MacBook Air (M1, 2020) Battery

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

  • Battery support frame and press plate

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes

  • iPhone display press

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torx T3 screwdriver

Important

This procedure requires battery adhesive and alignment pins. Alignment pins are available only with a replacement battery or top case. They are not separately orderable parts.

Removal

  1. Use the T3 screwdriver to remove the two T3 screws (923-04003) from the IPD connector cowling.

  2. Remove the IPD connector cowling and save it for reassembly.

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

  4. Lift the end of the IPD flex cable off the connector (1). Then gently peel the flex cable off the battery (2).

  5. Place the battery cover on the battery. Then press the black tabs into the clips on the top case until you feel a click.

  6. Tilt up the side of the battery cover to access the battery adhesive tabs. Press and hold the battery cover tab to ensure that it remains clipped into the top case.

  7. Use ESD-safe tweezers to grasp the battery adhesive tab.

  8. Gently peel the battery adhesive tab off the top case. Slowly pull the adhesive tab past the battery cover. As the adhesive strip stretches, twist the tweezers to wrap the strip around them. Continue to slowly pull and twist the tweezers until you’ve removed the entire strip. Then lower the corner of the battery cover.

    • Warning: If an adhesive tab or strip breaks off and can’t be retrieved, don’t forcibly pry the battery. Stop the repair, refer to Battery Safety, and reassemble the notebook. For service, visit support.apple.com/repair.

  9. Repeat steps 6 through 8 to remove the two remaining battery adhesive strips from this side and the three adhesive strips from the other side. Then continue to step 10.

  10. Tilt up one side of the battery cover. Press and hold the battery cover tab to ensure that it remains clipped into the top case. Then use the T3 screwdriver to remove the T3 screw (923-03680) from the battery tray.

  11. Repeat step 10 to remove the T3 screw from the battery tray on the other side. Then continue to step 12.

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

  13. Hold each corner of the battery tray and lift the battery out of the top case.

    • 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. Remove the adhesive backing from the battery adhesive.

  3. Align the battery adhesive over the corner of the top case as shown.

  4. Remove the tab release liner strip out from under the three adhesive tabs.

  5. Use the flat end of the black stick to press the tabs onto the top case.

  6. Press the top release liner to remove any air bubbles and adhere the battery adhesive strips onto the top case.

  7. Peel the top release liner off the battery adhesive strips.

  8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 to adhere the second battery adhesive onto the other corner of the top case. Then continue to step 9.

  9. Use ESD-safe tweezers to insert the threaded end of an alignment pin into the top screw hole on each side of the top case.

  10. Turn the two alignment pins clockwise to screw them into the screw holes.

  11. Align the screw holes on the battery tray over the alignment pins and lower the battery onto the top case.

    • Important: Ensure that the IPD flex cable isn’t trapped under the battery.

  12. Turn the two alignment pins counterclockwise to remove them.

  13. Use the T3 screwdriver to reinstall one T3 screw (923-03680) into each side of the battery tray.

  14. Place the computer in the support frame with the display hanging over the edge of the table.

  15. Align the holes on the press plate over the pins on the support frame. Lower the press plate onto the battery.

  16. Place the support frame in the iPhone display press.

  17. Ensure that the support frame is aligned with the back of the iPhone display press as shown.

  18. Pull down the lever until it locks.

  19. Wait until the timer on the iPhone display press beeps (1). Pull down the lever slightly and pull out the release knob (2). Then lift the lever (3).

  20. Remove the support frame from the iPhone display press. Then lift off the press plate.

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

  22. Press the end of the IPD flex cable to the connector (1). Then gently adhere the flex cable to the battery (2).

  23. Place the battery cover on the battery. Then press the black tabs into the clips on the top case until you feel a click.

  24. Position the IPD connector cowling over the end of the IPD flex cable.

  25. Use the T3 screwdriver to reinstall the two T3 screws (923-04003) into the IPD connector cowling.

Reinstall the following parts to complete reassembly:

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