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MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Battery Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Battery 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" Mid 2011 Battery 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" Mid 2011 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Battery Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Grab the clear plastic pull tab attached to the battery connector and pull it toward the front edge of the Air to disconnect the battery from the logic board.

    • Do not lift upward on the connector as you disconnect it.

    • When reinstalling a new battery, it may be helpful to temporarily reconnect the battery before placing it in the frame. Make sure that the connector lays flat to the board.

  4. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Battery Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the following five screws securing the battery to the upper case:

    • Three 6.3 mm T5 Torx screws

    • Two 2.4 mm T5 Torx screws

  5. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2011 Battery Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • When handling the battery, avoid squeezing or touching the four exposed lithium polymer cells.

    • Lift the battery from its edge nearest the logic board and remove it from the upper case.

    • When installing the new battery, if there is a thin plastic film on your replacement battery, do not attempt to remove it. It is glued on and protects the battery pack while it is inside the MacBook.

    • If you're installing a new battery, you should calibrate it after installation:

    • Charge it to 100%, and then keep charging it for at least 2 more hours. Then, unplug and use it normally to drain the battery. When you see the low battery warning, save your work, and keep your laptop on until it goes to sleep due to low battery. Wait at least 5 hours, then charge your laptop uninterrupted to 100%.

    • If you notice any unusual behavior or problems after installing your new battery, you may need to reset your MacBook's SMC.

Conclusion

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.

502 other people completed this guide.

73 Comments

Done! Now my Macbook Air has a new lease on life! I travel a lot and need good battery life on my Macbook so that I can work on flights, work throughout the day in meetings, do presentations etc.,

I ordered the battery and a pentelobe screwdriver from iFixit - they arrived quickly and as as promised in South Africa. The replacement took just a few minutes. The guide was very helpful and easy to follow. Now I have 6 hours of battery life again (or maybe a few minutes less ;-)

Thanks guys. I am very happy!

digitaldion - Reply

@digitaldion, Could you share what is time on a single charge now, after almost a year of active(?) use?

yurkennis -

I had spilled Iced Tea all over my new laptop. Soaked it in rice, but it only would work when it was plugged in. I read replacing the battery would fix it. Ordered the battery...came in 2 days, and I used the repair guide. Worked with 100% success and now my laptop runs like it's brand new.

Zane Dunnings - Reply

Did it! In less then 4 minutes. One extra tip: when you remove the screws, put them backwards on the table in the same pattern as you took them out. It saves time and avoids frustration :-) Thanks iFixit!

rkamphuis - Reply

Done! That was actually quite easy; I can't believe how easy it was to do. When I ordered the battery I also ordered the iFixit 54 Bit Driver Kit and I have to say that I will likely never have to buy any screwdrivers again for any computer related fix-ups I have to do. Thanks!

Berge - Reply

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