Apple MacBook Air 13.3" matrix replacement

Shut down the laptop

To begin, shut down the computer by holding the power button.

Warm up the perimeter of the display

In order to remove the thin aluminum bezel, the display assembly has to be warmed up with a
heat gun. Spend a few minutes warming up the edges of the top cover evenly.

Separate the bezel

Use a wide plastic tool to pick at the bezel from the inside edge. It is important to keep the bezel
warm and to separate the glue slowly. The thin aluminum bezel is easily deformed, so please
be extra patient while separating it. Whenever the glue stops separating easily, reheat
the entire assembly. Proceed carefully and repeat these steps as many times as it takes to
continue the bezel separation. The top edge separates the easiest, and once it has been
unglued, move on to the side edges. Keep using the heat gun to warm up the bezel. Move on
to the bottom edge, and once separated, set the bezel aside.

Remove Phillips screws and warm up the perimeter of the LCD

Remove two tiny Phillips screws holding the LCD board in place. At this point, the process
of removing the old LCD matrix can be started. Gently warm up the entire display assembly
with the heat gun. Make sure to move along quickly and don't focus heat on one point for
too long. Do not use the heat gun once the LCD matrix has been partially separated—the
plastic diffuser sheets underneath the matrix will deform instantly from hot air.

Separate the glass matrix

Using a plastic pry tool, begin separating the thin glass matrix from its mounting edges.
Please note that removing the LCD matrix will shatter it; typically, the glass edges of
the matrix are the likeliest to break. Continue separating the matrix from the right
edge, then move on to the top edge. At this point, the glue will cool down and the panel
may start to break up. Place a paper towel on the keyboard and wrap it around the main body
to keep the tiny glass shards away from the keyboard and the vents. Remove the old LCD
matrix—please be extra careful, as the glass will be very sharp on all of the edges.

Clean the mounting edges

Next, the mounting edges have to be fully cleaned up. There will be a lot of tiny pieces
of glass on the edges, and we recommend using tweezers and a scalpel to effectively
remove all the glass while leaving most of the glue in place. Set the top diffuser aside
once it is free from the broken glass. Spend as much time as necessary to clean up the
edges, making sure to collect all the broken glass for disposal. Mounting edges have to
be completely free of debris for a successful reinstallation. Please note this will take
some time. Once all the glass has been cleaned up, gather it all up and dispose of it
immediately.

Remove the old LCD board

Now the old LCD board can be removed. Gently bend the LCD board forward from the top edge
and open the video connector's bracket. Open the tiny plastic tab securing the backlight
flex cable connection to the LCD board. Carefully remove the LCD board, making sure that
the video and the backlight connectors are properly disconnected.

Prepare new LCD matrix

Line the keyboard with a clean paper towel and unpack the new LCD matrix. Place the new
matrix facing down on the keyboard.

Connect the new LCD matrix

Gently bend the LCD board forward 180 degrees and place it directly above where it would
normally mount. Feed the backlight flex cable into the gap between the LCD board and the
panel. Make sure the backlight connector tab is open. Slide the flex cable into the connector,
making sure it's in all the way, and close the securing tab. Unbend the LCD board with the
backlight flex cable attached. Reconnect the video connector by aligning the LCD board with
it and plugging the board onto the connector. Secure the video connector's bracket.

Test the new matrix

At this point, a loose test can be performed: Press the power button. If the backlight and the
startup graphics appear, both connectors have been plugged in properly. Hold the power
button to cancel the boot-up.

Replace the plastic diffuser and the matrix

Replace two small Phillips screws on the LCD board. Remove the rear protective film,
replace the plastic diffuser, and lift the LCD matrix into place. At this point, a second
test can be performed: Turn the computer on and look for small particles and dust showing
behind the screen. Hold the power button to cancel the boot-up. Remove all visible debris
with tweezers, blow off the main diffuser with compressed air, lift the LCD matrix in place,
and repeat the test. If the white background seems satisfactory, hold the power button to
cancel the boot-up. Lightly press the LCD matrix into its mounting edges. Peel off the front
protective film.

Replace the bezel

Replace the aluminum bezel: start at the bottom edge and move around the
perimeter of the display assembly, pressing the bezel into the rubber gasket around the edge.
Warm up the entire display assembly with a heat gun and, using a paper towel, apply
pressure evenly around the entire bezel. Reheat the bezel a second time and reapply the
pressure, and you're done!