Can you Replace the Battery in Your MacBook?

Author: Harry Guinness / Source: howtogeek.com

The battery is often the first part to really fail in older MacBooks. If this is happening to you, you’ll be glad to hear that you might just be able to replace it yourself.

A Note on Warranties

If you’ve got an old Mac where the battery isn’t holding a charge because of age, it most likely won’t be covered by warranty.

That’s because the warranty period has expired, and because wear and tear isn’t covered by the warranty, anyway.

On the other hand, if you’ve got a Mac that’s only a few years old that isn’t holding a charge or won’t charge at all, then there’s a chance the battery is defective and Apple will repair it for free. And if you bought your MacBook in the EU, that warranty period could last as long as six years. It’s worth checking, since replacing the battery can be a pretty big job.

A Note on Safety

Lithium-ion batteries—like the one inside your MacBook—can literally explode. This is something you really need to bear in mind when you’re considering a repair job like replacing the battery.

You should always make sure the battery is fully drained before removing it. You also need to consider how you’re going to dispose of it. You can’t just throw it away. Instead, you’ll need to take it to a tech recycling center or hazardous waste drop off, where they will have the necessary set up to dispose of batteries safely.