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MacBook Air 13" Mid 2013 Trackpad Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan (and 10 other contributors)
  • Comments: 95
  • Favorites: 10
  • Completions: 30

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

30 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

3

Flags

0

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the trackpad.

  1. Before proceeding, power down your MacBook. Close the display and lay it on a soft surface, top-side down.
    Tool used on this step:
    P5 Pentalobe Screwdriver Retina MacBook Pro and Air
    $5.99

    • 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

    Edit

  2. Wedge your fingers between the display and the lower case and pull upward to pop the lower case off the Air.

    • 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.

    Edit

  3. 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  4. Remove the following five screws securing the battery to the upper case:

    • 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

    Edit

  6. When handling the battery, avoid squeezing or touching the four exposed lithium polymer cells.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  7. Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the trackpad ribbon cable ZIF socket. Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself. Pull the trackpad ribbon cable straight out of its socket toward the rear edge of the Air.

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the trackpad ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the trackpad ribbon cable straight out of its socket toward the rear edge of the Air.

    Edit

  8. While carefully lifting the keyboard ribbon cable with one hand, use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard ribbon cable ZIF socket. Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • While carefully lifting the keyboard ribbon cable with one hand, use the tip of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the keyboard ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the keyboard ribbon cable straight out of its socket toward the front edge of the Air.

    Edit

  9. Remove the following twelve screws:

    • Remove the following twelve screws:

    • Six 1.6 mm Phillips screws securing the trackpad to the upper case.

    • Six 1.6 mm Phillips screws securing the trackpad brackets to the trackpad.

    Edit

  10. Remove the right and left trackpad brackets from the upper case.

    • Remove the right and left trackpad brackets from the upper case.

    Edit

  11. During reassembly, check the clicking action on the trackpad.

    • During reassembly, check the clicking action on the trackpad.

    • The 1.4 mm T5 Torx screw near the front edge of the case must be adjusted correctly.

    • If overtightened, the button will cease to click at a certain point. Adjust the set screw until the clicking side of the trackpad has minimal play.

    • It's not necessary to remove this screw in order to remove the trackpad.

    Edit

  12. Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully lift the edge of the trackpad closest to the keyboard from its recess in the upper case by lifting it away from the brackets attached to the upper case. Remove the trackpad from the upper case.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully lift the edge of the trackpad closest to the keyboard from its recess in the upper case by lifting it away from the brackets attached to the upper case.

    • Remove the trackpad from the upper case.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

30 other people completed this guide.

5 Comments

Add a comment

Great write up. Where can I find the keyboard ribbon cable? (the wide one that doesn't make any 90s. I tore mine with metal tweezers. Can't find the wide cable anywhere.

ahaffke - Reply

shhhhh, it's called ie bAe eYe

emaginechild -

even a 65 year old can do it! (with magnifying glasses) Thank! Fixed the dirty, sticking trackpad!

Scott Salling - Reply

Step 10 should not be done! This is a pure adjustment screw for the clickpoint. Only readjust there, in case clicking does not feel okay after a change of the trackpad. Usually no adjusment is necessary. The trackpad comes out easily after Step 8

Schritt 10 ist falsch! Diese Schraube dient lediglich der Justage des Druckpunkts des Klicks. Sie muss nur verstellt werden, falls der Klick nach dem Wechsel des Trackpads nicht mehr ok ist. Das Trackpad lässt sich aber bereits nach Schritt 8 problemlos entnehmen.

Marc Malkwitz - Reply

I have replaced the trackpad but it now gives erratic behavior. Usually after booting/opening the lid it works fine for a couple of minutes. Then it stops moving or jumps around the screen after a freeze. Reset SMC does not help unfortunately. Anybody any ideas?

Martijn Verhoeven - Reply

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