Macbook Air 13 Early 2020 Touch Id Sensor Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

12

Time Required

                          10 - 30 minutes            

Sections

4

• Lower Case
• 2 steps
• Battery Disconnection
• 2 steps
• Audio Board
• 6 steps
• Touch ID Sensor
• 2 steps

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• BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Early 2020

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Introduction

Note that Touch ID will not function after replacing the Touch ID sensor. The MacBook’s original Touch ID sensor is uniquely paired to the logic board at the factory—and without Apple’s proprietary calibration process, even a genuine replacement Touch ID sensor from another MacBook Air won’t work.

If you replace the Touch ID sensor, you must install a paired logic board to retain Touch ID functionality.

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.

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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 right speaker               

• Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it.

Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it.

Step 6

              Disconnect the audio board               

• Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.
• Remove the audio board connector cover.

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.

Remove the audio board connector cover.

Step 7

• Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the audio board connector straight up to disconnect it from the board.
• 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 audio board connector straight up to disconnect it from the board.

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 8

• Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Touch ID cable straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.
• Continue to slide the spudger underneath the Touch ID cable to release it from the audio board.
• The Touch ID cable is secured to the audio board with some light adhesive.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Touch ID cable straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.

Continue to slide the spudger underneath the Touch ID cable to release it from the audio board.

The Touch ID cable is secured to the audio board with some light adhesive.

Step 9

              Remove the audio board               

• Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three screws securing the audio board:
• Two 4.3 mm screws
• One 2.4 mm screw

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three screws securing the audio board:

Two 4.3 mm screws

One 2.4 mm screw

Step 10

• Remove the audio board.

Remove the audio board.

Step 11

              Remove the Touch ID sensor bracket               

• Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the six 1.6 mm screws securing the Touch ID sensor and its bracket.
• During reassembly, if you want your Touch ID button to be straight, don’t tighten down the six screws until you adjust its position on the keyboard.
• Remove the Touch ID sensor bracket.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the six 1.6 mm screws securing the Touch ID sensor and its bracket.

During reassembly, if you want your Touch ID button to be straight, don’t tighten down the six screws until you adjust its position on the keyboard.

Remove the Touch ID sensor bracket.

Step 12

              Remove the Touch ID sensor               

• Turn the MacBook right-side up and open the display.
• Remove the Touch ID sensor.

Turn the MacBook right-side up and open the display.

Remove the Touch ID sensor.

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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                                                                                      One other person completed this guide.                                             

Author

                    Carsten Frauenheim                     

Member since: 03/10/2020

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simon walkden - Nov 9, 2022

Reply

Hi im going to replace the motherboard/logic board on this model if i take the mb and the id sensor from the same macbook will touch id work

Carsten Frauenheim - Nov 9, 2022

On MacBooks with Touch ID, the logic board and Touch ID sensor must be replaced as a pair.