Skip to main content

MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 SSD Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 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
    • 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 2017 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.

    • Remove the lower case and set it aside.

  3. MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 SSD Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 SSD 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 2017 SSD Replacement, Solid-State Drive: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the SSD to the logic board.

  5. MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 SSD Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Early 2017 SSD Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Gently lift the end of the SSD about half an inch and pull it straight out of its socket on the logic board.

    • Don't lift the SSD more than half an inch—doing so may damage the SSD or its socket on the logic board.

    • When reinstalling the SSD, be sure it is properly seated before reinstalling its retaining screw.

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.

39 other people completed this guide.

Adam O'Camb

Member since: 04/11/15

194,899 Reputation

416 Guides authored

19 Comments

Thanks! My wife’s MacBook Air is now rocking a 480GB drive (upgraded from 128GB).

Mark Frauenfelder - Reply

Very easy to follow step…great job. Took less then 10 minutes. Upgraded Macbook Air (2017) from original 120GB to 480GB SSD. I used TimeMachine backup to perform the restore, which went flawless and was completed in under 3 hours.

Key is to press Option + Command + R to bring up “Internet Recovery”. If you press Command + R, the new drive will not be recognized and won’t be shown.

Dimitriy Lanis - Reply

The introduction states, “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.” However, both the parts list and step 5 (the last step shown on my screen…am I missing later steps?) do not mention this adapter. Is the adapter truly needed?

Jerry H - Reply

Yes, if you search the major online retailer that is also a river in South America, you will find adapters for standard m.2 drives (samsung, crucial, etc.) If you do not want to use an adapter, you can purchase a drop in replacement from OWC, however they are more expensive.

Nicholas D -

When I use an M.2 drive with adapter, I can use any ssd? or they need to be compatible in a logic way? (not hardware but software compatible)

Jonathan Carrasco - Reply

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 83

Past 7 Days: 524

Past 30 Days: 2,819

All Time: 98,793