Lenovo ThinkPad T460 Wi-Fi Card Replacement

Written By: Kristen Gismondi

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Lenovo ThinkPad T460 Wi-Fi Card Replacement

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

15 - 20 minutes

Introduction

This guide will show you how to replace the Wi-Fi card in a Lenovo ThinkPad T460 laptop.

A Wi-Fi card, also known as a WLAN card, enables the laptop to connect to a wireless network. If you cannot connect your laptop to Wi-Fi, or if you are experiencing intermittent connectivity, you may have a faulty Wi-Fi card. Be sure to rule out other connectivity issues listed here before replacing your Wi-Fi card.

Make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources before you begin.

Tools

Parts

01AX748 - Lenovo Laptop Wireless Module - Genuine

Step 1

Before you begin this guide, make sure to disable the internal battery, power down your device, and disconnect from any external power sources.
Place the laptop so that the bottom is facing upwards.
Slide the latch on the left side of the battery to the left until it clicks in place.

Step 2

Slide the latch on the right side of the battery to the right and hold it in place with your thumb.
Use your other hand to slide the battery towards the back of the laptop.
Lift the battery up and away from the laptop.

Step 3

Loosen the eight captive screws in the bottom cover using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Step 4

Insert the flat end of a spudger in between the bottom cover and the rest of the laptop, starting in the lower left corner.
Pry the lower left corner of the bottom cover up by a few millimeters.
Slide the spudger along the bottom of the laptop to release the clips until you reach the lower right corner.
You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.

Step 5

Slide the spudger along the right and top sides of the bottom cover to release the clips.
You may hear some snapping noises as the clips are released.
Potential for device damage: If the clips do not release easily, check to ensure that the captive screws are fully loosened. Forcing the clips to detach can crack the bottom cover.

Step 6

Use the spudger to pry the upper left corner up by a few millimeters.
Pry up the sections of the bottom cover with printed logos of the ports.
Potential for device damage: Prying inside the ports themselves can damage your laptop. Be sure to only pry up on the sections of the cover that extend past the ports.

Step 7

Use the spudger to pry up the bottom cover in the lower portion of the external battery compartment by a few millimeters.

Step 8

Use both hands to lift the bottom cover up and away from the laptop.

Step 9

Use your fingers to lift up the black flap covering the Wi-Fi card.

Step 10

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the gray and black coaxial wires from the Wi-Fi card.
When reassembling, reattach the gray wire on the top and the black wire on the bottom.

Step 11

Remove the single 3.7 mm screw from the right side of the Wi-Fi card using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

Step 12

Use your fingers to lift the Wi-Fi card up and out of its slot.
This laptop does not include a WWAN card, but if yours does, follow the same procedure as Steps 9-12 to remove it.