MacBook Air (15-inch, M5) 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 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)

  • Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm)

  • Torx Plus 3IP 25 mm bit

  • Torx Plus 3IP 44 mm half-moon 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

Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.

  1. Use the ESD-safe tweezers to peel up the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling to access the two 3IP screws. Then use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44mm half-moon bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-12573) from the trackpad connector cowling.

    • Important: Don’t remove the polyester film from the cowling.

  2. Pinch the trackpad connector cowling (1) and lift it off the connector (2).

  3. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to remove the four 3IP screws (923-12582) from the sides of the battery tray.

  4. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to remove the two 3IP screws (923-12549) from the middle of the battery tray.

  5. Use the ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the first battery adhesive tab (1). Gently peel the adhesive tab away from the top case. Then use the 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). Pull the adhesive strip slowly. Don’t let the adhesive strip touch the edge of the top case while removing it. Don’t overstretch the adhesive strip. Reposition your grip closer to the battery if needed.

  6. Repeat step 5 to remove the remaining three battery adhesive strips (2–4). Then continue to step 7.

    • 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 will be needed to complete the repair.

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

  8. Use the black stick to gently release the adhesive between the trackpad flex cable and top case in the areas shown (1, 2). Then move the trackpad flex cable away from the top case (3).

    • Caution: Don’t fold or crease the flex cable.

  9. 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

  1. Use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes to clean any battery adhesive residue from the top case.

  2. Fold the tabs on each battery adhesive 90 degrees at the perforated line as shown. Then remove the adhesive backing.

  3. Align the battery adhesives over the corners of the top case as shown.

  4. Press the battery adhesive strips onto the top case as shown.

  5. Supporting the battery from underneath, gently slide the battery flex cable under the logic board (1) as you lower battery into the top case. Ensure that the flex cable is aligned with the battery connector on the logic board (2).

    • Warning: Don't remove the battery from the battery tray.

    • Caution

      • Don't touch the middle of the battery (shown in red).

      • Handle the battery by the battery tray only.

  6. Position the battery flex cable alignment tool pins next to the screw holes as shown (1).

  7. Lay the tool flat as you insert the alignment pins into the screw holes (2).

  8. Press the end of the battery flex cable to the connector (3). Then remove the battery flex cable alignment tool.

  9. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP bit to partially reinstall two 3IP screws (923-12582) into the top corners of the battery tray.

    • Caution: To avoid damaging the battery tray in steps 10 through 12, don't turn the screws more than two clockwise rotations.

  10. Slightly tilt up the battery and support it from underneath.

    • Caution: Don't tilt up the battery more than 1 inch to avoid bending the tray where the two screws are partially installed (2).

  11. 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.

  12. Lower the battery into the top case.

  13. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 16 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall the two lower 3IP screws (923-12582) (1) into the battery tray. Then fully reinstall the two upper 3IP screws (923-12582) (2).

  14. Keep the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver value at 16 Ncm. Then use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-12549) into the middle of the battery tray.

  15. 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 lift 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.

  16. 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).

  17. Gently press the trackpad flex cable in the two areas shown to adhere it to the top case.

  18. Peel back the polyester film from both ends of the trackpad connector cowling.

  19. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-12573) into the trackpad connector cowling. Press the polyester film over both screws.

  20. Open the display. Then place the computer in the support frame with the display hanging over the edge of the table.

  21. 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: Before lowering the press plate, ensure that the trackpad flex cable lies flat against the battery.

  22. Place the support frame in the iPhone display press. Ensure that the support frame is aligned with the back of the iPhone display press. Then pull down the lever until it locks.

  23. 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).

  24. 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.

  25. Remove the computer from the support frame. Close the display and place the computer display side down.

  26. If there are release liners on the battery adhesive tabs, use ESD-safe tweezers to peel the release liner from the battery adhesive tabs.

  27. Use the flat end of the black stick to press the battery adhesive tabs onto the top case.

  28. 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:

Published Date: