MacBook Pro 16" 2021 Trackpad Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 8

MacBook Pro 16" 2021 Trackpad Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the trackpad in your MacBook Pro 16" 2021.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your MacBook. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Completely power off and unplug your MacBook Pro before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.
Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove eight screws securing the lower case:
Four 9.1 mm screws
Four 5 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your device.

Step 2

Press a suction handle into place near the front edge of the lower case, between the screw holes.
Pull up on the suction handle to create a small gap under the lower case.

Step 3

Insert an opening pick into the gap you just created.
Slide the opening pick around the nearest corner and then halfway up the side of the MacBook Pro.
This releases the first of the hidden clips securing the lower case. You should feel and hear the clip pop free.

Step 4

Repeat the previous step on the other side, using an opening pick to to release the second clip.

Terrifying, don't be afraid, give it a good pull, the description above is exactly right.

Scott -

Step 5

Pull firmly to slide the lower case towards the front edge of the MacBook (away from the hinge area) to separate the last of the clips securing the lower case.
Pull first at one corner, then the other.
Pull to the side—not up.
This may require a lot of force.

Step 6

Remove the lower case.
To reinstall the lower case:
Set it in place and align the sliding clips near the display hinge. Press down and slide the cover toward the hinge. It should stop sliding as the clips engage.
When the sliding clips are fully engaged and the lower case looks correctly aligned, press down firmly on the lower case to engage the four hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.

Step 7

Peel back any tape covering the battery board data cable connector on the logic board.

Step 8

Use a spudger to gently pry up the locking flap on the ZIF connector for the battery board data cable.

Step 9

Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket on the logic board.

Step 10

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.1 mm‑long screws securing the trackpad cable bracket to the logic board.

Das sind T4 Schrauben bei mir

Ralf Schäfer -

Step 11

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the trackpad cable bracket.

Step 12

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the trackpad cable's press connector from the logic board.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 13

The trackpad cable is lightly adhered to the frame.
Peel the trackpad cable away from the device, making sure to separate the adhesive.

Step 14

Peel back any tape covering the battery board data cable connector under the large pancake screw.

Step 15

Use a spudger to gently pry up the locking flap on the ZIF connector for the battery board data cable.

Step 16

Disconnect the battery board data cable by sliding it out from its socket on the battery board.

This is SO small - I used a very fine guitar pick to get it to release, none of my tools were small enough.

Scott -

Step 17

The battery board data cable is lightly adhered to the device.
Slide blunt nose tweezers under areas with adhesive to separate the cable from the device.
Remove the battery board data cable.

Step 18

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 3.9 mm pancake screw securing the battery power connector.

Step 19

Use a spudger to lift the battery power connector, disconnecting the battery.
Lift the connector high enough to keep it separated from its socket while you work. If it accidentally makes contact, it could damage your MacBook Pro.

is it possible to buy/replace this battery power connector? I broke mine on the logic board side and they are impossible to find. Ofc apple want $900 because the laptop is "modified" after replacing the keyboard :|

Thenon -

Step 20

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the 13 screws securing the trackpad assembly:
Ten 5 mm screws
Three 5.8 mm screws
These screws all look similar—be careful not to mix them up.
Adding a little blue threadlocker to the screw threads during reassembly can help prevent the screws from working themselves loose over time.
Install the screws loosely at first, and then check the trackpad alignment before tightening them down.

Step 21

Swing the display open slightly, but keep the MacBook upside-down. The trackpad assembly should separate and lay flat on the display.
As you remove the trackpad assembly, be very careful not to lose the nine small metal washers resting on the screw posts. (They will fly off and get lost with very little provocation.)
Carefully feed the trackpad's ribbon cable through its slot in the frame.

Step 22

Remove the trackpad assembly.
During reassembly:
Make sure your new trackpad has a ribbon cable installed. If necessary, transfer the old cable, or install the one your new trackpad came with.
Make sure that each of the nine washers are present before you install the trackpad.

Conclusion

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

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our MacBook Pro 16" 2021 Answers community for help.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

117875 Reputation

4 comments

Is there any way to adjust the trackpad button sensitivity? My trackpad seems to be a bit soft/flimsy when sliding my finger on it. I've already tried adjusting the click via the system preferences but it still feels kinda soft in the center of the trackpad. Wondering if there's a hardware fix to it...

Leonardo Rosas - 09/11/22

Great guide!

I cleaned my trackpad on a 14" 2021 MBP. Gravy incident so the cleaning had to be through.

Everything is clean and back to normal, but the trackpad clicks are much louder.

Guessing the original glue used to hold trackpad down damped the sound somewhat because my double-sided tape solution doesn't have the same padding.

Not a huge deal, but much prefer the original click sound.

Dale -

On a separate note, the gravy may have stained the LED key lighting. It's as clean as I can get it, but I've only cleaned under the keycaps.

The gravy keys are noticeably dimmer.

Suggestions on getting deeper to clean the LEDs?

Dale -

Are these steps the same on a 2019 MacBook Pro 16"?

At the moment, I'm still in the troubleshooting stage. My built-in trackpad works perfectly most of the time, but often it'll become sluggish and intermittently unresponsive. For example, when I started searching for troubleshooting tips about 20 minutes ago, the trackpad was as described above out of the gate. After four or five minutes, it started working normally again. Do these symptoms mean I need to replace the trackpad?

rauchman -