Introduction
Use this guide to remove and replace the Bottom Cover in your Framework Laptop 16.
What you need
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Use your finger to flip the Expansion Card latches into the unlocked position.
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Use your fingernail to pull out the two Input Module latches and unlock them.
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Use your fingers to slide the Touchpad Spacer toward the bottom edge of the laptop and unclip it.
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Lift the Touchpad Spacer off the laptop and remove it.
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Use your fingers to slide the Touchpad Module toward the bottom edge of the laptop and disconnect it.
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Lift the Touchpad Module and remove it.
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Grip the two pull tabs along the bottom of the keyboard and lift until its magnets release.
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Remove the keyboard.
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Grip the pull tab at the bottom of the Input Module and lift until its magnets release.
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Remove the Input Module.
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Repeat for any remaining Input Modules.
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Grip the black pull tab on the Mid Plate cable press connector.
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Lift up to disconnect the Mid Plate cable.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the 16 captive T5 Torx screws securing the Mid Plate.
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Use your fingers to lift the Mid Plate off the laptop and remove it.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the battery.
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Grip the black pull tab at the top of the battery and lift to disconnect the battery connector.
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Remove the battery.
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Lift the speaker cable connector by its black pull tab and disconnect it.
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Starting at one speaker, use the flat end of a spudger, or your fingers, to lift the speaker cable out of its rubber clips.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the two 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing each speaker (four in total).
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Lift the interposer door by its black pull tab and let it rest upright.
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If you have the Graphics Module, use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the four captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
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If you have the Expansion Bay Shell, use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the two captive T5 Torx screws securing the module in the Expansion Bay.
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Close the interposer door before continuing.
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Close your laptop and flip it over.
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Slide the Expansion Bay Module out of the laptop and remove it.
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Flip your laptop and reopen it.
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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver, or a clean fingernail, to lift up the locking tab on the fingerprint reader ZIF connector next to the memory.
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Lift the bottom of the ventilation plate and pull it away from the laptop until the magnets release.
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Remove the ventilation plate.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to loosen the captive T5 Torx screw securing Wi-Fi module.
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Slide the clear plastic cover straight off the module and remove it.
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While holding the Wi-Fi module down, insert the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver one of the coaxial connectors, where the cable meets the metal head.
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Lift the screwdriver straight up to disconnect the coaxial cable.
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Repeat for the other coaxial cable.
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Slide your fingernail under the inside edge of either bottom corner of the bezel.
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Pull the bezel away from the screen to release the first few magnets.
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Lift the bezel around the perimeter of the screen until all of its magnets are released.
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Remove the bezel.
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Grip the eDP cable connector to the right of the Wi-Fi module slot by its pull tab and lift up to disconnect it.
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Repeat for the webcam cable connector next to it.
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Lift the eDP, webcam, and antenna cables out of their vertical slot in the Bottom Cover.
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While supporting the Top Cover with one hand, use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the four 3.9 mm‑long screws on each hinge connected to the Bottom Cover (8 total).
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Lift up the interposer door to reveal the screw underneath.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to remove the six 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the Mainboard.
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Use your fingers to lift the bottom edge of the Mainboard enough to grip its edges.
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Lift the Mainboard off its alignment pegs and remove it.
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Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your Framework Laptop.
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The replacement Bottom Cover comes with pre-installed screws for the hinge, Mainboard, and the speakers. During reassembly, use those screws to replace your old ones.
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If you have a secondary SSD installed, remove the blue liner on the thermal pad.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the six 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing the Mainboard.
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Place the Top Cover over Bottom Top Cover, making sure the hinges are slotted into their alignment pegs.
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While supporting the Top Cover with one hand, use your Framework Screwdriver to install the four 3.9 mm‑long screws on each hinge connected to the Bottom Cover (8 total).
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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver, or your fingers, to press the webcam cable into its clips at the top right edge of the Bottom Cover.
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Press the eDP and webcam cable connectors straight down into their sockets to connect them.
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Align the bezel over the perimeter of the display and let the magnets pull the bezel into place.
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Hold the Wi-Fi module down with your finger.
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Position the white antenna cable connector over the left Wi-Fi module'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 black antenna cable.
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Slide the clear plastic cover on the module and align its screw with the screw hole cutout.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the captive T5 Torx screw securing Wi-Fi module.
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Lay the ventilation plate along the top edge of the laptop and let its magnets pull into place.
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Use your fingers to grip the blue pull tab and slide the fingerprint reader cable straight into its socket.
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If you have the Graphics Module, use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the four captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
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If you have the Expansion Bay Shell, use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the interposer.
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Close the interposer door.
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Place the interposer over its spot between the Mainboard and the module.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the two captive T5 Torx screws securing the Expansion Bay Module.
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Close your laptop and flip it over.
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Align the Expansion Bay Module with its slot in the laptop.
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Align the speakers over their alignment pegs and press them down into place.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to install the two 2.0 mm‑long T5 Torx screws securing each speaker (four in total).
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Use the flat end of your Framework Screwdriver to push the speaker cable back into its clips along the bottom edge of the laptop.
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Align the battery connector over its socket and lay the battery into its well.
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Lightly press the battery down to connect it.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the three captive T5 Torx screws securing the battery.
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Place the Mid Plate on the laptop, making sure it sits evenly on its alignment pegs.
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Use your Framework Screwdriver to tighten the 16 captive T5 Torx screws in order (starting with 2) to secure the Mid Plate evenly.
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Align the Mid Plate cable press connector over its socket and press down to connect it.
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Align the top edge of the Input Module with the top edge of the laptop.
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Lay the Input Module on the laptop and let the magnets pull the keyboard into place
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Repeat for any remaining Input Modules.
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Align the top edge of the keyboard with the top edge of the laptop.
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Lay the keyboard on the laptop and let the magnets pull the keyboard into place
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Place the Touchpad Module flat on its cutout so its clips are properly aligned.
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Press the Touchpad Module down and slide it into place so it lines up evenly with the bottom edge of the laptop.
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Place the Touchpad Spacer over its spot on the laptop with the bottom edge overhanging slightly.
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Slide the Touchpad Spacer towards the top of the laptop to secure it.
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Repeat the same procedure for the other Touchpad Spacer.
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Slide an Expansion Card into an Expansion Card slot.
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Repeat for all remaining Expansion Cards.
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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.