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MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to upgrade or replace the solid-state drive in a MacBook Air 11” Mid 2013. This MacBook Air uses a proprietary storage drive connector, and is therefore not compatible with common M.2 drives without the use of an adapter.

Before you perform this repair, if at all possible, back up your existing SSD. Then, either familiarize yourself with internet recovery or create a bootable external drive so you’ll be ready to install macOS onto your new drive and migrate your data to the new SSD.

Finally, we strongly recommend installing macOS 10.13 High Sierra (or a later macOS) before replacing the original SSD from your MacBook Air. Most new SSDs require updated storage drivers not found in versions of macOS prior to High Sierra.

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD 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

    • 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.

    Edit

  2. MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD 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.

    Edit

  4. MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD 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.

    Edit

  5. MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement, SSD: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the SSD to the logic board.

    Edit

  6. MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 11" Mid 2013 SSD Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

52 other people completed this guide.

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Sam Goldheart

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15 Comments

Is it possible to replace a 128 GB SSD with a 256 GB SSD without any problems?

Roland - Reply

Anyone knows if you can replace the msata ssd or if it is proprietary of apple?

Felipe - Reply

I wonder if someone can help me - I completed the installation and rebooted from a clone of the original drive on an external USB disk. I tried to clone that back onto the new SSD but that failed and now the new SSD does not appear on the desktop and does not appear in Disk Utility. Its not being recognised when I boot up. Do you have any ideas how I can get it to reappear - I assume the format is lost so is there a way to reformat?

brendanorourke - Reply

Can i upgrade my ssd drive from 128 to 1TB ?

mohd.a2017 - Reply

i want to know too

pulido_066 -

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