How to replace the top panel and keyboard on a 13″ MacBook

Working with electronics and doing your own repairs can be intimidating. You don’t want to break anything, especially if you are still under your Apple Care warranty for any part of the machine – some scratches and other issues can void the warranty. Even so, some parts eventually fall out of warranty, and you find it may be cheaper to replace them yourself. One of the most frequent of these is the keyboard (or even the individual keys on occasion).

When your keyboard breaks on or gets damaged on a 13-inch MacBook, you’re going to need to replace the entire top panel because of the way the Chiclet-style keys are designed. If you break your keyboard while still under Apple Care warranty, I can not stress enough how important it is to take the laptop in to your local Genius bar and get them to repair it for you so you don’t void your warranty! If, however, you are out of the warranty period, then by all means save some cash with a do it yourself swap out.

Tools You Need

Torx(r)T8 Screwdriver

Phillips Size #00 Screwdriver

Spudger Tool (Nylon)

Flat Surface to Work On

Tray with sides for holding loose screws

Post-its to help you remember which screws went where

For Your Safety

Before you start, make sure you have unplugged your MacBook from its wall charger and removed the battery. You remove the battery by turning the lock on the panel on the bottom one turn, then sliding the battery out of its compartment. If you have to use a tool to loosen your battery from its compartment for the first time, this would be an ideal use of your Spudger tool.

Next Steps

Once your MacBook is unplugged and the battery is out, you will first need to remove the L-bracket. If you look inside the battery area, this is the L-shaped metal piece running along the sides of the battery compartment. It is held in place by three screws across the long part of the L-shape. Once the screws are taken out using your Phillips screwdriver, set them aside on the tray labeled “L-bracket” so you know where they go in the end during re-assembly. Lift the L-bracket straight up and out. Set it aside on the tray also.

Look inside the battery compartment where the battery cable is, on the end. You will see screws – remove the outside two, one on each side. Set them aside in the tray with a post-it labeling them.

Under the metal levers in the rear of the battery compartment you will see three screws. Remove these also, label them, and put them safely in the tray.

In the front of the battery compartment you will see a long line of screws. Only remove the 3mm Phillips head screws, in the 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th positions. Put them on the tray with a label as well.

Moving on to the Case

If you look at the white case bottom now, you will see three Phillips head screws, two on the back edge and one in the middle. Remove these, and set them in the tray with a label.

Look on the outside of the case next to the battery compartment. You’ll see two screws next to all of the ports in the side of your MacBook. Remove those, set them aside and label them.

Look on the side of the case where the optical drive is located. Find and remove the other two outside screws. Put them in the tray with a label.

On the back of the MacBook where the hinge is located, remove 4 Phillips screws.

Removing the Case

The first thing to know before we move on to removing the case for keyboard replacement is that the trackpad is attached under there in a very awkward fashion, so remember: you can’t just yank things apart willy nilly in case you snap the cable. Slow and methodical wins the race in this instance.

Starting at one of the back corners, begin to gently wiggle and loosen the case. Don’t fully pull it apart yet (remember that caution about the track pad cable!)

Once the edges are a bit loose, grab the top case edge and lift it up just enough to see the track pad cable and its black tab for connecting and disconnecting. Pull the black tab to disconnect the track pad.

Once the track pad is disconnected, you are done with removing the top. Pull the top free and set it aside.

Installing the New Top Case with Keyboard

Grab your new top case, and starting from the black tab cable to reattach the trackpad, repeat each step backwards until the keyboard and top case unit is installed. Because you were careful to label and safely set aside all screws, the return trip to a whole MacBook should be a piece of cake!

If you want to see a video of a repair shop doing this in action, simply go to PowerBookMedic’s site. They have several handy, downloadable PDF files on simple Mac repairs like this one, as well as repair videos to help you along.

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