Pop out the battery (it's the large, black component that takes up half the compartment).Remove a series of screws holding the battery in place.Disconnect the battery by sliding its connector out of a socket.Remove 10 screws from the bottom of the case (keep the screws organized so you know which ones went where).Ground yourself and take measures to reduce risk of static electricity (work on a hard surface, don't stand on carpet, touch an unpainted metal component to discharge any static or wear an anti-static wristband).

The large black component at the top right of the photo is the. The battery sellers will include detailed instructions (often with a link to a YouTube video walkthrough), but here’s the basics of what you’re looking at: You don’t need to be particularly technically proficient, either. As mentioned, doing so voids your warranty, but on an older MacBook Air that warranty probably ran out years ago. This is actually a lot easier than you might think. If something goes wrong, having your data on an external hard drive or a thumb drive means you don’t lose everything. Most of the retailers that sell replacement batteries also offer inexpensive screwdriver kits to go along with them.Īlways back up your data. After that, Apple switched to Torx screws. Expect to pay considerably less than Apple charges for a battery -mine was about $79.įor 20 MacBook Air laptops, you’ll just need a selection of small Phillips screwdrivers. When in doubt, click About This Mac in the OS X Finder for the specific model number. Choose a reputable manufacturer and retailer and double-check to ensure the battery you choose is specific to your MacBook Air model (Apple changed the battery frequently). There are many sources for replacement batteries online.

Mac air battery connector replacement