iPad 3G Battery Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 34 Steps
Ready to give your iPad a new lease on life? Follow this step-by-step guide to swap out that old battery. If your battery is looking a little puffy, make sure to handle it with care. Let’s get you back to enjoying your iPad in no time!
Step 1
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes happy, and go easy on that LCD screen—nobody likes a cracked display!
This will help keep those pesky glass shards in check while also giving the display some much-needed stability when you're prying and lifting it up.
- Cracked display glass? Let’s keep those shards in check and protect your fingers while you work—start by laying strips of clear packing tape across the entire face of your iPad.
- Make sure to overlap each strip so you’re totally covered. It’s like giving your screen a protective jacket!
- Now, follow the rest of the guide, but heads up: once the glass is cracked, it might keep splintering as you go. If you run into stubborn bits, carefully scoop them out with a metal prying tool.
Step 2
The iPad you see in these pictures might not be a perfect match for yours, but don’t worry—the steps you’ll follow are exactly the same.
- Slide a metal spudger between the right edge of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly. It's like giving your device a little nudge!
- Twist the spudger away from you to gently pop the tabs along the top edge of the display. You're doing great—keep it up!
Tools Used
Step 3
- Slide a second metal spudger between the top edge of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly—this will help prevent those pesky tabs from snapping back.
- Gently pry the display assembly away from the rear panel. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 4
Heads up! When you get close to the top edge of the iPad, take it slow and steady. The digitizer ribbon cable is hanging out near the rear panel’s edge and can be easily nicked if you’re not careful.
- Keep gently working your way around the bottom and left edges of the iPad, slowly separating the display assembly from the rear panel. It's like peeling back the layers of a mystery, just without the drama!
Step 5
Be careful not to pull the display assembly too far away from the iPad, as there's a delicate antenna cable with limited wiggle room connecting the two parts.
- Gently pull the display assembly away from the rear panel assembly, starting from the bottom edge. You've got this!
Step 6
- Take your trusty spudger and gently pop up the antenna connector nearest to the bottom of your iPad, lifting it off its socket on the communications board. Easy does it!
Tools Used
Step 7
- Time to unplug some important bits! Next up, you'll disconnect three cables that link your display assembly to the logic board. These cables keep the following components chatting:
- Digitizer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Display Data Cable
Step 8
Remember to lift the retaining flap, not the socket itself. You've got this!
- Use the edge of your iPod opening tool to carefully pop up those little retaining flaps holding the digitizer ribbon cables in place on the logic board.
- Gently pull the digitizer ribbon cables out of their sockets, nice and straight, to avoid any damage.
Step 9
- Grab your trusty iPod opening tool and gently lift the ambient light sensor connector out of its socket by prying upwards with a little finesse. No rush—just take it slow and steady!
Step 10
Gently slide the connector along the face of the logic board, keeping it nice and parallel. No need to rush—take it slow and steady!
- Gently flip up the metal retainer using the black plastic pull tab to release the display data cable from the main board.
- Carefully pull the cable connector straight out from its socket.
Step 11
- Gently separate the display assembly from the rear panel assembly to move on to the next step.
Step 12
- Gently slide the edge of your trusty iPod opening tool under the antenna connector and give it a little nudge to lift it off the communications board. You've got this!
Step 13
- Gently guide the control button cable away along the top edge of the communications board.
- Carefully lift the communications cable upward to pop its connector out of the logic board socket.
Step 14
- Unscrew the lone T5 Torx screw holding the communications board to the rear case—time to loosen things up a bit!
Step 15
If needed, gently lift the right edge of the communications board to free it from the sticky pad that's holding it to the rear case. You've got this!
- Gently detach the communications board from its cozy spot on the logic board.
Step 16
Make sure to gently pry up the little retaining flap, not the socket itself—treat it like a shy button that just needs a little nudge!
- Gently peel back the rubber EMI shield that’s hiding the GPS antenna socket.
- Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to flip up the little flap holding down the GPS ribbon cable on the logic board.
Step 17
- Gently wiggle and lift the GPS antenna ribbon cable out of its socket—like you’re unplugging a tiny, high-tech spaghetti noodle.
Step 18
Make sure to lift the retaining flap itself, not the socket — it’s a small move that saves a lot of hassle!
Gently slide the cable over to the left side of your iPad—just like you're moving a VIP to the velvet rope section!
- Gently slide the edge of an iPod opening tool under the retaining flap on the headphone jack/microphone socket to lift it up.
- Carefully pull the headphone jack/microphone ribbon cable out from its socket.
Step 19
Check for black tape covering this connector—grab some tweezers and peel it off before you get your pry on!
- Gently use an iPod opening tool to lift the SIM board connector right out of its cozy little socket on the logic board.
Step 20
Gently lift up from underneath the wires to free them.
- Gently fold the SIM cable down towards the bottom of your iPad—it’s like tucking in a tiny blanket. This will reveal the speaker connector, waiting to be freed.
- Grab your trusty iPod opening tool and carefully pop the speaker connector up and out of its socket on the logic board. Take it slow—precision is the name of the game!
Step 21
- Ready to get those screws out? Let's loosen up the logic board so it can stretch its legs! Remove the screws holding it to the rear panel.
- Take out the two T5 Torx screws that are 4.56 mm long.
- Next, remove the other pair of T5 Torx screws, which are 3.76 mm long.
Step 22
- Grab your trusty iPod opening tool and gently pop the dock cable connector straight up from the logic board. Easy does it—no rush, just smooth moves!
Step 23
- Gently lift the logic board out of the rear panel assembly, like you're unveiling a hidden treasure!
Step 24
- Gently slide the edge of an iPod opening tool under the SIM board to loosen it from the sticky stuff holding it to the back case.
- Carefully lift the SIM board out of your iPad.
Step 25
- First up, let's tackle those two 2.84 mm T5 Torx screws that are holding the speaker assembly snugly against the rear panel. Time to get them out!
- Next, there’s a lone T5 Torx screw in the middle of the dock cable that needs some attention. Unscrew that one from the rear panel assembly, and you’re on your way!
Step 26
- Unscrew the two tiny 2.84 mm T5 Torx screws holding the dock connector cable to the back case—time to get those screws out and keep the repair party moving!
Step 27
- Grab your trusty iPod opening tool and gently pry off the plastic cover that's keeping the WiFi/Bluetooth board and dock connector cable all snug and cozy. Take your time, we believe in you!
Step 28
- Gently lift the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas from their cozy little homes on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board. You've got this!
Step 29
- Gently lift the dock connector cable out of the rear panel assembly, like you’re unplugging your phone from a cozy little nap.
Step 30
- Gently guide the speaker cable away from the left side of the battery case.
- Carefully thread the Wi-Fi antenna through its path in the speaker assembly.
Step 31
- Gently lift the speaker assembly and slide it forward just enough so the ports clear the bottom edge of the lower case.
- Carefully take the speaker assembly away from the rear panel assembly.
Step 32
Heads up: The battery is really stuck on there with a lot of adhesive. Take your time and go easy—slow and steady wins this race!
- Grab your trusty spudger and use its flat end to gently nudge the battery away from the lower case. Be gentle, we want to encourage it, not scare it!
- Keep that spudger moving! Wiggle it a bit and slide it along the right side of the battery to widen the gap. It's like a gentle dance—smooth and steady!
- Keep prying until the right side of the battery is free from the rear panel. You're almost there—just a bit more and you'll be battery-free!
Tools Used
Step 33
- Slide the flat end of your trusty spudger under the top edge of the battery and gently pry it away from the adhesive. You've got this!
- Keep at it until the top of the battery is happily detached from the rear panel.
Tools Used
Step 34
- Now it's time to put your device back together! Just retrace your steps in reverse and you'll be all set. If you hit a snag, remember, we're here to help—feel free to schedule a repair anytime!
