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Follow this guide to remove and replace the webcam cable in your Framework Laptop 12.
The webcam cable connects the front-facing camera and stereo microphones to the Mainboard. The cable threads through the left hinge and adheres to the backside of the display.
If your front-facing camera or mics stop working when you reposition your display, you may need to replace the webcam cable.
You'll encounter some component terms in this guide:
- The Input Cover is the part that contains the keyboard and trackpad.
- The Display Cover is the plastic bezel strip below the screen.
- The Top Cover is the plastic shell that houses the display.
- The Bottom Cover is the plastic shell that forms the bottom half of the laptop.
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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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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver to pry up the right edge of the Display Cover.
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Slide your fingers under the top edge of the Display Cover to release it from the laptop.
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Use your fingers to twist the right hinge plate until it's flipped on top of the display.
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Twist the left hinge plate until it's flipped on top of the display.
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Use your fingers to grab the two cables coming out of the left hinge.
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Pull gently to pop out the black cable clip and release the cables.
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Repeat the procedure on the right hinge to release the cables.
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Use your fingers to twist both hinge plates back down so they lay flat on your work surface.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the four 3.3 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the display to the Top Cover.
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Use your fingers to hold the bottom edge of the Top Cover in place.
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Insert the bit end of your Framework Screwdriver into the small hole on the display, below the Framework logo.
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Slide the display down towards the hinge edge to release the tabs holding the top edge of the display in place.
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Use your fingers to lift the top edge of the display from the Top Cover.
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Lift and remove the display from the Top Cover.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the two 3.3 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the webcam bracket on the top edge of the display.
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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver to lift the webcam out of its recess.
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Flip the webcam over and gently hold it down with your fingers.
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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver or a fingernail to gently pry up the locking tab on the webcam cable ZIF connector.
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Slide the webcam cable out of its connector.
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Remove the webcam.
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Grab the webcam cable with your fingers and slowly peel it away from the display.
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Carefully move the cable off of the display.
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Remove the webcam cable.
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Hold the webcam cable with the shiny side facing up.
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Slide the cable into the webcam module's ZIF connector, up to the printed line on the cable.
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Use your finger to flip down and gently press the locking tab in place.
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Insert the webcam back into its display recess.
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Use your fingers to align and lay the webcam bracket in place.
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Make sure the tabs on the top edge of the webcam bracket sit in their slots on the top edge of the display.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the two 3.3 mm‑long T5 Torx screws to secure the webcam bracket.
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If the webcam cable has any plastic liners covering adhesives, peel them off to expose the adhesives. These liners should peel easily from the cable.
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Use your fingers to press the cable onto the display.
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Guide the cable bend into its channel on the display.
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Lay the display in place in the Top Cover, such that the top edge of the display is slightly below the top edge of the Top Cover.
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Use your fingers to slide the display upwards to latch the tabs on the top edge of the display.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the four 3.3 mm‑long T5 Torx screws to secure the display to the Top Cover.
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Use your fingers to twist both hinge plates so they're flipped over the display.
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Place the cable clip around the right hinge cables, where they were bent from being inserted into the hinge.
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Use your fingers to press the clip into the hinge to secure the cables.
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Repeat the procedure on the left hinge to secure the left cables.
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Make sure both cable clips are fully inserted into the hinges, so that they won't be snagged when the hinges pivot.
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Use your fingers to twist both hinge plates so that they lay flat on your work surface.
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Lay the Display Cover in place below the display.
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Use your finger to press along the length of the Display Cover to snap it onto the laptop.
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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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