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MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the screws securing the lower case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Magnetic Project Mat
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    • 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 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor 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 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 3, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor 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 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the audio board connector cover: 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 Touch ID Sensor Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the audio board connector cover.

  6. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the speaker: step 6, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the speaker: step 6, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the speaker: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it.

    Man, that's toit! Couldn't give us a little play in that cable Apple?

    maccentric - Reply

    Traduccion a Español: ¡Tío, eso es! ¿No podían darnos un poco de juego en ese cable Apple?

    Carlos López (España - Spain) -

    Traducción a Español: ¡Tío, eso es! ¿No podían darnos un poco de juego en ese cable Apple?

    Carlos López (España - Spain) - Reply

  7. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the Touch ID cable: step 7, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the Touch ID cable: step 7, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the Touch ID cable: step 7, 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.

  8. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the audio board cable: step 8, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Disconnect the audio board cable: step 8, 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.

    • 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.

  9. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the audio board screws: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the three screws securing the audio board:

    • Two 4.8 mm T5 Torx screws

    • One 2.5 mm T3 Torx screw

  10. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the audio board: step 10, image 1 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the audio board: step 10, image 2 of 3 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the audio board: step 10, image 3 of 3
    • Use a spudger to pry the audio board out of the upper case until you can grip it with your fingers.

    • Remove the audio board.

  11. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the Touch ID sensor screws: step 11, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the Touch ID sensor screws: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the six 1.6 mm screws securing the Touch ID sensor and its bracket.

    • During reassembly, if you want your Touch ID button to be straight, don't tighten down the six screws until you adjust its position on the keyboard.

    You can tighten the outer 4 screws and save the inner two until the end to adjust the fit. Outer 4 are for holding the Touch ID in, inner 2 are for adjustment

    decker5 - Reply

  12. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the Touch ID bracket: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the Touch ID sensor bracket.

    • During reassembly, make sure the sensor bracket is oriented correctly.

    Note the direction of the diagonal grooves in the bracket/flexure. There is a correct-side up.

    gleamball - Reply

  13. MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Touch ID Sensor Replacement, Remove the Touch ID sensor: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • Turn the MacBook right-side up and open the display.

    • Remove the Touch ID sensor.

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.

8 other people completed this guide.

Carsten Frauenheim

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4 Comments

Servus! Angenommen, der Stecker hat sich beim Sturz nur gelöst und man steckt ihn wieder drauf. Kann man dann Touch ID wieder nutzen? Ode muss man immer das Logicboard tauschen, sobald der Stecker abgelöst wurde? Grüße

David Braun - Reply

Is it safe to remove the power button without going through the back? My touch sensor isn't working and I think something's blocking it. I simply want to remove the power key to clean... and put it right back in.

Kemi Burgen - Reply

No, the 4 screws holding the bottom of the button are on the inside, so you have to follow this guide to check your issue.

jeremyfitz -

Anyway to turn on my 2019 macbook pro with a broken touch id flex cable?

Nathan Morris - Reply

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