Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2018 to 2020) troubleshooting

Published specification

What is true of this model and changes how you fix it

• What the MacBook Air 13.3 is
  The 13.3-inch MacBook Air is the thin Apple laptop that came with Intel chips and, from 2020, with the Apple M1 chip. The way you reach recovery and fix a start-up problem depends on which of the two you have, so check Apple menu, About This Mac.
• Apple silicon start-up
  On an M1 MacBook Air, press and hold the power button until you see the start-up options, then choose Options to reach recovery. The recovery environment includes Disk Utility, Safari and the option to reinstall macOS.
• Intel start-up
  On an Intel MacBook Air, restart and hold Command and R until you see the Apple logo, which loads recovery, or hold Option to choose a start-up disk. NVRAM can be reset by holding Option, Command, P and R.
• Safe mode
  Safe mode starts the Mac with only the essential software, which tests whether a login item or an extension is the cause. On Apple silicon hold the power button and choose a disk, then hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
• A flashing question mark
  A folder with a question mark means the Mac cannot find a start-up disk. Recovery and Disk Utility can check the disk, and a reinstall restores macOS.
• Battery and power
  A MacBook that will not start may simply need charging. Plug in the adapter for a while and try again before assuming a deeper problem.
• Finding the model
  Apple menu, About This Mac shows the model year and chip; the serial number is also printed on the underside.
• The 2018 to 2020 13-inch Air in context
  The 13.3-inch MacBook Air covers three generations: the Intel models of 2018 and 2019, the Intel model of early 2020 with its new keyboard, and the late-2020 model with Apple's M1 chip. The cases look alike, so check the model under Apple menu, About This Mac, because the fixes for startup, battery and display problems differ between an Intel Air and an M1 Air.
• Startup and recovery habits
  If an Air will not start normally, macOS Recovery is the main tool. On an Intel Air, hold Command and R as it starts, and on an M1 Air, hold the power button until the startup options appear. From Recovery you can run First Aid on the disk, reinstall macOS without erasing your files or restore from a backup, and you should have a recent backup before trying anything that erases.
• Ports, charging and age
  These Airs have two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left, and the charger plugs into either. A charger that is not delivering power, a port that is dirty with lint and a battery that has lost capacity over years are the commonest reasons for charging trouble. Battery health is shown in System Settings, Battery, and an Air with a service message may be ready for a replacement battery.

Manufacturer support for this product line. Apple Support — Apple product support. Official Apple model, operating-system, repair, connection and settings guidance.

Also read for this model. Apple Support — Apple Support.