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MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement

What you need

Video Overview

  1. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Unplug your MacBook Air and power it off before you proceed.

    • Remove ten Phillips screws securing the lower case to the MacBook Air:

    • Six 2.8 mm screws

    • Two 3.8 mm screws

    • Two 5.4 mm screws

  2. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • Slightly lift the lower case near the vents and push it toward the rear of the computer to free the mounting tabs.

  3. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the battery connector by pulling it straight out of its socket.

  4. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following nine screws securing the battery to the Air:

    • Four 2.9 mm Phillips.

    • Four 3.8 mm Phillips.

    • One 7.2 mm Phillips.

  5. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the battery out of the Air.

    • If you're installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

    • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Then, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

    • If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook's SMC.

  6. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Disconnect the port hatch ribbon cable from the logic board by pulling it straight up by its black pull tab.

    • Pull the audio out ribbon cable off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.

    • Use a spudger to pry the audio out ribbon cable connector board off the hard drive bracket.

  7. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the audio out cable from its socket on the port hatch ribbon cable.

  8. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Use a spudger to pry the hard drive cable connector up off the logic board.

  9. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Use the sharp end of a spudger to de-route the microphone cable from the hard drive bracket.

    • Remove the cosmetic screw cover from the adhesive securing it to the hard drive bracket.

  10. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the four Phillips screws securing the hard drive assembly to the upper case:

    • Two 4.7 mm screws.

    • Two 3.9 mm screws.

  11. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the hard drive assembly out of the upper case.

  12. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 12, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement, Hard Drive: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Use your thumbs to push the hard drive away from its bracket.

  13. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Peel the rubber shock isolator off the perimeter of the hard drive.

  14. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • If present, remove the small piece of black tape covering the ribbon cable connector.

  15. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3
    • The two different versions of MacBook Air have different hard drive connectors. Failure to perform the action appropriate to your machine will damage your hard drive! Be very careful when disconnecting the hard drive cable. The ZIF connectors are fragile.

    • If you have the original MacBook Air (A1237), use a spudger or your thumbs to flip up the ribbon cable retaining flap TOWARD the cable (seen in picture 1).

    • If you have the A1304 version of MacBook Air, use a spudger or your thumbs to flip up the ribbon cable retaining flap AWAY from the cable (seen in picture 2).

    • Pull the hard drive cable straight away from its socket.

  16. MacBook Air Models A1237 and A1304 Hard Drive Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • If you are installing a new hard drive, we have an OS X install guide to get you up and running.

    • If you need to, transfer the foam from your current hard drive to the new one. The foam does come off by using a spudger and some patience.

    • The two primary options for reading CDs and DVDs on a MacBook Air are to either purchase an external SuperDrive or to use an Apple feature called Remote Disc. Remote Disc allows the optical drive of a nearby Mac to be borrowed for use in mounting discs on the MacBook Air.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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23 Comments

It is not necessary to remove the battery. The hard drive can easily be reached while the battery is in place, although you have a little bit more space if you do remove the battery.

It probably is a good idea to unplug the battery before replacing the hard drive, so you do not accidentally short-circuit anything.

Remco Dijkman - Reply

My hard drive replacement (a Mach Xtreme Nano PATA ZIF 120GB SSD) actually went in the other way up from the stock Apple Drive. ie The ZIF connector is seen when put back together, rather than under the drive as is the case with the Apple Drive (as seen in Steps 10&11). This also meant the cable came up past the drive on the inside of the bracket then to the mother board. I had tried several times the same way as the Apple drive was, and the cable kept being pulled out of the ZIF connector when putting it back together. Luckily this did not damage my drive.

Charlie - Reply

I cannot tell you how thankful I am for your comment. I bought exactly the same SSD and spent the better part of today trying to get the computer to see it in Disk Utility. I tried everything (at least I thought so!), tweaking the ZIF cable, resetting the rubber bumper, and so on. Must have done ten or more restarts to no avail. The only thing I didn't do was turn the drive upside down! Thank you so much!

Peace Freak -

SERIOUSLY. 2 hours trying to figure out WHY it wouldn't work, THANK YOU CHARLIE. YEARS LATER.

michaeldamiano -

This guide was very helpful and accurate for our A1304 Air, I have commented/adjusted the guide to give some extra info which I felt was missing, useful for identifying the correct model/revision and related replacement part.

I fitted a RunCore 128GB SSD to our A1304 (Revision B) Air, it was easy enough and works exactly as we hoped! The A1304 (Revision B) model Air has a LIF connector. RunCore have different SSD products for the different Air revisions, it would be easy to order the wrong part, so be sure you you what modle/revision of Air you're working on!

Read the guide in full for, for all the details.

Kyle Milnes - Reply

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