Skip to main content

MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement

What you need

  1. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card 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 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card 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 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, Battery Connector: step 3, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card 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" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, AirPort/Bluetooth Card: step 4, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement, AirPort/Bluetooth Card: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry both antenna connectors up from their sockets on the AirPort/Bluetooth card.

  5. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 2.9 mm T5 Torx screw securing the AirPort/Bluetooth card to the logic board.

  6. MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 2 MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 AirPort/Bluetooth Card Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Slightly lift the free end of the AirPort/Bluetooth card and pull it out of its socket on the logic board.

    • To avoid damaging its socket on the logic board, do not excessively lift the free end of the AirPort/Bluetooth card.

    • Remove the AirPort/Bluetooth card from the Air.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

20 other people completed this guide.

3 Comments

My Macbook Air was bought October 2012 but has this WiFi/BT card. It failed and the machine would not boot, even to recovery or single-user mode, and removing the card allowed it to boot.

cliffordheath - Reply

Awesome instructions. Followed step by step and didn’t screw up my Air. Thanks for your assistance!

W_C - Reply

Is possible to replace this with a newer card? Be nice to have wifi-6 and Bluetooth 5.2

Jimmy James - Reply

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 2

Past 7 Days: 15

Past 30 Days: 73

All Time: 28,268