MacBook Air 15" 2023 Headphone Jack Replacement (2024)

• Allow your MacBook's battery to drain below 25% before starting this repair—a charged battery may catch fire if damaged.

• Unplug all cables and fully power off your MacBook.

• Close the display and lay your MacBook upside down. Keep your laptop closed until you've physically disconnected the battery.

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• Use a P5 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the four 6.4mm‑long screws securing the lower case.

• Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

• Apply a suction handle to the center of the lower case's front edge.

• Pull up on the suction handle to create a gap between the lower case and the frame.

• Insert an opening pick into the gap.

• During the next two steps you'll feel and hear six snapping clips release. If a clip doesn't release, insert your opening pick farther and try again.

• Slide the pick to the bottom right corner to release the first clip.

• Slide the pick around the corner and up the right edge to release the next two clips.

• Insert the opening pick in the original gap created with the suction handle.

• Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner and up the left edge to release the three remaining snapping clips.

• Four sliding tabs along the back edge of the MacBook firmly secure the lower case. Separating these tabs requires a lot of force—consider using gloves to protect your hands from the sharp edges of the lower case.

• Keep the lower case flat and firmly pull it straight away from the back edge, one corner at a time, to disengage the sliding tabs.

• Don't pull up until the cover is completely separated.

• Remove the lower case.

• During reassembly:

• Set the lower case in place and align the sliding tabs with the screw heads they slide over. Press down and slide the lower case toward the back edge to engage the tabs—it'll stop sliding as the tabs engage.

• When one side is engaged, it may push the other out of alignment. Check both sides as you push, there should be no gap along the back edge.

• Once the lower case is flush with the frame, press down firmly along the perimeter to engage the six snapping clips.

• You'll hear and feel a distinct click as each clip snaps into place.

• Use blunt nose tweezers or your fingers to remove the piece of tape covering the battery connector cover.

• During reassembly, use the leftover adhesive to secure the tape to the cover.

• Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 1.5mm‑long screws securing the battery connector cover.

• Due to screw variances, you may need to use a T4 Torx instead. Keep this in mind whenever you encounter T3 Torx screws during this repair.

• Remove the cover.

• Use an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the battery connector.

• To reconnect a press connector, align it over the socket and gently press down on one side until it clicks into place, then press down on the other side. It might take a few tries to align the connector.

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

• Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the following screws:

• Two 2.6mm‑long screws securing the left hinge cover

• Two 1.5mm‑long screws securing the speaker cable cover

• Remove the speaker cable cover.

• Insert the point of a spudger into one of the left hinge cover's screw holes.

  See Also

  MacBook Air 2022 (M2) Headphone Jack Replacement

• Push the hinge cover away from the back edge to dislodge it.

• Remove the hinge cover.

• Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the right speaker press connector.

• Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the top edge of the right speaker:

• One 2.7mm‑long screw

• One 5.5mm‑long screw

• Use a T6 Torx screwdriver to remove the 3.5mm‑long screw securing the bottom edge of the speaker.

• Make sure the cable on the top right edge of the speaker doesn't get caught on the logic board, as it may tear.

• Lift the speaker's left edge over the frame and slide it to the left to remove it.

• During reassembly, slide the speaker cable under the left edge of the antenna bar assembly before laying the speaker in its recess.

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• Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the foam pad from the headphone jack press connector cover on the left edge of the logic board.

• During reassembly, use the leftover adhesive to secure the foam pad. If the pad doesn't stick, use double-sided tape such as Tesa Tape to secure it.

• Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 1.5mm‑long screw securing the headphone jack press connector cover.

• Remove the headphone jack press connector cover.

• Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the headphone jack press connector.

• Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the lid angle sensor press connector from the headphone jack's upper cable.

• Light adhesive secures the headphone jack's upper and lower cables to the frame.

• Insert the point of a spudger under the headphone jack's upper cable.

• Gently lift the cable to separate the adhesive securing it.

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• Gently peel the headphone jack's lower cable from the frame.

• During reassembly:

• If your new headphone jack's cables come with adhesive, remove the plastic backings and press the cables into place on the frame.

• If the cables don't have adhesive, use strips of double-sided tape such as Tesa Tape to secure them to the frame.

• Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 4.8mm‑long screws securing the headphone jack.

• Slide the headphone jack out of its recess and remove it.