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Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23

Introduction

There you go! There you go! You have just spilled your glass of Johnnie Walker Black Label on the keyboard of your Dell XPS 12 9Q23 and it no longer works...

What a pity (especially for whisky), but luck is with you, this tutorial will guide you step by step to make the replacement.

PS: This tutorial also works for other drinks spilling on the keyboard or simply to clean them up.)

What you need

  1. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Pop the center cover open on the bottom cover.

    • Remove the center screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Use a T5 Torx screwdriver for the remaining screws around the edge of the bottom cover.

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  2. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Carefully remove back panel after all screws have been removed.

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  3. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • After the back panel has been removed, disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock

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  4. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 8 screws that secure the battery.

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  5. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the battery: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Once all the screws have been removed the battery is now safe to extract

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  6. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Cooling Fan: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Caution: Ensure your laptop has been powered down.

    • Close the laptop, flip the laptop over, and pop off the back small panel with a flathead screwdriver. The panel will be hanging by the hinges once open.

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  7. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws along the edge of the bottom cover.

    • Use a magnetic board if possible to keep track of screws.

    • Open the center cover and use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove single screw.

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  8. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Carefully remove the back cover.

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  9. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 9, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
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    • Caution: Be mindful of static electric charge across the battery port. Usage of an antistatic strap is recommended but not required.

    • Disconnect the battery to prevent electrical shock.

    • If battery replacement is desired then the battery may be removed at this point via removal of the battery's perimeter screws.

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  11. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Disconnect yellow-colored ribbon cable from its port which sits at the bottom left of the fan housing.

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  12. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Dislodge the CMOS battery.

    • Unplug CMOS cable.

    • This step is not completely necessary, it allows extra room to maneuver the fan in and out during replacement.

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  13. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to loosen the screws that secure the heat sink's heat spreader.

    • Screws cannot be fully removed from heatsink.

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  14. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Grip the heat sink from the sides and carefully lift it up to remove it.

    • Heatsink is a device used for absorbing heat and necessary to remove to reach the fan.

    • At this time there will be a whitish powder between the heatsink and the CPU. This powder below the heat spreader is degraded thermal paste. DO NOT wipe away this powder unless the thermal paste will be replaced upon reassembly.

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  15. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two cooling fan screws.

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  16. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 15, image 1 of 1

    • Unplug the fan cable.

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  17. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • The cooling fan can now be removed and a new one can be installed.

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  18. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Touch Pad: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Unplug the trackpad cable.

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  19. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Insert wisdom here.

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  20. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 4 trackpad screws.

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  21. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the trackpad.

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  22. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the WiFi card: step 21, image 1 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the WiFi card: step 21, image 2 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the WiFi card: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.

    • Disconnect the two wires from the WiFi card. You can do this with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.

    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Now remove your WiFi card to replace it.

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  23. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Adhesive tape: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks.

    • Remove the adhesive tape.

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  24. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the hard disk drive: step 23, image 1 of 2 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the hard disk drive: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Remove the hard disk from its location.

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  25. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the operating button: step 24, image 1 of 2 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the operating button: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks. The hard disk, WiFi card and fan have also been removed.

    • Remove the connector with a pair of pliers or your fingernail.

    • Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Remove the card afterwards.

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  26. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the motherboard: step 25, image 1 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the motherboard: step 25, image 2 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the motherboard: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • Disconnect the various connections from the motherboard.

    • Remove the screws with a #00 Phillips screwdriver.

    • Carefully turn the motherboard over to disconnect the tablecloth from the keyboard.

    • You can now replace the motherboard.

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  27. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Undo the keyboard: step 26, image 1 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Undo the keyboard: step 26, image 2 of 3 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Undo the keyboard: step 26, image 3 of 3

    • We removed the battery to avoid electric shocks. The hard disk, WiFi card, fan, touchpad and motherboard have also been removed.

    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver and remove the bracket.

    • Remove the screw with a #00 Phillips screwdriver and remove the support.

    • Be patient and unscrew the 24 keyboard screws.

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  28. Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the keyboard: step 27, image 1 of 2 Replacement of the keyboard on a Dell XPS 12 9Q23, Remove the keyboard: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • You can now remove the keyboard. And also do a cleaning if necessary, as in the second photo.

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Conclusion

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

One other person completed this guide.

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