Repair: MacBook Pro 15, Late 2013 Battery Replacement [ENGLISH]

Fed from Puromac walks us through replacing the battery on his 15" MacBook Pro, Late 2013, using a kit from iFixIt. He also shows an alternate technique for safely removing the battery pack without completely disassembling your MacBook, by using a nylon string and adhesive remover. [English Version]

[hkbondar]

Sir, I can't thank you enough for this very clear walk-through of the process from end to end. I took my MacBook Pro 15, Late 2013 in to the Apple store in late December 2022 and was prepared to pay them $200 to replace the battery. The machine was crashing frequently and when I took it off the charger, the battery level would go from 100% to 70% in about 5 minutes and then crash. Apple told me that the machine is so old, they don't offer replacement batteries anymore. I was going to take it to a 3rd party fixit place (GoEBITS) but then I came across your video. (Isn't YouTube the most wonderful thing?!) I took your advice and bought the battery kit from IFIXIT for $90. I noticed they also offered replacement plastic feet, so I bought a set of those too (3 of mine had fallen off). It took me about 90 minutes total to replace the battery and the feet and now my computer has a new lease on life! (And I feel so accomplished -- I'm a computer repairman!) Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[AngeloQ]

Thanks for the video, will be replacing mine this weekend!
For everyone watching don't remove the tape on top from the new battery until after you glue it and line it up! makes the process easier to line up the new battery.

[claireclover]

I used this tutorial for my MBP 15" early 2013 model, and it worked great! In addition to improving my battery life, my laptop also runs much cooler than when my old battery had a "service battery" warning. I use the Mac Fan Control app, and I was clocking CPU core temps of 85-90C while using Google Chrome prior to this repair, and up to 100C for Adobe design programs! Now, the CPU cores run at about 45-55C for Google Chrome usage, and about 70C for Adobe programs...
About the tutorial, I will say that the adhesive was much, much harder to dissolve than this video advertises. It took hours of applying solvent and sawing/prying under the battery in cycles. **Be super careful not to bend or warp the battery, it can catch fire or explode** Also, the trackpad is directly underneath the two main battery packs towards the center of the laptop. I almost dislodged the trackpad from the laptop when attempting to pry the battery from the adhesive. Make sure to wipe any excess fluid or remaining adhesive from the edges as well. Luckily, it still functions just fine, although it doesn't press down as far as it used to. Another note, the battery from IFixit did not sit perfectly flush some reason. Make sure to connect the battery to the laptop before you remove the protective plastic coating from the new battery & stick it into place (if you run into the same problem). There is a bit of flexibility in the wires that run from the battery pack to the connector. Lastly, make sure to dispose of your old battery using a hazardous waste removal company. It is unsafe to throw it in with standard trash.

[chaprick]

Excellent video! I just completed the change out of my old swollen battery on my 2013 Macbook. It now sits flat again and my track pad works. Very pleased and thank you for eliminating all those unnecessary steps. Very thankful for your

[djangofett]

I've seen several variations on how to do this and yours is the best version. Thank you! Now I can fix my girlfriend's computer and save her some cash.

[davidmendonca]

Mate, you just saved me some cash, because I was so scared with OWC Battery Replace video and also IFixIt step by step that I was about to pay a technician to do this for me. None of the other methods are as easy as your "nylon and string" method. Thumbs up! But just a heads up: I wasn't that careful on avoiding the (OWC) Newertech adhesive remover touching the plastic base of the speaker that lays right in front the border cells. Just a little drop of it touched the black plastic and it turned white, as some chemical reaction was happening and melting the plastic. So people, while applying the adhesive remover be extremely careful to avoid dropping a bit of it on the logic board or touching any piece that is not supposed to. Again, thanks heaps for your video!!

[ronanmurray]

Thank you for this! Btw, dousing the string with the adhesive remover helped immensely.

[marksirianni]

Wow. I can't believe I find this video from a super old friend! Yes, I'm replacing the battery on my MacBook Pro... Thanks! Miss you buddy! Cheers Fed!

[chelsabailey]

VERY clear and concise instructions. Will attempt to change my battery myself vs taking it to a repair shop.

[vastlyepic]

TY. I watched this vid a month ago and it gave me confidence to order & attempt. I never would have for something with 50+ steps. I just got the battery today, watched it again, and successfully removed & replaced the battery.

Thanks again.

[JohnMSawyer]

Good tutorial. One of my only extra bits of advice would be to not squirt the adhesive remover directly onto the plate covering the trackpad (squirt it onto the cloth instead), since some of it might leak around the edges of the plate and get to the workings inside the trackpad, where it might do some damage if there are any parts that are sensitive to acetone. Even if the acetone doesn't damage the trackpad, it could continue flowing downward until it leaks past the edges of the trackpad itself and drip onto the display, which of course has a clear plastic front, where acetone could indeed do some damage. Just to be certain, it's a good idea, before you start applying the adhesive remover, to insert something impervious to acetone and other fluids between the display and the keyboard/palmrest/trackpad, like maybe a sheet of aluminum foil.

[Debussy]

Thank you very much ! I sent my MacBookPro to Apple who told me after 2 days, sorry we can't repair it, it's too old ... I saw your video, ordered the ifixit kit and followed the steps you show on the video ... everything is working fine even the trackpad is working again... thank you very very much !

[ReneeMillman]

I watched several videos on this and yours was by far the most helpful. Thank you so much for making this. When I took the case off, there was a lot of dust in the computer. I used compressed air to carefully clean all of that out. Got the battery and kit from iFixit. Used a guitar string and a pair of gloves, which made the battery removal pretty simple (still used the chemicals that came with the kit). Got the whole job done in 40 minutes. Mac is now back up and running and in excellent condition. Saved a lot of money and multiple days of down time from what Apple quoted me and learned a lot in the process. Thank you!!

[patrickvanboxtel]

Thanks so much for this video! First repair I ever did, and this video on the background helped me through. For anyone else trying this in the future: I found the dispenser of the adhesive remover a bit unpredictable. So I just used a double thread of dental floss, and with the sawing movement I did not have to use any iFixit adhesive remover to remove the batteries.

[jonathanthomson]

Just wanted to say thank you for posting this guide - it prompted me to take on my early 2013 MacBook Pro whose battery was on its last legs. I ordered the kit from the European iFixit store (big up to them for delivering in two days to the UK from Germany - great service). The kit was fantastic and literally has everything you need.

The only hiccup I had was that there is a base plate (shown in your video) which protects the touchpad and I accidentally removed mine as my nylon string went behind that instead of the battery. Absolutely no biggie as it stuck back down nicely and the job is done - took around an hour of careful labour using your string/twine method.

Thanks once again.

[kristuttle]

Worked like a charm. I didn't even need the string since I was able to gently pry them up with some plastic sticks. YMMV. Thanks for saving me a ton of time!

[bakalao]

Thanks a million. The string tip for removing the old battery was great. I actually used 80lb fishing braid line and no glue solvent. Had to wear gloves so the line would not cut my skin, but it worked perfectly.
Now I can carry my MacBook again without the need of being plugged.

[blzr]

Stucked at zif connector in iFixit guide and switched to this video. Far more easier. Thank you very much.

[barbarahurst]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been putting off replacing the batteries in two of my MacBooks for ages. After watching your video, I’m far more comfortable attempting it with using your technique than others I’ve seen.

[patrickwhite]

Just changed my wife's MacBook Pro battery using your tutorial. Excellent work. The hardest parts: getting the adhesive off (ended up using a razor blade, very carefully) and aligning the two battery screws on either side of the connector (I didn't, and didn't put them back. The laptop is pretty much a desktop and won't be jostled too much, so I'm hoping that won't be an issue. Besides, the battery is solidly stuck in place now and won't move.) Kudos to iFixit for their excellent kit. I love that it came with all the tools.