MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) Logic Board

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following parts before you begin:

Tools

  • #00 Phillips screwdriver

  • 4 mm hex nut driver

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Kapton tape

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torx T3 screwdriver

  • Torx T5 screwdriver

  • Torx T6 screwdriver

Caution

  • This procedure requires System Configuration. After you’ve completed all removal and reassembly steps, learn how to initiate the System Configuration process.

  • If you’re installing a replacement logic board, you must also install a replacement Touch ID board.

Note: The logic board and the heat sink may look slightly different, but the instructions are the same.

Removal

  1. Use the T3 screwdriver to remove the 21 T3 screws from the following 10 cowlings:

    • Two T3 screws from the lid angle sensor connector cowling (923-06854) (1)

    • Two T3 screws from the MagSafe 3 connector cowling (923-06854) (2)

    • Three T3 screws from the left USB-C boards connector cowling (923-06854) (3)

    • Two T3 screws from the audio board connector cowling (923-06854) (4)

    • Two T3 screws from the left speaker connector cowling (923-06864, 923-06865) (5)

    • Two T3 screws from the right speaker connector cowling (923-06864, 923-06865) (6)

    • Two T3 screws from the right USB-C board connector cowling (923-06854) (7)

    • Two T3 screws from the Touch ID board connector cowling (923-06854) (8)

    • Two T3 screws from the display connector cowling (923-06854) (9)

    • Two T3 screws from the display connector cowling (923-06854) (10)

  2. Remove the 10 cowlings and save them for reassembly.

    • Important

      • The left and right speaker connector cowlings have a deeper bend where the screw hole is closest to the battery cover. Note the orientation of the cowlings for reassembly.

      • The left speaker connector cowling has a circular etching in the middle.

  3. Lift the ends of the following 12 flex cables (1–12) off the connectors on the logic board:

    • Lid angle sensor flex cable (1)

    • MagSafe 3 flex cable (2)

    • Left USB-C boards flex cables (3 and 4)

    • Audio board flex cable (5)

    • Left speaker flex cable (6)

    • Right speaker flex cable (7)

    • Right USB-C board flex cable (8)

    • Touch ID board flex cable (9)

    • Display backlight flex cable (10)

    • FaceTime HD camera flex cable (11)

    • eDP flex cable (12)

    Note: The image orientation for steps 8 and 9 differs from the other removal steps, but the instructions are the same. You don’t need to rotate the device for these steps.

  4. Peel back the polyester film tabs from the locking levers of the microphones (1), keyboard backlight (2), and keyboard (3) flex cables.

  5. Use the black stick to flip up the three locking levers (1–3). Then slide the ends of the three flex cables from their connectors.

  6. Peel back the polyester film tabs from the locking levers of the two fan flex cables. Then use the black stick to flip up the two locking levers.

  7. Lift the display flex cable clips off the internal frame of the top case. Gently fold them back to reveal the display cable bumpers underneath.

  8. Lift the display cable bumpers out of the internal frame and save them for reassembly.

  9. Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel one fan flex cable from the logic board (1). Then slide the fan flex cable out of the connector (2). Repeat the process for the other fan flex cable.

  10. Use the T6 screwdriver to remove the two T6 screws (923-06858) from the upper corners.

  11. Use the T5 screwdriver to remove the six long T5 screws (923-06859).

  12. Use the T5 screwdriver to remove the four short T5 screws (923-06861).

  13. Use the 4 mm hex nut driver to remove the two 4 mm hex nut screws (923-06857) from the lower corners.

  14. Fold back the thermal duct gaskets and fan flex cables. Use Kapton tape to hold them back as shown.

  15. Gently lift the logic board as shown (1), then slide the logic board out of the top case (2). Use the black stick to fold back the trackpad and BMU flex cables as you remove the logic board.

    • Important: Do not remove the heat sink from the logic board. A replacement logic board comes with the heat sink installed.

Reassembly

Important: If you are installing the existing logic board, skip to reassembly step 15. If you are installing a replacement logic board, continue to reassembly step 1.

Caution: If you are installing a replacement logic board, the heat sink packaging screws and stiffeners must be transferred to the existing logic board before returning to Apple Service or the logic board may be damaged during shipping.

  1. Remove the existing Touch ID board and install a replacement Touch ID board.

  2. Use the #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove the two #00 Phillips screws (1) from the heat sink on the replacement logic board.

    • Note: The two #00 Phillips screws are secured by two removable hex nuts (2) on the bottom of the logic board.

  3. Use the #00 Phillips screwdriver to fully loosen the six captive #00 Phillips screws (2) from the top stiffeners on the replacement logic board. Lift the top stiffeners off the replacement logic board and set them aside.

    • Note: The top stiffeners are marked with the following:

      • TL - Top left

      • TR - Top right

    • Note: The bottom stiffeners are marked with the following:

      • BL - Bottom left

      • BR - Bottom right

  4. Lift the replacement logic board off the bottom stiffeners and set it aside.

  5. Position the existing logic board over the bottom stiffeners. Align the screw holes in the existing logic board with the screw holes in the bottom stiffeners.

  6. Position the top stiffeners on the existing logic board. Align the screw holes in the top stiffeners with the screw holes in the existing logic board.

    • Important: The captive screws in the top stiffeners install through the screw holes of the logic board and into the screw holes in the bottom stiffeners.

  7. Use the #00 Phillips screwdriver to fully reinstall the six captive #00 Phillips screws (2) into the stiffeners.

  8. Insert one #00 Phillips screw through the screw hole in the heat sink and logic board (1).

  9. Hold the hex nut in place and turn over the logic board. Partially install the hex nut (3) over the end of the #00 Phillips screw. Then hold the hex nut in place and turn over the logic board.

  10. Use the #00 Phillips screwdriver to fully reinstall the #00 Phillips screw.

  11. Repeat steps 8 through 10 to install the other #00 Phillips screw (1) and hex nut (2). Then continue to step 12.

  12. Place the existing logic board inside the reused ESD-safe packaging.

  13. Position the packaged board in the foam frame.

  14. Close and seal the box. Ship the box to Apple Service.

  15. Fold back the thermal duct covers and flex cables and secure them to the top case with Kapton tape as shown.

  16. Hold the logic board by the edges. Lower one edge of the logic board into the top case as shown (1). Then lower the other edge of the logic board into the top case (2). Move any loose cables out of the way as you install the logic board.

    • Caution: Ensure that no cables are caught under the logic board.

  17. Carefully remove the Kapton tape from the thermal duct gaskets and flex cables.

  18. Use the T6 screwdriver to partially reinstall the two T6 screws (923-06858) into the upper corners.

  19. Use the T5 screwdriver to partially reinstall the six long T5 screws (923-06859).

  20. Use the T5 screwdriver to partially reinstall the four short T5 screws (923-06861).

  21. Use your fingers to thread the 4 mm hex nut screws (923-06857) into the lower corners. Then use the 4 mm hex nut driver to partially reinstall the two 4 mm hex nut screws into the lower corners.

  22. Ensure that the logic board sits flush inside the top case. Then fully reinstall all 14 screws.

  23. Slide the ends of the following five flex cables into their connectors:

    • Microphones (1)

    • Keyboard backlight (2)

    • Keyboard (3)

    • Left fan (4)

    • Right fan (5)

  24. Use the flat end of the black stick to flip down the five locking levers. Then press the polyester film tabs to the five locking levers.

  25. Rotate the top case as shown. Then position the black bumpers on the internal frame.

  26. Align the display cables around the edge of the bumpers (1). Then press the display cable clips to the bumpers and onto the internal frame (2).

  27. Use the flat end of the black stick to tuck the display cables into the gap between the display and internal frame.

  28. Use the flat end of the black stick to tuck the display flex cables into the gap between the logic board and internal frame. Ensure that the display cable clips are fully clipped onto the internal frame.

  29. Press the ends of the following 12 flex cables to the connectors on the logic board:

    • Lid angle sensor flex cable (1)

    • MagSafe 3 flex cable (2)

    • Left USB-C boards flex cables (3–4)

    • Audio board flex cable (5)

    • Left speaker flex cable (6)

    • Right speaker flex cable (7)

    • Right USB-C board flex cable (8)

    • Touch ID board flex cable (9)

    • Display backlight flex cable (10)

    • FaceTime HD camera flex cable (11)

    • eDP flex cable (12)

  30. Use ESD-safe tweezers to position the following 10 cowlings (1–10) in the top case:

    • Lid angle sensor connector cowling (1)

    • MagSafe 3 connector cowling (2)

    • Left USB-C boards connector cowling (3)

    • Audio board connector cowling (4)

    • Left speaker connector cowling (5)

    • Right speaker connector cowling (6)

    • Right USB-C board connector cowling (7)

    • Touch ID board connector cowling (8)

    • Display connector cowling (9)

    • Display connector cowling (10)

  31. Use the T3 screwdriver to reinstall the following 21 screws into the 10 cowlings:

    • Two T3 screws into the lid angle sensor connector cowling (923-06854) (1)

    • Two T3 screws into the MagSafe 3 connector cowling (923-06854) (2)

    • Three T3 screws into the left USB-C boards connector cowling (923-06854) (3)

    • Two T3 screws into the audio board connector cowling (923-06854) (4)

    • Two T3 screws into the left speaker connector cowling (923-06864, 923-06865) (5)

    • Two T3 screws into the right speaker connector cowling (923-06864, 923-06865) (6)

    • Two T3 screws into the right USB-C board connector cowling (923-06854) (7)

    • Two T3 screws into the Touch ID board connector cowling (923-06854) (8)

    • Two T3 screws into the display connector cowling (923-06854) (9)

    • Two T3 screws into the display connector cowling (923-06854) (10)

Reinstall the following parts to complete reassembly:

Caution

After you’ve completed all removal and reassembly steps, learn how to initiate the System Configuration process.

Published Date: