Retina MacBook 12” 2015 Battery Replacement
DIY battery replacement on a Retina MacBook 12” 2015 (model A1534), new battery part number A1705 2016 and 2017 models of this laptop should look the same I consulted the iFixit guide at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Retina+MacBook+2015+Battery+Replacement/108512 but skipped several steps and didn’t fully remove the logic board. I only disconnected the battery connector and the trackpad cable on the logic board side, all other ribbon cables were left connected. I removed 1 of the screws of the USB-C connector board but didn’t undo the tri-point screw. To remove the old battery cells which are tightly glued to the bottom shell, I sprayed cold liquid from an air duster can held upside down under the cells and used a blunt cheese knife to cut and pry them loose, pushing sideways from the right. Others have used fishing line (didn’t work well for me) and credit cards to cut through the adhesive. Be careful not to puncture the batteries and don’t pry or bend too hard, or you will put dents in the bottom shell or cause a fire or explosion. Better to not use a tool made of metal. I followed the iFixit instructions to power the laptop with a 5V charger using a USB-A to USB-C cable before powering on to prevent logic board damage. WARNING - Make sure the old battery is 100% discharged before you start. Puncturing lithium ion batteries is dangerous and can start a fire. Don’t cut the cables going to individual cells with kitchen scissors like I did - it will cause sparks and possibly a fire. I’d recommend putting the old battery outside after you’ve removed it to avoid any possibility of it sparking and causing a house fire later. Take old batteries to an Apple Store or other battery / e-waste disposal place. The laptop powered on fine after charging briefly and fully charged the new battery after a few hours. The trackpad is fully functional.
DIY battery replacement on a Retina MacBook 12” 2015 (model A1534), new battery part number A1705 2016 and 2017 models of this laptop should look the same I consulted the iFixit guide at https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Retina+MacBook+2015+Battery+Replacement/108512 but skipped several steps and didn’t fully remove the logic board. I only disconnected the battery connector and the trackpad cable on the logic board side, all other ribbon cables were left connected. I removed 1 of the screws of the USB-C connector board but didn’t undo the tri-point screw. To remove the old battery cells which are tightly glued to the bottom shell, I sprayed cold liquid from an air duster can held upside down under the cells and used a blunt cheese knife to cut and pry them loose, pushing sideways from the right. Others have used fishing line (didn’t work well for me) and credit cards to cut through the adhesive. Be careful not to puncture the batteries and don’t pry or bend too hard, or you will put dents in the bottom shell or cause a fire or explosion. Better to not use a tool made of metal. I followed the iFixit instructions to power the laptop with a 5V charger using a USB-A to USB-C cable before powering on to prevent logic board damage. WARNING - Make sure the old battery is 100% discharged before you start. Puncturing lithium ion batteries is dangerous and can start a fire. Don’t cut the cables going to individual cells with kitchen scissors like I did - it will cause sparks and possibly a fire. I’d recommend putting the old battery outside after you’ve removed it to avoid any possibility of it sparking and causing a house fire later. Take old batteries to an Apple Store or other battery / e-waste disposal place. The laptop powered on fine after charging briefly and fully charged the new battery after a few hours. The trackpad is fully functional.