MacBook Pro (14-inch, M6) Speakers
Before You Begin
Warning
Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.
Remove the following part before you begin:
Tools
ESD-safe tweezers (round-tipped)
Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes
Kevlar thread (included with replacement speakers)
Nitrile gloves
Nylon probe (black stick)
Single-use battery cover (included with replacement speakers)
Sticky notes (3 by 3 inches)
Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.
Important
The speakers must be replaced in pairs.
The images in this procedure show the removal and replacement of only one speaker. However, the procedure is the same for both speakers.
Removal
Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.
Hold the battery cover by the edges and lift it off the top case.
Place the single-use battery cover on the battery. Align the holes in the single-use battery cover with the foam pads in the top case as shown.
Rotate the computer so the display hinges are closest to you.
Peel back the polyester film tab from the locking lever of the speaker flex cable.
Flip up the locking lever and gently slide the end of the speaker flex cable out of the connector.
Put on the nitrile gloves.
Lay the Kevlar thread into the gap between the speaker and top case so it aligns with the top of the speaker.
Starting at the front edge of the speaker, insert a stack of 10 sticky notes into the gap between the top case and speaker to cover the Kevlar thread.
Important: Ensure that the nonadhesive edge of the sticky notes is placed into the gap between the top case and speaker.
Push down the sticky notes as low as possible. If the stack of 10 sticky notes is too tight, remove one or two.
Bring the end of the Kevlar thread closest to the battery forward until the thread is parallel with the speaker and single-use battery cover.
Important: The thread should catch underneath the corner of the speaker as shown.
With the hand closer to the display hinge, brace the top case and hold the long end of the Kevlar thread as shown. Pick up the short end with the other hand.
Slowly but firmly pull the thread back and forth from both ends to begin to separate the speaker from the top case.
Caution: Avoid cutting into the single-use battery cover by increasing the angle of the shorter end of the thread above the single-use battery cover. Important: Ensure that both ends of the thread remain parallel to the speaker and top case. Avoid rubbing the long end of the thread against the top case.
Continue to cut through the adhesive by gently pulling the thread back and forth from both ends as shown.
Important: If the adhesive is difficult to cut, use a longer pull from the end closest to the single-use battery cover while you continue to hold the top case steady with your hand near the display hinge.
Remove the sticky notes. Use the Kevlar thread to continue cutting away the adhesive under the speaker.
- Caution: Avoid cutting into the single-use battery cover by lifting the angle of the thread closest to the battery and slowing down the back-and-forth motion.
When the thread positioned closer to the battery reaches the first corner of the speaker as shown, raise the angle of the thread and rotate it around the corner.
To cut around the first corner, move the thread across the speaker until it forms a 90-degree angle with the single-use battery cover.
Switch the hands holding the two ends of the thread.
With your left hand, tightly hold the long end of the thread, while you also brace the display hinge of the top case for stability as shown (1).
With your right hand, brace the side of the enclosure and pull the short end of the thread to cut through the adhesive as shown (2).
Note: To replace the other speaker, use the opposite hands to complete steps 17 through 19.
Return to the hand positions as shown, and now use only your left hand to make a pulling motion with the thread to cut the adhesive. For stability, place your right hand against the display hinge on the edge of the top case while tightly holding the other end of the thread.
- Caution: Avoid cutting into the logic board by lifting the angle of the thread closest to the logic board as it approaches the screw standoff as shown.
Note: If the adhesive is difficult to cut, exert more force with your left hand to pull out more thread, as shown.
To cut around the second corner, move the position of the thread in your left hand to form a right angle with the thread in your right hand. Then switch the hands holding the two ends of thread, as shown.
With your left hand, tightly hold the long end of the thread while bracing the display hinge of the top case for stability as shown (1).
With your right hand, brace the side of the enclosure and pull the short end of the thread to cut through the adhesive as shown (2).
Return to the hand positions shown and continue to cut the adhesive by moving the thread back and forth. Use your hand above the display hinge to brace the top case for stability during the back-and-forth cutting motion. Move aside the speaker flex cable as you approach the end of the speaker.
- Caution: Avoid cutting into the logic board by raising the angle of the inside thread and pulling the thread more slowly.
Remove the Kevlar thread.
Hold the speaker flex cable to lift the speaker out of the top case.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to remove the remaining speaker adhesive.
- Caution: Don't pull the adhesive toward the battery or logic board.
Wrap an ethanol wipe or IPA wipe around the end of the black stick to clean all residual adhesive from the top case.
- Caution: Ensure that the wipe doesn't touch the battery adhesive. Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol can damage the battery adhesive.
Important: If you have difficulty cleaning the residual adhesive, adjust the black stick to lay the flat end on top of the wipe and continue cleaning as shown.
Reassembly
Lift the tabs on the replacement speaker to remove the adhesive liner.
Position the replacement speaker over the screw alignment hole by aligning the edges of the speaker installation cap with the top case.
Press the outer areas of the installation cap for 60 seconds.
Press the middle of the installation cap for 60 seconds.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the pull tab adhering the speaker installation cap to the replacement speaker as shown. Pull the tab slowly at a low angle until it releases from the replacement speaker. Then remove the installation cap.
- Caution: Avoid pulling the tab quickly. Don't let the tab rub against the installation cap.
Slide the end of the speaker flex cable into the connector on the logic board (1). Gently flip down the locking lever on the connector (2).
Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel the liner off the polyester film tab on the end of the speaker flex cable (1). Press the tab to adhere it to the connector (2).
Hold the single-use battery cover by the edges and lift it off the top case.
Place the battery cover on the battery.
Press the black tabs on the battery cover into the clips on the top case until you feel a click.
Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly: