How to disassemble HP Spectre x360 13 Convertible PC

posted in: 3. Compaq & HP | 10
HP Spectre x360 13 Convertible PC 13-ae052nr disassembly.

In today’s guide I show how to disassemble an HP Spectre x360 13 Convertible PC model 13-ae052nr.

Also this guide should fit the following XP Spectre x360 13 Convertable PC configurations: 13-ae005na, 13-ae010ca, 13-ae010tu, 13-ae011dx, 13-ae012dx, 13-ae013dx, 13-ae014dx, 13-ae015dx, 13-ae021tu, 13-ae052nr, 13-ae091ms and probably some others.

For your convenience at the end of this guide will I attach a link to the official HP service manual where you can find a list spare parts numbers and disassembly instructions.

STEP 1.
There are a few screws hidden under the upper rubber foot. This foot is attached to the bottom cover by adhesive tape.

There are a few screws hidden under the upper rubber foot.

Remove the foot.

Remove the foot.

STEP 2.
Remove four Phillips screws from the upper side and two Torx5 screws from the bottom.
I color-coded similar screws the same color.

Remove six screws from the bottom cover.

STEP 3.
Start separating the bottom cover from the laptop on the back.

Start separating the bottom cover from the laptop on the back.

STEP 4.
Remove the bottom cover completely.

Remove the bottom cover completely.

STEP 5.
There is a plastic spacer located between the finger print scanner and the frame. It’s there for supporting the finger scanner board.
The spacer just seats freely. Remove it or you can lose it when the laptop is turned upside down.

Remove the plastic spacer.

STEP 6.
Remove four screws attaching the battery to the palmrest assembly.

Remove four screws attaching the battery to the palmrest assembly.

Lift up the battery and disconnect it from the motherboard.

If you are replacing the battery, I recommend buying a genuine HP replacement.
HP Spectre x360 13-ae052nr battery model is CP03XL. You can easily find a replacement using this model number.

Lift up the battery and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 7.
Remove one screw securing the solid state drive.
Pull the drive out.

This is m.2 NVMe PCIe solid state drive.

Remove the solid state drive.

STEP 8.
Remove two screws securing the USB audio board.
Disconnect the flat cable (connector is hidden under the mylar cover).

Remove two screws from USB audio board.

Unlock the connector first (red arrow) and pull the cable out.

Unlock the connector first and pull the cable out.

STEP 9.
Work the USB audio board out of the palmrest assembly.
Part of the flat cable is routed under the motherboard.

USB audio board part number: 942831-001.

Remove the USB audio board.

STEP 10.
Remove the mylar sheet completely.

Remove the mylar sheet completely.

Now we can access and remove both cooling fans.

Now we can access and remove both cooling fans.

STEP 11.
Disconnect the display video cable from the motherboard.

Disconnect the display video cable from the motherboard.

As always, unlock the connector first (red arrow) and pull the cable out.

Unlock the connector first and pull the cable out.

STEP 12.
Unroute the display video cable from the guided path.
Remove three screws attaching the left cooling fan.
These screws are different. Remember the correct location for each screw.

Remove three screws attaching the left cooling fan.

STEP 13.
Lift up the left cooling fan and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Lift up the left cooling fan and disconnect it from the motherboard.

STEP 14.
Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.
In HP Spectre x360 13 laptop the wireless card is built-in into the motherboard.

Disconnect two antenna cables from the wireless card.

In order to disconnect the antenna cable lift the golden connector up and unsnap it from the card.

How to disconnect the antenna cable from the wireless card.

STEP 15.
Disconnect the microphone/webcam cable.

Disconnect the microphone/webcam cable.

STEP 16.
Unroute the microphone/webcam cable and wireless antenna cables from the guided path.
Remove two screws securing the right fan.
Also disconnect the IR sensor board cable.

Remove two screws securing the right fan.

STEP 17.
Lift up the right fan and disconnect it from the motherboard.

Lift up the right fan and disconnect it from the motherboard.

The IR sensor board is attached to the fan.

The IR sensor board is attached to the fan.

STEP 18.
Remove three screws attaching the motherboard.

Disconnect the following color-coded cables:
– Finger print reader cable (yellow).
– Four speaker cables (orange).
– Trackpad cable (green).
– Keyboard and keyboard backlight cables (pink).
– SD card reader cable (blue).

Remove screws from the motherboard and disconnect all cables.

Unlock flat cable connectors by lifting up the locking tab (red arrow). After that you can pull the cables out.

Unlock connectors for flat cables.

The speaker cable disconnects differently.
Lift up the speaker cable connector to unplug from the motherboard.

Lift up the speaker cable connector to unplug from the motherboard.

STEP 19.
Remove the motherboard.

Remove the motherboard.

Here’s the other side of the motherboard.

Other side of the motherboard.

STEP 20.
Remove three screws securing the lower left speaker.
One screw is hidden under a rubber pad. I’m pointing to this hidden screw.
After all crews removed you can lift up and remove the speaker.

The lower right speaker can be removed the same way.

Remove the lower left speaker.

STEP 21.
Remove one screw attaching the SD card reader to the palmrest.
Remove the SD card reader.

Remove the SD card reader.

STEP22.
Upper left and right speakers can be easily removed too.

Upper left and right speakers can be easily removed too.

STEP 23.
Remove three screws attaching the trackpad to the palmrest.

Remove three screws attaching the trackpad to the palmrest.

Lift up the upper side of the trackpad and slide towards the keyboard to remove completely.

Remove the trackpad.

For a 15″ version check out HP Spectre X360 15-ap012dx full disassembly instructions.


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10 Responses

  1. Tom

    I have HP Spectre x360. Everything works properly but the laptop makes loud noise. Do you know what should I check?

    • IML Tech

      Tom, remove the bottom cover. Turn on the laptop and take a closer look at the fans. It’s possible that one of the cooling fans is going bad. Listen closely, find failing fan and replace it if necessary.

  2. Aaron

    I have this laptop, but it is not charging nor turning on. When I plug in the USBC charger to either port, the charging light does not come on, and I cannot turn the laptop on even when directly plugged in to AC. I have opened it up and used a multimeter to determine that there is about 20V dc throughout the mainboard when plugged in to the charger, and 2V coming out of the battery. Any ideas on how to diagnose or fix this?

    • IML Tech

      Aaron, I would try another AC adapter. A USB-C charger outputs a few different voltages. Maybe 20V still works but other voltages failed.
      Also, I would try turning it on with the battery disconnected. A failed battery can cause a problem like that.
      If new USB-C charger and disconnecting the battery doesn’t help, I’m afraid this is motherboard related issue.

  3. Borislav Boychinov

    Hi, is the WiFi Card glued to the motherboard or can be replaced? I want to replace it with an AX one since i updated my home network to WiFi 6. Thanks.

    • IML Tech

      The Wi-Fi card is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be removed and replaced.

  4. Angel

    This was very helpful in aiding to replace a faulty cooling fan, thank you for posting this.

  5. Amber

    Hi, thanks for making this. I have had a recurring fan error which HP has not been able to fix. If I need to replace one of the fans myself do you have recommendations of where I should get one?

    • IML Tech

      Replacement fans should be available on eBay.
      https://ebay.to/39nJlyA

  6. Hareem

    Hi the bottom panel of the HP Spectre is coming off and it doesnt seem to be held on by any of the screws. How do I fix it?