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by Nirav Patel

Display Replacement Guide

Written By: Jehan Suleman (and 2 other contributors)
  • Comments: 12
  • Favorites: 0
  • Completions: 17

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

14

Time Required

00:05:00 - 00:15:00

Sections

3

Flags

0

    • Power off the Framework Laptop by navigating to the Windows icon on the bottom left and clicking on "Power" followed by "Shut down," or if on Linux, the equivalent action there.

  2. Unplug your power cable from the USB-C Expansion Card in your Framework Laptop.

    • Unplug your power cable from the USB-C Expansion Card in your Framework Laptop.

    • Close the lid on your Framework Laptop and place it upside down on a soft, non-marring surface, such as the bag that it shipped in.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the 5 fasteners on the Bottom Cover. These fasteners will remain attached in the Bottom Cover so that you do not lose them.

    • The fastener on the bottom left (circled in red) will not unscrew as far as the others, as it is acting as a lifter for the Input Cover.

    • You'll hear this fastener start clicking as you rotate when it is unscrewed far enough.

    • Do not use a powered tool for these steps, as this will likely result in damage to the fasteners.

    • Flip the Framework Laptop back over and open the lid to around 120 degrees.

    • Important: Pull the Input Cover off carefully as it is still attached to the Mainboard via the Touchpad Cable. You don't need to disconnect this cable to do most repairs. You can just flip the Input Cover over. If you do want to disconnect it though, make sure to disconnect the Mainboard side using the finger loop over the orange label.

    • The bottom right corner of the Input Cover lifts up when the five fasteners are properly unscrewed from the previous step. You should not have to use any excessive force to remove the Input Cover.

    • Carefully lift the cover up from the bottom right corner. If you need to, you can use the spudger end of the Framework Screwdriver to lift it as well. Lift the Input Cover off the Mainboard, flip it over (keyboard side down), and place it about halfway on the Bottom Cover.

    • Be sure not to put too much force on the Touchpad Cable when doing this.

    • If the LEDs on the left and right sides of the system are flashing red when you lift off the cover, it means the system is still powered on. Make sure your power cable isn't plugged in and that you have shut down correctly.

    • Note that it may take up to 30 seconds after shutting down for the system to fully power off. Wait until the LEDs stop flashing before proceeding.

    • You should keep the Battery connector plugged in unless you need to replace the Battery, Mainboard, or Speakers. This connector is easy to accidentally damage, so it's better to not handle it.

  5. Open the Framework Laptop 180 degrees to remove the Bezel. Be careful to check that the back left and right fasteners that you unscrewed earlier don't get caught on the lid as you open it to 180 degrees. The Framework Bezel is attached by magnets so you will not require any tools to remove it. Just use your fingernail and pry the Bezel away from the display from one of the top corners of the Framework Laptop.

    • Open the Framework Laptop 180 degrees to remove the Bezel.

    • Be careful to check that the back left and right fasteners that you unscrewed earlier don't get caught on the lid as you open it to 180 degrees.

    • The Framework Bezel is attached by magnets so you will not require any tools to remove it. Just use your fingernail and pry the Bezel away from the display from one of the top corners of the Framework Laptop.

    • Once the Bezel starts peeling off towards the bottom of the Display, lift it up using caution. You might feel a little resistance due to the adhesive at the bottom of the display.

  6. Find the black Display Cable that connects the display to the mainboard. Unplug the cable by pulling it directly upwards using the black pull tab. Carefully lift up the silver grounding tape that is holding the Display Cable to the hinge.

    • Find the black Display Cable that connects the display to the mainboard. Unplug the cable by pulling it directly upwards using the black pull tab.

    • Carefully lift up the silver grounding tape that is holding the Display Cable to the hinge.

    • Free the Display Cable from the Bottom Cover and carefully remove it from any routing pegs. It will remain connected to the display.

  7. Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the 4 fasteners connecting the Display to the Top Cover. The Display is now fully unattached to the Top Cover, you can gently lift it up from the corner using your fingernail. Be sure to only handle the Display by the side edges and avoid touching the bottom area.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, unscrew the 4 fasteners connecting the Display to the Top Cover.

    • The Display is now fully unattached to the Top Cover, you can gently lift it up from the corner using your fingernail.

    • Be sure to only handle the Display by the side edges and avoid touching the bottom area.

  8. There are four alignment pins located on the Top Cover. They are located right next to the four fastener slots. Place the silver brackets connected to Display directly over the pins. Be sure to only handle the Display by the side edges and avoid touching the bottom area.

    • There are four alignment pins located on the Top Cover. They are located right next to the four fastener slots. Place the silver brackets connected to Display directly over the pins.

    • Be sure to only handle the Display by the side edges and avoid touching the bottom area.

  9. Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver screw the four fasteners into place. Be sure to not over tighten the fasteners.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver screw the four fasteners into place.

    • Be sure to not over tighten the fasteners.

  10. Route the black Display Cable through the routing channel as indicated in the picture. Secure the silver grounding tape as indicated in the first image.

    • Route the black Display Cable through the routing channel as indicated in the picture.

    • Secure the silver grounding tape as indicated in the first image.

    • Using the black pull tab, align the Display Cable connector with the connection on the Mainboard and firmly press down.

    • The Display installation is now complete.

  11. Open the Framework Laptop 180 degrees to attach the Bezel. Align the corners of the Bezel to the display and place it down. The Bezel is attached by magnets and should easily click into place.

    • Open the Framework Laptop 180 degrees to attach the Bezel.

    • Align the corners of the Bezel to the display and place it down. The Bezel is attached by magnets and should easily click into place.

    • Make sure that all of the corners and edges of the Bezel are fully connected to the Top Cover. If the corners are not aligned. carefully lift up the part of the bezel and guide it into place.

  12. Before closing up the laptop, make sure that the Touchpad end of the Touchpad Cable is fully seated in the receptacle. The cable should be inserted far enough that the white line almost touches the receptacle.

    • Before closing up the laptop, make sure that the Touchpad end of the Touchpad Cable is fully seated in the receptacle.

    • The cable should be inserted far enough that the white line almost touches the receptacle.

    • If it is not inserted far enough, you'll need to flip up the black latch on the other side of the connector, slide the cable in further, and then close the black latch again.

  13. Flip the Input Cover over the Bottom Cover so that the keyboard is facing up and attach it to the Bottom Cover by aligning the top and bottom edges of both covers. Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again. Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again.

    • Flip the Input Cover over the Bottom Cover so that the keyboard is facing up and attach it to the Bottom Cover by aligning the top and bottom edges of both covers.

    • Tip: The covers are magnetic and should fit into one another easily. If you feel any resistance simply lift the Input Cover up and try again.

  14. Close the Framework Laptop and turn it upside down to reveal the five fasteners on the Bottom Cover. Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, screw all 5 fasteners back into the Bottom Cover.

    • Close the Framework Laptop and turn it upside down to reveal the five fasteners on the Bottom Cover.

    • Using the T5 bit in the Framework Screwdriver, screw all 5 fasteners back into the Bottom Cover.

    • Be sure to not over-tighten the fasteners.

Conclusion
  • To purchase a Framework Laptop visit the Framework website
  • Want to learn more about the Framework Laptop? Take a look at our blog
  • If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Framework Support

17 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 2 other contributors

Jehan Suleman

Member since: 03/08/2021

17 Guides authored

Team

Framework Member of Framework

6 Members

65 Guides authored

5 Comments

There were 3 important steps missing from this guide when replacing my original glossy 13" display for the new matte one. As mentioned, one was peeling the backing off the silver grounding tape. This is presumably a fairly serious omission, assuming that without peeling the backing off, the display can never be properly grounded?

The other two omissions were:

1. peeling off the white tape which was securing the display cable to the back of the display (presumably for protection during shipping) - best done between steps 7 and 8

2. peeling off the protective cover from the front of the display, using the black tab near the top-right corner - best done between steps 10 and 11.

Finally, in step 4 the video shows the input cover being lifted first from the top corners; however the text says "Carefully lift the cover up from the bottom right corner." I found this confusing, so it would have been good if the guidance in the text matched the video.

Other than those , I found the whole process very straightforward!

Adam Spiers - Reply

Secure the silver grounding tape as indicated in the first image.

I was a little confused about the silver tape, it didn’t seem sticky, was there a backing I was supposed to remove?

Alexander Schokking - Reply

There is a fibre backing on the new grounding tape that you have to peel off.

Adam Reynolds -

Any timeline on when we’ll be able to purchase replacement displays?

Dale Harper - Reply

As far as I understand, you can right-away purchase a display kit on FrameWork's marketplace.

Benjamin Loison -

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