Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
21
Time Required
30 minutes - 2 hours
Sections
5
- Lower Case
- 2 steps
- Battery Disconnection
- 2 steps
- Left Speaker
- 4 steps
- Right Speaker
- 4 steps
- Battery
- 9 steps
Flags
1
Featured Guide
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BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Early 2020
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Introduction
To minimize risk of damage, turn on your MacBook and allow the battery to fully discharge before starting this procedure. A charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured. If your battery looks puffy or swollen, take extra precautions.
This procedure involves removing both speakers. You will need new adhesive to properly reinstall the speakers to avoid excess vibrations or rattling.
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 left speaker connector
- The left speaker will be on your righthand side when working on the MacBook, as it’s laying upside down.
- Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the left speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the logic board.
- With the connector disconnected, slide the flat end of a spudger under the cable to separate the adhesive securing the cable to the logic board.
The left speaker will be on your righthand side when working on the MacBook, as it’s laying upside down.
Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the left speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the logic board.
With the connector disconnected, slide the flat end of a spudger under the cable to separate the adhesive securing the cable to the logic board.
Step 6
Remove the left speaker screw
- Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the left speaker to the case.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the left speaker to the case.
Step 7
Remove the speaker's stretch-release adhesive
- Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the black pull tab on the speaker’s stretch-release adhesive until you can grip it with your fingers.
- Grab the adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull the adhesive strip out from underneath the speaker.
- Keep the angle of the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as you can. Try to avoid dragging it across the inside of the case.
- Pull the adhesive strip until it’s freed from under the speaker.
- If the adhesive strip breaks, use a heated iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to help remove the adhesive:
- Apply heat to the speaker to soften the adhesive underneath.
- Carefully slide a spudger or opening pick underneath the speaker to separate the adhesive.
Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the black pull tab on the speaker’s stretch-release adhesive until you can grip it with your fingers.
Grab the adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull the adhesive strip out from underneath the speaker.
Keep the angle of the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as you can. Try to avoid dragging it across the inside of the case.
Pull the adhesive strip until it’s freed from under the speaker.
If the adhesive strip breaks, use a heated iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to help remove the adhesive:
Apply heat to the speaker to soften the adhesive underneath.
Carefully slide a spudger or opening pick underneath the speaker to separate the adhesive.
Step 8
Remove the left speaker
- Remove the left speaker.
- During reassembly, to ensure the speaker performs as expected, install a strip of replacement adhesive on its underside before placing it back into the case.
Remove the left speaker.
During reassembly, to ensure the speaker performs as expected, install a strip of replacement adhesive on its underside before placing it back into the case.
Step 9
Disconnect the right speaker connector
- The right speaker will be on your lefthand side when working on the MacBook, as it’s laying upside down.
- Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the right speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.
The right speaker will be on your lefthand side when working on the MacBook, as it’s laying upside down.
Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the right speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.
Step 10
Remove the right speaker screw
- Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the right speaker to the case.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the right speaker to the case.
Step 11
Remove the right speaker adhesive
- Use a pair of tweezers to lift up the black adhesive pull tab at the bottom of the right speaker, enough so you can grab it with your fingers.
- Grab the adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull the adhesive strip out from underneath the speaker.
- Keep the angle of the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as you can. Try to avoid dragging it across the inside of the case.
- Pull the adhesive strip until it’s freed from under the speaker.
- If the adhesive strip breaks, use a heated iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to help remove the adhesive:
- Apply heat to the speaker to soften the adhesive underneath.
- Carefully slide a spudger or opening pick underneath the speaker to separate the adhesive.
Use a pair of tweezers to lift up the black adhesive pull tab at the bottom of the right speaker, enough so you can grab it with your fingers.
Step 12
Remove the right speaker
- Remove the right speaker.
- During reassembly, to ensure the speaker performs as expected, install a strip of replacement adhesive on its underside before placing it back into the case.
Remove the right speaker.
Step 13
Remove the trackpad cable cover
- Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the trackpad cable cover.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the trackpad cable cover.
Step 14
- Remove the trackpad cable cover.
Remove the trackpad cable cover.
Step 15
Disconnect the trackpad cable
- Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.
Step 16
- Carefully peel the trackpad cable off of the battery.
- The trackpad cable is secured to the battery with some light adhesive.
Carefully peel the trackpad cable off of the battery.
The trackpad cable is secured to the battery with some light adhesive.
Step 17
Remove the battery tray screws
- Use a T3 Torx driver to remove two 2.5 mm screws securing the battery tray to the case.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove two 2.5 mm screws securing the battery tray to the case.
Step 18
Remove the battery tray adhesive strips
- The MacBook’s battery cells are attached to a metal tray as a complete assembly, which is adhered to the case with a total of six stretch-release adhesive strips.
- Do not attempt to remove the battery cells from their metal backing tray.
- On the left side of the MacBook, use a pair of tweezers to peel back the three black pull tabs on the battery’s stretch-release adhesive strips until you can grip them with your fingers.
The MacBook’s battery cells are attached to a metal tray as a complete assembly, which is adhered to the case with a total of six stretch-release adhesive strips.
Do not attempt to remove the battery cells from their metal backing tray.
On the left side of the MacBook, use a pair of tweezers to peel back the three black pull tabs on the battery’s stretch-release adhesive strips until you can grip them with your fingers.
Step 19
- Grab an adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull it out from underneath the battery.
- Keep the angle of the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as you can. Try to avoid dragging it across the inside of the case.
- Pull the adhesive strip until it’s freed from under the battery.
- Repeat for the two remaining adhesive strips on the battery’s left side.
Grab an adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull it out from underneath the battery.
Pull the adhesive strip until it’s freed from under the battery.
Repeat for the two remaining adhesive strips on the battery’s left side.
Step 20
- Repeat and remove the three adhesive strips from the right side of the battery.
- If any of the six adhesive strips broke during removal, you can use a plastic card to finish separating the battery tray from the case.
Repeat and remove the three adhesive strips from the right side of the battery.
If any of the six adhesive strips broke during removal, you can use a plastic card to finish separating the battery tray from the case.
Step 21
Remove the battery
- Remove the battery assembly.
- If you’re installing a new battery, follow the calibration procedure:
- Charge it to 100%, and keep charging it for at least 2 more hours.
- 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.
Remove the battery assembly.
If you’re installing a new battery, follow the calibration procedure:
Charge it to 100%, and keep charging it for at least 2 more hours.
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.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components 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
Carsten Frauenheim
Member since: 03/10/2020
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Trent Dollarhyde - Sep 21, 2021
Reply
Any users brave enough to try this battery replacement on their own? I’m looking at it to get myself prepared for what is expected in the future. I can see myself keeping this M1 MBA for a long time so replacing the battery is going to be in my future.
Best of luck to anyone out there trying this! It doesn’t look particularly difficult.
Carsten Frauenheim - Sep 21, 2021
These new MacBook Airs definitely have a simpler battery replacement procedure than other MacBook models. Whenever you need the M1 MacBook Air battery replacement guide, you can find it here! Have fun fixing!
Ryan Boughton-Shields - May 12, 2022
Reply
I have a 2020 MacBook air that got water damage. It was still working until the battery died but then wouldn’t charge. I’ve replaced the screen as it had water marks and the battery looked like it had shorted out (there was blisters on it). So I replaced the battery too. But it’s still not turning on after charging it overnight. I’ve doubled checked everything is connected inside. Is there’s anything I need to reset or check to get it to charge up and turn on?
Carsten Frauenheim - May 12, 2022
Ryan, you could look into trying a new USB-C board, because if that doesn’t function due to liquid damage then the new battery may not charge. Especially because you said:
Best of luck in your repair!
bensmith35 - May 16, 2022
Reply
Can anyone help??? Have completed the battery replacement but now my MacBook won’t turn on unless plugged into the charger, when it does turn on the battery symbol has an X over it and the fans are working hyper speed and the MacBook itself is running sluggish… HELP!!
