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Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

5

Time Required

                          15 minutes            

Sections

2

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 3 steps

Flags

1

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  • BackMacBook Air 11" Late 2010

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Introduction

Note: If there is a thin plastic film on your replacement battery, do not attempt to remove it. It is glued on and protects the battery pack while it is inside the MacBook.

What you need

Step 1

              Lower Case               
  • Before proceeding, close your computer and 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 eight 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

Before proceeding, close your computer and 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 eight 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

1024

Step 2

  • Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.
  • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

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

Remove the lower case and set it aside.

Step 3

              Battery               
  • 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 contact its socket.

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 contact its socket.

Step 4

  • 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.

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

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                                                                                      106 other people completed this guide.                                             

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                    Andrew Bookholt                     

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Leonard - Mar 12, 2016

Reply

This looks like an excellent how-to! Especially liked the location illustration of different length battery screws.

todd rumaner - Aug 21, 2016

Reply

Now my touchpad isn’t working as well as before. Any ideas why?

Phil Blake - Sep 12, 2016

Reply

Dead on Accurate. Was very easy. I would change the rating from moderate to easy. The hardest part is getting the correct screw drivers.

Carlo Mejia - Nov 9, 2016

Reply

hello, is there any difference between A1370 (late 2010) battery part and a A1370 (2011) battery?

swj.sean - Mar 29, 2017

I’m also wondering the same thing. Did you find the answer to your question? Thank you.