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MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board 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 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 7.3 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.

    ESD safe mat, plugged into ground, with a wrist strap, also grounded, are the best best to protect the logic board.

    Robin Ray - Reply

    Re-Assembly Tip: Before putting the screws back in, snap the lower case on and test to make sure the MacBook powers up. When I first re-assembled, I became very nervous I did something wrong because it would not power on. It turns out I just needed to plug the laptop into a power source for it to power up (despite having a good charge before disassembly). It was the perfect way to test the new USB-C ports!

    Austin - Reply

    Big points to this one, especially for mentioning needing to plug the laptop in. The bottom case needs to be screwed in and laptop needs to be plugged in before it will boot.

    Bayden Yazalina -

    Wiha 4PL driver for these screws.

    Greg Worrel - Reply

    Printing out all the images from this Ifixit guide prior to starting and using duct tape help me keep track of screws.

    raju midjdeya - Reply

  2. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board 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 off the lower case.

    • 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.

    Los tornillos se ruedan fácilmente :(

    Mishelle Cerón - Reply

  3. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and unlatch the metal locking arm on the battery connector.

    • Make sure the metal arm is completely free of the locking tab before lifting the battery connector. The metal locking arm should easily unlatch.

    • Lift straight up on the metal locking arm to pull the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • During reassembly, press the battery connector straight down into its socket, making sure it sits flush within the socket.

    • If necessary, push the rear, wire side of the connector into place first, then rock the front of the connector into place.

    Reassembly: I had difficulty going straight down. The connector has some angled edges that made it difficult. Instead, I slotted the wire side in first, then rocked it forward towards the hinge into position.

    Sean K - Reply

    If having difficulty in flipping the bar up, place the machine vertical and not that there is a small “locking nib” that the bar has to clear. You may have to give the bar honest persuasion to clear the nib.

    Harry Dulcamara - Reply

  4. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the audio board cable: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the three 1.4 mm screws securing the audio board connector cover.

    • If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

  5. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the audio board connector cover.

  6. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the audio board connector straight up to disconnect it from the board.

    There is the smaller connector that’s not being mentioned. It’s the closest one to the hinges.It’s also part of the smaller audio board.

    Macrepair SF - Reply

    Lamajr, that small connector is for the Touch ID button and disconnecting it isn't necessary for removing the logic board only. If you're removing the audio board itself, steps for disconnecting that small cable can be found here. Happy fixing!

    Carsten Frauenheim -

  7. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the USB-C board cable: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the USB-C connector cover.

  8. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the USB-C connector cover.

  9. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the USB-C cable connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

  10. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the antenna bar connections: step 10, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.

    T4 It’s best to use here!

    Macrepair SF - Reply

  11. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the antenna cable cover.

  12. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • Use a pair of tweezers to grip the antenna connector close to its base.

    • Pull straight up to disconnect the cable.

    • Repeat for the second antenna cable.

  13. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.5 mm screws securing the display cable connector cover.

  14. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the display cable connector cover.

  15. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the display cable connector straight off of the antenna board to disconnect it.

  16. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the trackpad cable: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.4 mm screws securing the trackpad cable cover.

  17. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the trackpad cable cover.

  18. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the trackpad cable connector up and out of its socket.

  19. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the left speaker cable: step 19, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the left speaker cable: step 19, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the left speaker cable: step 19, image 3 of 3
    • The left speaker will be on your righthand side when working on the MacBook, as it's laying upside down.

    • Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the left speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the logic board.

    Note that the perspective has shifted here and we're looking from the opposite direction than the rest of the guide.

    maccentric - Reply

  20. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the microphone cable: step 20, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the microphone cable: step 20, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Disconnect the microphone cable: step 20, image 3 of 3
    • Use a pair of tweezers to peel back any tape covering the microphone cable connector.

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the microphone cable's ZIF connector.

    • Slide the microphone cable out of its connector.

    • If possible, grip the cable by the tape, not by the cable itself.

  21. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Remove the logic board screws: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the logic board to the upper case:

    • Three 3.5 mm screws

    • One 6.0 mm cushioned screw

    • Two 3.4 mm screws

  22. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Remove the logic board: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the logic board.

  23. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Logic Board Replacement, Check cables during reassembly: step 23, image 1 of 1
    • When you reinstall the logic board assembly, verify that no cables get trapped under the board as you lower it into place. Check each of the seven locations carefully:

    • Battery cable

    • Audio board cable

    • USB-C board cable

    • Antenna bar cables

    • Display cable

    • Trackpad cable

    • Left speaker and microphone cables

    I’m having an issue getting the last logic board screw out. Any tips?

    Chris Higgins - Reply

    Which one did you get to last? What kind of issue are you having?

    maccentric -

    I’m trying to reassemble but having a hard time reconnecting the microphone and trackpad cables. What should I do?

    Winona GT - Reply

    The trackpad cable is pretty straightforward, you just have to make sure it's aligned properly and press it down into the connector. The mic cable is a bit trickier if you've not dealt with this type of socket. The cable goes underneath the connector and the you have to pull it in as far as it will go. It's best to take a good look before you pull it out to see how far it needs to go into the connector (I believe this is a type of ZIF [zero insertion force} but it can take a decent amount of force at times, enough to break that little strip of plastic they give you to pull it into place).

    maccentric -

    Looking for the wifi component?

    Jens Erik Bech - Reply

    It's part of the logic board, there's no replaceable component (sadly).

    maccentric -

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.

Once you've completed your repair, your laptop may not power back on until connected to power.

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.

27 other people completed this guide.

Carsten Frauenheim

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8 Comments

Thank you

How do we access the data on a board that is not working due to corrosion ? We have been informed that the SSD is integrated in the board so until same is working we cannot access the data.

Kiran Meettook Esq - Reply

There used to be a data port on the board that needs a very special piece of equipment to access. You'd need to send it to data recovery, open your wallet very wide, and keep your fingers crossed. It looks like that port no longer exists? Your data is probably gone, but Apple saved you a lot of money on recovery services!

maccentric -

Looking for the WiFi component?

Jens Erik Bech - Reply

alguien sabe si existe un adaptador para este tipo placa logica a sdd para?

madrigal26 - Reply

A strange question

Would you start a MacBook Air WITHOUT a battery, powering the board directly as if it were a desktop? 🤔

Does anyone know what voltage the battery cables provide?

Thank you.

Alquimista - Reply

It should power on without the battery connected. The voltage should be 20v.

maccentric -

Kann man wo die einzelnen Bauteile (ICs.,,) des Logic Boards kaufen?
Ich möchte mein Logic Board reparieren statt tauschen.

Gerald Söllinger - Reply

Is it possible to buy somewhere the parts of the logic board? I would like to repair my logic board, instead of replacing it.

Gerald Söllinger - Reply

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