Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 Speaker Replacement Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 18 Steps
Get ready to tackle the task of removing or swapping out the left speaker on your Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5″ edition). While some of the images in this guide might showcase a different model, don’t sweat it! They might look a bit different, but they won’t throw you off your game. Let’s dive in and get that speaker sorted!
Step 1
– Turn your laptop upside down and set it on your workspace, with the feet facing the sky. Let’s get to work!
Step 2
To get those feet off the bottom of the laptop, grab the pointed end of your spudger and gently pry them away.
Heads up! The two feet near the back (screen edge) are a bit different from the ones near the front, so be mindful as you remove them.
– Each foot has a sneaky little indent to make removal a breeze.
– To line up the spudger just right, slide it into the nearest long edge and push it parallel to the short edges of the laptop, like the picture shows.
Tools Used
Step 3
The two rear feet are held in place with a touch of light adhesive.
– Slide the sharp end of a spudger under one of the rear feet, right at the back edge. Time to get cozy with those little feet!
– Gently push the spudger beneath the foot and lift up to set it free. You’re doing great!
– Now, repeat the process for the second rear foot. Almost there!
Tools Used
Step 4
The two front feet are held in place with a combination of plastic clips and a bit of light adhesive. Just a little grip to keep them in position!
– Sneak the pointy end of your trusty spudger under one of those front feet, aiming for its front edge.
– Give it a little push and wiggle the spudger underneath, then pry it up like you’re popping open a stubborn lid.
– Rinse and repeat to unstick the other front foot. Boom, done!
Tools Used
Step 5
– When putting things back together:
– Keep in mind that the front and rear feet aren’t the same.
– The front feet only clip in one specific way—don’t let them fool you!
Step 6
– Instead of sticking with those tired old feet on your device, try swapping them out with some 8 mm rubber furniture pads—they’re a solid upgrade.
– Peel one off its backing, line it up with the foot cavity, and press down firmly to lock it in place. Easy as that!
Step 7
As you tackle this repair, keep a sharp eye on those screws! Make sure each one finds its way back to its original spot to keep your laptop safe and sound.
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and carefully unscrew the four 3 mm screws nestled in the foot cavities that hold the upper case to your device. They’re just waiting to be freed!
– When it’s time to put everything back together, remember to be gentle with those screws. They have a tendency to get a bit cranky if you tighten them too much!
Step 8
– Give your device a little flip and turn it over!
– Gently lift the display as high as it can go—let’s get a good view inside!
Step 9
Hold your horses on removing the upper case completely—it’s still connected to the rest of your laptop, and we don’t want to cause any trouble just yet!
Make sure the upper case fits snugly all around. If you spot any gaps between the upper and lower cases near the display, it could lead to some unwanted drama for your screen when it closes.
The top cover is held in position by magnets.
– Start by gripping the top edge of the upper case above the keyboard – got it? Now, lift straight up to release it. Easy does it!
– Next, carefully lift the front edge of the upper case up and away from the laptop. Be gentle, as you don’t want to strain that keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable underneath. Take your time!
– When putting everything back together, lower the upper case onto the lower case until the magnets snap into place and it lays flat. You’re almost done! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 10
The keyboard and touchpad ribbon cable is held in place by a handy little magnet connector.
In some models, you might notice this connector is wrapped up in black tape for extra security.
– Gently slide the flat edge of your spudger under one side of the ribbon cable connector, then give it a smooth lift to pop it loose—nice and easy!
– Carefully detach the ribbon cable from the motherboard, and voilà, you’re all set for the next step!
Tools Used
Step 11
Make sure the ribbon cable is nice and flat, without any twists or stress. Keep it chill!
– First up, let’s get that upper case off! Give it a gentle tug and voilà, it’s free!
– Now, flip that upper case over and place it on a clean surface with the keyboard side facing down. You’re doing great!
Step 12
Taking out the SSD is like pressing the pause button on your battery—it’s a smart move to do this before diving into any big repairs!
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and unscrew that 2.7 mm screw holding the SSD in place. You’ve got this!
Step 13
Once you’ve unscrewed that pesky SSD screw, your SSD will gracefully tilt up at a slight angle, ready for its next adventure.
– Gently grasp the end of the SSD and give it a little tug to release it from its board connector. You’ve got this!
– When you’re putting it all back together, angle the SSD slightly as you slide it into the board connector, then lay it flat and secure it with the SSD screw. Easy peasy!
Step 14
Time to get this connection sorted! The heat pipe is hanging over the left speaker’s connector, so gently pull it out of the way to make it easier to disconnect.
– Grab your trusty T3 Torx driver and get ready to unscrew! Locate the 3 mm screw that’s keeping the left side of the heatsink snugly in place, right by the left speaker connector, and give it a gentle twist to remove it.
Step 15
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently nudge the left side of the heatsink upwards, carefully moving it away from the speaker connector.
Step 16
– While you keep the heat sink elevated, grab the pointed end of your spudger and gently lift the left speaker wire to disconnect it from the motherboard connector. Nice and easy!
– Now that the speaker wire is free, you can lower the edge of the heat sink back down. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 17
– Grab your trusty T3 Torx driver and gently unscrew those three 2.6 mm screws that are holding the left speaker in place. You’ve got this!
– When it’s time to put everything back together, remember: don’t go all Hulk on those screws! A gentle touch will save you from stripping or breaking them.
Step 18
– Before you install the new part, take a moment to compare it with the original. You might need to transfer any leftover components or peel off some adhesive backings—just a few last-minute touches!
– Reassembly is simple: just retrace your steps in reverse and your device should be as good as new.
– Don’t forget to dispose of your e-waste responsibly! Take it to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler for proper recycling.
– Things not going as smoothly as planned? No worries! Try some basic troubleshooting, or head over to our Answers community for tips and advice.
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