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MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board 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

  2. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board 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.

  3. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • To ensure that everything is de-energized and won't turn on while you're working, it is recommended that you disconnect the battery.

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

    • Do not lift upward on the connector as you disconnect it or you risk damage to the connector socket.

  4. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement, I/O Board Cable: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the I/O board cable connector up out of its socket on the I/O board.

  5. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Carefully peel the I/O board cable from the adhesive securing it to the top of the fan.

    • During reassembly, make sure this cable is in the correct orientation. It will fit if reversed, but the laptop will not boot.

  6. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • The following connector has an especially deep socket. Use care when disconnecting it.

    • While gently pulling the I/O board cable upward near its connection to the logic board, use the flat end of a spudger to pry up on alternating sides of the connector to help "walk" it out of its socket.

    • Remove the I/O board cable.

  7. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement, Fan: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

  8. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Peel the rubber gasket off the adhesive on the top of the fan.

  9. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following three screws securing the fan to the upper case:

    • One 5.2 mm T5 Torx screw

    • One 3.3 mm T5 Torx screw

    • One 4.4 mm T5 Torx screw with a short head

  10. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the fan from the I/O board side and pull it free from the upper case.

    • Removing the fan will also disconnect the fan ribbon cable. Be careful not to snag it.

  11. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement, I/O Board: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Disconnect the I/O board by pulling its power cable away from its socket on the logic board.

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

  12. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left speaker cable connector up and out of its socket on the I/O board.

    • Pry up from beneath the wires.

  13. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the microphone ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  14. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 4.1 mm T5 Torx screw securing the I/O board to the upper case.

  15. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Gently de-route the camera cable from its notch on the I/O board and push it out of the way with the tip of a spudger.

  16. MacBook Air 13" Early 2015 I/O Board Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Lift the I/O board from the logic board side and pull it free from the upper case.

    • Removing the I/O board will also disconnect the microphone ribbon cable. Be careful not to snag it.

Conclusion

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

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

45 other people completed this guide.

iRobot

Member since: 09/24/09

1 Reputation

636 Guides authored

15 Comments

Ich habe ein Macbook Air 2015 early. Das Ladekabel leuchtet nicht und die Batterie wird nicht geladen, ohne Batterie läuft das Macbook und auch solange die Batterie geladen ist läuft es einwandfrei auch ohne Ladekabel. Woher bekomme ich das I-O board und denkt ihr es liegt am I-O board oder eher irgendwo auf dem Mainboard das Problem?

Firsttry - Reply

Man kann das I/O-board bei ebay finden, kostet nicht viel, der Austausch ist ja oben beschrieben, man muss da sehr vorsichtig vorgehen, zB das dünne, kurze Flexkabel ganz am Schluss.

Jamba -

I wish I could give more points because this saved a laptop! Killed another, but 1 is better than none.

Jonathan - Reply

I successfully fixed my Macbook Air early 2015. Power cord LED indicator was dark and the battery was not charging. This was because my power supply blew up while stuck within the couch and went dangerously hot. Power supply died as the IO Board too.

Replacing the IO Board fixed my Macbook.

DavidW - Reply

Hi . I replaced my IO board because the power socket was burned. With the new board the Macbook air mid 2011 was running very slow. Changed back to the old one and computer was running as normal. Any Ideas why the new IO board was slowing the computer down. The USB port in the new board was also not working.

Karl-Ivan Vikestad - Reply

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