Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

12

Time Required

                          10 - 30 minutes

Sections

3

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 1 step
  • Antenna Bar
  • 9 steps

Flags

0

  • BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Late 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 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 7.3 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 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 7.3 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 off the lower case.
  • 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 off the lower case.

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
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and unlatch the metal locking arm on the battery connector.
  • Make sure the metal arm is completely free of the locking tab before lifting the battery connector. The metal locking arm should easily unlatch.
  • Lift straight up on the metal locking arm to pull the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.
  • During reassembly, press the battery connector straight down into its socket, making sure it sits flush within the socket.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and unlatch the metal locking arm on the battery connector.

Make sure the metal arm is completely free of the locking tab before lifting the battery connector. The metal locking arm should easily unlatch.

Lift straight up on the metal locking arm to pull the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.

During reassembly, press the battery connector straight down into its socket, making sure it sits flush within the socket.

Step 4

              Disconnect the antenna cables
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.
  • If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

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

If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

Step 5

  • Remove the antenna cable cover.

Remove the antenna cable cover.

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

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

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

Step 8

  • Remove the display cable connector cover.

Remove the display cable connector cover.

Step 9

  • 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 10

              Remove the antenna bar screws
  • Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the antenna bar:
  • Four 7.4 mm silver screws
  • Two 4.7 mm black screws

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

Four 7.4 mm silver screws

Two 4.7 mm black screws

Step 11

              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 12

  • Use your fingers to pry the antenna bar straight up and away from the case.
  • The antenna bar is secured with some 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.

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

The antenna bar is secured with some 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.

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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