Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the left speaker driver in your AirPods Max headset.

If the sound coming from the left ear cup is faded, fuzzy, or distorted, or if there's no sound at all, you may need to replace the left speaker driver.

What you need

Step 1 Prepare your headset for disassembly

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Prepare your headset for disassembly: step 1, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Prepare your headset for disassembly: step 1, image 2 of 2

Before starting your repair:
Unplug and remove all cables and accessories.
To help stabilize the ear cups and prevent scratching them, consider placing your AirPods Max on a soft, clean cloth.

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Step 2 Remove the left earpad

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the left earpad: step 2, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the left earpad: step 2, image 2 of 2

The earpads are secured with magnets.
Lift the left earpad (labeled L) straight up and remove it.

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Step 3 Remove the left ear cup

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the left ear cup: step 3, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the left ear cup: step 3, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the left ear cup: step 3, image 3 of 3

Removing the ear cup isn’t required, but can make the repair easier. You can leave the cup attached and remove it later if needed.
Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or a small, straightened paperclip into the hole on the top edge of the right ear cup (labeled L).
Push down with your tool and pull the headband connector straight out of its socket.
The headband connector should slide out easily. If you're having trouble, reposition the tool and try again—you may need to angle the bit slightly.

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Step 4 Set the left ear cup down

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Set the left ear cup down: step 4, image 1 of 1

Set the left ear cup down on a soft, clean cloth to prevent scratches and help stabilize the cup during your repair.

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Step 5 Turn the housing screws to the open position

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Turn the housing screws to the open position: step 5, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Turn the housing screws to the open position: step 5, image 2 of 2

Turn these screws slowly and gently, stopping when you feel resistance—about 1/4 turn. If turned too far, the locking mechanism will break.
Use a P5 pentalobe screwdriver to turn (not remove) the four speaker housing screws to the unlocked position:
Turn the top left and bottom right screws counterclockwise.
Turn the top right and bottom left screws clockwise.

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Step 6 Soften the speaker housing adhesive

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Soften the speaker housing adhesive: step 6, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Soften the speaker housing adhesive: step 6, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Soften the speaker housing adhesive: step 6, image 3 of 3

Tool used on this step:

iOpener

$14.95

Buy

The perimeter of the speaker housing is secured to the cup with adhesive. This step shows a few methods to soften the adhesive so you can pry up the housing. If one isn't working, try a different method.
Option 1: Apply a few drops of high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (>90%) in the gap around the perimeter of the speaker housing. Wait one minute to allow the alcohol to soften the adhesive.
Option 2: Heat the speaker housing with an iOpener or hair dryer. Focus the heat around the perimeter, applying small amounts for short periods of time.
Don't heat the center of the speaker housing, or you'll damage the fragile mesh under the speaker cutouts and possibly the speaker.
For a detailed look at best practices for using a hair dryer, check out this guide.

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Step 7 Pry up the speaker housing

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Pry up the speaker housing: step 7, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Pry up the speaker housing: step 7, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Pry up the speaker housing: step 7, image 3 of 3

Tool used on this step:

iSesamo Opening Tool

$9.99

Buy

The gap between the speaker housing and ear cup is extremely small. You'll need a thin tool such as a metal opening pick, iSesamo, or iFlex to pry up the housing.
Don't grip the iFlex or similar metal tools by the edges—they're sharp and may cut you. Consider wearing gloves to protect yourself.
Insert the flat side of your opening tool into the gap between the right side of the speaker housing and the lip of the ear cup (opposite the L marking).
Pry up the speaker housing until you can grip it with your fingers, applying constant pressure to allow the adhesive to separate.
If the housing isn't coming up, repeat the previous step and try again. Don't try and force the housing out or you may damage it.

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Step 8

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

Don't try to fully remove the speaker housing yet—a delicate ribbon cable still connects it to the ear cup.
Lift the speaker housing out of the ear cup to fully separate the remaining adhesive.
Flip the housing over the side of the cup and prop it up so you can access the cable.

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Step 9 Remove the speaker housing cable cover

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker housing cable cover: step 9, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker housing cable cover: step 9, image 2 of 2

Tool used on this step:

FixMat

$36.95

Buy

Don’t let any screws snap onto the speaker driver diaphragm or they'll damage it. The screws will be drawn towards the center by the speaker's magnet.
Remove the four screws securing the cable cover:
One 7.5 mm‑long Torx Plus 3IP screw
Three 1.7 mm‑long Torx Plus 1IP screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

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Step 10

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

Use tweezers to slightly lift the cover and slide it towards the center of the ear cup to remove it.

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Step 11 Disconnect the speaker housing

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Disconnect the speaker housing: step 11, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Disconnect the speaker housing: step 11, image 2 of 2

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the speaker housing press connector.

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Step 12 Remove the speaker housing

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker housing: step 12, image 1 of 1

Remove the speaker housing.

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Step 13 Remove the speaker driver screws

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver screws: step 13, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver screws: step 13, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver screws: step 13, image 3 of 3

Grip the screws with tweezers while loosening and removing them. Don’t let the screws snap onto the diaphragm.
Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove three speaker driver screws:
Two 6.0 mm‑long screws
One 6.0 mm‑long screw that's slightly thicker than the other two
Remove the 5.1 mm‑long standoff screw using one of the two methods below:
Apply constant downward force to avoid damaging the screw.
Option 1: Stick a small flathead screwdriver into one of the four notches on top of the screw and use it to slowly turn the screw.
Option 2: Use a Torq-Set 6 screwdriver to remove the screw, applying constant downward force to avoid damaging the screw.

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Step 14 Remove the speaker driver

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver: step 14, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver: step 14, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Remove the speaker driver: step 14, image 3 of 3

Lift the right edge of the speaker and remove it, being careful not to touch the diaphragm.
Set the speaker aside in a place where it won't attract small metal objects.

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Step 15 Disassembly complete

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Disassembly complete: step 15, image 1 of 1

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your AirPods Max.

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Step 16 Lay the speaker driver in place

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Lay the speaker driver in place: step 16, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Lay the speaker driver in place: step 16, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Lay the speaker driver in place: step 16, image 3 of 3

Gently lay the speaker driver into place, making sure the side with gold connector pins lines up with the contacts in the shell.

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Step 17 Install the speaker driver screws

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker driver screws: step 17, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker driver screws: step 17, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker driver screws: step 17, image 3 of 3

Grip the screws with tweezers while installing them so they don't snap onto the speaker.
Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to install three speaker driver screws:
One 6.0 mm‑long screw that's slightly thicker than the other two
Two 6.0 mm‑long screws
Install the 5.1 mm‑long standoff screw using a small flathead or Torq-Set 6 screwdriver.
Apply constant downward force to avoid damaging the screw.

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Step 18 Replace the speaker housing adhesive

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Replace the speaker housing adhesive: step 18, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Replace the speaker housing adhesive: step 18, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Replace the speaker housing adhesive: step 18, image 3 of 3

Before installing the speaker housing, check the condition of its adhesive—it will be on the underside of the housing, on the metal lip of the ear cup, or on both.
Use tweezers and scissors to remove any sections of bunched-up or overlapping adhesive that would prevent the housing from sitting perfectly flat.
Try to remove as little adhesive as possible. If all the adhesive looks fine, you can skip this step.
Apply thin, double-sided adhesive where you removed the original, using short sections to help match the curve of the lip.
Don't remove the top adhesive liners yet—the adhesive should not be exposed.
Make sure not to double up on any sections (i.e. don't apply adhesive on the ear cup if it's already on the corresponding spot on the housing).

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Step 19 Reconnect the speaker housing

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Reconnect the speaker housing: step 19, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Reconnect the speaker housing: step 19, image 2 of 2

Hold the speaker housing up and use your finger to press down and reconnect its press connector.

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Step 20 Install the connector cover

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the connector cover: step 20, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the connector cover: step 20, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the connector cover: step 20, image 3 of 3

Slide the tab on the connector cover into its slot and lay the cover down.
Make sure the cover isn't covering the cable. Otherwise, it will get damaged when installing the screws.

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Step 21

Install the four screws securing the cable cover:
One 7.5 mm‑long Torx Plus 3IP screw
Three 1.7 mm‑long Torx Plus 1IP screws

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Step 22 Install the speaker housing

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker housing: step 22, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker housing: step 22, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the speaker housing: step 22, image 3 of 3

If you installed replacement adhesive, remove any liners to expose the adhesive.
Flip the speaker housing into the cup and press it into place around the perimeter.
Don't press on the center of the housing or you may damage the grille and/or speaker underneath.

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Step 23 Turn the housing screws to the closed position

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Turn the housing screws to the closed position: step 23, image 1 of 2

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Turn the housing screws to the closed position: step 23, image 2 of 2

Turn these screws slowly and gently, stopping when you feel resistance—about 1/4 turn. If turned too far, the locking mechanism will break.
Use a P5 pentalobe screwdriver to turn the four speaker housing screws to the locked position:
Turn the top left and bottom right screws clockwise.
Turn the top right and bottom left screws counterclockwise.

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Step 24 Install the left ear cup

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the left ear cup: step 24, image 1 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the left ear cup: step 24, image 2 of 3

AirPods Max Left Speaker Driver Replacement, Install the left ear cup: step 24, image 3 of 3

The headband and ear cup should be oriented in the "closed" position (how they would be when stored in a case) when installing them.
Hold the ear cup steady with one hand, and use your free hand to firmly push the headband connector into its slot, twisting it slightly—it should click into place.
The connector should slide in easily. If it's not, make sure you're installing the ear cup on the correct side.