MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 2024) Battery
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)
Battery adhesive
Battery flex cable alignment tool
Battery press plate and support frame
ESD-safe tweezers
Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes
iPhone display press
Nylon probe (black stick)
Torx Plus 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit
Torx Plus 3IP 25 mm bit
Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.
Note: A replacement battery includes battery adhesive, which can also be ordered separately.
Removal
Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling to access the two 3IP screws.
Important: Don’t remove the polyester film from the cowling.
Use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44mm half-moon bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-08925) from the trackpad connector cowling.
Pinch the trackpad flex cable cowling (1) and lift it off the connector (2).
Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to remove the four 3IP screws (923-10475) from the sides of the battery tray.
Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25mm bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-08991) from the middle of the battery tray.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the first battery adhesive tab (1). Gently peel the adhesive tab away from the top case.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the second battery adhesive tab (2). Gently peel the adhesive tab away from the top case.
Pull both battery adhesive tabs to peel them away from the battery tray and top case (3).
Important: While grasping the two battery adhesive tabs, pull the adhesive strip past the edge of the top case at a slight upward angle until you’ve removed the entire adhesive strip (4). Don’t let the adhesive strips touch the edge of the top case.
Repeat steps 6 through 8 to remove the remaining three battery adhesive strips (2–4). Then continue to step 10.
- Warning:
If a tab or adhesive strip breaks off and you can still see it, remove any other remaining adhesive strips. Then attempt to retrieve the broken strip with ESD-safe tweezers.
If you can't see a tab or an adhesive strip breaks off and can't be retrieved, don't forcibly pry the battery. Stop the repair and refer to Battery Safety. A replacement top case and battery are needed to complete the repair.
Hold the battery cover by the edges and lift it off the top case.
Gently peel the trackpad flex cable off the top case (1, 2).
Caution: Don’t fold or crease the flex cable (3).
Gently lift the battery and support it from underneath (1). Grasp the battery flex cable and slide it out from under the logic board (2) as you lift the battery out of the top case.
- Caution: Don't touch the middle of the battery (shown in red). Handle the battery by the battery tray only.
- Warning: Don't remove the battery from the battery tray.
Reassembly
Use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes to clean any battery adhesive residue from the top case.
Fold the tabs on each battery adhesive 90 degrees at the perforated line as shown. Then remove the adhesive backing.
Align the battery adhesive over the corners of the top case as shown.
Press the battery adhesive strips onto the top case as shown.
Support the battery from underneath as you lower it into the top case. Slide the battery flex cable under the logic board (1) while aligning the connector on the end of the flex cable with the connector on the logic board (2).
- Caution: Don't touch the middle of the battery (shown in red). Handle the battery by the battery tray only.
Position the battery flex cable alignment tool pins next to the screw holes as shown (1).
Lay the tool flat as you insert the alignment pins into the screw holes (2).
Press the end of the battery flex cable to the connector (3). Then remove the battery flex cable alignment tool.
Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to partially reinstall two 3IP screws (923-10475) into the top corners of the battery tray.
- Caution: To avoid damaging the battery tray in the following steps, don't reinstall the screws more than two clockwise rotations.
Slightly tilt up the battery about 1 inch (2.5 cm) (1) and support it from underneath.
- Caution: Don't tilt up the battery more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) or you could bend the battery tray where the two screws are partially installed (2).
Under one side of the battery tray, use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the folded tab on the battery adhesive release liner. Then peel the top release liner off the battery adhesive strips. Repeat this step on the other side.
Lower the battery into the top case.
Set the torque value of the adjustable torque driver to 16 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall the two lower 3IP screws (923-10475) (1) into the battery tray. Then fully reinstall the two upper 3IP screws (923-10475) (2).
Use the adjustable torque driver, still set to 16 Ncm, and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-08991) into the middle of the battery tray.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the polyester film tab on the battery flex cable. Then pull the tab straight up to lift the end of the battery flex cable off the connector.
Important: Ensure that you life the polyester film tab straight up. If the tab tears, use the flat end of the black stick to lift the end of the battery flex cable off the connector.
Lay the trackpad flex cable over the battery (1). Press the end of the trackpad flex cable to the connector on the logic board (2).
Gently press the trackpad flex cable in the two areas shown to adhere it to the top case.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel back the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling.
Use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-08925) into the trackpad connector cowling.
Press the polyester film over both screws.
Open the display. Then place the computer in the support frame with the display hanging over the edge of the table.
Position the battery press plate over the battery (1). Align the holes on the battery press plate over the alignment pins on the support frame (2).
- Caution: Ensure that the trackpad flex cable lies flat against the battery to avoid damaging it with the press plate.
Place the support frame in the iPhone display press.
Ensure that the support frame is aligned with the back of the iPhone display press.
Pull down the lever until it locks.
Wait until the iPhone display press beeps and the timer shows 0. Pull down the lever slightly (1) and pull out the release knob (2). Then lift the lever (3).
Remove the support frame from the iPhone display press. Place the support frame near the edge of the table so the display hangs over the edge. Then lift the press plate off the battery.
Remove the computer from the support frame. Close the display and place the computer display side down.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to peel the release liner from the battery adhesive pull tabs.
Use the flat end of the black stick to press the battery adhesive tabs onto the top case.
Place the battery cover on the battery. Then press the black tabs into the clips on the top case until you feel a click.
Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly: