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MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published May 16, 2022
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How do you replace or upgrade the battery in the MacBook Air? Is it even possible or is it glued in place?
The battery in all MacBook Air models is "integrated," which means it is not designed to be replaced by end-users, and it certainly is not easily "swappable" like the battery in "pre-Unibody" MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
The MacBook Air battery is replaceable, though. Thankfully, no soldering is required and Apple did not secure the battery in place with adhesive, either.
Official Replacement Option
Officially, when the battery life of any MacBook Air drops enough to justify replacement -- and it is no longer under warranty -- one is required to provide Apple with the entire MacBook Air for service.
Additional information is available from the company website -- and the price varies in different countries -- but as of the date last updated, it costs US$129 in the US, C$149 in Canada (originally C$209), £99 in the UK (originally £159), and A$199 in Australia (originally A$229) to have Apple replace the battery (including the battery itself).
If you live close to an Apple Store, you can opt for same-day service with an appointment. If you do not, you may alternately have the battery replaced by mail, which takes 3-4 days.
Self-Replacement Option
Although it might be a bit of a stretch to refer to battery replacement as a "hack" per se, as it is rather straightforward, it is entirely possible to replace the battery yourself.
Replacing the battery yourself not only saves a bit of money, but it also can save time, and it can be much more secure as you are not required to turn your entire notebook over to a third-party, either. However, be very certain to purchase a quality battery. A low quality battery may not hold a charge for as long as a quality one, but it also may leak or even cause a fire.
AnandTech was the first to tear into the original MacBook Air and found that it is not difficult to replace the battery, although it does require the removal of a whopping nineteen screws.
Image Credit: AnandTech (Original MacBook Air -- Bottom Panel Removed)
The battery replacement procedure is quite similar for subsequent models. However, starting with the "Late 2010" series, Apple uses five-point "Pentalobe" screws (which some refer to as "Security Torx" screws) on the exterior to more seriously discourage end-users from "tinkering" with their computer. The battery assembly likewise is attached with T5 Torx screws. It's not really any more difficult to replace the battery in these models, it just requires a more obscure screwdriver.
Identification Help
Not all MacBook Air models use the same battery, so it is critical to identify your MacBook Air correctly in order to purchase a compatible battery.
The MacBook Air can be identified by the Model Identifier "closely enough" to an exact match for the purpose of replacing the battery. In turn, each model can be uniquely identified via model identifier and one or more secondary identifiers (like processor speed and/or processor type).
EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can uniquely identify these models by the Serial Number, which is listed on the bottom of the notebook in small type toward the hinge and within the operating system alongside the model identifier. More details about specific identifiers are provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
To locate the model identifier in software, select "About This Mac" under the Apple Menu on your computer and click the "More Info..." button. If the MacBook Air is running OS X 10.7 "Lion" or later, you will need to click the "System Report" button after clicking "More Info..." as well. EveryMac.com has carefully hand documented each model identifier for your convenience.
The model identifiers for each of these models follows:
MacBook Air |
Subfamily |
Model ID |
Original |
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Original |
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Late 2008 |
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Late 2008 |
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Mid-2009 |
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Mid-2009 |
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Late 2010 |
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Late 2010 |
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Late 2010 |
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Late 2010 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2011 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2012 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Mid-2013 |
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Early 2014 |
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Early 2014 |
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Early 2014 |
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Early 2014 |
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Early 2015 |
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Early 2015 |
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Early 2015 |
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Early 2015 |
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2017 |
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2017 |
Battery Replacement Instructions
For the original, "Late 2008," and "Mid-2009" MacBook Air models you essentially have to remove the bottom case (ten screws), unscrew the battery (nine screws), and finally, just unplug the battery and remove it.
The procedure is slightly different for the original model and the "Late 2008/Mid-2009" models and a bit different for the "Late 2010" and subsequent models, too.
Site sponsor Other World Computing both provides quality, compatible batteries (complete with the correct screwdrivers) and has precisely documented the replacement steps for each, as well:
Original MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir1,1)
Late 2008/Mid-2009 MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir2,1)
Late 2010 11" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir3,1)
Late 2010 13" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir3,2)
Mid-2011 11" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir4,1)
Mid-2011 13" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir4,2)
Mid-2012 11" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir5,1)
Mid-2012 13" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir5,2)
Mid-2013/Early 2014 11" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir6,1)
Mid-2013/Early 2014 13" MacBook Air Battery Replacement Video (MacBookAir6,2)
The replacement procedure is essentially the same for the "Early 2015" 11" MacBook Air (MacBookAir7,1) as it for the "Mid-2013/Early 2014" 11" models. Likewise, the "Early 2015" and "2017" 13" MacBook Air models (MacBookAir7,2) essentially have the same procedure as the "Mid-2013/Early 2014" 13" models that preceded them.
After watching the video for your model, it should be clear that replacing the battery is simple. When you remove the screws, though, pay careful attention to where each screw goes. In particular, some screws are longer than others.
However, if you do not feel comfortable doing the work yourself, hiring a professional is a good idea.
Battery Replacement Summary
Ultimately, those with modest technical skills can easily replace the battery in these MacBook Air models themselves should they choose to do so. Replacing the battery requires nothing more than a compatible, quality battery and the correct screwdriver or screwdrivers.
It cannot be stressed enough that it is very important to purchase a quality battery. Low quality batteries may not hold a charge for as long as a quality one, but even may leak, swell, or cause a fire.
Battery Purchase Options
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor OWC offers quality batteries for nearly all MacBook Air models.
In the UK and Ireland, site sponsor Flexx sells OWC batteries with free shipping.
In Australia, site sponsor Upgradeable is a local distributor of OWC batteries with fast delivery and more.
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