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MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace a dead hard drive or upgrade your hard drive for more storage capacity.

What you need

Video Overview

  1. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws

    • When replacing the small screws, align them perpendicular to the slight curvature of the case (they don't go straight down).

    Edit

  2. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.

    • Remove the lower case.

    Edit

  3. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery Connection: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery Connection: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

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  6. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the hard drive bracket to the upper case.

    • These screws will remain attached to the hard drive bracket.

    Edit

  7. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the hard drive bracket.

    • The hard drive bracket may be firmly seated against the upper case.

    Edit

  8. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Use the attached pull tab to lift the hard drive out of the upper case.

    • Don't try to completely remove the hard drive just yet. It is still attached to the hard drive cable.

    Edit

  9. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Pull the hard drive cable away from the body of the hard drive.

    • Remove the hard drive.

    Edit

  10. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Late 2011 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the four 6.0 mm T6 Torx hard drive retaining posts from the sides of the hard drive.

    • Transfer the hard drive retaining posts to your new hard drive.

    • If desired, transfer the pull tab over to your new drive.

    • If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

    • If you upgraded your EFI Firmware ROM you can also perform an internet recovery.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

272 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 8 other contributors

Phillip Takahashi

Member since: 08/22/11

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12 Guide Comments

Is there any specific order that's best for putting back the screws?

wtfjackiass - Reply

Start with the corners but after that it dose not matter

William Stadler -

How do you install the Operating system once this has been done?

xdragoons - Reply

How to Install macOS High Sierra

Haneef -

If the retaining screws in the HD are stuck, use a rubber band between the T6 bit and the screw for better grip. Works like a charm.

jonathan - Reply

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