Introduction
Use this guide to replace the I/O board containing a USB 3.0 port, HDMI port, and SDXC card reader.
It's not strictly necessary to remove the SSD in order to replace the I/O board, but doing so provides some additional clearance to make this process easier. If you are comfortable replacing the I/O board without removing the SSD, feel free to skip the SSD steps.
What you need
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Remove the following P5 pentalobe screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Pro:
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Eight 3.1 mm
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Two 2.3 mm
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Gently lift each side of the battery connector to pry the connector out of its socket on the logic board.
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Bend the connector back toward the battery, ensuring that the battery connector doesn't accidentally make contact with the logic board.
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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, and bend them up and out of the way.
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Use the tip of a spudger to push the camera cable connector out of its socket on the logic board.
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Use your fingers to pull the AirPort/Camera cables up off the fan.
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Carefully de-route the cables from the plastic cable guide.
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Remove the four 2.2 mm T5 Torx screws securing the I/O board cable connector covers.
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Remove the left connector cover.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.
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Remove the right connector cover.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the right end of the I/O board cable up from its socket on the logic board.
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Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the following three screws securing the right fan to the logic board:
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One 5.0 mm screw with a 2.0 mm long shoulder
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One 4.0 mm screw with a wide head
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One 4.4 mm screw
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Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the right fan ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Lift the fan and push it gently towards the back edge of the MacBook to free the fan cable from its socket.
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Remove the fan.
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Lift the end of the SSD up enough to pass over the speaker directly behind it.
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Pull the SSD straight out of its socket on the logic board.
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Use the point of a spudger to flip up the locking mechanism on the I/O board connector.
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Flip the spudger around and use the flat end to slide the I/O cable out of the connector.
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Slightly lift the interior edge of the I/O board and pull it toward the center of the MacBook, away from the side of the case.
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Remove the I/O board.
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