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Repair information and guides for the 2015 Retina MacBook Air. Model A1534

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Broken Bluetooth antenna after battery install

I just successfully completed the battery replacement on my Macbook 12” Early 2015. Unfortunately, I broke the Bluetooth antenna socket when trying to disconnect the Left Speaker. The sound on both sides of the speaker still work. Is the only way to fix this to replace the circuit board? Is there any way to soldier the socket back onto the circuit board?

The issue I ran into was at Step 29 of the following guide:

“The antenna connectors and sockets are extremely fragile. Be very careful to lift only on the connector, and not on the socket itself. Do not lift under the cable, or put any unnecessary strain on it.”

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Retina MacBook 2015 Left Speaker Replacement

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Can you post a nice clear picture of the logic board area as well as there mating surface of the connector which is now fixed to the cable Adding images to an existing question

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Thanks, Dan. I just uploaded a photo - prior to the damage. Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking and forgot to take a picture of the damage before closing back up the Macbook.

A portion of the socket is still attached to the antenna connector. There is nothing on the circuit board anymore. I did save a very tiny "nub" piece that appears to have been a part of the socket.

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Does the Bluetooth work? Have you tested it?

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Sorry, I should have been clearer on that. The Bluetooth itself can be turned 'on' and 'off' in Mac OS, but I have not been able to make any connections to my bluetooth devices. I did try to AirDrop a URL from my iPhone to Macbook, which was successful. But I read that that AirDrop can also use WIFI instead?

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The picture helped! You are lucky! I had suspected you had yanked off the socket from the logic board. Instead you pulled the cable off the connector end.

Think of it this way… Your bedroom light is plugged in the wall outlet but you didn’t break the wall outlet you pulled the cable off the plug that goes into the wall outlet! (can you imagine the sparks flying!) So, we still have to remove the broken plug part out of the outlet and then we need to replace the lamps cord with a new connector!

So going back to your MacBook…

Here we need to carefully remove the broken connector on the logic board without breaking off the mating connector mounted on the logic board. You’ll also need to replace the speaker unit MacBook 12" Retina (Early 2015-2017) Left Speaker if I got it right.

MacBook 12" Retina (Early 2015-2017) Left Speaker Image

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MacBook 12" Retina (Early 2015-2017) Left Speaker

$14.99

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Unfortunately, I think it was the worst case scenario. That picture was actually the “before” picture before I removed the connections. The socket came off of the logic board and part of it is still connected to the connector. I think I wiggled it slightly side-to-side and it came undone. I found a company out of Alabama that repairs logic boards, but it’s about $300-400 for the repair (if it’s successful). A brand new logic board is about $400-500. A new MacBook Air is around $1,000.

So at this point, I’m probably either going to A) just live with the Bluetooth not functioning or B) sell the laptop “as-is” for someone who doesn’t mind no Bluetooth or for parts.

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@Adrian Vann - Sorry to hear that ;-{

Don't forget to accept the answer - Thanks!

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I ended up here because of the same situation. New battery, no bluetooth. I need to be more careful next time.

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Hey @simonm62936 & @adrianvann,

This still can be fixed. If the actual socket on the motherboard is broken, you can strip a little bit of the wire off the cable and then solder it on. Be careful not to spend too much time touching the motherboard with the tip otherwise you really will be in for a new motherboard. Simon, might you be able to send a picture of what happened to you?

Hope this helps.

Falcon16

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Yes! I’m away from the machine but will do that asap. Basically the socket has lifted cleanly off the motherboard and is still attached to the cable.

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And thanks for your help!

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Does that answer your question?

If it does, please support me to help others by uprating my answer and pressing the button that says I answered your question. This also marked the thread as answered so other volunteers will know.

Thanks!

--Falcon16

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posted pix for you to see @Falcon 16

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@falcon16 posted pix for you to see

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I'm here too. Is there any way top fix it or is it a case of no bluetooth or throw the laptop away?

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Hi @falcon16 @adrianvann - attached are pics of the board which no longer has the socket attached. It's come clean off. And the lead which now has the detached socket stuck to the end of it.

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Adrian Vann will be eternally grateful.
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