Battery replacement MacBook Air 13 Late 2020

Before beginning this procedure, disable the Auto Boot feature on your Mac. Auto Boot activates your Mac when you open the lid and could be unintentionally triggered during disassembly.

For MacBooks running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not be effective. You can continue with the steps, but remember to disconnect the battery as soon as you access the interior.

1. Fully power down and unplug your MacBook before you start. Close the display and flip the laptop over so it’s upside-down.

2. Using a T5 screwdriver, remove these screws:

• Two 7.9 mm screws
• Two 7.3 mm screws
• Six 2.6 mm screws

Throughout the repair, carefully track each screw to ensure it’s returned to its original position, preventing potential damage to your MacBook.

• Insert opening pick between the display and the lower case then separate it.
• Next, insert your fingers under lower case and detach it.
• Take off the lower case.

To reattach the lower case
Align it properly and press down firmly to secure the two hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them click into place.

• Use the flat end of a spudger to lift and disengage the metal locking arm on the battery connector.

Ensure the metal arm is fully released from the locking tab before pulling out the battery connector. The arm should come free easily.

• Lift the metal arm upward to disconnect the battery from its socket on the logic board.

When reassembling, carefully press the battery connector into its socket, ensuring it fits snugly.

• If necessary, start by inserting the rear (wire side) of the connector, then gently tilt the front of the connector into place.

• With a T3 Torx screwdriver remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.

If the T3 feels loose, you may need to use a T4 scewdriver instead.

• With tweezers grip the audio board connector cover and remove it.

When working on the MacBook with it laying upside down, the right speaker will be on your left-hand side.

• Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the right speaker cable and gently pry straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the right speaker to the case.

• 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.
• Grab the adhesive strip’s pull tab and slowly pull the adhesive strip out from underneath the speaker.

Keep the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as possible, avoiding dragging it across the inside of the case.

• Pull the adhesive strip until it is completely freed from under the speaker.

If the adhesive strip breaks, apply heat with a heat gun, or hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

• Carefully slide a spudger or opening pick underneath the speaker to help separate the adhesive.

• Carefully lift and remove the right speaker from the case.

During reassembly
To ensure optimal performance, apply a strip of double sided tape to the underside of the speaker before positioning it back into the case.

The left speaker will be on your right-hand 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 gently pry straight up to disconnect it from the logic board.

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

If the T3 feels loose, you may need to use a T4 Torx instead.

• 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. 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 possible, avoiding dragging it across the inside of the case.

• Pull the adhesive strip until it is fully freed from under the speaker.

If the adhesive strip breaks, use a heat gun, or hair dryer to help loosen 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.

• Carefully lift and remove the left speaker from the case.

During reassembly
To ensure the speaker functions properly, apply a strip of double sided tape to the underside of the speaker before securing it back into the case.

• Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the trackpad cable cover.
• Once the screws are removed, carefully lift and remove the trackpad cable cover.

• Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully pry the trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.

The trackpad cable is lightly secured to the battery with adhesive.

• Gently peel the trackpad cable off the battery.

Alternatively, you can slide an opening pick under the cable to separate the adhesive, being very careful not to damage the battery

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

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.
• 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 possible, avoiding dragging it across the inside of the case.
• Pull the adhesive strip until it's completely freed from under the battery.

Repeat the process for the two remaining adhesive strips on the battery's left side.

• Carefully take out the battery from the MacBook.

When installing a new battery follow these instruction in reverse.

After the new battery is installed follow the calibration procedure

1. Charge the battery to 100%, and then continue charging for at least 2 more hours.

2. Unplug the charger and use the MacBook normally to drain the battery.

3. When you see the low battery warning, save your work and keep the laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery.

4. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge the laptop uninterrupted to 100%.