MacBook Air 13-inch Early 2020 A2179 Battery Replacement: Step-by-Step Guide

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 22 Oct 2025

MacBook A2179 battery replacement is a doable task you can perform even at home if you have the right tools and clear instructions at hand. This guide will help you understand how to remove the old battery and install a new one step by step.

Important: Apple devices are critically sensitive to the quality of spare parts. Using a non-original battery can lead to a malfunctioning power system, reduced performance, and overheating. Therefore, if you don't have an original battery — you can always find one at techtoro.io with an authenticity guarantee and fast delivery.

Preparing for MacBook Air A2179 battery replacement

Before you disassemble your MacBook, you need to prepare your workspace and tools. Disassemble the device only when you have everything you need at hand — this will help avoid damage and speed up the process.

Tools and accessories

To replace the battery on your MacBook Air 13'' A2179, you'll need:

original battery for MacBook Air A2179 (Early 2020) — strictly compatible with the A2179 model;
P5 pentalobe screwdriver — to remove the bottom cover of the laptop;
tri-point Y000 screwdriver — for removing battery screws;
plastic spudger - for safe disconnection of connectors;
tweezers — convenient to use when working with small screws and cables.

Additionally, you should preferably prepare:

antistatic mat or bracelet — to protect electronics from static;
a small container or magnetic mat for screws - to avoid losing anything.

Also: Best Macbook Tools: What Apple Toolkit You Need for Repairs, Upgrades

How to replace A2179 MacBook Air 13'' battery: 7 steps

If your A2179 MacBook Air battery starts draining quickly, your computer shuts down suddenly, or shows a battery maintenance message, it's probably time for a replacement. Despite the fact that the case of Apple models is considered non-disassembling, A2179 MacBook Air 13'' Battery replacement is possible and does not require soldering or specialized equipment. The main thing is to follow the instructions carefully, use caution and original parts only.

Step 1: Remove the bottom cover

We start with the simplest thing — unscrew the bottom part of the case. This will give you access to the internal components and battery.

Turn your MacBook over with the cover face down.
Using a P5 Pentalobe screwdriver, remove 10 screws: six (3 on each side) of equal length — 6.2 mm and four in the center at the edges — 3.6 mm.
Carefully pry up the cover with a plastic tool (not metal!) — start at the back edge.
Pull the cover upwards, wiggling it slightly — it may be held by latches, do not pull with force.

Now you have access to the inside of the laptop.

Step 2: Unplug the power

Before touching anything inside, always power down the device. This rule is relevant even for such seemingly simple jobs as replacing the battery.

Find the battery connector—it is located near the bottom edge of the motherboard (closer to you, if you look at the open laptop).
Using a plastic spatula, carefully pry up and disconnect the battery connector from the board.
Make sure the cable is not touching the contacts — you can temporarily insulate it to avoid accidental touch.

Step 3: Remove the trackpad cable cover plate

Before removing the battery itself, you need to free the loop that runs underneath it. To do this, a small protective plate is removed.

Locate the thin aluminum plate in the center of the bottom of the battery.
Remove the two screws on the edges of this plate with a Y000 screwdriver.
Remove the plate — the trackpad cable is located underneath.

Important: at this stage do not disconnect the cable itself, just open access to it — you will need it later.

Step 4: Peel off the battery

Before removing the battery, be sure to remove both speakers—they block access to the adhesive strips. To do this, unscrew the screws, carefully disconnect the speakers from the case, pull out the tape using the black protruding strip, and slide the speakers aside without damaging the cables.

The main difference between the A2179 and older models is that the battery here is not screwed on, but glued. The adhesive is the same type used in the iPhone: special pull-out strips.

There are 3 pull-out glue tabs on each of the two halves of the battery — 4 in total.
Start on the left side: find the black protruding strips near the bottom edge of the battery.
Using tweezers or your fingers, gently pull the glue strip slowly and at a 30-45° angle. Do not pull upwards — this may tear the strip.
Repeat the same with the remaining 5 ribbons.

If the tape has torn, you can gently pry up the battery with a plastic tool (with great care!) or drop a little isopropyl alcohol around the edges of the battery — it will loosen the adhesive.

Step 5: Remove the battery

When all the glue strips are removed or softened, the battery is ready to be removed. The main thing — do it carefully, especially in the area of the center loop.

Gently grasp the edges of the battery.
Lift slowly, making sure that the battery does not touch the trackpad cable (in the center).
Remove the battery completely from the case.

If the battery is swollen — do not try to pierce or puncture it. Work very carefully, and at the slightest doubt it is better to stop and consult a service center.

Also: MacBook Air 13 Early 2015 battery replacement: step-by-step guide

Step 6: Install the new battery

Now you can move on to installing the new battery. This step is not difficult, but you need to be careful: it is important not to pinch or skew anything.

Remove the protective films from the adhesive strips on the new battery (if there are any).
Place the battery in the same place as the old one, referring to the shape of the case.
Make sure the battery is lying flat and is not pulling the cables.
Reconnect the power connector back to the motherboard.
Reinstall the trackpad cover plate and tighten the 2 Y000 screws.

Step 7: Closing the bottom cover

The final step is assembling the case. The main thing here is not to mix up the screws and not to overtighten them so as not to strip the threads.

Put the bottom cover in place.
Align the screw holes.
Tighten the 10 P5 Pentalobe screws: first on the edges, then the remaining screws. Do not overtighten them — the aluminum can easily come off.

Important rules when replacing MacBook Air A2179 battery

Even if you're confident in your abilities, there are a number of technical rules to follow when replacing the A2179 battery. These aren't just “general guidelines,” but crucial points highlighted by Apple's own engineers.

What you should definitely consider:

Disconnect the battery before any action. Even if you're just removing screws, the power must be completely turned off.
Don't use metal tools near the motherboard. Only plastic: it does not conduct current and leaves no residue.
Do not crush or bend the battery. Lithium polymer cells are sensitive to mechanical damage and may catch fire if punctured.
Work on an antistatic surface or with a wrist strap. Even a small static discharge can damage the board components.
Use original components. Chinese batteries, even with the same size, often give erroneous data to macOS controllers — the system will not be able to correctly display the capacity, and sometimes even disable charging.
Make sure the new battery is installed flat. There should be no bends, misalignments, or extra pressure on the trackpad loop.
Take your time when pulling the adhesive tapes. If you pull too sharply, the tape will tear, and you will have to remove the glue manually.
Observe the order of the screws when assembling. They vary in length-especially the four screws in the center of the bottom cover.

Check if MacBook Air A2179 battery replacement was successful

After reassembling and installing the new battery, it's important to make sure everything works correctly. Apple doesn't show battery capacity in numbers directly, but you can get the information you need through the system report.

What to check:

Turn on your MacBook. If the battery is installed correctly, the system will boot normally. If nothing happens — plug in the charger and check if the LED/screen responds. If the laptop only turns on from charging — there is a chance that the battery is not connected or is defective.
Open the system information. Click on “About this Mac”, click on the “System Report” tab and select “Power”. Find the “Capacity at full charge” and “Status” settings.
What to look for. Status: should be Normal. Recharge cycles: 0 or a maximum of 1-2 if the battery has been factory tested. Capacity: should be in the range of ~4300-4900 mAh (for A2179).
Check if the battery is charging. Plug in the charger and make sure the battery icon in the menu bar shows a charge and not “Not Charging”.
Conduct a small stress test. Unplug the charger and run it for 30–60 minutes. Make sure the charge decreases smoothly, without sudden spikes.

If all of the above is in order — the MacBook Air 13-inch Early 2020 A2179 Battery replacement was successful. The battery is installed correctly, and your MacBook is back up and runs like new.

Also: Best Mac Backup Software in 2025: Top Free and Paid Options

If you plan to replace the battery in your MacBook, it's important to use only original components — it affects not only the life, but also the stability of the device. Non-original batteries are often incorrectly recognized by the system, overheat and quickly fail.

All parts presented on techtoro.io are originals, fully compatible with Apple equipment. You get a reliable product, competitive price and fast delivery. No risk, no overpayments and no installation problems.

FAQ

1. How much does It cost to replace the battery in a MacBook Air M1 2020

An original battery for a MacBook Air M1 (A2337, 2020) costs between $85 and $110. The price depends on the package, supplier, and region: basic versions without tools are closer to the lower end, kits with extended warranty are closer to the upper end.

2. Can I replace my MacBook a2179 battery

Yes, you can replace the battery in MacBook Air A2179 (Early 2020) by yourself — no soldering required, the whole process comes down to careful disassembly and installation of a new battery. But it is extremely important to strictly follow the instructions for your model: different versions of MacBook may have different mountings, connectors, and even the location of components.

And most importantly, use only original parts. Batteries which are not original often display incorrectly in macOS, lose capacity quickly, and can be dangerous. If you use the correct instructions and the original part, the A2179 battery replacement is doable at home.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io