Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
5
Time Required
15 minutes
Sections
2
- Lower Case
- 2 steps
- Battery
- 3 steps
Flags
1
Featured Guide
This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.
BackMacBook Air 11" Late 2010
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
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.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
106 other people completed this guide.
Author
with 10 other contributors
Andrew Bookholt
575,478 Reputation
618 Guides authored
Badges:
47
+44 more badges
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.