crwdns2933423:0crwdne2933423:0

crwdns2931315:0crwdnd2931315:0crwdne2931315:0

crwdns2942213:0crwdne2942213:0

  1. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0
    P5 Pentalobe Screwdriver Retina MacBook Pro and Air
    $5.99
    crwdns2942207:0crwdne2942207:0
    • Shut down and close your computer. Lay it on a soft surface top-side down.

    • Remove the following ten screws:

    • Two 8 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

    • Eight 2.5 mm 5-point Pentalobe screws

    • The special screwdriver needed to remove the 5-point Pentalobe screws can be found here.

  2. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

  3. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • In this step you will disconnect the battery to help avoid shorting out any components during service.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both short sides of the battery connector upward to disconnect it from its socket on the logic board.

    • Bend the battery cable slightly away from the logic board so the connector will not accidentally bend back and make contact with its socket.

  4. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left and right I/O board cable connectors up off their respective sockets on the I/O board.

  5. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift and remove the I/O board cable.

  6. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully push on each side of the iSight camera cable connector to loosen it out of its socket on the logic board.

    • We recommend you gently "walk" the connector out of its socket.

  7. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Peel the iSight camera cable up off the adhesive securing it to the fan.

  8. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the fan cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  9. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:

    • Two 5.5 mm T5 Torx screws

    • One 4.6 mm T5 Torx screw

    • In some models this is a 3.6 mm T5 Torx screw.

  10. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift, but do not remove the fan out of its recess in the upper case.

    • Carefully pull the fan ribbon cable out of its socket as you remove the fan from the Air.

  11. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort/Bluetooth card, and move them out of the way.

  12. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the following five screws securing the battery to the upper case:

    • Two 5.2 mm T5 Torx screws

    • One 6 mm T5 Torx screw

    • Two 2.6 mm T5 Torx screws

  13. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • When handling the battery, avoid squeezing or touching the six exposed lithium polymer cells.

    • Lift the battery from its edge nearest the logic board and remove it from the upper case.

  14. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Disconnect the I/O board by pulling the power cable away from its socket on the logic board.

    • Pull the cable parallel to the face of the logic board toward the front edge of the Air.

  15. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to de-route the antenna cables from their notches in the logic board.

  16. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Gently push the tip of a spudger under the black plastic flap stuck to the display data cable lock to make the lock pop upward and away from the socket.

    • While holding the lock away from the socket, gently pull the display data cable out of its socket.

    • Do not pull upward on the display data cable as you disconnect it, as its socket may break off the logic board.

  17. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to pry under the speaker cable connector, lifting it straight up from its socket.

    • De-route the cable from its notch in the logic board.

  18. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the trackpad ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the trackpad ribbon cable straight out of its socket toward the front edge of the Air.

  19. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard backlight ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the keyboard backlight ribbon cable out of its socket.

  20. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort/Bluetooth card to the logic board.

  21. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Slightly lift the free end of the AirPort/Bluetooth board and pull it out of its socket on the logic board.

    • To avoid damaging its socket on the logic board, do not excessively lift the free end of the AirPort/Bluetooth card.

  22. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the three 3.6 mm T5 Torx screws securing the logic board to the upper case.

    • In some models these are 3.1 mm T5 Torx screws.

  23. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Gently lift the logic board assembly from the heat sink end and pull it away from the port side of the case to remove it from the Air.

    • When replacing the logic board, insert the board's rubber edge under the port-side rubber gasket, then lower the board into place.

  24. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the four 2.5 mm T5 Torx screws securing the heat sink to the logic board.

  25. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • If the heat sink seems to be stuck to the logic board after removing all four screws, use a spudger to carefully separate the heat sink from the faces of the CPU.

    • Remove the heat sink from the logic board.

    • When reinstalling the heat sink, be sure to apply a new layer of thermal paste. If you have never applied thermal paste before, we have a guide that makes it easy.

  26. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:026crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the SSD to the logic board.

  27. crwdns2935201:0crwdne2935201:0 crwdns2935203:0crwdne2935203:0

    : crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 : crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the free end of the SSD just enough to get a good hold of it.

    • Do not excessively lift the end of the SSD.

    • Pull the drive straight out of its socket and remove it from the logic board.

    • When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

crwdns2935217:0crwdne2935217:0

crwdns2935229:031crwdne2935229:0

Sam Goldheart

crwdns2935283:010/18/12crwdne2935283:0

465,807 crwdns2915208:0crwdne2915208:0

crwdns2935297:0538crwdne2935297:0

crwdns2915084:0crwdne2915084:0

iFixit crwdns2935289:0iFixitcrwdne2935289:0

Staff

crwdns2931471:0135crwdne2931471:0

crwdns2935297:016,820crwdne2935297:0

crwdns2944067:00crwdne2944067:0

crwdns2917038:0crwdne2917038:0

crwdns2936625:0crwdne2936625:0:

crwdns2936751:024crwdne2936751:0 8

crwdns2936753:07crwdne2936753:0 16

crwdns2936753:030crwdne2936753:0 97

crwdns2942667:0crwdne2942667:0 24,561