MacBook Air (13-inch, M5) Logic Board

Before You Begin

Warning

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

Remove the following parts before you begin:

Tools

  • Adjustable torque driver (10–34 Ncm)

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • 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

  • Torx Plus 5IP 50 mm bit

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

Note: This procedure requires input/output (I/O) connector cowling tape and audio/sensor connector cowling tape, which are included with a replacement logic board.

Important

  • If you replace this part, it’s recommended to run Repair Assistant in order to finish the repair. Repair Assistant will be available on the device after you’ve completed all reassembly steps.

Removal

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

  1. Lift the bottom right edge of the I/O connector cowling tape.

  2. Peel the I/O connector cowling tape off the I/O connector cowling.

  3. Lift the upper middle edge of the audio/sensor connector cowling tape.

    • Caution: The audio/sensor connector cowling tape is positioned over the thermal module tape. Don't peel the thermal module tape from the thermal module. If the thermal module tape is damaged, you must install a replacement logic board.

  4. Peel the audio/sensor connector cowling tape off the logic board.

  5. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to remove the three 3IP screws from the logic board.

    • Two screws (923-12563) (1)

    • One screw (923-12572) (2)

  6. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit to remove the eight 3IP screws from the following three cowlings:

    • Two screws (923-14458) from the audio/sensor connector cowling (1, 2)

    • Four screws (923-14457) from the I/O connector cowling (3–6)

    • Two screws (923-12573) from the trackpad connector cowling (7, 8)

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

  7. Remove the I/O connector cowling and save it for reassembly.

  8. Tilt up the top edge of the audio/sensor connector cowling and slide the bottom tab from beneath the logic board as shown. Save the cowling for reassembly.

  9. Peel the polyester film tab from the keyboard flex cable connector (1). Then flip up the locking lever (2).

    • Caution: Don't attempt to remove the flex cable from the connector yet.

  10. Lift the ends of the following eight flex cables (1–8) off the connectors:

    • Audio/sensor flex cable (1)

    • Microphone flex cable (2)

    • Display flex cables (3, 4)

    • MagSafe 3 board flex cable (5)

    • USB-C board flex cables (6, 7)

    • Trackpad flex cable (8)

  11. Peel the polyester film tab from the keyboard backlight flex cable connector (1). Then flip up the locking lever (2) and gently slide the flex cable out of the connector (3).

    • Important: Don't remove the polyester film tab from the connector.

  12. Use the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to remove the five 5IP screws from the logic board.

    • Two screws (923-14459) (1, 2)

    • Two screws (923-14456) (3, 4)

    • One screw (923-12558) (5)

  13. Hold the logic board by the edges to the right of the trackpad connector. Support but don't lift the thermal module.

    • Tilt up the edge of the logic board closest to you until it clears the end of the battery flex cable (1).

    • Slide the logic board toward you (2) until the keyboard flex cable separates from the connector and the audio/sensor flex cable is routed out of the logic board (3).

      • Caution

        • Don’t lift the logic board by grasping the thermal module.

        • Use the black stick to move the flex cables out of the way as you remove the logic board.

        • When removing the logic board, avoid catching the thermal module on the Touch ID flex cable and cowling.

Reassembly

  1. Ensure that the locking lever on the keyboard connector is in the unlocked position.

  2. Hold the logic board by the edges to the right of the trackpad connector. Support but don't lift the thermal module.

    • Guide the logic board into the top case (1), ensuring that the audio/sensor flex cable is routed between the thermal module and the logic board (2).

    • Position the keyboard flex cable so it slides into the keyboard flex cable connector (3), using the black stick to guide the flex cable into the connector as needed. Then lower the logic board into the top case (4).

      • Caution:

        • Don't lift the logic board by grasping the thermal module.

        • Don't flip down the locking lever yet.

        • Use the black stick to lift and guide flex cables as required.

        • When installing the logic board, avoid catching the thermal module on the Touch ID flex cable and cowling.

  3. Ensure that none of the flex cables (1–10) are trapped under the logic board.

    • Caution: Don’t connect the battery flex cable (9).

  4. Flip down the locking lever on the keyboard flex cable connector (1). Then press the polyester film onto the connector (2).

  5. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 14.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall one 5IP screw (923-12558) (1).

  6. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 10 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall the two 5IP screws in the order shown (923-14459) (2–3).

  7. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 14.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 5IP bit to reinstall the two 5IP screws (923-14456).

  8. Keep the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver at 14.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall one 3IP screw (923-12572) (1).

  9. Set the torque value on the 10–34 Ncm adjustable torque driver to 11.5 Ncm. Use the adjustable torque driver and 3IP 25 mm bit to reinstall the two 3IP screws (923-12563) (2).

  10. Press the ends of eight flex cables (1–8) to the connectors.

    • Caution: Don’t connect the battery flex cable.

  11. Slide the end of the keyboard backlight flex cable into the flex cable connector (1). Flip down the locking lever (2). Then press the polyester film onto the connector (3).

  12. Tilt the bottom edge of the audio/sensor connector cowling under the logic board. Ensure that the tab is seated in the bracket on the logic board. Then lower the cowling over the end of the audio/sensor flex cable.

  13. Position the I/O connector cowling over the ends of the flex cables.

  14. Use the blue torque driver and 3IP 44 mm half-moon bit to reinstall the eight 3IP screws into the three cowlings.

    • Two screws (923-14458) into the audio/sensor connector cowling (1)

    • Two screws (923-12573) in the trackpad connector cowling (2)

    • Four screws (923-14457) into the I/O connector cowling (3)

  15. Remove the adhesive backing from the I/O connector cowling tape.

  16. Align the I/O connector cowling tape with the upper right corner of the I/O connector cowling. Then press along the length of the I/O connector cowling tape to adhere it to the I/O connector cowling.

    • Caution: Ensure that the I/O connector cowling tape doesn’t extend past the edge of the cowling.

  17. Slightly peel back the bottom right corner of the top adhesive liner on the I/O connector cowling tape. Then slowly roll the liner off the cowling tape.

  18. Remove the adhesive backing from the audio/sensor connector cowling tape.

  19. Align the audio/sensor connector cowling tape on the logic board as shown. Then press along the length of the tape to adhere it to the logic board.

    • Caution: Ensure that the audio/sensor connector cowling tape doesn’t extend past the edge of the logic board.

  20. Slightly peel back the bottom right corner of the top adhesive liner of the audio/sensor connector cowling tape. Then slowly roll the liner off the cowling tape.

Reinstall the following parts to complete reassembly:

Important

Depending on the part replaced, Repair Assistant may be available on the device to finish the repair. Learn how to initiate Repair Assistant. 

Published Date: