MacBook Air 11" Early 2015 Battery Replacement

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Introduction

Use this guide to replace a faulty battery in a MacBook Air 11" Early 2015.

Note: If there is a thin plastic film on your replacement battery, do not attempt to remove it. It is glued on and protects the battery pack while it is inside the MacBook.

What you need

Step 1 Lower Case

MacBook Air 11" Early 2015 Battery Replacement, Lower Case: step 1, image 1 of 1

Tool used on this step:

P5 Pentalobe Screwdriver Retina MacBook Pro and Air

$5.99

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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.

Step 2

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

Step 3 Battery Connector

MacBook Air 11" Early 2015 Battery Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2

MacBook Air 11" Early 2015 Battery Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 2 of 2

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.

Step 4 Battery

MacBook Air 11" Early 2015 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 1 of 1

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

Step 5

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.
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. Next, 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.