MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Left Speaker Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim
  • Comments: 2
MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Left Speaker Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

15 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace the left speaker in a Late 2020 MacBook Air (M1).

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    • 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 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 7.3 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.

    ESD safe mat, plugged into ground, with a wrist strap, also grounded, are the best best to protect the logic board.

    Robin Ray -

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

    • 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.

    Los tornillos se ruedan fácilmente :(

    Mishelle Cerón -

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    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and unlatch the metal locking arm on the battery connector.

    • Make sure the metal arm is completely free of the locking tab before lifting the battery connector. The metal locking arm should easily unlatch.

    • Lift straight up on the metal locking arm to pull the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.

    • During reassembly, press the battery connector straight down into its socket, making sure it sits flush within the socket.

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    • The left speaker will be on your righthand side when working on the MacBook, as it's laying upside down.

    • Slide the pointed end of a spudger underneath the left speaker cable and pry straight up to disconnect it from the logic board.

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    • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.2 mm screw securing the left speaker to the case.

    • If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

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    • Use a pair of tweezers to peel back the black pull tab on the speaker's stretch-release adhesive until you can grip it with your fingers.

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    • Grab the adhesive strip's pull tab and slowly pull the adhesive strip out from underneath the speaker.

    • Keep the angle of the adhesive strip as parallel to the laptop as you can. Try to avoid dragging it across the inside of the case.

    • Pull the adhesive strip until it's freed from under the speaker.

    • If the adhesive strip breaks, use a heated iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to help remove the adhesive:

    • Apply heat to the speaker to soften the adhesive underneath.

    • Carefully slide a spudger or opening pick underneath the speaker to separate the adhesive.

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    • Remove the left speaker.

    • During reassembly, to ensure the speaker performs as expected, install a strip of replacement adhesive on its underside before placing it back into the case.

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

87825 Reputation

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