MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Display Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim

Comments: 32

MacBook Air 13" Early 2020 Display Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the display in an Early 2020 MacBook Air.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

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 Air 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 7.1 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.

P5 is also a PL4 (so confusing) - i like the wiha 26764 thanks to @mayer for this post. P5 pentalobe and 1.2 pentalobe screwdriver

greg -

Step 2

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.
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.

When reassembling, the “snaps” are in the middle of the laptop (from top to bottom), and just to the left and right of center. I assumed it was near the hinge so it took a bit for me to hear the snaps.

Laurie McCall -

Laurie, the two clips are outlined in the third photo of step two. Hope this helps—happy fixing!

Carsten Frauenheim -

What tool kit should I use for this?

Lucas Lee -

the second picture is m1 air right？

the antenna cable position does not match later picture

Paul -

Step 3

Peel back the tape covering the battery connector enough to reveal the connector underneath.

This image is incorrect correct for the A2179 EMC 3302 model, also doesn’t match the next image in this guide

Steven Friar -

There is other guide for the model you reffer to, I was using that one until i realize it was different, this is the one you are looking for: MacBook Air 13" Retina Late 2020

Marco Rojas -

I initially thought the image was incorrect, but I was just looking for the connector in the wrong place. This picture IS correct for the A2179 EMC 3302. Note that the connector is on the left side of the heat sink (the black thing with parallel ridges in the picture and on the computer), and the connector wires gather together towards the left the side of the computer, not the back. Note that "left side" assumes the Air is upside-down, with the hinge on the side farthest away from you (I'm not doing the "right speaker is on the left side because it's upside-down" thing that iFixit does in step 5).

Bryan Gillson -

How do you find out if you have a Retina Late or Retina Early model?

Inji E -

Step 4

Use a spudger to slide the battery connector parallel to the logic board and out of its socket on the logic board.

It’s stuck can’t get it out

Jeansceem Jeansceem -

Step 5

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.
Remove the antenna cable cover.
When replacing the antenna cable cover, make sure the keyed side goes towards the hinge edge of the MacBook Air.

Step 6

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.

This connector is extremely fragile! I always apply a very fine flat screwdriver head to the connector on the system board so it does not pull out!

Ross Elkins -

Step 7

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 1.5 mm screws securing the display cable connector cover.
Remove the display cable connector cover.

There are two smaller connector covers that cover a narrow ribbon connector. (One of them is visible in the Step 7 photo to the right of the display cable connector cover.) These covers don't have to be removed for disassembly. But my replacement display didn't include them, so I salvaged the covers from the broken display when I reassembled.

Jeff Sharman -

im running into an issue where the screws are t4 instead of t3, the t3 is loose and prone to stripping

CJ Lazer -

Step 8

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the display cable connector straight off of the antenna board to disconnect it.
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.

I have noticed that replacement assemblies from Ifixit and perhaps other suppliers do not have the smaller covers for the side cables to the left and right of the main display cable installed! Remember to transfer them from your old display to the new or you will have a POF waiting to happen!

Ross Elkins -

Thank you for you advisory on the connector covers. Please tell me what POF stands for?

Macrepair SF -

I'm guessing POF=point of failure.

maccentric -

Step 9

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the antenna bar:
Four 7.4 mm screws
Two 4.5 mm screws

Step 10

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the gap between the antenna bar and display hinge.
Pivot the spudger against the hinge to pry up the end of the antenna bar.
Repeat for the other end of the antenna bar.

Step 11

Use your fingers to pry the antenna bar straight up and away from the case.
The antenna bar is secured with some light adhesive and may require some force to dislodge.
Thread the antenna board through the opening in the middle of the antenna bar.
Be careful to not put any strain on the antenna bar's ribbon cables.
Remove the antenna bar.
During reassembly, ensure that the display cable doesn't become trapped underneath the antenna bar.

this is a bit tricky - the last one i worked on was held tight by a thin black tape, similar to the stretchy tape underneath batteries. this tape is near the motherboard underneath the path of the ribbon cables to the lcd. underneath this tape is a groove cut that the antenna slips into. actually 3 grooves, the 2 underneath the black tape and a longer channel in between. this channel grabs onto a thin part of the antenna that slips into these channels and some bumps help to “wedge” it into place by a pressure type fitting. kind of reminds me of edge of the shield on some ipads and older iphones. the bumps fit into areas and “grab” onto the area next to them. trying to create a word picture. maybe ifixit can add a real picture. definitely slows you down when you encounter resistance - don’t want to force anything. saw some dude on youtube yanking and pulling and i started yelling at him.

greg -

Thanks for your advisory, Greg. I can confirm the sticky tape about 1/2" long. It's to the left of the LVDS cable and attached to board. Looks like antennae wall sticks on vertically. Gentle prodding with spudgers from all angles finally frees it. Be patient with it.

Macrepair SF -

Step 12

Use a T8 Torx driver to remove the three 4.9 mm screws from each hinge (six screws total).

The hinge screws were a T9 on mine

Kirk Heppe -

It's actually easier to remove 2 of the 3 screws on each hinge and then open the laptop before then removing the final screw. This prevents the display from shifting while opening and accidentally damaging other components on the logic board. As we all know, a few mm in the wrong direction on a MacBook can cause a world of trouble.

Marc Jacobson -

Step 13

With the MacBook still screen-side down, carefully lift the upper case to open the MacBook as far as possible.

Step 14

Lift the MacBook and carefully begin to close the display until it's at a ~90 degree angle with the upper case.
The hinges should pull out of the case slightly as the display is moved towards the case.
Keeping the display at a 90 degree angle with the case, move the display straight down while holding the case still, so that the hinges slide out the bottom of the case.
Remove the display.

Great instructions. One note is that on re-assembly, slide base onto hinges and reattach hinge screws before closing down base onto screen.

William Evans -

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.

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.

Author

Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 10/03/20

110978 Reputation

11 comments

Thank you so much for this awesome walkthrough! I can’t believe how much I saved doing this myself. Works beautifully! If I could only suggest a more comprehensive “reassembly” page. There are a couple of missteps I made (eg. trying to install the antenna bar and accidentally leaving the display cable connector under it) that would have helped. In any event, thank you so much!

Laurie McCall -

Thanks for the tip! I’ve added a reminder to that step.

Carsten Frauenheim -

when starting the process of installation, make sure that at least the inside hinge screw is installed and mostly tightened. once the antenna is installed, there is almost no room for that screw to be inserted without a tight scrape against the end of the antenna. a very tight fit. i sometimes only install one hinge screw, usually the center ones, and then align the lid before adding the others and tightening everything up. in this case, would save you some concern to address this beforehand.

greg - 19/10/21

Is that instruction can be used for Macbookpro 2010 with touch bar?

Aung Min -

Definitely not. Also, there is no such thing, perhaps you meant 2020? Also no.

maccentric -

Have never needed to repair a Mac, but when a pen was slammed in the lid of my wife’s MBA, the screen was completely gone. So I decided to have a go myself, having followed iFixit for a number of years. So a massive thank you for a simple, clear guide, with tool specs that I can’t fault. (I bought your magnetic pad, excellent!)

The new screen is in place, the system functions perfectly. You saved me money and I had real fun and confidence doing the geeking!

[deleted] -

Thank you for this guide. I was able to complete things as described. One thing to note: I didn't see any sign of adhesive holding down the antenna bar, but there are metal ridges/dimples on a portion of the folded edge that have to be pressed into the top case in order to prevent the antenna bar from simply springing back up. I found it fiddly to find a suitable tool and generate enough force to push this folded edge fully home, but eventually managed it with careful use of a flathead screwdriver.

Stuart R -

Screen turns on but only Apple logo loads, nothing else happens. Thoughts?

Fred Sciascia -

Also how to I get the 2 small metal plates on each side of antenna? Thanks

Fred Sciascia -

The What you need section mentions T4 and TR8 screwdrivers, but I don't see any mention of these in the instruction steps. Are they really needed?

Conversely, Step 12 requires a T8 screwdriver (not TR8), but this is not mentioned in the What you need section.

Can these be clarified?

jrwwallis -

Just executed this procedure on a friends machine (using a new screen bought from AliExpress) and it was ridiculously easy to complete.

However, upon restarting, the machine took a little while to show signs of life. A few mins in fact, therefore I'd recommend exercising extra patience before pulling it apart again to check for assembly errors.

Much gratitude to @carsten for putting this together! Thank you!

David -