Macbook Air 11 Early 2014 Trackpad Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

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Sections

Lower Case
2 steps
Battery Connector
1 step
Battery
2 steps
Trackpad
4 steps

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BackMacBook Air 11" Early 2014
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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case

Shut down and close your computer. Lay it on a soft surface top-side down.
Remove the following ten screws:
Two 8 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws
Eight 2.5 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws
The special screwdriver needed to remove the 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

Shut down and close your computer. Lay it on a soft surface top-side down.

Remove the following ten screws:

Two 8 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

Eight 2.5 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

The special screwdriver needed to remove the 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

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Step 2

Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

Step 3

              Battery Connector

In this step you will disconnect the battery to help avoid shorting out any components during service.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both short sides of the battery connector upward to disconnect it from its socket on the logic board.
Bend the battery cable slightly away from the logic board so the connector will not accidentally bend back and make contact with its socket.

In this step you will disconnect the battery to help avoid shorting out any components during service.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both short sides of the battery connector upward to disconnect it from its socket on the logic board.

Bend the battery cable slightly away from the logic board so the connector will not accidentally bend back and make contact with its socket.

Step 4

              Battery

Remove the following five screws securing the battery to the upper case:
Two 5.2 mm T5 Torx screws
One 6 mm T5 Torx screw
Two 2.6 mm T5 Torx screws

Remove the following five screws securing the battery to the upper case:

Two 5.2 mm T5 Torx screws

One 6 mm T5 Torx screw

Two 2.6 mm T5 Torx screws

Step 5

When handling the battery, avoid squeezing or touching the six exposed lithium polymer cells.
Lift the battery from its edge nearest the logic board and remove it from the upper case.
If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:
Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.
If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

When handling the battery, avoid squeezing or touching the six exposed lithium polymer cells.

Lift the battery from its edge nearest the logic board and remove it from the upper case.

If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Next, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook’s SMC.

Step 6

              Trackpad

Use the point of a spudger to lift the ZIF connector retaining flap on the trackpad data cable.
Gently slide the ribbon cable out of the ZIF connector.
Adjust, but do not remove the T5 Trackpad Sensitivity Screw to change the trackpad’s depth sensitivity.

Use the point of a spudger to lift the ZIF connector retaining flap on the trackpad data cable.

Gently slide the ribbon cable out of the ZIF connector.

Adjust, but do not remove the T5 Trackpad Sensitivity Screw to change the trackpad’s depth sensitivity.

Step 7

With one hand, push the keyboard ribbon cable in slightly to access the ZIF connector beneath it.
Use a spudger to flip up the retaining flap.
Gently slide the cable out of the connector.

With one hand, push the keyboard ribbon cable in slightly to access the ZIF connector beneath it.

Use a spudger to flip up the retaining flap.

Gently slide the cable out of the connector.

Step 8

Remove the six 1.5 mm Phillips #00 screws holding the trackpad in place.
These screws are installed tightly and strip easily. Be careful as you remove them.

Remove the six 1.5 mm Phillips #00 screws holding the trackpad in place.

These screws are installed tightly and strip easily. Be careful as you remove them.

Step 9

Open the device about 10 degrees.
While holding the bottom of the trackpad, press up on the side of the trackpad closest to the logic board to free it from the upper case.
Remove the trackpad from the device.

Open the device about 10 degrees.

While holding the bottom of the trackpad, press up on the side of the trackpad closest to the logic board to free it from the upper case.

Remove the trackpad from the device.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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Author

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                    Sam Goldheart

Member since: 10/18/2012

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Albert Einstein - May 16, 2018

help me pleaseeeeee

jlaramore - Jan 6, 2019

Thanks Sam. I had to make one adjustment in order to get the keyboard ribbon cable back in. Using a Magnifier with a light (thanks Pablo), I held the MBA in a 90 degree position under the Magnifier with a light and I was able to clearly see so that I could slide the ribbon back in to the connector.

david greenfield - Jan 5, 2020

ALERT TO ALL OWNERS OF THE MacBook Air 11" Early 2014: if you need to replace your trackpad, make sure you determine in advance whether the data cable that connects your logic board to the trackpad’s ZIF connector has 20 pins or 14 pins. Mine has 20 pins and DOES NOT match the one pictured in the iFixit tutorial. It is my understanding that both of those two different trackpads have the same part number: 923-0429, but they are not interchangeable.

Introduction#

What you need#

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Introduction

What you need

Team