MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the fan in an Early 2020 MacBook Air.

What you need

Step 1 Remove the screws securing the lower case

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the screws securing the lower case: step 1, image 1 of 1

Tool used on this step:

Magnetic Project Mat

$19.95

Buy

Before starting this procedure, you should disable your Mac's Auto Boot feature. Auto Boot powers on your Mac when you open the lid, and may be accidentally triggered during disassembly. Use this guide to disable Auto Boot.
If your MacBook is running Big Sur v11.1 or later, disabling Auto Boot may not work. You can proceed normally, but make sure to disconnect the battery as soon as you're inside.
Completely power off and unplug your MacBook Air before you start. Close the display and flip the entire laptop upside-down.
Use a P5 driver to remove the following screws:
Two 7.9 mm screws
Two 7.1 mm screws
Six 2.6 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your MacBook.

Edit

Step 2 Remove the lower case

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 1 of 3

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 2 of 3

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 3 of 3

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.
To reinstall the lower case:
Set it in place and press firmly to engage the two hidden clips underneath. You should feel and hear them snap into place.

Edit

Step 3 Disconnect the battery

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 1 of 1

Peel back the tape covering the battery connector enough to reveal the connector underneath.

Edit

Step 4

Use a spudger to slide the battery connector parallel to the logic board and out of its socket on the logic board.

Edit

Step 5 Disconnect the right speaker

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the right speaker: step 5, image 1 of 2

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the right speaker: step 5, image 2 of 2

Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it.

Edit

Step 6 Disconnect the audio board

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the audio board: step 6, image 1 of 2

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the audio board: step 6, image 2 of 2

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.
Remove the audio board connector cover.

Edit

Step 7

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the audio board connector straight up to disconnect it from the board.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Edit

Step 8

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Touch ID cable straight up to disconnect it from the audio board.
Continue to slide the spudger underneath the Touch ID cable to release it from the audio board.
The Touch ID cable is secured to the audio board with some light adhesive.

Edit

Step 9 Remove the audio board

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the audio board: step 9, image 1 of 1

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three screws securing the audio board:
Two 4.3 mm screws
One 2.4 mm screw

Edit

Step 10

Remove the audio board.

Edit

Step 11 Disconnect the fan

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Disconnect the fan: step 11, image 1 of 1

Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the black tape covering the fan cable connector.

Edit

Step 12

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the fan cable's ZIF connector.
Slide the fan cable out of its connector.
If possible, grip the cable by the tape, not by the cable itself.

Edit

Step 13 Separate the audio board cable

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Separate the audio board cable: step 13, image 1 of 3

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Separate the audio board cable: step 13, image 2 of 3

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Separate the audio board cable: step 13, image 3 of 3

Slide an opening pick underneath the audio board cable to separate it from the fan.
The cable is secured with some light adhesive.
If the adhesive is stubborn, do not force the pick. Lightly heat the cable using an iOpener or a hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

Edit

Step 14 Remove the fan screws

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the fan screws: step 14, image 1 of 1

Use a T4 Torx driver to remove the three 2.7 mm screws securing the fan.

Edit

Step 15 Remove the fan

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Fan Replacement, Remove the fan: step 15, image 1 of 1

Lift the fan out of the case to remove it.

Edit

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

2 other people completed this guide.