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Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement

Introduction

If you need to replace the palmrest of your ThinkPad T480, read this guide.

As someone who has used ifixit for many years, I feel like i should contribute.

I have done tons of work on my thinkpad, and looking at the t480 page, i realized nobody had done a guide on replacing this.

so here we are :3

What you need

  1. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, External Battery: step 1, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, External Battery: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Disable the battery, power down, and unplug your device before you begin.

    • Flip the laptop over so the bottom of the device is showing.

    Edit

  2. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Using your fingers, slide the lock on each side of the battery to the unlocked position.

    • Remove the battery from the slot.

    Edit

  3. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Keyboard: step 3, image 1 of 1

    • Use the Phillips #1 screwdriver to loosen the two screws parallel to the battery compartment.

    Edit

  4. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Open the laptop so the keyboard is facing you.

    Edit

  5. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Push the keyboard towards the screen and away from the trackpad and then slide it out towards you gently.

    • The keyboard is connected to the board by two ribbon connectors.

    • Be careful not to rip the connectors when you flip the keyboard over.

    Edit

  6. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Flip the keyboard over towards you to expose the backside of the keyboard and the two ribbon connectors.

    • Using the black nylon spudger, flip the first ribbon connector lock open. Slide the first connector out.

    Edit

  7. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, unlock the second ribbon connector and slide it out from the port.

    Edit

  8. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the keyboard from the laptop.

    Edit

  9. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Back Cover: step 9, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Back Cover: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, loosen the six captive screws.

    Edit

  10. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the blue plastic opening tool into the space between the lower case and the chassis.

    • Slide the opening tool around the perimeter of the case to release the clips holding the case and the chassis together.

    • If it feels like the battery well portion of the back cover isn't loose, these clips may be holding the cover to the laptop. Use your opening tool to pry the clips loose and try removing the cover again.

    • Remove the back case.

    Edit

  11. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Internal Battery: step 11, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Internal Battery: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the two 4.6 mm screws that secure the internal battery to the frame.

    Edit

  12. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • Use the spudger to slide the battery socket connector parallel to the motherboard and out of its socket on the motherboard.

    Edit

  14. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the battery straight out of its recess and remove it.

    • If the battery is difficult to remove from the recess, use a nylon spudger to gently lift it on one edge, making it easier to grasp and remove by hand.

    • To prevent damage or potential fire, do not bend or flex the battery. Only use a plastic spudger and avoid any sharp tools that could puncture the battery.

    Edit

  15. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Trackpad: step 14, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Trackpad: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver remove the four 3.1 mm screws from the chassis.

    • In this guide additional components have been removed. Your laptop internals will look slightly different than the images in Steps 8-10 because of this.

    Edit

  16. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, remove the ribbon cable connected to the trackpad.

    Edit

  17. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the chassis up and the trackpad will fall out.

    • When reinserting your trackpad, screw in the screws about halfway, and then center the trackpad. Then finish screwing them in. Otherwise, it may be off-center and might not click down.

    Edit

  18. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Speakers: step 17, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Speakers: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove two 4.8 mm screws from the right speaker.

    Edit

  19. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the right speaker out of the case.

    • Gently remove the speaker cable from the perimeter of the chassis, connecting the right speaker to the left speaker.

    Edit

  20. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Remove two 4.8 mm screws from the left speaker using the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

    Edit

  21. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 20, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, remove the slide connector which attaches the left speaker to the motherboard.

    • Remove the left speaker from the case.

    Edit

  22. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Hard Drive: step 21, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Hard Drive: step 21, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Hard Drive: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, lift the connector lock up.

    • Disconnect the storage cable from the system board.

    Edit

  23. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 22, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the hard drive up with a tab if it has one or with your spudger.

    • Lift the drive assembly from the system.

    Edit

  24. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Motherboard: step 23, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Motherboard: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove three 4.6 mm screws from the I/O bracket.

    Edit

  25. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the I/O bracket off the motherboard.

    Edit

  26. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove the three 4.1 mm screws from the RJ45 bracket.

    • Lift the bracket off of the motherboard.

    Edit

  27. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 26, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 26, image 3 of 3

    • Use the black nylon spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the power button cable's ZIF connector.

    • Slide the power button cable out of the ZIF connector.

    Edit

  28. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 27, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, disconnect the LCD cable from the motherboard.

    Edit

  29. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 28, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 28, image 3 of 3

    • Use the tip of a spudger or an opening tool, to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the camera cable connector to remove the cable from the motherboard.

    Edit

  30. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 29, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 29, image 3 of 3

    • Using the black nylon spudger, remove the NFC cable connector and trackpad connector from the motherboard.

    Edit

  31. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 30, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 30, image 3 of 3

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove seven 3.6 mm screws from the motherboard.

    • Lift the motherboard off of the case to remove it.

    Edit

  32. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, LCD Assembly: step 31, image 1 of 2 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, LCD Assembly: step 31, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the cables from the cable guides.

    Edit

  33. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 32, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 32, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 32, image 3 of 3

    • Using the Phillips #1 screwdriver, remove two 4.3 mm screws from each hinge (four total).

    • In this image, all of the internal components were removed prior to this step so your device will look somewhat different.

    Edit

  34. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 33, image 1 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 33, image 2 of 3 Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement: step 33, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the keyboard bezel up and slide it out from the hinges to separate it from the LCD assembly.

    • In this image, all of the internal components were removed prior to this step so your device will look somewhat different.

    Edit

  35. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Move over ribbon cables to new palm rest: step 34, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the trackpad ribbon from the old palm rest and move it to the same spot on the new one. Pull it up carefully and glue it down or use kapton tape.

    Edit

  36. Lenovo ThinkPad T480 Palm Rest Replacement, Remove Smart Card reader: step 35, image 1 of 1

    • Unscrew the two screws in the smart card reader and remove it

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. If I missed anything, Please feel free to update my guide.

Things to remember during reassembly

Make sure to put everything back in the new palm rest, not the old one. (I made that mistake)

When reattaching the fan, please reapply thermal paste: follow this guide.

When putting the trackpad back in, make sure to center it before fully screwing it in.

Good luck, take your time, and don't break any connectors off of the motherboard.

2 other people completed this guide.

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Slash

Member since: 01/08/26

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