Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the I/O board connector up and out of its socket on the logic board
Be sure to lift straight up on the connector as you disconnect it from its socket. The socket is very deep on the logic board and prying it from side to side may damage the logic board
Gently push the tip of a spudger under the black plastic flap stuck to the display data cable lock to make the lock pop upward and away from the socket.
Remove the small rubber gasket from the corner of the upper case near the display data cable.
Before removing the last display screw, be sure to hold the display and upper case steady with your other hand. Failure to do so may allow the components to fall onto the table, causing potentially expensive damage.
Remove the last 4.9 mm T8 Torx screw securing the display to the upper case.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the right speaker off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
Only pry up on the speaker from the areas of bare aluminum on the upper case. Prying up from the keyboard area may damage the keyboard and the speaker itself.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the left speaker off the adhesive securing it to the upper case.
Only pry up on the speaker from the areas of bare aluminum on the upper case. Prying up from the keyboard area may damage the keyboard and the speaker itself.
I used this guide to replace the keyboard on my macbook air 11, mid 2011.
When I removed the perimeter screws on the keyboard, I then popped all of the 54 or so rivots. I bought a $34 keyboard and installed it with the perimeter screws. But then I bonded the top of each of the rivot shafts with a tiny amount of epoxy cement, after which I used a razor blade to shave each of them to be flush. After re-installing the backlight material, and reassembling the computer, it works PERFECTLY. The Apple store expert had told us that the computer could not be repaired. :-)
I’ve bought a replacement keyboard with holes in every place where a rivot existed. So it doesn’t requires any work on the case for the remains of the rivots.
Thank you very much for your clear guide! Even though I had never opened a laptop before, I was able to dig down to my keyboard with your instructions and I'm typing this now with BOTH shift keys :-D
Note: unlike @Bill Aldridge I bought extra screws to replace the rivets and replaced all but four of the rivets using (at my Father's suggestion) flat sharp wire cutters to bite into the stumps of the rivets and then pop them out.
Just replaced a top cover following this guide. It worked perfectly! Looks like this trusty old Air is going to get another couple of years of life. Didn't even want to try doing just the keyboard, that just seems brutal. Anyways, thanks for the guide!
I’ve gone used this guide TWICE on the same laptop. My Girlfriend seems determined to keep breaking her laptop! ;-) I may have to buy some screws if there the a third time, some of them are getting a bit worn… Thanks for the guide (again).