You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
I have damaged ports on my Macbook Air (13") early 2015. I also have a Macbook Air 2013 (13").
Can I use the ports from my 2013 as replacement ports in my 2015? In other words, are they interchangeable?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.6
The Trackpad and SSDs are the only parts which are different between the 2013 & 2015 MBAir. These parts may not be interchangeable (physically they are, but not functionally....macOS may refuse to even boot in some scenarios).
Which ports are damaged? Is it the right USB port? I find the right USB port becomes blocked by the grounding/shielding tabs above the port. USB devices catch on these small "fingers" and bend them back into the port sometimes causing it to become blocked. If this happens, I just try to bend or pull the tabs out far enough so I can snip them off with side cutters. The right side USB port is part of a small I/O Board which can be replaced.
Now to the warnings. The MBAir 2013 - 2017 models have some very fragile & easily damaged items. Even an experience tech can accidentally damage them from time to time...that is how fragile & easily damaged some of these cables & connectors are. The locking lever for the fan cable and the microphone are very easy to break....usually the locking lever portion will pop off even when very gently & carefully closing the lever. There is also another one for the Keyboard backlight.
Next is the video cable. Reinserting the video cable into the connector on the I/O Board is tricky. Part of the connector on the cable is very thin & fragile...if the connector is not inserted perfectly straight, then this thin plastic will easily break...requiring a complete Display Assembly replaced since it is not possible (or at least easy) to replace the cable. The WiFi antenna cable has an odd routing and can be damaged as well (again part of the Display Assembly ---antenna is not easily replaced either). If some of the screws are accidentally installed at the wrong location, then you may end up damaging the Logic Board or I/O Board especially if a longer screw is used where a short one should be used....I have seen people put a hole in the Logic Board because of this....there is no fix for that.
Keep in mind the 2015 laptop is now considered "Vintage" which means Apple will only perform official repairs as long as the necessary part(s) are still available.
The Trackpad and SSDs are the only parts which are different between the 2013 & 2015 MBAir. These parts may not be interchangeable (physically they are, but not functionally....macOS may refuse to even boot in some scenarios).
Which ports are damaged? Is it the right USB port? I find the right USB port becomes blocked by the grounding/shielding tabs above the port. USB devices catch on these small "fingers" and bend them back into the port sometimes causing it to become blocked. If this happens, I just try to bend or pull the tabs out far enough so I can snip them off with side cutters. The right side USB port is part of a small I/O Board which can be replaced.
Now to the warnings. The MBAir 2013 - 2017 models have some very fragile & easily damaged items. Even an experience tech can accidentally damage them from time to time...that is how fragile & easily damaged some of these cables & connectors are. The locking lever for the fan cable and the microphone are very easy to break....usually the locking lever portion will pop off even when very gently & carefully closing the lever. There is also another one for the Keyboard backlight.
Next is the video cable. Reinserting the video cable into the connector on the I/O Board is tricky. Part of the connector on the cable is very thin & fragile...if the connector is not inserted perfectly straight, then this thin plastic will easily break...requiring a complete Display Assembly replaced since it is not possible (or at least easy) to replace the cable. The WiFi antenna cable has an odd routing and can be damaged as well (again part of the Display Assembly ---antenna is not easily replaced either). If some of the screws are accidentally installed at the wrong location, then you may end up damaging the Logic Board or I/O Board especially if a longer screw is used where a short one should be used....I have seen people put a hole in the Logic Board because of this....there is no fix for that.
Keep in mind the 2015 laptop is now considered "Vintage" which means Apple will only perform official repairs as long as the necessary part(s) are still available.
Hi,
I think it's quite hard work to replace ports from 2013 MacBook Air to 2015 MacBook Air by yourself. Parts may be the same , though you'd better take your MacBook Air 2015 to your local retail AppleStore, Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider to fix the ports.
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
Mac Repair & Service - Apple Support
Dear Kaz-k,
Thank you for your speedy reply. I watched a YouTube on it and it seemed doable. Mainly I am trying to figure out if the parts are in fact compatible. I believe them to be but wanted to get a larger consensus.
Thank you!
Katrinxydinx
Wow! This was incredibly informative and helpful. Thank you very much!
All warnings you gave are duly noted.
: )
Are Macbook Air 2013 ports interchangeable as replacement parts for Macbook Air early 2015?
