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Follow this guide to remove your trackpad—either to replace it, or to get it out of the way so you can access the battery.
For your safety, discharge your MacBook Pro's battery below 25% before you start. A charged lithium-ion battery can create a dangerous and uncontrollable fire if accidentally punctured.
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Power on your Mac and launch Terminal.
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Copy and paste the following command (or type it exactly) into Terminal:
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sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00
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Press [return]. If prompted, enter your administrator password and press [return] again. Note: Your return key may also be labeled ⏎ or "enter."
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sudo nvram AutoBoot=%03
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Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.
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Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove six screws securing the lower case, of the following lengths:
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Four 4.7 mm screws
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Two 6.6 mm screws
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Press a suction handle into place near the front edge of the lower case, between the screw holes.
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Lift up on the suction handle just enough to open a small gap under the lower case.
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Slide the corner of an opening pick into the gap you just created underneath the lower case.
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Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and then halfway up the side of the MacBook Pro.
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Repeat the previous step on the opposite side, using your opening pick to release the second clip.
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Lift the front edge of the lower case (the side opposite the display hinge) just enough to slide your fingertips underneath and get a good grip on it.
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Pull the lower case firmly towards the front of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.
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Pull first at one corner, then the other.
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Remove the lower case.
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Set it in place and align the sliding clips near the display hinge. Press down and slide the cover toward the hinge. It should stop sliding as the clips engage.
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When the sliding clips are fully engaged and the lower case looks correctly aligned, press down firmly on the lower case to engage the four hidden clips. You should feel and hear them click into place.
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Peel up and remove the large rectangular battery board cover, on the edge of the logic board nearest the battery.
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If the cover doesn't peel up easily, apply mild heat with an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun to soften the adhesive underneath, and try again.
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Peel back the tape covering the battery board data cable connector.
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Use a spudger to gently pry up the locking flap on the ZIF connector for the battery board data cable.
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Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket.
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Slide parallel to the logic board, in the direction of the cable.
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Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.7 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.
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Use a spudger to gently lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.
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Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.9 mm screws securing the trackpad cable's cover bracket.
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Remove the bracket.
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Use a spudger to disconnect the trackpad cable by prying its connector straight up from the logic board.
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Apply mild heat to the trackpad ribbon cable to soften the adhesive securing it to the battery.
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You can use an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun, but be careful not to overheat the battery. The cable should be warm, but not too hot to touch.
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Carefully peel the trackpad cable up off the battery, and push it out of the way.
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Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 13 screws securing the trackpad assembly:
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Nine 5.8 mm screws
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Four 4.9 mm screws
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Swing the display open slightly, but keep the MacBook upside-down. The trackpad assembly should separate and lay flat on the display.
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Gently feed the trackpad's ribbon cable through its slot in the chassis.
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As you remove the trackpad assembly, be very careful not to lose the nine small metal washers resting on the screw posts. (They will fly off and get lost with very little provocation.)
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Remove the trackpad assembly.
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Use a spudger to pry up the retaining flap on the trackpad ribbon cable's ZIF connector.
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Apply mild heat with an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun to soften the adhesive holding the end of the ribbon cable to the trackpad.
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Carefully slide the edge of a halberd spudger or opening pick underneath the ribbon cable, and work the tool back and forth to separate the cable from the trackpad.
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Slide the ribbon cable out of its socket and remove it from the trackpad.
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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? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.
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? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.
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crwdns2947412:02crwdne2947412:0
Is there any way to fix the track pad without having to replace it? I think I got some tea spilled on it. So right bottom corner does not flex/click.
Unlike the older Trackpads the newer Touchpads use a Taptic engine (the coils along the bottom) for the click action to give you the feel of the depressing the pad.
Sadly, you can’t really fix these as they get jammed up with what was spilled and you can’t soak the pad in anything as that would ruin it. Damed and double damed!
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