Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

                          10 - 30 minutes

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 2 steps
  • USB-C Board
  • 4 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

              Remove the USB-C board
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the USB-C connector cover.
  • Remove the USB-C connector cover.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the USB-C connector cover.

Remove the USB-C connector cover.

Step 6

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the USB-C cable connector up and out of its socket on the logic 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 USB-C cable connector up and out of its socket on the logic 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 7

  • Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the two 2.9 mm screws securing the USB-C board.

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the two 2.9 mm screws securing the USB-C board.

Step 8

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the USB-C board.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the USB-C board.

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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                                                                                      4 other people completed this guide.

Author

                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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Tyler - Nov 15, 2021

Reply

Great guide and easy repair! My MacBook Air thought it was perpetually plugged in and would only charge from one of the USB C ports, this repair fixed it! I had a little scare when rebooting after the the fix, I either wasn’t pressing the power/touch ID button long enough or resetting the SMC (left shift, control, option, and power buttons) and holding the buttons until it booted worked. Not sure which did it.

Faabio - Feb 10, 2022

Reply

Thanks a lot, the repair guide was perfect ! It really took me 5mn.

Lastly, when booting for the 1st time after doing the repair, pressing the power button didn’t work and my MBA stayed off. I had to plug it to the charger and it then booted seamlessly.

Thanks again !

Shaun M. - May 26, 2022

Reply

Wish i could change out my USB port on my 2014 MacAir to USB-C

Cary - Nov 18, 2022

Reply

The same experience as Fabio. The repair was simple and straight-forward and the machine wouldn’t boot from the battery the first time. Once plugged into the charger it booted just fine and has booted off the battery as normal ever since.

Fixed my 1 dead USB port problem with very little hassle/cost. Just be prepared for the bowel clenching moment when it won’t boot from the battery the first time.