Replacement of screen on MacBook Pro 15 A1398 screen made by LaptopScreen.com

Shut down the laptop

To begin, shut down the laptop and disconnect the AC power.

Remove the bottom cover

Flip the laptop over and remove 10 pentalobe screws from the bottom cover. All bottom cover
screws are identical on this model. Carefully lift the cover near the hinge and set it
aside.

Clean the dust

If the insides of the laptop are filled with dust bunnies, now is a good time to clean it
out. You can use a regular drink straw connected to a vacuum cleaner to safely get rid of
most dust and lint. It is a good idea to focus on the fans and the heatsinks, as it will
improve cooling and, as a result, performance and longevity of your machine.

Disconnect the cables

Once the laptop has been cleaned out, disconnect the battery and proceed with disconnecting
the video connector. Pick open the securing tab with a screwdriver and, using both hands,
gently slide the video cable from its jack. Using a screwdriver, pick open three Wi-Fi
antenna cables from the wireless network card. Disconnect the iSight camera connector. With
the help of a screwdriver, carefully unglue the Wi-Fi and the iSight cables from their
routing channels.

Separate the display assembly

Remove two rubber covers from the hinge screws and set them aside. Remove any remaining
adhesive pads from the hinge screws. Carefully open the display at a 90-degree angle and
hang it off the desk edge. Using a Torx T8 screwdriver, remove six hinge screws,;three on
each side. Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove two hinge stoppers, one on each side of the
hinge. At this point, you can carefully wiggle the display assembly away from the main body.

Remove parts from the display assembly

Place the display assembly on the desk. Remove the plastic hinge cover by firmly pushing it
to the right about a quarter of an inch and prying it out of its placement. Using a Phillips
screwdriver, proceed with removing six tiny screws securing the Wi-Fi antenna assembly.
Using a Torx T5 screwdriver, unscrew the left hinge from the display assembly and set the
two screws aside. Remove two Torx T5 screws out of the right hinge and set them aside.
Remove another final Phillips screw hidden under the wires of the right hinge that secures
the Wi-Fi antenna assembly. The video cable is secured with tape around the Wi-Fi antenna
assembly. Using tweezers, unravel the securing tape and reposition the video cable,
then snapoff the antenna assembly and keep it away from the display. Using tweezers, open
the video connector bracket, disconnect it, and set the video cable aside. Remove two Phillips
screws securing the LCD driver board, one on each end. Using a flat screwdriver, pop open
the backlight connector near the video port. Bend up the LCD driver board and remove six
Phillips screws underneath.

Remove Retina display matrix

At this point, the display assembly can be heated with a heat gun.
The point of heating is to loosen the adhesive underneath the screen; a hairdryer can also be
used instead. The entire assembly should be hot to the touch, but not burning. Proceed with
prying out the display glass from the assembly with a set of prying tools. If the display is not
cracked, it will be after this there is no practical way to remove a Retina display matrix from
the assembly without completely destroying it. You can use the heat gun to reheat the display
assembly as you go along. Place the display assembly on a paper towel to better catch all
the tiny shards of glass that will be coming out of the display. The glass matrix will be coming
off in small pieces. Patience and care are recommended for this step. If you are lucky, the
display will split into parts right along the liquid crystal layer. This will allow you to remove the
top layer as a large piece with the back layer still firmly glued on. Very important: You cannot
use the heat gun once the back layer is exposed. The diffuser sheets underneath the LCD
matrix will deform at the slightest contact with hot air. The diffuser sheets must be saved for
reinstallation. It is not recommended to touch the diffusers, and no glass shards may be
allowed to fall into them; otherwise, you will need an entire new assembly.
At this point, you can continue by hand to carefully and patiently separate the edge of the
LCD matrix from where it is glued in, without exposing the diffusers underneath. There are
two distinct perimeters of glue identifiable as black strips under the screen that need to
be separated. The entire process of separation may take up to a couple of hours.

Remove the back layer of the LCD matrix

Two more Phillips screws secure the display positioning guide, which are located under the
silicone covers in each of the bottom corners of the assembly. Remove both screws, then
remove the entire back layer of the LCD matrix as one piece. The display guides need to be
salvaged for the reinstallation. Break them off the old LCD matrix together with the LCD
driver, and using an X-Acto knife, clean it off any remaining glass shards. The silicone piece
that comes off the bottom of the display also needs to be cleaned off to be salvaged. Use
an X-Acto knife to carefully separate any remaining glass, straighten the silicone piece,
and set it aside.

Clean up the display assembly

Proceed with cleaning up the display assembly adhesive edge to prepare it for the
installation of the new LCD matrix. Using an X-Acto knife, remove all old black adhesive
strips off the two perimeters around the assembly. Caution: The backlight diffuser still
cannot be touched, otherwise it will be ruined. Be very mindful of it when cleaning up the
adhesive.

Test the new LCD matrix

Once the edge has been cleaned up, you can perform a loose test of the new part. To perform
a loose test: Place the new LCD matrix into the cleaned-up assembly with no adhesive.
Reconnect the old backlight connector to the new LCD driver board. Gently reconnect the
video cable to the video port of the new matrix. Place the main body perpendicular to the
display assembly and align the video port on the motherboard with the video cable.
Reconnect the battery connector and carefully reconnect the AC power. (Note: MacBook Pro
Retina will not start without AC power if the battery has been disconnected, even if the
battery is fully charged). The laptop should power on by itself. As we can see, the
replacement matrix is working! Here is what the backlight looks like underneath the
screen It is nice and even, and all LEDs are on.
Hold the power button to shut down the
computer. Disconnect the AC power and disconnect the battery from the motherboard.
Pry open the video connector securing bracket and, using both hands, disconnect the video
cable. Open the securing bracket on the LCD driver's side and remove the video cable from
the LCD.

Apply adhesive

At this point, the new adhesive can be applied to the display assembly. We are using a 3mm
double-sided 3M adhesive tape. Each piece is cut to length and applied all around the two
adhesive perimeters on the display assembly.

Replace the metal display guide

Replace the metal display guide and secure it with two Phillips screws. Apply two strips of
adhesive to the guide.

Glue the LCD matrix back

Since you only get one shot at gluing the LCD matrix back in place, it is best to rehearse that
action before you expose the adhesive strips. For an easier installation, it is best to position
the assembly's top edge towards yourself. Please note: There is a protective film applied to
the back of the LCD matrix, and sometimes numbers can be printed on it. The protective film
must be removed immediately before gluing the LCD matrix back into the display assembly.
Protect the back surface of the LCD matrix against scratches and dust.
Once the film has been removed, go ahead and expose both adhesive strips, then blast the
diffusers off with compressed air before installing the new LCD matrix. Carefully align the
bottom edges of the LCD with the back cover and lower the new LCD onto the adhesive,
making sure it is aligned with all edges. Firmly press around the perimeter of the screen to catch
the adhesive.

Replace and reconnect parts

Remove the adhesive protector from the bottom edge of the LCD matrix. Bend
the LCD driver into place and secure it with two screws, one on each side. Carefully reconnect
the backlight connector. Plug the video cable into the LCD driver and secure the connector's
bracket. Realign the Wi-Fi antenna bar and route the video cable over it. Route the Wi-Fi cables
and the iSight camera cables over the plastic part in their appropriate guides. Secure the
Wi-Fi bar with seven screws, beginning with the one in the center. Replace the two left hinge
screws, then replace the two right hinge screws. Replace the strip of silicone at the bottom
edge of the LCD. Replace the plastic hinge cover by firmly pressing it in place, making
sure that the bottom edge is fitted inside its groove, and push it left about 3mm (or a
quarter inch) to secure it in place.

Reinstall the display assembly

Remove the protective film from the front of the LCD matrix. Place the main body of the
laptop on the edge of the desk and replace the display assembly on its hinges. Secure the
hinges with three screws on each side, but do not tighten the hinge screws fully just yet.
Replace the hinge stoppers (two on each side). Lift the laptop up and close the display
assembly. Align the display assembly with the main body at each corner and tighten the hinge
screws. Reroute the antenna cables and the iSight cable. Carefully reconnect the iSight cable
to the logic board. Reconnect the antenna cables to the AirPort card. Reconnect the video
connector and secure its bracket. Replace the adhesive and rubber covers over the hinge
screws. Reconnect the battery. Replace the back cover and secure it with the pentalobe
screws.

Reconnect AC power, turn the laptop on, and you're done!