Skip to main content

MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following ten screws securing the lower case to the upper case:

    • Three 13.5 mm (14.1 mm) Phillips screws.

    • Seven 3 mm Phillips screws.

    • When removing these screws, note how they come out at a slight angle. They must be reinstalled the same way.

  2. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Using both hands, lift the lower case near the vent to pop it off two clips securing it to the upper case.

    • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

  3. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • For certain repairs (e.g. hard drive), disconnecting the battery connector is not necessary but is recommended as it prevents any accidental shorting of electronics on the motherboard. If you do not disconnect the battery connector, please be careful as parts of the motherboard might be electrified.

    • 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.

  4. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad 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.

  5. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Left Fan: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following three screws securing the left fan to the logic board:

    • Two 3.5 mm T6 Torx screws.

    • One 4.2 mm T6 Torx screw.

  6. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the left fan connector from the logic board.

    • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

    • The fan socket and the fan connector can be seen in the second and third pictures. Be careful not to break the plastic fan socket off the logic board as you use your spudger to lift the fan connector straight up and out of its socket.

    • The layout of the logic board shown in the second picture may look slightly different than your machine but the fan socket is the same.

  7. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the left fan out of the upper case.

  8. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Logic Board: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the right fan connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to twist the spudger axially from beneath the fan cable wires to release the connector.

  9. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the three 3.4 mm (3.1 mm) T6 Torx screws securing the right fan to the logic board.

    • Lift the right fan out of its opening in the logic board.

  10. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Pull the camera cable out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Don't lift upward on the camera cable as you disconnect it. Pulling upward on the cable may damage both the cable and the logic board. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

  11. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth connector up from its socket on the logic board.

  12. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the optical drive connector out of its socket on the logic board.

  13. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the hard drive/IR sensor cable from its socket on the logic board by lifting up from beneath its connector.

  14. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the subwoofer/right speaker connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Pry up from beneath the wires.

  15. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the two 1.5 mm ( 1.2 mm ) Phillips screws securing the keyboard/trackpad cable cover to the logic board.

    • Lift the cover off the logic board and set it aside.

  16. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

  17. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2
    • Use your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to pull the keyboard ribbon cable out of its socket.

  18. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the battery indicator connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

  19. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Grab the plastic pull tab secured to the display data cable lock and rotate it toward the DC-In side of the computer.

    • Pull the display data cable straight out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Do not lift up on the display data cable, as its socket is very fragile. Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board.

  20. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard backlight ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are flipping up the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of its socket.

  21. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following nine screws:

    • Seven 3.4 mm ( 3.1 mm) T6 Torx screws on the logic board

    • Two 8 mm T6 Torx screws on the DC-In board

  22. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 3 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 22, image 3 of 3
    • Carefully lift the logic board assembly from its left side and work it out of the upper case, minding the optical drive cable and the I/O ports that may get caught during removal.

    • If necessary, use the flat end of a spudger to separate the microphone from the upper case.

    • Pull the I/O port side of the logic board away from the side of the upper case and remove the logic board assembly.

  23. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Battery: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the two 7.5 mm ( 7.2 mm )Tri-point screws securing the battery to the upper case.

  24. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully peel the battery warning label off the upper case between the battery and the optical drive to reveal an additional Tri-point screw.

    • Remove the last 7.5 mm ( 7.2 mm ) Tri-point screw securing the battery to the upper case.

    • Do not remove the label from the battery.

  25. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1
    • Use the attached plastic pull tab to remove the battery from the upper case.

  26. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Trackpad: step 26, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement, Trackpad: step 26, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to peel up the edge of the large piece of black tape covering the trackpad cable.

    • Peel the tape up and fold it back out of the way of the trackpad cable. Leaving it in place on the upper case will make it easier to reapply it during reassembly.

  27. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1
    • Open your MacBook Pro about 90 degrees and set it on its side on a table.

    • Remove the four silver 1.3 mm Phillips #00 screws from the trackpad spring brackets.

  28. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 28, image 2 of 2
    • While keeping a hold on the trackpad ribbon cable with one hand to keep it from tearing or creasing, ease the trackpad out of the upper case.

    • Move the trackpad back and to the right.

  29. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 29, image 2 of 2
    • Once the trackpad is free of the upper case, guide the ribbon cable through the slot cut in the upper case.

  30. MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2012 Trackpad Replacement: step 30, image 2 of 2
    • When reinstalling the trackpad, loosely replace the four Phillips screws and check the alignment of the trackpad on the keyboard side of the upper case.

    • Once you have centered the trackpad in the upper case, tighten the Phillips screws all the way.

    • Use the large Tri-point screw at the bottom of the trackpad to adjust the click stroke.

Conclusion

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

57 other people completed this guide.

Andrew Optimus Goldheart

Member since: 10/17/09

502,109 Reputation

407 Guides authored

Team

iFixit Member of iFixit

Staff

135 Members

16,476 Guides authored

14 Comments

Be extremely careful about the keyboard backlight socket. I ended up breaking off an infinitesimally small side of the plastic socket and I have no keyboard backlight now. This doesn't bother me that much, but still irritating!

mjwoulard - Reply

Dang - I did the same thing. Thankfully it was on the questionable logic board in the machine I was scavenging the “good” trackpad from, so I didn’t do the same to the good one. Overall, a very good set of instructions - thank you to the author.

Dave M -

Very easy process, one observation is that the holes which the screws that hold the battery in shattered, they're very brittle, had to hot glue my battery back in, double sided tape would have been better. Hardest part was the alignment of the new trackpad, but if you take your time to align it and use sellotape to hold it in place while you flip the MacBook and tighten it, everything will be all good.

Many thanks to the author

tomo30 - Reply

+ It is important to make sure you connected well the keyboard/trackpad cable

+ Test if your keyboard is working before attempting to reset either the PRAM/NVRAM and the System Management Controller (SMC), which, although not required, I would recommend doing after replacing a piece of hardware like the trackpad

+ Thanks for these instructions

Rodolfo Aramayo - Reply

Well, thanks for the good instructions…But (IMHO) if you only need to replace the trackpad and not the trackpad ribbon cable it is NOT necessary to follow all these steps, E.g. you do not have to remove logic board and all, just follow steps to remove battery, unscrew the trackpad, carefully remove cable on the trackpad side (the cable has also a connector there) and done. Then vice versa Maybe 20 minutes work.

GS from NL - Reply

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 2

Past 7 Days: 19

Past 30 Days: 96

All Time: 50,284