Featured

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

24

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

5

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 1 step
  • Right Speaker
  • 7 steps
  • Left Speaker
  • 5 steps
  • Battery
  • 9 steps

Flags

1

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

  • BackMacBook Air 13" Retina Late 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

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 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

              Remove the audio board connector cover
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector 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 three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.

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

Step 5

  • Remove the audio board connector cover.

Remove the audio board connector cover.

Step 6

              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 7

              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 8

              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.

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.

Step 9

  • 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.

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 10

              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.

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 11

              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.

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.

Step 12

              Remove the left speaker screw
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the left speaker to the case.
  • If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the left speaker to the case.

Step 13

              Remove the speaker's stretch-release adhesive

Step 14

Step 15

              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.

Step 16

              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 17

  • Remove the trackpad cable cover.

Remove the trackpad cable cover.

Step 18

              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 19

  • 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 20

              Remove the battery tray screws
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.6 mm screws securing the battery tray to the case.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.6 mm screws securing the battery tray to the case.

Step 21

              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 22

  • 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 23

  • 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 24

              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.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      16 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

Michal Tar - Oct 22, 2021

Reply

You’ve gotta be kidding me…

GeneralKire - Jan 10, 2022

Reply

Hard to believe, but true.. this is an improvement from a couple generations ago, when you had to disassemble the entire computer or futz about with isopropyl alcohol and credit cards (or dental floss) to remove swollen but still glued in batteries. If this has you feeling overwhelmed, go look at the 74-step guide for the 2015 15” MacBook Pro Battery Replacement.

Pierre Lagarde - Jun 3, 2022

I concur with that. Made the fix for a Macbook Pro 13" 2014 some times ago and it looks really more difficult and stressing, especially with potentially destructive steps. I felt a bit lucky that it worked fine after that and since then…

Stephen Szyszkiewicz - Apr 12, 2022

Reply

Ok I have the battery out but where do you buy replacement adhesive strips? Everywhere I look they say they are for iphones or generic lcd repair. I had to take the battery out for other reasons and want to put the same battery back in.

Carsten Frauenheim - Apr 12, 2022

Stephen, the linked adhesive is a generic solution & should work just fine. Apple-specific adhesives are sometimes hard to source. You could also cut and adapt stretch-release adhesive strips to fit. Best of luck on your repair!