. This ensures that the laptop isn't in standby/suspend mode.
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Make sure your Framework Screwdriver has the T5 Torx bit (labeled as T-5) facing outwards. If it's not, pull the bit out and flip it.
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Set your Framework Laptop face-down on a clean work surface.
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Use your fingers to flip the two Expansion Card latches (one for each side) into the unlocked position.
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Grip the lip of an Expansion Card with your fingers.
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Pull the Expansion Card out of its slot and remove it.
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Repeat this procedure to remove all remaining Expansion Cards.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to fully loosen the eight captive T5 Torx screws on the bottom of your laptop.
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Flip your laptop face-up on your work surface.
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Open the laptop lid so that both the screen and the base lie flat on your work surface.
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Use your fingers to grip the Input Cover in the hinge cutouts.
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Lift upwards to swing the Input Cover up from the base of the laptop.
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Remove the Input Cover.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the six captive T5 Torx screws securing the battery.
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Grab the orange battery tab with your fingers and lift straight up to disconnect the battery.
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Lift and remove the battery from the laptop.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the captive T5 Torx screw securing the Audio Board along the left edge of the laptop.
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Use your fingers to lift the right edge of the Audio Board and pull it out of its recess.
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Remove the Audio Board.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the captive T5 Torx screw securing the Power Button Board (labeled "Power Board").
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Use your fingers to lift and remove the Power Button Board.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the captive T5 Torx screw securing the Wi-Fi card bracket.
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Grab the Wi-Fi card bracket with your fingers and slide it off the top of the Wi-Fi card.
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Remove the bracket and store it in a safe location for reassembly.
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Press and hold the Wi-Fi card down with your finger.
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Slide the flat edge of your Framework Screwdriver under the white antenna cable, as close to the metal head as possible.
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Gently lift the connector straight up to disconnect the white antenna cable.
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Repeat the procedure with the black antenna cable.
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Grab the Wi-Fi card by the edges and pull it out of its socket.
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Remove the Wi-Fi card.
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Use your fingers to grab the orange tab on the webcam cable, located near the left hinge.
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Lift straight up to disconnect the cable.
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Use your fingers to grab the orange tab on the display cable, located near the right hinge.
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Lift straight up to disconnect the cable.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the five captive T5 Torx screws securing the Mainboard.
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Use your fingers to grab the Mainboard by its edges.
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Lift and remove the Mainboard.
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Use your fingers to lift the black plastic loop securing the antenna cable, near the heat vents by the left hinge.
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Use your fingers to lift and guide the antenna cable out of the frame channel.
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Use your fingers to gently lift the webcam cable out of its plastic channel.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the six (three per hinge) 4.5 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the two hinges.
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Use your fingers to lift the hinges over the Bottom Cover lip.
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Separate the Top Cover from the Bottom Cover.
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Compare your new replacement Bottom Cover to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove liners from the new part before you install it.
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Use your fingers to lift the Top Cover hinges over the Bottom Cover lip.
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Lay the hinges in place in the Bottom Cover.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the six 4.5 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the two hinges.
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Use your fingers to gently press the webcam cable into its plastic channel.
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Use your fingers and your Framework Screwdriver to carefully press and guide the black antenna cable back into its channel.
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Zoom in on the second image to see how the antenna cable sits in its channel.
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Press the black loop over the antenna cable and onto the Bottom Cover. If it doesn't stick, use a bit of thin double-sided tape to hold it down.
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Carefully lay the Mainboard in the laptop.
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Use the two alignment pins to help align the Mainboard to the laptop.
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Be careful not to trap the webcam, display, and antenna cables under the Mainboard as you set it in place.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the five captive T5 Torx screws to secure the Mainboard.
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Use your fingers to grab the orange tab on the display cable, located near the right hinge.
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Align and press the display cable straight down onto its connector.
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Use your fingers to grab the orange tab on the webcam cable, located near the left hinge.
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Align and press the webcam cable straight down onto its connector.
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Align the Wi-Fi card's gold contacts and notch with the socket on the Mainboard.
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Insert the Wi-Fi card into the socket at a shallow angle. The gold contacts should mostly be covered by the socket.
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Hold the Wi-Fi card down with your finger.
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Position the black antenna cable connector over the left Wi-Fi card's coaxial socket.
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Use your finger to press the connector into place. You should feel a faint click, and the cable will stay attached to the socket by itself.
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Repeat the procedure with the white antenna cable.
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Slide the Wi-Fi bracket over the top edge of the Wi-Fi card.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the captive T5 Torx screw to secure the Wi-Fi card.
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Use your fingers to lay the Power Button Board in place.
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Use the two plastic pins on the laptop to align the Power Button Board.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the captive T5 Torx screw to secure the Power Button Board.
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Insert the Audio Board into the laptop at an angle to help align the headphone jack.
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Use the two plastic alignment pins on the laptop to help with final alignment.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the captive T5 Torx screw to secure the Audio Board.
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Lay the battery in its recess in the laptop.
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Use your finger to push the battery down near its connector to reconnect it.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the six captive T5 Torx screws to secure the battery.
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Angle the bottom edge of the Input Cover towards the base of the laptop.
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Align and insert the bottom edge of the Input Cover into the base of the laptop.
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Lower the Input Cover's top edge onto the laptop until the magnets snap it in place.
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Close the laptop lid.
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Flip your laptop face-down on a clean work surface.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the eight captive T5 Torx screws on the bottom of your laptop.
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Slide each Expansion Card into its Expansion Card slot.
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You finished fixing your Framework Laptop!
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
If you need help, contact Framework support.
You finished fixing your Framework Laptop!
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
If you need help, contact Framework support.
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