Dell Alienware m16 R2 How-To Install & Replace Your Palmrest Keyboard Assembly

By on September 10, 2025 · 6:00 pm
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In this Dell laptop tutorial we are going to show you how to install and replace the Palmrest Keyboard Assembly on your Alienware m16 R2 laptop. These installation instructions have been made into 34 easy to follow printable steps. We have also created a video tutorial that shows you how to install your Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assembly.

Before you begin

Please take the time read the following safety guidelines when working on static sensitive electrical components.
Dell repair manual service precautions

Tools needed for this laptop repair

  • 1 x Phillips #0 screwdriver
  • 1 x small plastic scribe
Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assem

Dell Laptop Replacement Parts Needed

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Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assembly

Video tutorial repair manual



Installation and Removal Instructions
Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assembly

Before you begin: If you need help at any point, you can always contact Parts-People Repair Department for help with your diagnosis or repair.

Step 1

TOOLS FOR THIS REPAIR: Phillips #0 and a

Step 2

TOOLS FOR THIS REPAIR: Phillips #0 and a Unscrew the Bottom Base Cover (6 x M2 x 5mm) (2 X captive screws).Pry apart and remove the Bottom Base Cover.TOOLS FOR THIS REPAIR: Phillips #0 and a
Disconnect the Battery Cable.

Step 3

  • Disconnect the Battery Cable.
Disconnect the Battery Cable.Disconnect the Battery Cable.
Unscrew and remove the Rear I/O Cover (4 x M2 x 5mm) (2 x

Step 4

Unscrew and remove the Rear I/O Cover (4 x M2 x 5mm) (2 x Unscrew and remove the Rear I/O Cover (4 x M2 x 5mm) (2 x Unscrew and remove the Rear I/O Cover (4 x M2 x 5mm) (2 x
Unscrew and remove the Battery (4 x

Step 5

Unscrew and remove the Battery (4 x Unscrew and remove the Battery (4 x
IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS A 2280 SSD: Unscrew and slide out the M.2 NVMe SSD (1 x 1.6mm x 4mm) (1 x

Step 6

  • IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS A 2280 SSD: Unscrew and slide out the M.2 NVMe SSD (1 x 1.6mm x 4mm) (1 x M2 x 3mm).
IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS A 2280 SSD: Unscrew and slide out the M.2 NVMe SSD (1 x 1.6mm x 4mm) (1 x IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS A 2280 SSD: Unscrew and slide out the M.2 NVMe SSD (1 x 1.6mm x 4mm) (1 x IF YOUR LAPTOP HAS A 2280 SSD: Unscrew and slide out the M.2 NVMe SSD (1 x 1.6mm x 4mm) (1 x
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.

Step 7

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the power button cable.

Step 8

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the power button cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the power button cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the power button cable.
Unscrew and remove the WiFi bracket (1 x 2mm x 3.5mm).

Step 9

  • Unscrew and remove the WiFi bracket (1 x 2mm x 3.5mm).
Unscrew and remove the WiFi bracket (1 x 2mm x 3.5mm).Unscrew and remove the WiFi bracket (1 x 2mm x 3.5mm).
Disconnect the antenna cables.

Step 10

  • Disconnect the antenna cables.
  • Slide out the WiFi Card.
Disconnect the antenna cables.Slide out the WiFi Card.
Unscrew the Heatsink (6 x captive screws) in the sequence labeled here.

Step 11

Unscrew the Heatsink (6 x captive screws) in the sequence labeled here.Unscrew the Cooling Fans (6 x Unscrew the Heatsink (6 x captive screws) in the sequence labeled here.
Disconnect and remove the Heatsink Fan Assembly.

Step 12

Disconnect and remove the Heatsink Fan Assembly.Disconnect and remove the Heatsink Fan Assembly.Disconnect and remove the Heatsink Fan Assembly.
Disconnect the speaker cable.

Step 13

  • Disconnect the speaker cable.
Disconnect the speaker cable.Disconnect the speaker cable.
Remove the Speakers.

Step 14

Remove the Speakers.Remove the Speakers.
Disconnect the touchpad LED cable.

Step 15

  • Disconnect the touchpad LED cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.

Step 16

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.

Step 17

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the touchpad cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.

Step 18

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the keyboard controller cable.
Unscrew the touchpad brackets (8 x M2 x 3mm).

Step 19

  • Unscrew the touchpad brackets (8 x M2 x 3mm).
Unscrew the touchpad brackets (8 x M2 x 3mm).Unscrew the touchpad brackets (8 x M2 x 3mm).Unscrew the touchpad brackets (8 x M2 x 3mm).
Unscrew and remove the Touchpad (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).

Step 20

  • Unscrew and remove the Touchpad (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).
Unscrew and remove the Touchpad (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).Unscrew and remove the Touchpad (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).
Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).

Step 21

  • Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).
Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).Unscrew and then lift the hinge covers from the assembly (2 x 1.6mm x 2.5mm).
Disconnect the camera cable.

Step 22

  • Disconnect the camera cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the LCD cable.

Step 23

  • Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the LCD cable.
Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the LCD cable.Unclip the locking tab and disconnect the LCD cable.
Unscrew and then lift the left and right LCD Hinges (6 x 2.5mm x 3.5mm).

Step 24

Unscrew and then lift the left and right LCD Hinges (6 x 2.5mm x 3.5mm).Separate the LCD Display Assembly from the Palmrest.Unscrew and then lift the left and right LCD Hinges (6 x 2.5mm x 3.5mm).Unscrew and then lift the left and right LCD Hinges (6 x 2.5mm x 3.5mm).
Unscrew and remove the DC jack bracket (2 x M2 x 3mm).

Step 25

  • Unscrew and remove the DC jack bracket (2 x M2 x 3mm).
  • Disconnect and remove the DC Jack.
Unscrew and remove the DC jack bracket (2 x M2 x 3mm).Disconnect and remove the DC Jack.Unscrew and remove the DC jack bracket (2 x M2 x 3mm).Unscrew and remove the DC jack bracket (2 x M2 x 3mm).
Unscrew and remove the Type-C bracket (2 x M2 x 4mm) (2 x

Step 26

Unscrew and remove the Type-C bracket (2 x M2 x 4mm) (2 x Unscrew and remove the Type-C bracket (2 x M2 x 4mm) (2 x Unscrew and remove the Type-C bracket (2 x M2 x 4mm) (2 x
Unscrew and remove the Motherboard (8 x M2 x 3mm).

Step 27

  • Unscrew and remove the Motherboard (8 x M2 x 3mm).
Unscrew and remove the Motherboard (8 x M2 x 3mm).Unscrew and remove the Motherboard (8 x M2 x 3mm).Unscrew and remove the Motherboard (8 x M2 x 3mm).
Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.

Step 28

  • Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.
Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.Unclip the locking tabs and disconnect the keyboard cables.
Unscrew and remove the Keyboard Controller Board (1 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).

Step 29

Unscrew and remove the Keyboard Controller Board (1 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).Unscrew and remove the Keyboard Controller Board (1 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).
Unscrew and remove the bracket and Power Button (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).

Step 30

  • Unscrew and remove the bracket and Power Button (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).
Unscrew and remove the bracket and Power Button (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).Unscrew and remove the bracket and Power Button (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).Unscrew and remove the bracket and Power Button (2 x 2mm x 2.5mm wafer).
The remaining part is the Palmrest Keyboard Assembly.

Step 31

BEFORE REPLACING THE HEATSINK: Wipe away any old thermal paste from the processors.

Step 32

  • BEFORE REPLACING THE HEATSINK: Wipe away any old thermal paste from the processors.
BEFORE REPLACING THE HEATSINK: Wipe away any old thermal paste from the processors.BEFORE REPLACING THE HEATSINK: Wipe away any old thermal paste from the processors.BEFORE REPLACING THE HEATSINK: Wipe away any old thermal paste from the processors.
Wipe away any old thermal paste from the heatsink.

Step 33

  • Wipe away any old thermal paste from the heatsink.
Wipe away any old thermal paste from the heatsink.Wipe away any old thermal paste from the heatsink.Wipe away any old thermal paste from the heatsink.
Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the processors.

Step 34

  • Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the processors.
  • ***FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL STEPS IN REVERSE TO REASSEMBLE YOUR LAPTOP.
Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the processors.***FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL STEPS IN REVERSE TO REASSEMBLE YOUR LAPTOP.Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the processors.Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the processors.
Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assem

Dell Laptop Replacement Parts Needed

DIY Discount - Parts-People.com offers 5% off to all DO-IT-YOURSELFERS!
Use this coupon code to save 5% off these parts
DIYM514
Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assembly

Topics: Dell Alienware Repair Manuals Dell Laptop Repair Dell Repair Manuals Alienware m16 R2 Palmrest Keyboard Assembly

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