MacBook Air (13-inch, M3, 2024) Trackpad and Trackpad Flex Cable

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following part before you begin:

Tools

  • Adjustable torque driver (10–34 Ncm)

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Gap offset tools

  • Kapton tape

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Sticky notes (3 by 3 inches)

  • Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm)

  • Torx 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit

  • Torx 5IP 50 mm bit

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Important

  • Some images in this procedure show the trackpad flex cable with the trackpad connector cowling removed. However, the trackpad connector cowling should remain attached to the trackpad flex cable throughout the repair procedure.

  • This procedure may require a trackpad shim kit, which only comes with a replacement trackpad. It’s not a separate orderable part.

Removal

  1. Open the display. Place the computer on the edge of the table with the display hanging down.

  2. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-10367) from the trackpad connector cowling.

    • Important: Don't remove the trackpad connector cowling from the trackpad flex cable.

  3. Lift the end of the trackpad flex cable off the connector.

  4. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove the 10 5IP screws (923-10382) from the trackpad.

  5. Hold the battery cover by the edges and lift it off the top case.

  6. Use the black stick to gently release the adhesive between the trackpad flex cable and top case in the two areas shown. Then move the trackpad flex cable away from the top case.

    • Caution: The adhesive under the trackpad flex cable is very strong. Don’t damage the flex cable when peeling it from the top case.

  7. Lift the computer off the table (1). Allow the trackpad flex cable to pass through the opening in the top case (2). Leave the trackpad flat on the table to keep the shims in place.

  8. If you're reinstalling the existing trackpad and trackpad flex cable, set aside the trackpad and flex cable for reassembly.

    • Important: If the shims fall out, they must be reinstalled in their original locations. If you can’t determine the shims’ original locations, replace them. A replacement shim kit is available only with a replacement trackpad.

  9. Place the battery cover on the battery. Then press the holes in the battery cover onto the screws in the top case until you feel a click.

  10. If the trackpad flex cable is damaged, flip up the locking lever on the flex cable connector (1). Peel the end of the flex cable off the trackpad. Then slide the end of the flex cable out of the connector (2).

    • Note: There is a small amount of adhesive between the trackpad flex cable and the trackpad.

Reassembly

Important

If you’re installing a replacement trackpad flex cable on the existing trackpad or on a replacement trackpad, complete reassembly step 1. If you’re installing the existing trackpad and trackpad flex cable with replacement shims, skip to reassembly step 2. If you’re installing the existing trackpad and the shims are still in place, skip to reassembly step 3.

  1. Slide the end of the replacement trackpad flex cable into the connector on the trackpad (1). Then flip down the locking lever (2).

  2. Use ESD-safe tweezers to install replacement trackpad shims. Position four oval shims on the outer screw holes. Then position two circular shims on the middle screw holes.

    • Note: The replacement trackpad shim kit includes three sizes of oval shims and three sizes of round shims (0.125 mm, 0.175 mm, and 0.225 mm). Start with the 0.175 mm shims. Use thinner or thicker shims to adjust alignment in step 21.

      • 0.125 mm oval (806-06497)

      • 0.175 mm oval (806-06499)

      • 0.225 mm oval (806-06501)

      • 0.125 mm round (806-05807)

      • 0.175 mm round (806-05809)

      • 0.225 mm round (806-05811)

  3. Lay the computer keyboard side down. Let the display hang over the table edge. Then hold the battery cover by the edges and lift it off the top case.

  4. Lift the computer and route the trackpad flex cable through the trackpad opening in the top case.

  5. Slowly lower the computer over the trackpad and align the screw holes in the top case with the screw holes in the trackpad. Let the display hang over the table edge.

  6. Press the end of the trackpad flex cable to the connector.

  7. Position the trackpad connector cowling.

  8. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-10367) into the trackpad connector cowling.

  9. Press the two areas shown to adhere the trackpad flex cable to the top case.

    • Important: If you’re installing a replacement trackpad flex cable, remove the adhesive backing before adhering the flex cable to the top case.

  10. Place the battery cover on the battery. Then press the holes in the battery cover onto the screws in the top case until you feel a click.

  11. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to partially reinstall the 10 5IP screws (923-10382) into the trackpad.

  12. Turn the computer right side up with the display open. Starting with the lower left corner of the trackpad, insert the two tips of one gap offset into the gap between the trackpad and top case. Then gently press the gap offset into place. Secure the gap offset to the trackpad with a piece of Kapton tape.

  13. Apply a piece of Kapton tape to the middle of the trackpad (1). Hold one end of the tape as shown. Then press and pull (2) to create a small gap between the trackpad and top case in the upper right corner (3).

  14. Repeat step 12 to position the second gap offset into the upper right corner of the trackpad. Then continue to step 15.

  15. Repeat steps 12 and 13 to position the two remaining gap offsets in the lower right and upper left corners of the trackpad. Then continue to step 16.

  16. Ensure that each gap offset is secured to the trackpad with a piece of Kapton tape.

  17. Lay the computer keyboard side down. Let the display hang over the table edge.

  18. Set the torque value on the adjustable torque driver to 17.5 Ncm. Then use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to fully reinstall the four outer corner 5IP screws into the trackpad.

  19. Turn the computer right side up with the display open. To verify that the top of the trackpad is at the correct height, align one sticky note on the trackpad’s top edge. Ensure that the sticky note is flush with the top case.

  20. To verify that the bottom of the trackpad is at the correct height, align a stack of two sticky notes on the trackpad’s bottom edge. Ensure that the two sticky notes are flush with the top case.

  21. If the trackpad is at the correct height, continue to step 22. If the trackpad edges are higher or lower than the top case, or if the gaps around the trackpad and top case are uneven, remove the sticky notes, gap offset tools, and Kapton tape. Place the computer on the edge of the table with the display hanging down. Repeat removal steps 2 through 10. Then follow reassembly steps 2 through 21.

    • Important

      • If the trackpad is higher than the top case, install the thinner 0.125 mm shims.

      • If the trackpad is lower than the top case, install the thicker 0.225 mm shims.

  22. Lay the computer keyboard side down. Let the display hang over the table edge.

  23. Keep the adjustable torque driver value at 17.5 Ncm. Then use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to fully reinstall the remaining six 5IP screws into the trackpad.

  24. Turn the computer right side up with the display open. Use the flat end of the black stick to lift the gap offsets and Kapton tape off the trackpad.

Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly:

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