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Google Pixelbook Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Logan Lawson (and 3 other contributors)
  • Comments: 15
  • Favorites: 0
  • Completions: 6

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

30

Time Required

15 - 30 minutes

Sections

4

Flags

0

Introduction

In this guide, you will learn how to remove the motherboard of the Google Pixelbook in order to fix a faulty motherboard, ram, storage, and or processor.

  1. Use the iFixit opening tools or a metal spudger to pry the rubber covers off the back of your Pixelbook. Peel the linings off completely until the back of the Pixelbook looks bare. Peel the linings off completely until the back of the Pixelbook looks bare.

    • Use the iFixit opening tools or a metal spudger to pry the rubber covers off the back of your Pixelbook.

    • Peel the linings off completely until the back of the Pixelbook looks bare.

    Edit

  2. Remove the two yellow 2.0mm screws by using a T3 Torx screwdriver. Remove the two yellow 2.0mm screws by using a T3 Torx screwdriver.

    • Remove the two yellow 2.0mm screws by using a T3 Torx screwdriver.

    Edit

  3. Remove the seventeen 3.0mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom panel. Remove the seventeen 3.0mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom panel. Remove the seventeen 3.0mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom panel.

    • Remove the seventeen 3.0mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom panel.

    Edit

    Just a heads up on “Step 3”: (not sure if maybe mine is a newer model since I just got it about a week ago) But there are only 15 of the T5 Screws on mine… Not 17. There are only 2, instead of 4, screws at the top of the picture (located at the hinge) showing the back where they are all circled.

    Jeff Lewis - Reply

    I had the same experience as Jeff.

    Paul Schreiber - Reply

  4. Use the nylon spudger to pry the edge of the Pixelbook up until you can grab the edge with your fingers. Open the back panel completely and lay it flat so you see the whole inside of the computer. Open the back panel completely and lay it flat so you see the whole inside of the computer.

    • Use the nylon spudger to pry the edge of the Pixelbook up until you can grab the edge with your fingers.

    • Open the back panel completely and lay it flat so you see the whole inside of the computer.

    Edit

  5. Remove the yellow 2.0mm screw from the middle of the panel by using the T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise. Remove the yellow 2.0mm screw from the middle of the panel by using the T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    • Remove the yellow 2.0mm screw from the middle of the panel by using the T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    Edit

    For me, these were T4 and not T3 screws (everything labelled T3 was a T4 for me).

    Paul Schreiber - Reply

  6. Remove the small, black casing by using the spudger to lift it up from its place. Remove the small, black casing by using the spudger to lift it up from its place.

    • Remove the small, black casing by using the spudger to lift it up from its place.

    Edit

  7. Disconnect the flat, black cord from the main component by using a spudger to push it out of the slot, or by using your hand to carefully pull it out.

    • Disconnect the flat, black cord from the main component by using a spudger to push it out of the slot, or by using your hand to carefully pull it out.

    • Your back panel is now free from the main component.

    Edit

  8. Remove the two 3.0mm silver screws from the thin, black component by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise. Remove the two 3.0mm silver screws from the thin, black component by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise.

    • Remove the two 3.0mm silver screws from the thin, black component by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise.

    Edit

  9. Disconnect the thin, black and white cord from the motherboard by using the spudger to snap the connector up and out of place. Disconnect the thin, black and white cord from the motherboard by using the spudger to snap the connector up and out of place.

    • Disconnect the thin, black and white cord from the motherboard by using the spudger to snap the connector up and out of place.

    Edit

  10. Remove the thin, black component by pulling it up and out of the laptop with your fingers.

    • Remove the thin, black component by pulling it up and out of the laptop with your fingers.

    • This photo shows the bottom screw still in the black box, but yours should be removed.

    Edit

  12. Remove the gold 2.0mm corner screw by turning it counterclockwise with a T3 Torx screwdriver.

    • Remove the gold 2.0mm corner screw by turning it counterclockwise with a T3 Torx screwdriver.

    Edit

  13. Using needle-nose tweezers, remove the silver casing by lifting it up and out of the computer. Using needle-nose tweezers, remove the silver casing by lifting it up and out of the computer.

    • Using needle-nose tweezers, remove the silver casing by lifting it up and out of the computer.

    Edit

  14. Remove the three 3.0mm black screws on the right side by using a T5 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise. Remove the silver 2.0mm screw on the left side by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    • Remove the three 3.0mm black screws on the right side by using a T5 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise.

    • Remove the silver 2.0mm screw on the left side by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    Edit

  15. Disconnect the thin, black ribbon cable by using the spudger to lift it up from the computer.

    • Disconnect the thin, black ribbon cable by using the spudger to lift it up from the computer.

    Edit

  16. Use the needle-nose tweezers to remove the charging port by lifting the component up and out of the Pixelbook. Use the needle-nose tweezers to remove the charging port by lifting the component up and out of the Pixelbook.

    • Use the needle-nose tweezers to remove the charging port by lifting the component up and out of the Pixelbook.

    Edit

  17. Remove the three 2.0mm black screws from the sound card by using a T5 Torx screwdriver to turn them counterclockwise. Remove the gold 3.0mm screw by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn it counterclockwise.

    • Remove the three 2.0mm black screws from the sound card by using a T5 Torx screwdriver to turn them counterclockwise.

    • Remove the gold 3.0mm screw by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn it counterclockwise.

    Edit

    There is a step missing to remove the two silver 3mm screens from the black component.

    Scott Jones - Reply

  18. Disconect the thin, black and red cord from the motherboard by using the spudger to snap the connector up and out of place.

    • Disconect the thin, black and red cord from the motherboard by using the spudger to snap the connector up and out of place.

    Edit

  19. Remove the yellow 2.0mm screw by using the T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    • Remove the yellow 2.0mm screw by using the T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise.

    Edit

  20. Remove the small, red component by lifting it up with the spudger.

    • Remove the small, red component by lifting it up with the spudger.

    Edit

  21. Disconnect the metal component of the thin, black component by lifting it up with the spudger.

    • Disconnect the metal component of the thin, black component by lifting it up with the spudger.

    Edit

  22. Remove the right charging port by picking it up with the tweezers and lifting it from the computer. Remove the right charging port by picking it up with the tweezers and lifting it from the computer.

    • Remove the right charging port by picking it up with the tweezers and lifting it from the computer.

    Edit

  23. Disconnect the flat, black cord from the motherboard by using a spudger to push it upwards out of the slot, or by using your hand to carefully pull upward. Disconnect the flat, black cord from the motherboard by using a spudger to push it upwards out of the slot, or by using your hand to carefully pull upward.

    • Disconnect the flat, black cord from the motherboard by using a spudger to push it upwards out of the slot, or by using your hand to carefully pull upward.

    Edit

  24. Fold back the plastic covering on the motherboard using the nylon spudger. Fold back the plastic covering on the motherboard using the nylon spudger. Fold back the plastic covering on the motherboard using the nylon spudger.

    • Fold back the plastic covering on the motherboard using the nylon spudger.

    Edit

  25. Disconnect the two black cables from the motherboard by pulling the connectors upward using the needle-nose tweezers. Disconnect the two black cables from the motherboard by pulling the connectors upward using the needle-nose tweezers. Disconnect the two black cables from the motherboard by pulling the connectors upward using the needle-nose tweezers.

    • Disconnect the two black cables from the motherboard by pulling the connectors upward using the needle-nose tweezers.

    Edit

  26. Disconnect the flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out. Disconnect the flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out. Disconnect the flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

    • Disconnect the flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

    Edit

  27. Disconnect the large flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out. Disconnect the large flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out. Disconnect the large flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

    • Disconnect the large flat ribbon cable from the motherboard by using your hand to gently pull it out of the socket, or by using a pair of tweezers to pull it out.

    Edit

  28. Raise the retaining latch of the motherboard connector by using the needle-nose tweezers. Disconnect the large flat cable from the motherboard by gently pulling on the latch using the needle-nose tweezers. Disconnect the large flat cable from the motherboard by gently pulling on the latch using the needle-nose tweezers.

    • Raise the retaining latch of the motherboard connector by using the needle-nose tweezers.

    • Disconnect the large flat cable from the motherboard by gently pulling on the latch using the needle-nose tweezers.

    Edit

  29. Disconnect the flat cable from the motherboard by using the needle-nose tweezers to gently pull the connector out of the slot. Disconnect the flat cable from the motherboard by using the needle-nose tweezers to gently pull the connector out of the slot. Disconnect the flat cable from the motherboard by using the needle-nose tweezers to gently pull the connector out of the slot.

    • Disconnect the flat cable from the motherboard by using the needle-nose tweezers to gently pull the connector out of the slot.

    Edit

    what is this cable called that is also joined with the image in Step 24? I have to buy a new one as this one in Step 28 is torn. Thanks in advance!

    trajektears - Reply

  30. Remove the gold 3.0mm screws and the black, flat 2.0mm screws from the motherboard by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise. Remove the gold 3.0mm screws and the black, flat 2.0mm screws from the motherboard by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise.

    • Remove the gold 3.0mm screws and the black, flat 2.0mm screws from the motherboard by using a T3 Torx screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise.

    Edit

  31. Remove the motherboard by gently lifting it out of the laptop using the needle-nose tweezers. Remove the motherboard by gently lifting it out of the laptop using the needle-nose tweezers. Remove the motherboard by gently lifting it out of the laptop using the needle-nose tweezers.

    • Remove the motherboard by gently lifting it out of the laptop using the needle-nose tweezers.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

6 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 3 other contributors

Logan Lawson

Member since: 01/24/2018

325 Reputation

1 Guide authored

Badges: 7

+4 more badges

Team

Cal Poly, Team S18-G1, Livingston Winter 2018 Member of Cal Poly, Team S18-G1, Livingston Winter 2018

CPSU-LIVINGSTON-W18S18G1

4 Members

7 Guides authored

10 Comments

Add a comment

This would be much more helpful if all the “components” being removed were identified.

TIA,

R

rocwoof - Reply

You’ve put together a very good procedure for replacing a motherboard. My pixelbook needs a motherboard. Where can I buy one? Google does not sell them.

Tony Meier - Reply

You’ve put together a very good procedure for replacing a motherboard. My pixelbook needs a motherboard. Where can I buy one? Google does not sell them.

Tony Meier - Reply

I believe the step8 & step16 mentioned “charging port“ shall be the loudspeaker in fact.

baokai zheng - Reply

It’s bad instruction to pull cable out without unlocking the retaining tab, also it’s impossible to put cable back while the connector is still in locking position. Never pull a cable while it’s locked in the connector, this practice is only used by novices.

nabe_03 - Reply

I’ve completed this and am typing this comment on a Pixelbook with a new motherboard. You don’t need to remove the charging ports at all to do this, steps 8-16 are completely unnecessary. Skip them, and just focus on the steps to get the motherboard itself out and replace it.

Olm3ca - Reply

Olm3ca, where did you get the replacement board?

Nolan -

I am having a hard time with Step 29. Might it be something other than T3?

Duane Eitzen - Reply

Nevermind … I think my t3 screw bit is messed up.

Duane Eitzen -

Thank you for the great guidance. I’ve replaced motherboard, and it’s correct that you can skip steps 8-16, and I would recommend to skip them, not to broke charging LEDs, which I did on my other project :)

Sergii Zabigaylo - Reply

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