Fix Your Stuff Community Store

MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a dead AirPort/Bluetooth card to regain Wi-Fi capability.

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    P5 Pentalobe Screwdriver Retina MacBook Pro and Air
    $5.99
    Buy

    • Before proceeding, power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.

    • Use a P5 Pentalobe driver to remove ten screws securing the lower case, of the following lengths:

    • Two 9 mm screws

    • Eight 2.6 mm screws

    Edit

  2. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

    • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

    Edit

  4. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • As a precaution against accidental discharge or shock, disconnect the battery connector from the logic board.

    • Grab the clear plastic pull tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the Air to disconnect the battery from the logic board.

    • Be sure to pull the connector horizontally toward the battery, and not straight up from the Air, or you may damage the socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, AirPort/Bluetooth Card: step 4, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, AirPort/Bluetooth Card: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort/Bluetooth card.

    Edit

  6. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort/Bluetooth card to the logic board.

    Edit

  7. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Slightly lift the free end of the AirPort/Bluetooth card 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.

    • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth card from the Air.

    Edit
Finish Line

25 other people completed this guide.

9 Comments

Is there any way to exchange the installed AirPort/Bluetooth Card with a newer one providing W-LAN AC?

Skyynet - Reply

Is tihs card is the same as in to Macbook Air 11 ?

Petar Slavchev - Reply

is it possible to renew on of the two antenna cables, because mine get broken while lifting it

milankoehnke1995 - Reply

Did you ever find the cables for sale anywhere? Thanks.

edwalker263 -

Can I replace this card with a newer one that allows Apple Watch unlock in Sierra?

Aaron - Reply

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 3

Past 7 Days: 25

Past 30 Days: 68

All Time: 45,464