Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

                          25 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 2 steps
  • Antenna Bar
  • 7 steps

Flags

0

  • BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Early 2020

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the screws securing the lower case
  • Before starting this procedure, you should disable your Mac’s Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide to disable Auto Boot.
  • If your MacBook is running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not work. You can proceed normally, but make sure to disconnect the battery as soon as you’re inside.
  • Completely power off and unplug your MacBook Air before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.
  • Use a P5 driver to remove the following screws:
  • Two 7.9 mm screws
  • Two 7.1 mm screws
  • Six 2.6 mm screws
  • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your MacBook.

Before starting this procedure, you should disable your Mac’s Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide to disable Auto Boot.

If your MacBook is running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not work. You can proceed normally, but make sure to disconnect the battery as soon as you’re inside.

Completely power off and unplug your MacBook Air before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.

Use a P5 driver to remove the following screws:

Two 7.9 mm screws

Two 7.1 mm screws

Six 2.6 mm screws

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your MacBook.

1024

Step 2

              Remove the lower case
  • 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.
  • To reinstall the lower case:
  • Set it in place and press firmly to engage the two hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.

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.

To reinstall the lower case:

Set it in place and press firmly to engage the two hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.

Step 3

              Disconnect the battery
  • Peel back the tape covering the battery connector enough to reveal the connector underneath.

Peel back the tape covering the battery connector enough to reveal the connector underneath.

Step 4

  • Use a spudger to slide the battery connector parallel to the logic board and out of its socket on the logic board.

Use a spudger to slide the battery connector parallel to the logic board and out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 5

              Disconnect the antenna bar
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.
  • Remove the antenna cable cover.
  • When replacing the antenna cable cover, make sure the keyed side goes towards the hinge edge of the MacBook Air.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.

Remove the antenna cable cover.

When replacing the antenna cable cover, make sure the keyed side goes towards the hinge edge of the MacBook Air.

Step 6

  • Use a pair of tweezers to grip the antenna connector close to its base.
  • Pull straight up to disconnect the cable.
  • Repeat for the second antenna cable.

Use a pair of tweezers to grip the antenna connector close to its base.

Pull straight up to disconnect the cable.

Repeat for the second antenna cable.

Step 7

  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.5 mm screws securing the display cable connector cover.
  • Remove the display cable connector cover.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.5 mm screws securing the display cable connector cover.

Remove the display cable connector cover.

Step 8

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the display cable connector straight off of the antenna board to disconnect it.
  • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the display cable connector straight off of the antenna board to disconnect it.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 9

  • Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the antenna bar:
  • Four 7.4 mm screws
  • Two 4.5 mm screws

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the antenna bar:

Four 7.4 mm screws

Two 4.5 mm screws

Step 10

              Remove the antenna bar
  • Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the gap between the antenna bar and display hinge.
  • Pivot the spudger against the hinge to pry up the end of the antenna bar.
  • Repeat for the other end of the antenna bar.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the gap between the antenna bar and display hinge.

Pivot the spudger against the hinge to pry up the end of the antenna bar.

Repeat for the other end of the antenna bar.

Step 11

  • Use your fingers to pry the antenna bar straight up and away from the case.
  • The antenna bar is secured with some light adhesive and may require some force to dislodge.
  • Thread the antenna board through the opening in the middle of the antenna bar.
  • Be careful to not put any strain on the antenna bar’s ribbon cables.
  • Remove the antenna bar.
  • During reassembly, ensure that the display cable doesn’t become trapped underneath the antenna bar.

Use your fingers to pry the antenna bar straight up and away from the case.

The antenna bar is secured with some light adhesive and may require some force to dislodge.

Thread the antenna board through the opening in the middle of the antenna bar.

Be careful to not put any strain on the antenna bar’s ribbon cables.

Remove the antenna bar.

During reassembly, ensure that the display cable doesn’t become trapped underneath the antenna bar.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components, cable covers, or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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Author

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                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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