Skip to main content

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement, MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Three 14.4 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Three 3.5 mm Phillips #00 screws

    • Four 3.5 mm shouldered Phillips #00 screws

    Add Comment

  2. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • Use your fingers to pry the lower case away from the body of the MacBook near the vent.

    • Remove the lower case.

    Add Comment

  3. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Use the edge of a spudger to pry the battery connector upwards from its socket on the logic board.

    • It is useful to pry upward on both short sides of the connector to "walk" it out of its socket. Be careful with the corners of the connectors, they can be easily broken off.

    Add Comment

  4. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Bend the battery cable slightly away from its socket on the logic board so it does not accidentally connect itself while you work.

    Add Comment

  5. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    Add Comment

  6. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully pull the camera cable out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Though not recommended by iFixit staff, some users opt to omit this step completely. For information on this, see the step comments.

    • Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board. Pulling it upward may damage the logic board or the cable itself.

    Add Comment

  7. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • Carefully move the AirPort/Bluetooth ribbon cable out of the way as you peel the camera cable off the adhesive securing it to the subwoofer and the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

    • De-route the camera cable out from under the retaining finger molded into the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

    Add Comment

  8. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the antenna connector closest to the logic board up from its socket on the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

    • De-route the antenna cable from under the finger molded into the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket.

    Add Comment

  9. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following five screws:

    • Two 10.3 mm Phillips screws

    • Two 3.1 mm Phillips screws

    • One 5 mm Phillips screw

    Add Comment

  10. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly and the Subwoofer upward near the center of the side of the optical drive until they clear each other.

    • Move the AirPort/Bluetooth assembly and the subwoofer away from the top of the optical drive.

    Add Comment

  11. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the right speaker/subwoofer cable out from under the retaining finger near the side of the optical drive.

    • Pull the right speaker/subwoofer cable upward to disconnect it from the logic board.

    Add Comment

  12. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    • Bend the hard drive cable away from the optical drive.

    Add Comment

  13. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the optical drive connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    Add Comment

  14. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three 2.7 mm Phillips screws securing the optical drive to the upper case.

    Add Comment

  15. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Pull the optical drive upward from its edge closest to the display and remove it from the upper case.

    Add Comment

  16. MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011 Optical Drive Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Pull the optical drive cable away from the optical drive.

    • Be sure to pull on the connector, not the cable itself.

    • Remove the two black Phillips #0 screws securing the small metal mounting bracket. Transfer this bracket to your new optical drive or .

    Add Comment

Conclusion

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

System

Member since: 09/24/09

2,562 Guides authored

0 Guide Comments

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 0

Past 30 Days: 0

All Time: 32