MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Screen Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim

Comments: 56

MacBook Air 13" Late 2020 Screen Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the screen (aka the display) in a Late 2020 MacBook Air (M1).

Tools

Parts

MacBook Air 13" (A2337 Late 2020) Display Assembly

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 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 -

Step 2

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 -

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 1.4 mm screw securing the antenna cable cover.
If your T3 bit feels a bit too loose, you may need to use a T4.

I needed a T4 for this

MaFt Morley -

Wiha tools T3 fit perfectly.

Robin Ray -

Step 5

Remove the antenna cable cover.

Make sure the 90 degree bend on the cover is towards the hinge when reassembling. It will fit in backwards, but will cause problems.

Robin Ray -

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.

These are tiny, and hard to reconnect. The key was to position the cables so their ends are very close to the posts on the board.

dexter -

Step 7

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

None of the screws in this repair are T3. All the smaller ones are T4. Which is good, ‘cause my (cheap) repair tool kit doesn’t have a T3.

dexter -

The T3 screws called out were indeed T3, not T4 on the MacBook Air I replaced the display on.

--Mac Ace, Inc.

Robin Ray -

I dropped one of these - can they be purchased? Or is there a matching screw in an older MacBook Air? I have a ton of those for parts... :-)

Jimmy Anderson -

Step 8

Remove the display cable connector cover.

Step 9

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.

Since this step is the most crucial in the reassembly process I suggest connecting the flat cable to the board BEFORE placing the board in to its cavity in the antenna bar. MUCH easier and SAFER to do.

J Patrick Dowling -

Step 10

Use a T5 Torx driver to remove the six screws securing the antenna bar:
Four 7.4 mm silver screws
Two 4.7 mm black screws

Mine here is T6 Torx not T5.

David Jones -

When putting it back together, make sure to get the display cable connector out from under the antenna board before screwing the antenna bar back down. The connector has to go behind the bar in the little notch as the board goes through the opening in the bar.

Matthew Granger - 19/03/23

Step 11

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 12

Use your fingers to pry the antenna bar straight up and away from the case.
The antenna bar is secured with some 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.

Separating antennae bar from case after removing screws is challenging. Author’s directions are good but what needs to be addressed is a thin strip of adhesive on both sides of the bar that needs to be separated. the strips are located on the hinge edge of the logic board mount area. I used a metal, razor thin, wide, blade type spudger to gently “wedge” underneath the bar along both adhesive strips to loosen the bar and lift it up. Careful!

Macrepair SF -

Thanks for this hint!!

Benjamin Bradshaw -

Step 13

Use a T8 Torx driver to remove two 5.0 mm screws from each hinge (four screws total).
Each hinge has a third central screw, which you should leave in place for now.

The Easiest Mac screen repair I've ever done! it was a pleasant surprise

Kelly Legner -

I found a T9 to be a better fit

Luke Knight -

Nothing is making these screws come out. Any advice on what to do

ella sharman -

Increase the diameter of the handle. That gives more torque to break the screww loose. You could wrap it with some material and then cover it with duct tape.

Matthew Granger -

Step 14

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

Step 15

Lift the MacBook up and place it on its side, with the display facing away from you.

Step 16

Use a T8 Torx driver to remove the two remaining 5.0 mm screws securing the display, one from each hinge.
Once these screws are removed, the display will no longer be connected to the upper case. Hold both halves steady.

Step 17

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 away from the case while holding the case still, so that the hinges slide out the bottom of the case.
Remove the display.
When you've installed the replacement screen, the MacBook may not boot until you plug in the power supply.

I managed to try to fit the screen back to the body backwards, and wondered why the hinges didn't fit! Yes, stupid. I lost situational awareness. But just make the sure the correct side of the screen is facing the right way, to avoid my (temporary, but stressful) goofup.

dexter -

Me too until I read your comment. Remember that the screen was facing away from you in step 16. Then it fits easily.

Matthew Granger -

Nicely done guide, thank you Carsten!

MotorMac -

When you're all done with reassembly you have to plug the charger into the laptop in order for it to boot. It doesnt matter if the battery is charged it will not boot until the charger is reconnected. Took me a while to figure out why mine wasnt booting after the screen replacement

Nelson Pun -

Excellent guide. Concise, accurate, very nice!

Robin Ray -

I replace the screen and the computer is currently plugged into a power source, however I cannot get the computer to actually turn on. It just shows the charging display icon when I try to turn the computer on.

Nicole -

The true tone function will be lost even if you replace the display with a 100% compatible display.

KazuhiroOshiyama -

Even the display that is purchased through the Apple Parts store? I have one coming and will report back once I install it.

Mike Hiteshew -

Confirmed that all features function as new when using a display from Apple Parts - True Tone, Camera, Nightshift, etc.

Mike Hiteshew -

Perfect guide. I didn't encounter any issues and just worked carefully and gingerly.

Toby Phillippe -

Great guide - excellent photos and description. Very accurate. Thanks for creating!

Mike Hiteshew -

**************************** IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP************************

I pulled another common mistake probably. Make sure that the screen cable is snaked through to the bottom when reattaching the new screen assembly. I didn't. I got all 6 screws on and closed the screen. I was up to step 12 when I realized there was no antenna board. Luckily it didn't break the screen again when I closed the cover on it!

Matthew Granger -

Excellent instructions. Did not take long at all. Every step is on point.

Bayne Schulstad -

Hey, great instructions - thanks! I'm pretty clumsy, and these screens are pretty fragile, which means I'm currently on my 4th screen! I have replaced them all myself following these instructions, and I've bought genuine parts AFAIK. However, for each replacement, I can never get the camera to work. It shows in System Information like so:

------

Model ID: FaceTime HD Camera

Unique ID: EAB7A68F-EC2B-4487-AADF-D8A91C1CB782

------

But it just isn't recognised by any app, and whatever I try (killing all apps that might be using it, updating software etc) doesn't work, and hasn't worked with the two previous replacements either. I'm sure the connectors have been done properly on all of them. I read somewhere that running some system config software is necessary, but is that true? And if so where can I find it please?

Thanks!

Jeff G -

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

24 comments

How to make the True Tone working on the screen from another air?

William Kang -

Like iPhones does the display need to be programed to allow true tone to work?

Zuhayr Muse -

Just did the replacement! Was a breeze, just be careful not to over tighten any of the screws past a firm twist. Accident broke the head off a 1.5mm screw using a T3 bit. Didn’t affect the plates ability to cover or apply a firm press downwards, but a unfortunate thing nonetheless.

Caleb Stewart -

After Replacing the display, the new display is dim and the F2 does not brighten the screen. Any resolution to this issue?

Already reset NVRAM and PRAM.

Beto Beto -

same issue here. it looks more dim

Boy Named Kelly -

Step 4 and 7 were T4 Torx screws for me.

Thomas Anderson -

Install took about 30 min. and was pretty easy. I didn’t have trouble throughout the process. The adhesive on antenna plate was pretty strong, but with some gentle prying it came free.

shwinston -

I successfully installed the replacement screen, but now my 2.4 Ghz wifi / bluetooth antenna is not working. Any idea which connector cable connects to 2.4 Ghz antenna?

Lars -

Thanks made it easy

Papi -

Done. Works . Biggest chalange was with plugging in back the display cabel connector . Be sure to pre alling the Screen bar with cabel conector , becouse it cannot bend on sides.

Jakub Reginia -

I tried the replacement. Everything works except True Tone as expected. Probably special tool is needed for the True Tone.

Ryan Kojima -

I’ve got the display from an Intel 2018 Air. Can I test it with an M1 Mac? The process and connectors look the same.

Jon -

Did you try this? If so, was it successful?

Lee -

Just tried this - it doesn’t work. M1 MacBook refuses to power on when connected to a display from a 2018 MacBook Air a1932.

Robert Corlett -

Your instructions were amazing and to the T. Thank you so much for everything

willblakleycomputes -

Hi.

Would the display of a MacBook Air early (intel) 2020 work on this MacBook Air late 2020. Seems to be the same specifications.

Marc Machold -

I change my screen but the camera doesn’t work, I checked the hardware’s but MacBook doesn’t have any camera, I tried 3 different screens , all are same. i tried all resets but still not working, any ideas?

Erhan Engin -

hi i have the same Issue do you have a solution?

Philipp Kuhn -

same problem here!

Pomar Filmes -

Does this repair cause any feature issues? so, would the webcam not work or truetone not work? Even if i use genuine, donated apple parts?

Thank you!

Jubi Q -

Third-party screens may be missing the fat-L shaped shields and T3 screws flanking the display connector (visible in Step 9), if you bought one somewhere else be sure to transfer this hardware as well.

cressandy -

Certain parts like displays, cameras, and ambient light sensors have calibration values that are customized to each individual part during manufacturing. Transferring these values ensures maximum performance and quality after a repair.

A System Configuration step may be required at the end of your repair. System Configuration is a postrepair software tool that completes the repair for genuine Apple parts. Running System Configuration has a number of purposes that vary based on the part replaced.

Tony Fresquez -

I'd replaced replaced the display on a MBP 2012 before, so I didn't anticipate any problems replacing the display on my A2337. Everything seemed to go smoothly, but when I booted up (with power cord attached), I didn't get more than a faint glow from the screen. I tried all the usual, but still no luck. I went back and made sure everything was seated properly but I got the same results. So, I reinstalled my cracked screen, which worked perfectly, outside of the cracks. You think I can assume the part was defective? I bought it from eBay, and it at least claimed to be OEM.

Pia Vastatrix -

Is there a way to tighten the hinge? I would like to have my display tighter. It always flips back when I pick up my MacBook. That's not the case for my girlfriends MacBook which is the exact same model.

Marcel Braun -