Dell XPS 13 Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Evan Shui

Comments: 24

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

15 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the motherboard in the Dell XPS 13.

Tools

Step 1

Remove the eight 4 mm T5 Torx screws from the bottom cover.

Missing a step about removing the tiny Phillips head screw under the XPS flip up cover in the middle. Also, there are hooks all the way around the cover so it doesn’t simply lift off.

curtis_p_brown - 04/11/17

What about step 3???

Peter Hecht - 03/09/20

Please dont hurry , take your Time to follow this procedure. It takes 20 min (not 5) and step 4 requires half of this Time. Good luck.

Peter Hecht - 03/09/20

+1 Peter Hecht is right - getting the little clips the back is snapped on with is time consuming and a bit fiddly for people not used to “spudging” off covers. Starting from the back is the key those come loose much easier and help with the rest

Doug Steinschneider - 15/10/20

Step 2

Use a plastic opening tool to pry open the 'XPS' flap in the middle.

No flap or screw on the XPS 9370, just a press-fit latch at the centre of the cover. This can be gently prised off.

Alan Thomas - 03/02/21

Step 3

Remove the single Phillips screw hidden beneath the flap.

XPS 13 9370 doesn't have it.

Kes Bond -

Step 4

Use opening picks or a plastic pry tool to pry open the case clips, beginning from the back edge.

It’s not that easy to lift actually, cause there are latches. Had t release them gently all around beforehand.

Davit Barbakadze - 21/09/17

Also there’s one additional screw under that plate on the bottom!

Davit Barbakadze - 21/09/17

Maybe the later models are different, since it should be from the front: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFIE2SKs...

shigmas - 11/05/20

Very difficult step, Proceed very carefull

Peter Hecht - 03/09/20

If you are replacing the battery of a 9360 or latter (2016 onward) make sure to do the FRONT first. There are latches on the back that you may break if you try to force it open that way. After prying up the front and the sides, just lift up the front like you would open a hinged box. You shouldn’t feel that much resistance as the back hinges off towards you after you’ve lifted it around 30-40 degrees.

Giacomo P - 12/12/20

Very easy with XPS 13 9370 - just used my nails (rather short!)

Kes Bond -

Step 5

Remove the bottom cover.

good evening, is there a site that sells the back part because it's broken

marios cocka -

good evening, is there a site that sells the

back part because it's broken

marios cocka -

Step 6

Pull the battery cable connector towards the battery to disconnect it from its socket.
If the connector is stubborn, push a little at one side, then the other, to "walk" it out of its socket.
If you have trouble walking the connector out of the socket, use the point of a spudger to gently push on the connector indent to slide the connector out.
Do not pull up.
Open the display and press the power button for five seconds to drain any remaining charge from the system.

Step 7

Use tweezers to remove the little white connector by pulling it out and away from its socket.

Step 8

Remove the black standard flat connector by lifting the tab up with your hand.

My XPS 13 had a little silver plate with two Philips head screws over the connector that had to be removed to get to the connector

David Fradkin - 19/10/20

Reassuring comment David, thank you. So did mine.

Sue Evans -

Step 9

Remove the 4 mm Phillips #0 screw that connects the fan to the motherboard.
Remove the 4 mm Phillips #0 screw that connects the fan to the base of the computer.

Step 10

Use your right hand to lift up the larger section of the motherboard, closest to the fan.
Use your left hand to pull the fan at a 30-degree angle out from underneath the motherboard.

I found it easier to gently lift up the very corner of the motherboard with a spudger. It's worth the effort to avoid having to take out the whole motherboard.

Sue Evans -

Step 11

Remove the four 3 mm Phillips #0 screws located on each corner of the battery.

There are two additional screws holding sound speakers.

Davit Barbakadze - 21/09/17

And there is a another small screw holding the battery right above the “M1 6x4” print.

curtis_p_brown - 04/11/17

You also do not need to remove any speaker screws or the speaker, you just have to remove the tape holding the speaker wire to the battery.

curtis_p_brown - 04/11/17

Step 12

Pull the battery cable connector towards the battery to disconnect it from its socket.
Do not pull up.

This is a redundant step (disconnect the battery in step 6).

William Cummings -

Step 13

Peel up any tape securing the speaker cables to the battery.
You do not need to remove the speakers, only the tape, allowing the battery to be removed out under the speaker cables.

Step 14

Remove the battery.

Step 15

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips #0 screws from the motherboard.

There's one more screw in the upper right part of the motherboard just under the barrel jack connector It's hidden under its cable.

Cryen -

Step 16

Locate the red and black cable connector at the bottom right of the motherboard.
Use tweezers to slowly detach the cable connector from its socket by pulling it to the right and up.

Step 17

Use tweezers to flip open the Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connector.
Use tweezers to detach the ribbon cable from the ZIF by pulling it towards yourself.