Battery replacement MacBook Air 13 2022

Before starting, make sure the battery is discharged to below 25% to minimize the risk of fire or injury, as puncturing a charged lithium-ion battery can be hazardous.

Turn off your MacBook Air completely and disconnect any attached cables.

Shut the display, then turn the laptop over so the bottom faces upward. Leave the lid closed until you have safely disconnected the battery.

With a PL4 Pentalobe screwdriver, take out the four 6.4 mm screws holding the lower case in place:

- Two screws with shorter threads near the hinges

- Two screws with longer threads closer to the front edge of the MacBook

During this process, keep each screw organized and ensure they are returned to their original positions when reassembling.

Use an opening pick to begin. Attach a suction cup to the front edge of the lower case, positioning it in the center.

Firmly and steadily pull up on the suction cup to create a slight gap between the lower case and the laptop frame.

Slide an opening pick into the newly created gap.

You should hear and feel four clips disengage. If one doesn't come loose, insert your pick a bit deeper and try again.

Move the pick toward the bottom-right corner to release the first clip.

Continue sliding the pick around the corner and up the right edge to disengage the next clip.

Place the pick into the initial gap created using the suction cup.

Guide the pick toward the bottom-left corner, then slide it along the left edge to disengage the final two snapping clips.

The back edge of the MacBook is secured by four sliding tabs that hold the lower case tightly.

Removing these tabs requires significant force, so wearing gloves is recommended to avoid injury from the sharp edges of the case.

Keep the lower case flat and carefully pull it straight away from the back edge, working one corner at a time to release the sliding tabs.

Warning: Avoid lifting upward until the cover is fully detached!

Take off the lower case.

When reassembling:

Position the lower case and align the sliding tabs with the screw heads they fit over. Press down while sliding the lower case toward the back edge to secure the tabs. The sliding will stop once the tabs are properly engaged.

If one side aligns but the other shifts out of place, adjust both sides to ensure there’s no gap along the back edge.

Once the lower case sits flush with the frame, press firmly around the edges to lock the four snapping clips into place.

Each clip will make a noticeable click as it secures.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to unscrew the two 1.5 mm screws holding the cover in place.

In some cases, screw variations may require a T4 Torx screwdriver instead of a T3. Be mindful of this possibility whenever working with T3 screws during this repair.

Once the screws are removed, take off the battery connector cover with tweezers.

Use a pick to carefully lift and disconnect the battery press connector.

When reconnecting:

Position the connector over the socket and gently press down on one side until it snaps into place. Then press down on the opposite side. You may need a few attempts to properly align it.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 1.5 mm screws holding the cover in place.

Shift the trackpad cable cover aside using a spudger to expose the press connector beneath it.

Utilize the pointed tip of a spudger to gently lift and disconnect the trackpad cable press connector.

When reconnecting:

Ensure the connector is properly aligned and press down on one side until it clicks into position. Then, press down on the opposite side. Avoid applying pressure to the center, as misalignment can bend the pins and result in irreversible damage.

Using tweezers gently peel away the foam pad from the lower display cable cover to uncover a hidden screw.

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the fourteen 1.5 mm screws that hold the different cable covers in place.

Remove the six cable covers using tweezers.

Take out the four screws holding the upper display cable cover in place:

- Two 2.5 mm P2 Pentalobe screws

- Two 2.5 mm T3 Torx screws

Next, remove both the upper display cable cover and the plastic securing bracket.

During reassembly:

Ensure the upper edge of the metal cable cover fits into the slot on the plastic bracket.

Also be sure that the Pentalobe screws are inserted into the holes on the plastic securing bracket.

Use the pointed tip of a spudger to lift and disconnect both press connectors for the display cables.

Unplug the press connector for the microphone array, located just to the left of the display cables.

Use pointed end of a spudger to detach the press connectors for the left and right speakers.

Place the flat end of a spudger between the interconnect cable and the screw post.

Gently lift it to disconnect the interconnect cable.

Unplug the press connector for the MagSafe port.

Detach the press connectors for both Thunderbolt ports.

Use tweezers to hold the first antenna connector firmly at its base.

Pull straight upward to disconnect the cable.

Be cautious, as the antenna connectors on the logic board are delicate. Avoid bending them sideways while detaching.

Repeat the process to disconnect the second antenna cable.

During reassembly:

Position the connector directly over its socket and press down gently with the flat end of a spudger until it snaps into place. This may require a few attempts to align properly.

Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to loosen and remove the screws holding the logic board in place.

Take out the nine screws as follows:

- Three 3.8 mm T5 Torx screws

- One 3.6 mm T5 Torx screw

- Two 3.4 mm T5 Torx screws

- One 3.1 mm T5 Torx screw

- Two 2.7 mm T3 Torx screws

The logic board and its attached cover come out together as a single assembly.

The cover extends beyond the left edge of the logic board and can bend easily, so avoid lifting it from this side.

Hold the logic board on the right side and slide it toward the trackpad to free it from the overhangs near the speakers.

Remove the logic board completely.

As you reinstall the logic board, ensure no cables are caught beneath it while positioning it.

Carefully check these seven areas:

- Right speaker cable

- Trackpad cable

- Display cables and microphone array cable

- Antenna cables

- Battery cable

- Left speaker cable

- USB-C and MagSafe cables

Place the trackpad cable along the bottom edge of the MacBook to keep it clear of the battery.

A bit of adhesive holds the right side of the battery cable to the frame.

Gently lift and separate the battery cable from the frame.

Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 4.5 mm screws holding the upper edges of the battery tray.

Then, use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the center of the battery tray.

The battery cells in the MacBook are mounted on a metal tray, which is a single assembly. This tray is held in place on the frame by eight stretch-release adhesive strips:

- Four on the bottom left corner

- Four on the bottom right corner

Use tweezers to lift the black pull tab on one of the stretch-release adhesive strips until you're able to grip it with tweezers.

Gently pull the strip out from beneath the battery at a low angle. Take your time and apply consistent force, allowing the strip to stretch and gradually detach from under the battery tray.

You may need to re-grip the adhesive closer to the laptop and continue pulling in stages, as the adhesive can stretch quite a bit.

Keep pulling until the adhesive strip is fully removed from underneath the battery tray.

Repeat the process for the remaining seven adhesive strips.

If you successfully removed all the stretch-release adhesive, great! You can skip the following steps.

However, if any strips broke and the battery is still stuck, proceed with the next steps to remove the remaining adhesive.

Place a few drops of isopropyl alcohol between the battery and the frame where any adhesive is still present.

Allow the isopropyl alcohol to sit for one minute to loosen the adhesive.

Ensure the plastic card is positioned under the battery tray, not between the battery and the tray. Avoid attempting to separate the battery cells from the metal tray.

Slide a plastic card underneath the battery's metal tray.

Move the plastic card back and forth beneath the tray to cut through the remaining adhesive. You may need to gently lift the battery to access the adhesive.

If you're having trouble removing the adhesive, apply more isopropyl alcohol and try again.

Remove the battery assembly.

During reassembly:

Use tweezers to remove any leftover adhesive strips.

Clean off any adhesive residue with a few drops of isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth.

Before peeling off any adhesive liners, place the battery into its designated spot and ensure it fits properly.

If your new battery includes adhesive, peel off the plastic liners and press each cell securely into place.

If the new battery does not come with adhesive, use double sided tape to secure it.

Follow these steps in reverse order to reassemble your MacBook.