Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
15
Time Required
15 - 45 minutes
Sections
3
- Lower Case
- 2 steps
- Battery Disconnection
- 2 steps
- Trackpad
- 11 steps
Flags
0
BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Early 2020
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
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
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 6
- Remove the trackpad cable cover.
Remove the trackpad cable cover.
Step 7
Disconnect the trackpad cable
- Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.
- 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 trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.
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
- 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 9
Disconnect the trackpad cable
- Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the tape covering the trackpad cable connector.
Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the tape covering the trackpad cable connector.
Step 10
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the trackpad cable’s ZIF connector.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the trackpad cable’s ZIF connector.
Step 11
- Slide the microphone cable out of its connector.
- If possible, grip the cable by the tape, not by the cable itself.
Slide the microphone cable out of its connector.
If possible, grip the cable by the tape, not by the cable itself.
Step 12
Remove the trackpad screws
- Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the nine screws securing the trackpad:
- Eight fully-coated 3.1 mm screws
- One partially-coated 3.1 mm screw
Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the nine screws securing the trackpad:
Eight fully-coated 3.1 mm screws
One partially-coated 3.1 mm screw
Step 13
Remove the trackpad
- While keeping the laptop screen-side down, carefully open the laptop. The trackpad will stay sitting on the display.
- As you lift, make sure the trackpad cable threads through the opening on the case.
While keeping the laptop screen-side down, carefully open the laptop. The trackpad will stay sitting on the display.
As you lift, make sure the trackpad cable threads through the opening on the case.
Step 14
- As you remove the trackpad assembly, be careful not to lose the five small metal washers resting on the screw posts. (They will fly off and get lost with very little provocation.)
- Remove the trackpad.
- Take extra care to not scratch the display.
As you remove the trackpad assembly, be careful not to lose the five small metal washers resting on the screw posts. (They will fly off and get lost with very little provocation.)
Remove the trackpad.
Take extra care to not scratch the display.
Step 15
Remove the trackpad cable
- If your replacement trackpad comes with a trackpad cable preinstalled, this step isn’t necessary.
- Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the small locking flap on the trackpad’s ZIF connector.
- Slide the trackpad cable straight out of the ZIF connector.
If your replacement trackpad comes with a trackpad cable preinstalled, this step isn’t necessary.
Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the small locking flap on the trackpad’s ZIF connector.
Slide the trackpad cable straight out of the ZIF connector.
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.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
2 other people completed this guide.
Author
Carsten Frauenheim
Member since: 03/10/2020
81,713 Reputation
330 Guides authored
Badges:
38
+35 more badges
Team
iFixit
Member of iFixit
Community
141 Members
15,772 Guides authored
