DIY Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 13.5 Touchpad Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 21 Steps
Dive into this guide to effortlessly detach or swap out the touchpad on your Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5″ edition). While a few of the images might showcase a different model with some minor visual quirks, don’t worry—they won’t steer you off course in this repair mission!
Step 1
– Turn the laptop over and set it down on your workspace with the bottom side facing up, like it’s taking a nap.
Step 2
First, let’s get started by removing the feet from the bottom of your laptop. You’ll want to use the pointed end of a spudger to gently pry them off.
Keep in mind that the two feet near the rear edge (where the screen is) are a bit different from the two front feet, so be sure to take note of that as you remove them.
– Get ready to unleash your inner tech whiz! Each foot has a sneaky little indent that makes removal a breeze.
– To ensure your spudger is in the right spot, slide it into the indent at the nearest long edge, pushing it parallel to the short edges of your laptop – just like we’re showing you here.
Tools Used
Step 3
The rear feet are held in place with a bit of adhesive—nothing too crazy, just enough to keep them snug.
– Let’s get started by inserting the pointed end of a spudger under one of the rear feet, right at its rear edge. Easy does it!
– Now, gently push the spudger under the foot and pry up to release it. You’re making great progress!
– Repeat the same steps to remove the second rear foot. Almost there!
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Step 4
The two front feet are held in place with plastic clips and a bit of light adhesive—nothing too tricky to handle!
– Slide the sharp end of your trusty spudger under one of the front feet, right at the edge that’s facing forward.
– Gently nudge the spudger under the foot and lift up to set it free.
– Now, go ahead and do the same for the second front foot.
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Step 5
– As you put things back together, keep this in mind:
– The front and rear feet are not twins; they have their own unique designs.
– The front feet have a special orientation—make sure they clip in just the right way!
Step 6
– Ditch those worn-out feet on your device and give them a brand new lease on life with 8mm rubber furniture pads – they’re a game-changer!
– To attach, simply peel a pad from its backing, line it up with a foot cavity, and press down firmly to secure it in place. Easy peasy!
Step 7
As you work on this repair, keep an eye on every screw and make sure it returns to its original spot to prevent any harm to your laptop.
– Time to get started! Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the four 3mm screws from the foot cavities – they’re holding the upper case in place. Easy does it!
– When you’re putting everything back together, be gentle with these screws. They can strip easily if overtightened, so let’s keep it smooth.
Step 8
– Turn the device over to reveal its back.
– Gently open the display to its maximum angle.
Step 9
Don’t get ahead of yourself – the upper case is still attached, so hold off on removing it completely for now!
Make sure the upper case is properly aligned with the lower case all around the edges. If there are any gaps near the display, it could cause damage when you close the laptop, so double-check that everything is flush and even.
The upper case is held firmly in place by some pretty strong magnets, so you’ll need to be gentle but firm when separating it.
– Get a grip on the top edge of the upper case, just above the keyboard, and lift it straight up to release it – easy peasy!
– Now, carefully lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop. Be gentle, so you don’t strain the keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath – we don’t want any damage!
– When it’s time to put everything back together, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat. You got this!
Step 10
The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is held snugly in place by a handy magnet connector.
On certain models, you might find this connector wrapped up in some black tape for extra security.
– Slide the flat end of your trusty spudger under one side of the ribbon cable connector, and gently pry it up to set it free.
– Carefully detach the ribbon cable from the motherboard.
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Step 11
Make sure that ribbon cable is lying flat and relaxed – no twists or stress allowed!
– Lift off the upper case with care.
– Place the upper case on a smooth, clean surface, with the keyboard side facing down.
Step 12
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently peel away the two bits of metallic tape snugly hugging the top edge of the touchpad cover. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 13
– Grab your trusty T3 Torx driver and let’s tackle those eight 2 mm screws holding the touchpad cover in place. You’ve got this!
Step 14
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently lift off the touchpad cover. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 15
Keep that shield in good shape—you’ll need it looking sharp when it’s time to pop it back on during reassembly.
– Grab your trusty opening tool and gently nudge that shield off the touchpad connectors. It’s like a magic trick, but with tech!
– Once you’ve got that shield loose, go ahead and lift it away. You’re doing great!
Step 16
– Time to get started! Use the pointed end of a spudger to carefully pry up the small locking flap on the first ribbon cable’s ZIF connector. Take your time and be gentle – we’ve got this!
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Step 17
– Use the sharp end of your spudger to gently lift the small locking flaps on the second and third ribbon cables. A little nudge and they’ll pop right up, no stress!
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Step 18
When possible, grab those handy pull-tabs instead of tugging on the cables themselves. It’s all about being gentle and smart with those delicate wires!
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently wiggle the first ribbon cable out of its cozy connector. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 19
– Time to get those ribbon cables out! Use a trusty pair of tweezers to gently slide the second and third ribbon cables out of their connectors.
– Now, let’s set the second ribbon cable – the one that connects your keyboard and touchpad – aside for the time being. We’ll get back to it later.
Tools Used
Step 20
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and get ready to tackle those six 2.9 mm screws holding the touchpad in place. Let’s make this repair happen!
Step 21
– Take a moment to check out your new replacement part next to the old one—it’s a good idea to move over any leftover components or peel off any adhesive backing before popping it in.
– Got your device back together? Sweet! Just reverse these steps to reassemble everything.
– Don’t let your old parts collect dust—drop them off with an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to keep things eco-friendly.
– Feeling stuck? No worries, try some basic troubleshooting techniques or swing by our Answers community for a little extra help.
– If all else fails, you can always schedule a repair and we’ll help you out!
