MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display Mid 2012 Battery Replacement
Introduction
Go to step 1Use this guide to safely remove the glued-in battery from your MacBook Pro with the help of an iFixit battery replacement kit. The adhesive remover in your kit will dissolve the adhesive securing the battery, allowing you to remove it with ease.
iFixit adhesive remover is highly flammable. Perform this procedure in a well-ventilated area. Do not smoke or work near an open flame during this procedure.
To minimize risk of damage, turn on your MacBook and allow the battery to fully discharge before starting this procedure. A charged lithium-ion battery can create a dangerous and uncontrollable fire if accidentally punctured. If your battery is swollen, take extra precautions.
Note: The solvent used to dissolve the battery adhesive may damage your speakers if it comes in contact with the plastic speaker enclosures. This guide instructs you to remove the speakers before proceeding to the battery.
If you're using the old-style iFixit adhesive remover with separate bottle and syringe (no longer sold), click here for a slightly modified set of instructions.
What you need
Fix Kit
This kit contains all the parts and tools needed to complete this guide.
Parts
Tools
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Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:
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Eight 3.0 mm
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Two 2.3 mm
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Tool used on this step:Tweezers$4.99
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Use a spudger or tweezers to pry the three AirPort antenna cables straight up off of their sockets on the AirPort board.
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Using the flat end of a spudger, pry the I/O Board connector straight up out of its socket on the logic board.
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In a similar fashion, remove the I/O Board cable connector from its socket on the I/O Board.
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Remove the I/O Board cable from the MacBook Pro.
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Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort card to the logic board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the rubber heat sink cover up off the left fan.
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Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the I/O board data cable lock and rotate it toward the battery side of the computer.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to slide the I/O board data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the headphone jack connector up from its socket on the logic board.
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Lifting from the side nearest the battery, rotate the logic board toward the top of the MacBook Pro.
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Using the flat end of a spudger, carefully push the MagSafe 2 connector out of its socket on the bottom of the logic board.
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Clockwise from top: keyboard, trackpad, battery, right speaker, keyboard backlight, display, microphone, headphone jack, left speaker.
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Remove the following three screws securing the left speaker to the upper case:
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One 5.6 mm T5 Torx screw
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One 6.9 mm T5 Torx screw
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One 2.6 mm T5 Torx screw
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Lift the left speaker out of the upper case and set it aside.
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Now that your MacBook Pro is fully prepped, it's time to prep yourself.
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Wear eye protection when handling and applying the adhesive remover. (Eye protection is included in your kit.)
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Do not wear contact lenses without eye protection.
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Protective gloves are also included in your kit. If you are concerned about possible skin irritation, put your gloves on now.
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Tool used on this step:Plastic Cards$2.99
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Slide one corner of a plastic card under the outer edge of the battery cell.
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Slide the card farther underneath the battery cell to separate it from the adhesive securing it to the MacBook Pro's upper case.
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Slide one corner of your plastic card underneath the second battery cell.
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Push the card underneath the second battery cell, and slide it side to side to separate the adhesive underneath.
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Leave the plastic card underneath both battery cells (or flip them over) to prevent them from re-adhering as you proceed to the next step.
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It's time to switch sides. Remove your book or foam block and place it under the opposite side of your MacBook Pro.
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Repeat the procedure from the prior steps to separate the two battery cells on this side:
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Apply your adhesive remover to the elevated edge of the outer battery cell, and wait 2-3 minutes for it to penetrate.
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Work one corner of a plastic card underneath the battery cell, and slide the card fully underneath the battery cell to separate it.
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Do the same for the adjacent cell.
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Leave your plastic card in place or flip the battery cells over to prevent them from re-adhering during the following steps.
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Lift and remove the battery.
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With a little luck, you can slowly pull out each strip of adhesive with your fingers.
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Otherwise, soak each strip of adhesive with a bit of adhesive remover for 2-3 minutes, and then scrape it out with a plastic tool. This can take quite a bit of work, so be patient.
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Mop up any remaining adhesive remover and give your MacBook Pro a few minutes to air dry.
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Calibrate your newly installed battery: charge it to 100%, and keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
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174 Comments
finally something more complicated than replacing the fan in a ps4. Great guide but I'm not going to attempt this even with lots of experience taking MacBook pro's apart to replace the disc drives with second hard drives.
I went ahead and did changed the battery to only find out the battery I bought was defected : (
Hi there, Edward. Sorry to hear about the battery trouble. I've reached out to you via email to see how I can help!
Thanks for the guide! I used a light duty heat gun to soften the battery adhesive. Use great caution if you try this method, you can easily damage anything plastic so I used the MBP bottom to shield the keyboard bits. I heated one cell at a time until it was slightly uncomfortable to the touch, then waited a few moments until the heat softened the adhesive underneath, then carefully use a plastic card to slide under and pry free. It took about an hour to remove the battery and all remaining adhesive. For the remaining adhesive I used "GooGone", being very careful.
You can also set your battery on fire, which can have pretty catastrophic consequences. I'm glad it worked out for you, but I would urge everyone to avoid using a heat gun on or near any lithium-ion battery.
