iPad 2 GSM Home Button Assembly Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 37 Steps
Time to swap out that home button assembly! Heads up: parts of this guide were filmed using a Wi-Fi model, so the inside might look a bit different than the cellular version. Don’t worry though, the steps are the same for both models unless we say otherwise.
Step 1
For carousel microwaves: double-check that the plate spins without any hiccups. Watch out—if your iOpener gets stuck, it might heat up too much and cause a burn!
We suggest giving your microwave a little TLC before you dive in, as any stubborn crumbs lounging at the bottom might just hitch a ride on the iOpener.
- Pop the iOpener right in the middle of the microwave to get it warmed up and ready to roll.
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Step 2
Take it easy with the iOpener—don’t crank up the heat too high or it might pop! Keep it under 100˚C (212˚F).
If your iOpener looks puffed up or swollen, do NOT touch it. Safety first!
If it’s still too hot to handle in the middle, keep using it while it cools down a bit before heating it again. When heated just right, the iOpener stays warm for about 10 minutes.
The time it takes to heat your iOpener can vary based on your microwave's wattage. You'll know it's ready when it's just shy of too hot to handle. Keep an eye on it and trust your instincts!
- Pop the iOpener in the microwave for a quick thirty seconds to get it nice and warm.
- As you work through the repair, if the iOpener cools down, just give it another quick thirty-second zap in the microwave to keep things toasty.
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Step 3
Heads up! The iOpener heats up like a champ, so handle with care. If your fingers get nervous, grab an oven mitt or a towel to keep things cool.
- Carefully take the iOpener out of the microwave, gripping one of the flat ends to keep your fingers safe from the hot center. Stay cool and remember, safety first!
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Step 4
The iOpener is going to be super toasty, so make sure you grab it by the end tabs only!
No microwave? No problem! Just heat your iOpener by dipping it in boiling water to get it ready.
- Grab a pot or pan and fill it with enough water to completely cover your iOpener.
- Bring the water to a boil, then switch off the heat.
- Drop your iOpener into the hot water and let it soak for 2-3 minutes, making sure it’s fully underwater.
- Use tongs to fish the iOpener out of the water—careful, it’s hot!
- Give it a good towel dry so it’s ready to work its magic.
- And just like that, your iOpener is good to go! Need to warm it up again? Repeat the boil, turn off the heat, and soak steps for another 2-3 minutes.
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Step 5
Put on those safety glasses to keep your peepers safe, and watch out for that LCD screen—it's more delicate than it looks!
This keeps the glass shards from going rogue and adds some toughness when you’re prying and lifting the display.
- If your display glass is cracked, let’s keep those pesky shards from spreading and protect yourself while you fix things up by applying some tape over the glass.
- Grab some clear packing tape and lay overlapping strips over your iPad's display until every inch is covered. You’ve got this!
- Now, just do your best to follow the rest of the guide step by step. Just a heads up, once that glass is broken, it might decide to crack a little more as you go along. You may want to have a metal prying tool handy to help scoop out the glass when needed.
Step 6
Just a quick heads-up: while you're tackling this repair, you might encounter some pesky broken glass. So, why not keep those peepers safe and stylish by rocking a pair of safety glasses? It's all about protecting yourself from those sneaky flying shards!
- Place the iOpener flat on the right edge of the iPad, ensuring it makes solid contact with the surface for maximum heat. Let's give it a little love!
- Allow the bag to rest on the iPad for about 90 seconds before diving into opening the front panel. Patience is key, friends!
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Step 7
Getting that opening tool tip wedged between the glass and plastic might take a bit of muscle. Stay cool and patient, gently wiggle the tool back and forth until it slides in smoothly.
- Spot a tiny gap in the iPad's adhesive ring at the upper right corner, about 2.0 inches (~5 cm) down from the top. This little weak spot is your entry point.
- Line up your tool with the mute button. Gently slip the tip of a plastic opening tool into the gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just nudge the tip in just enough to slightly widen the crack.
Step 8
- Carefully slip the tool into the right spot—right where the plastic display bezel meets the front panel glass.
Step 9
- With the plastic opening tool securely nestled between the front glass and the plastic bezel, gently slide a plastic opening pick into the gap right next to your trusty tool. You're doing great!
Step 10
- Gently take out the plastic opening tool from the iPad, and slide that opening pick a bit deeper under the front glass, about 0.5 inches deep. You're doing great!
Step 11
- As you work on loosening the adhesive along the right side of the iPad, pop the iOpener back in the microwave to warm it up again, then place it along the bottom edge to keep things nice and toasty.
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Step 12
The adhesive is super strong, so you might need to put in some muscle! Take your time and work carefully.
If you can spot the tip of the opening pick peeking out from under the front glass, gently pull it out just a tad. While it's totally safe to use the pick this deep, just a heads up—it might leave some adhesive residue on the LCD. But hey, we’ve got this!
- As the iOpener warms up the bottom edge, let’s get that adhesive dancing on the right side of the iPad! Start peeling it back.
- Gently slide the opening pick along the iPad's edge, giving that adhesive a little nudge to let it go. You're doing great!
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Step 13
You might need to slide the heated iOpener back over to the right edge of the iPad while you’re loosening the adhesive. How long the iPad has cooled down during your work will decide if this move is necessary.
- If your opening pick is feeling a bit clingy and stuck in the adhesive, just give it a gentle 'roll' along the side of the iPad to help release that pesky glue. Keep at it, and you'll be back in business in no time!
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Step 14
- Before you dive in and pop that first opening pick from the bottom corner of the iPad, make sure to slide a second pick under the right edge of the front glass. This little buddy will help keep the adhesive from getting clingy again.
- Give the iOpener a warm-up, and then place it on the top edge of the iPad. Let's keep things cozy!
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Step 15
The Wi-Fi antenna is snugly fastened to the bottom right corner of the iPad's rear case with screws and a cable. Due to the unique positioning of the Wi-Fi antenna, it's super important to tread carefully—otherwise, you might end up causing some permanent damage to it. So, let's take it easy and be mindful while we work!
- Alright, friends, it's time to take a deep breath and channel your inner pro! The next few steps are all about being super careful.
- You'll need to gently detach the adhesive that's holding the antenna to the front panel. Just remember, we want to keep those sensitive parts attached to the bottom of the iPad safe and sound. So, let's tackle the upcoming steps with a steady hand and a smile!
Step 16
Hey there! Just a little heads up: don’t slide the pick too far past the bottom right corner – that could lead to a damaged Wi-Fi antenna. Let's keep things smooth and safe!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPad to loosen the adhesive hiding out there.
Step 17
Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom right edge of the front panel. Watch out for the Wi-Fi antenna near the corner—it’s sneaky and can be easily cut if you’re not gentle with the adhesive!
Keep the pick tucked just a smidge under the front glass—about 1/8" (3 mm) of the tip should stay put—don’t pull it out all the way!
- Gently glide the edge of the opening pick along the bottom of the iPad to free up that pesky adhesive around the Wi-Fi antenna. You got this!
Step 18
- Now that you've gracefully glided past the Wi-Fi antenna (about 3 inches from the right edge, or just a hop away from the home button), it's time to reinsert that opening pick to its full depth like a pro.
- Give the pick a little slide to the right, and watch as the adhesive lets go of the Wi-Fi antenna from the front glass. It's like a little dance of detachment!
- Remember, the antenna is snugly secured to the bottom of the iPad with screws and a cable. This step is crucial to gently free the antenna from the front panel, so when you lift off the panel, the antenna stays safe and sound. You're doing great!
Step 19
Keep your heating sessions to under a minute, and give your iOpener a chill-out period of at least two minutes before firing it up again.
If the adhesive along the bottom edge has cooled down too much, just give your iOpener another quick warm-up to soften it back up and keep things moving smoothly.
- Keep on peeling away that adhesive at the bottom of your iPad! Remember to gently pull out the opening pick far enough to maneuver around the home button. Once you've successfully passed that little guy, re-insert the pick to about half an inch (10 mm) deep. You're doing great!
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Step 20
For iPad 4 models, slide your pick in gently, only up to about half an inch (10 mm) here—this keeps the home button ribbon cable safe and sound!
- Keep peeling away that sticky adhesive all the way across the bottom edge of the iPad. You're doing great!
- Pop the opening pick right under the front glass close to the home button and leave it there. It's like giving your iPad a little support!
Step 21
- Pop the iOpener back in the microwave to warm it up, then place it on the left edge of the iPad to gently heat up the adhesive there.
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Step 22
If the adhesive has gotten a bit too cool, no worries! Just pop the iOpener back along the top edge and keep on going. And if the iOpener seems to have lost its heat, just give it another warm-up. You've got this!
- Gently slide the opening pick along the top edge of your iPad, giving it a little tug to navigate around the front-facing camera bracket.
- The adhesive in this area is pretty sticky, so you might need to apply a bit of muscle. Take it slow and steady—no need to rush and risk a slip that could lead to a self-inflicted injury or harm to your iPad.
- If the opening pick feels like it's stuck in the adhesive, try giving it a little 'roll' as shown in step 9.
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Step 23
If the adhesive is nicely warmed up, go ahead and set the iOpener aside for a bit while you work. But if it’s still holding on tight, just heat it up again and place it back on the left edge to keep things cozy.
- Keep peeling off the adhesive along the top edge of your iPad, then carefully slide the opening pick around the top left corner to work it free.
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Step 24
Hey there! The digitizer cable is hanging out just about 2" (50 mm) from the bottom of your iPad. When you’re sliding that pick, make sure to stop when you’re around 2.25" (60 mm) from the bottom. You got this!
- Gently slide the opening pick along the left edge of the iPad to loosen the adhesive bit by bit. The adhesive here is pretty thin because of the digitizer running along the entire left side, so keep the pick shallow—no deeper than about 10 mm (half an inch)—to avoid any accidental damage.
Step 25
Heads up! The bottom of the digitizer cable is just about an inch (25 mm) from the iPad's base. Take it slow and steady—nobody wants a sliced cable today!
- Still got the opening pick under the bottom edge of the iPad? Great! Now, use it to gently release the adhesive at the bottom left corner.
Step 26
Sometimes the adhesive around the edge of the iPad likes to stick back down. If that happens, gently slide a pick under the edge where the front glass is still holding tight and carefully 'cut' through the adhesive to loosen it.
- Grab an opening pick and carefully lift up the bottom right corner of your iPad. Once it's up, use your fingers to gently pull it the rest of the way free.
Step 27
Watch out for any sticky stuff that might still be lurking around, and grab an opening pick to slice through any adhesive that’s trying to keep the front panel in place. You’ve got this!
- Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners, and gently twist that front glass away from the iPad like you're opening a fresh book.
- When it's time to put everything back together, don’t forget to whip out a microfiber cloth and some compressed air to give that LCD a little TLC—clean off any dust or fingerprints before you seal the deal with the glass.
Step 28
- Unscrew the four 2.0 mm Phillips screws that are holding the LCD to the back case—time to free that screen!
Step 29
- Gently lift the LCD from the edge closest to the volume buttons and slowly rotate it away from the rear case.
- Carefully place the LCD on the front panel, just like you see in the second picture.
Step 30
Make sure you're gently lifting the hinged retaining flaps, not the sockets themselves. You've got this!
Check out the second picture where the retaining flaps are marked in red, making them super easy to spot.
- Gently use the edge of a plastic opening tool to flip up the little retaining flaps on the two digitizer ribbon cable ZIF sockets. Take it slow and steady!
Step 31
- Gently slide the edge of your plastic opening tool under the digitizer cable and work it free from the shields on the logic board.
- Take your time and carefully peel the digitizer cable off the adhesive holding it in place along the side of the rear case.
Step 32
- Gently wiggle and pull the digitizer ribbon cable straight out of its two cozy sockets on the logic board. You're doing great!
Step 33
Be gentle with the LCD as you move it around. Don’t try to yank it off the iPad—its cable stays connected, so just let it pivot around carefully!
To remove the front panel assembly, you'll need to slide the ribbon cable out from between the case and the LCD. It’s a bit tight, so gently move the LCD around to make some space for that cable to slip out.
- Gently lift the LCD from the edge that's farthest from the digitizer cable and smoothly flip it toward the back case—just like you're closing a book with flair.
- While keeping the LCD elevated, carefully slide the front panel away from the iPad. Watch out for that digitizer cable—let's not get it caught on the rear case or LCD.
- Place the LCD back into the body to keep it safe and sound for now.
Step 34
Heads up! Don’t let the iOpener get too toasty while you’re working—give it a cool-down break of at least three minutes before reheating. Patience is key!
The home button assembly is stuck to the front panel with some adhesive. Use an iOpener to gently soften the adhesive—it makes the job a whole lot easier and less sticky. Trust us, this will save you some time and frustration!
- Pop that iOpener into the microwave and give it a quick thirty-second spin on high power. Let's get it nice and toasty!
- Now, gently place the warm iOpener right over the home button at the front edge of the display. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 35
- Slide the plastic opening tool under the right side of the home button assembly and gently pry upwards to loosen the adhesive holding that side in place.
Step 36
- Use the technique we showed you earlier to carefully peel back the adhesive on the left side of the home button.
- Now, gently lift the home button mount off the front panel and set it aside. Easy, right?
Step 37
- Gently slide the edge of your trusty plastic opening tool under the home button mounting bracket. You've got this!
- Now, glide that tool along the retaining spring bracket like a pro, freeing up the adhesive with ease.
- Time to say goodbye to the home button and its mounting bracket as you carefully lift them away from the front panel. You’re doing great!
