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Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

34

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

6

  • Lower Case
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 3 steps
  • Hard Drive
  • 6 steps
  • Heat Sink
  • 6 steps
  • Logic Board
  • 8 steps
  • Display Assembly
  • 9 steps

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  • BackMacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Lower Case
  • Unplug your MacBook Air and power it off before you proceed.
  • Remove ten Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Air:
  • Six 2.8 mm screws
  • Two 3.8 mm screws
  • Two 5.4 mm screws

Unplug your MacBook Air and power it off before you proceed.

Remove ten Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Air:

Six 2.8 mm screws

Two 3.8 mm screws

Two 5.4 mm screws

1024

Step 2

  • Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

Step 3

              Battery
  • Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight out of its socket.

Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight out of its socket.

Step 4

  • Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:
  • Four 2.9 mm Phillips.
  • Four 3.8 mm Phillips.
  • One 7.2 mm Phillips.

Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:

Four 2.9 mm Phillips.

Four 3.8 mm Phillips.

One 7.2 mm Phillips.

Step 5

  • Lift the battery out of the Air.
  • If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:
  • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Then, 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.

Lift the battery out of the Air.

If you’re installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Then, 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.

Step 6

              Hard Drive
  • Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.
  • Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
  • Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.

Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

Step 7

  • Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

Step 8

  • Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 9

  • Use the sharp end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.
  • Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

Use the sharp end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.

Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

Step 10

  • Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case:
  • Two 4.7 mm screws.
  • Two 3.9 mm screws.

Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case:

Two 4.7 mm screws.

Two 3.9 mm screws.

Step 11

  • Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

Step 12

              Heat Sink
  • Use the tip of a spudger to pull the fan cable connector straight away from its connector on the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to pull the fan cable connector straight away from its connector on the logic board.

Step 13

  • Use the tip of a spudger to move the cosmetic fan cover aside.

Use the tip of a spudger to move the cosmetic fan cover aside.

Step 14

  • If you have the original version of the MacBook Air (A1237), refer to picture 1. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
  • One 5.9 mm Phillips screw.
  • Two 1.9 mm Phillips screws.
  • One 1.9 mm Phillips screw.
  • If you have the A1304 version of MacBook Air, refer to picture 2. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:
  • One 5.0 mm Phillips screw
  • Five 1.9 mm Philips screws.
  • One 2.5 mm Phillips screw.

If you have the original version of the MacBook Air (A1237), refer to picture 1. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

One 5.9 mm Phillips screw.

Two 1.9 mm Phillips screws.

One 1.9 mm Phillips screw.

If you have the A1304 version of MacBook Air, refer to picture 2. Remove the following screws securing the heat sink to the logic board:

One 5.0 mm Phillips screw

Five 1.9 mm Philips screws.

One 2.5 mm Phillips screw.

Step 15

  • Lift the processor clamp off the heat sink.

Lift the processor clamp off the heat sink.

Step 16

  • Deroute the microphone cable away from the channel in the fan.

Deroute the microphone cable away from the channel in the fan.

Step 17

  • Lift the heat sink up off the logic board.
  • Be mindful of the microphone cable when lifting the heat sink, as it can get tangled on the top edge of the fan.
  • When you mount the heat sink back onto the logic board, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste. We have a guide that makes replacing the thermal paste easy.

Lift the heat sink up off the logic board.

Be mindful of the microphone cable when lifting the heat sink, as it can get tangled on the top edge of the fan.

When you mount the heat sink back onto the logic board, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste. We have a guide that makes replacing the thermal paste easy.

Step 18

              Logic Board
  • Use a spudger to pry the audio cable connector up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the audio cable connector up off the logic board.

Step 19

  • If present, remove the small piece of black tape covering the microphone cable connector.
  • Disconnect the microphone cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

If present, remove the small piece of black tape covering the microphone cable connector.

Disconnect the microphone cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 20

  • Remove the two small Phillips screws securing the logic board bracket to the upper case.
  • Lift the logic board bracket out of the upper case.

Remove the two small Phillips screws securing the logic board bracket to the upper case.

Lift the logic board bracket out of the upper case.

Step 21

  • Use a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth and trackpad control cable connectors up off the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the AirPort/Bluetooth and trackpad control cable connectors up off the logic board.

Step 22

  • Disconnect the DC-In cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Disconnect the DC-In cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 23

  • Remove the small Phillips screw securing the display data cable ground loop to the upper case.
  • Disconnect the display data cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Remove the small Phillips screw securing the display data cable ground loop to the upper case.

Disconnect the display data cable by pulling its connector straight away from the socket on the logic board.

Step 24

  • Remove the three Phillips screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

Remove the three Phillips screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

Step 25

  • Lift the logic board out of the upper case.

Lift the logic board out of the upper case.

Step 26

              Display Assembly
  • Remove the two following screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board bracket to the upper case:
  • One 4.7 mm Phillips.
  • One 3.9 mm Phillips.

Remove the two following screws securing the AirPort/Bluetooth board bracket to the upper case:

One 4.7 mm Phillips.

One 3.9 mm Phillips.

Step 27

  • Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket out of the upper case.

Lift the AirPort/Bluetooth bracket out of the upper case.

Step 28

  • Use a spudger to pry the three antenna cables up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Use a spudger to pry the three antenna cables up off the AirPort/Bluetooth board.

Step 29

  • Peel the antenna cables up off the adhesive securing them to the upper case.

Peel the antenna cables up off the adhesive securing them to the upper case.

Step 30

  • Remove the single Phillips screw securing the microphone cable ground loop to the upper case.

Remove the single Phillips screw securing the microphone cable ground loop to the upper case.

Step 31

  • Remove the following 15 screws:
  • Thirteen 2.3 mm Phillips.
  • Two T6 Torx.
  • Leave one T6 Torx screw in each side of the display bracket.

Remove the following 15 screws:

Thirteen 2.3 mm Phillips.

Two T6 Torx.

Leave one T6 Torx screw in each side of the display bracket.

Step 32

  • Open the Air so the display is perpendicular to the upper case and place it on a table as shown.
  • While holding the top of the Air with one hand, remove the T6 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Open the Air so the display is perpendicular to the upper case and place it on a table as shown.

While holding the top of the Air with one hand, remove the T6 Torx screw from the lower display bracket.

Step 33

  • Be sure to hold the Air together while you remove the last Torx screw. Failure to do so may cause the display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging both components.
  • Remove the T6 Torx screw from the upper display bracket.

Be sure to hold the Air together while you remove the last Torx screw. Failure to do so may cause the display/upper case to fall, potentially damaging both components.

Remove the T6 Torx screw from the upper display bracket.

Step 34

  • Pull the upper case straight away from the display, minding any cables that may get caught.

Pull the upper case straight away from the display, minding any cables that may get caught.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Walter Galan

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Steven Hanlon - Jan 2, 2013

Reply

Great guide. I was able to remove the components without any trouble. Be sure to label your screws, as there are so many.

Antonio Korts - Dec 17, 2018

Do you have a guide to put that macbook back togerher?

Alfredo Sola - Jul 17, 2013

Reply

I was able to replace broken hinges without replacing the whole display. It takes patience and a bit of courage but it’s doable (except if you are blonde and cute I guess ;)

jose enrique guijarro martinez - Aug 14, 2014

Buenas tardes Alberto. Tengo necesidad de sustituir una bisagra de este modelo y no sé donde puedo adquirirla. Le agradecería que me dijera donde puedo comprarla. muchas gracias por adelantado

pentzini - Sep 20, 2016

Reply

Thanks for the guide. My internal microphone stopped working but unfortunately I was not able to fix it. Still, very helpful guide.