Mac Repair London carries out an SSD upgrade on the MacBook Air 13-inch from our Central London workshop, for home users and businesses.
The 2013–2017 13-inch Air uses a PCIe SSD blade and can take an NVMe drive through an adapter once it’s running macOS High Sierra or later, which gives larger capacities than Apple ever offered. The 2010–2012 models use earlier SATA-based blades. We check your model and firmware, fit the right drive and clone your existing system.
About this model: The 13-inch MacBook Air (A1369 and A1466) ran for seven years with the same wedge design, and the 2017 model was sold until 2019, so there are a lot of them. Memory is soldered, but the SSD is a removable blade, the battery is screwed in, and the keyboard can be replaced separately from the top case.
Signs it needs an SSD upgrade
- 128GB drive full
- Storage warnings
- SSD not found at start-up
- Sluggish old SSD
How we do it
Apple’s blade SSDs use proprietary connectors that changed between generations, so we match the drive (or adapter) to your exact model identifier. For NVMe drives we first confirm the Mac’s firmware is current, because older firmware can’t boot from NVMe.
Once fitted, we either restore your existing system or install the newest macOS your model supports, then run a full read/write test and check the drive’s health reporting before handing it back.
If you’d rather move to a new Mac instead, our data migration service (from £79 + VAT) transfers everything across.
At a glance
| Years | 2010–2017 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo, then Core i5/i7 |
| Storage | Removable Apple SSD blade |
| Memory | Soldered to the logic board |
| Battery | Screwed in (no glue) |
| Power / charging | MagSafe 1 (2010–2011), MagSafe 2 (2012–2017) |
Before you bring it in
Think about whether you want a clean install or everything moved across exactly as it is. Both are fine; a clean install can also clear out years of clutter.
Which model do you have?
This page covers the MacBook Air 13-inch (2010–2017) (MacBookAir3,2 / 4,2 / 5,2 / 6,2 / 7,2; A1369, A1466). Open the Apple menu, choose About This Mac, then More Info or System Report. The A-number is also printed in small text on the underside. Not sure? Bring it in and we’ll identify it for you.
Price
SSD upgrade: 256GB SSD: £250 + VAT supply and fit. Other capacities quoted on request. All prices are subject to inspection, and nothing is done without your approval.
Questions we’re often asked
Will I lose my files?
No. We clone or back up your data before any upgrade and check everything is in place afterwards.
Is it worth upgrading this model?
If the machine is otherwise healthy, yes. Storage and memory upgrades are the cheapest way to make an older Mac noticeably quicker, and we’ll tell you honestly if we think a replacement would be better value.
Do I pay if you can’t fix it?
No. If the repair isn’t possible, you don’t pay for it, and the free initial assessment costs nothing.
Book a repair
Call us on 020 7394 2528 or email info@mac-repair.london to arrange a time to drop it off.