DIY Guide: Replace Microsoft Surface SSD 4 (13.5-inch)
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 13 Steps
Alright, let’s get your Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 (13.5-inch) SSD swapped out! Pulling the SSD doubles as disconnecting the battery, so it’s a must-do before diving into any major fixes. Got a swollen battery? Handle it with care and caution, my friend! Heads up: some pics in this guide might show a slightly different model, but don’t sweat it—they won’t mess with the steps. You’re good to go!
Step 1
Let your laptop’s battery dip below 25% before diving into this repair. A battery that’s still charged could spark a fire if it gets damaged. Safety first, folks!
– Time to get started! Unplug all cables and shut down your laptop completely – let’s get it ready for a brand new part!
Step 2
– Flip the screen down and place your laptop face down so the back case is facing up. You’ll have easy access to the four rubber feet.
Step 3
Each foot features a nifty little recess, making it a breeze to pop it off your laptop!
– The back feet recesses are right up against the rear edge of the laptop.
– The front feet recesses are snugly positioned near the front edge of the laptop.
Step 4
The feet pop out super quickly—watch out so they don’t vanish into thin air!
– Slide one arm of your tweezers into the little groove of one of the feet.
– Give those tweezers a twist and a gentle nudge to loosen up the adhesive and pop the foot off the laptop.
– Take the foot off and set it aside.
– Repeat this process for the other feet. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 5
– This laptop’s feet come in two distinct styles. When putting it back together, make sure each foot finds its perfect little home.
– Gently press the feet into their spots to lock them snugly into the frame.
– The rear feet are super chill and only have a single clip in the center.
– The front feet, on the other hand, are all about security with three clips and can only go in one way—so no mix-ups!
– If the feet aren’t sticking anymore, don’t sweat it. Simply peel off the old adhesive, clean up the area, and pop on a bit of Tesa Tape where the old adhesive used to live. Easy peasy!
Step 6
– Got some worn-out or damaged feet? No biggie! Grab yourself some 8 mm rubber furniture pads.
– Carefully peel off a pad from its backing—like opening a tiny present.
– Line up the pad over the foot cavity, press it down firmly, and boom—new feet, good as gold!
Step 7
These screws can be a bit tricky and might strip if you’re not careful. Remember to keep a steady downward pressure while you work to keep everything in check!
As you work through this repair, keep tabs on each screw and make sure it ends up right back in its original spot. Trust us, your device will thank you!
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and let’s tackle those four 3 mm screws holding down the upper case. You’ve got this!
Step 8
– Flip that laptop upside down like a pro and swing that screen wide open—you’re ready to roll!
Step 9
Hold up! Don’t yank the upper case completely off—it’s still tethered to the laptop by a cable.
Ensure the upper case snugly fits around the entire perimeter. Any gaps between the upper and lower case near the screen could lead to screen damage when closing.
The top part is held in place by magnets, making it easy to remove without any extra hassle.
– Grab the top edge of the upper case above the keyboard and lift it straight up.
– Gently lift the bottom edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop, making sure not to strain the ribbon cable underneath.
– When reassembling, place the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lies flat.
Step 10
The keyboard and touchpad cable is like the lifeline that connects the upper case to the laptop—keeping everything in sync and working smoothly.
– Take your trusty spudger and carefully slide the pointed end underneath the edge of the magnet connector. Gently pry it up to disconnect it.
– When you’re ready to reconnect, line up the magnet connector with its socket, ensuring the cable is facing the bottom of the laptop. A firm press will secure it in place.
Tools Used
Step 11
– Gently take off the upper case and place it keyboard-side down on a tidy surface.
Step 12
Once the screw is out, the SSD will gently spring up at a slight angle—it’s like it’s saying, ‘Hey, I’m ready to be removed!’
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and unscrew that 2.7 mm screw holding the SSD in place. You’ve got this!
Step 13
Keep it cool and steady—pulling up at a sharp angle might mess up the SSD and its socket, and nobody wants that!
Taking out the SSD? It’s like giving your battery a little vacation!
– Put your device back together by following the steps in reverse.
– Dispose of your e-waste responsibly at an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
– Didn’t go as planned? Troubleshoot or get help from our Answers community.
– Need help? You can always schedule a repair
