DIY iPad 4 Wi-Fi Display Bezel Replacement Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 47 Steps
The display bezel guide was originally designed for the iPad 3 Wi-Fi, but don’t worry! The steps to remove the display bezel are just the same for the iPad 4, whether it’s the 4G or Wi-Fi version. You’re in good hands!
Got a banged-up display bezel? No worries! This guide is here to help you swap it out like a pro. Originally crafted for the iPad 3 Wi-Fi, the steps for removing the display bezel are just the same for the iPad 4, whether it’s the 4G or Wi-Fi version. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Before diving in, give your microwave a little TLC. A quick clean will prevent any stubborn gunk from hitching a ride on your iOpener.
– Pop that iOpener right in the middle of your microwave.
Tools Used
Step 2
Hey there! Just a quick heads up: don’t let the iOpener get too hot during your repair journey. If it overheats, it could pop like a surprise party! Keep it under 100˚C (212˚F) for safety.
If your iOpener looks a bit puffed up, steer clear of touching it. Safety first!
If the center of your iOpener is still feeling a bit too toasty to handle, keep using it while it cools down. A well-heated iOpener should stay cozy for about 10 minutes. You’ve got this!
– Pop that iOpener in the microwave for a cozy thirty seconds.
– As you tackle your repair journey, remember to give the iOpener a little love by reheating it in the microwave for another thirty seconds whenever it starts to cool down.
Tools Used
Step 3
Watch out! The iOpener is going to be super hot, so handle it with care. An oven mitt might come in handy here!
– Carefully take the iOpener out of the microwave, gripping one of the flat ends to keep clear of the warm center.
Tools Used
Step 4
No microwave? No worries! Just pop your iOpener in some boiling water to warm it up.
– Grab a pot or pan and fill it up with enough water to give your iOpener a nice, cozy bath.
– Turn up the heat and let that water boil. Once it’s bubbling away, turn off the heat.
– Carefully drop your iOpener into the hot water and let it soak for 2-3 minutes. Make sure it’s fully submerged – it deserves the full spa treatment!
– Using tongs (safety first!), fish out the warm iOpener from its steamy pool.
– Give it a good towel dry to make sure it’s nice and ready to roll.
– Voila! Your iOpener is all set for action! If you find it needs a little more heat, just repeat the process: boil the water, turn off the heat, and let it soak again for 2-3 minutes.
Tools Used
Step 5
Don’t forget to rock those safety glasses to keep your peepers safe, and watch out for that LCD screen – it’s more delicate than it looks!
– If your display glass is shattered, let’s keep the chaos to a minimum and avoid any accidental ouchies by sticking some tape over that glass.
– Layer on some clear packing tape, overlapping the strips until you’ve got the whole iPad’s display nicely covered.
– Try to follow along with the rest of the guide as best as you can. Just a heads up, once that glass starts to crack, it may keep on breaking a bit more as you go. You might find it handy to grab a metal prying tool to help scoop out those glass pieces.
Step 6
Just a heads up, since you might be dealing with some fragile glass during this process, we highly recommend rocking a pair of safety glasses to shield your eyes from any pesky flying shards.
– Place the iOpener flat against the right edge of the iPad, making sure it makes solid contact with the surface for optimal heat distribution.
– Give it a moment to work its magic—let the bag sit on the iPad for about 90 seconds before you dive in and attempt to open the front panel.
Tools Used
Step 7
Getting that wedged tip of the opening tool between the glass and plastic might take a bit of elbow grease. Just take your time and be gentle—wiggle that plastic opening tool back and forth as needed, and you’ll be on your way in no time!
– Spot a sneaky little gap in the iPad’s adhesive ring at the upper right corner, about 2.0 inches (~5 cm) down from the top. Time to take advantage of this little flaw!
– Get your tool lined up with the mute button. Now, gently slide the tip of a plastic opening tool into that gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just poke in the very tip of the opening tool—just enough to give that crack a little wiggle!
Step 9
– With the plastic opening tool snugly positioned between the front glass and the plastic bezel, gently slide a plastic opening pick into that little gap right beside the tool. You’re on the right track!
Step 10
– Gently take out the plastic opening tool from your iPad, then slide that opening pick under the front glass, aiming for about half an inch deep. You’re doing great!
Step 12
The adhesive is super strong, so be ready to put in some elbow grease! Take your time and work with care.
If you spot the tip of the opening pick peeking out from under the front glass, gently pull it out just a tad. While it’s perfectly safe to use the pick this deep, it might leave some adhesive residue on the LCD. No biggie, though!
– While the iOpener is working its magic on the bottom edge, let’s get started on loosening that sticky adhesive from the right edge of the iPad.
– Gently glide the opening pick down the edge of the iPad, releasing the adhesive as you make your way along. It’s like a little dance for your device!
Tools Used
Step 13
As you gently peel away the adhesive, you might want to slide that warm iOpener back to the right edge of the iPad. Just keep in mind, this little maneuver depends on how long your iPad has been cooling off while you’ve been working your magic.
– If your trusty opening pick is feeling a bit sticky in the adhesive, just give it a little roll along the side of the iPad to keep that adhesive loosening up. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 14
– Before you pull out that first opening pick from the bottom corner of your iPad, sneak in a second pick under the right edge of the front glass. This little buddy will help keep the adhesive from making a sticky comeback!
– Give your iOpener a quick reheat, then place it at the top edge of the iPad. Let’s keep things nice and toasty!
Tools Used
Step 15
Hey there! Just a heads up: the Wi-Fi antenna is snugly fastened to the bottom right edge of your iPad’s rear case with screws and a cable. Since the antenna’s orientation is a bit quirky, take your time and be gentle—getting too hasty could lead to some irreversible damage to that precious Wi-Fi antenna. Keep it cool and steady!
– Alright, folks! It’s time to put on your superhero capes because we’re diving into some delicate work. Remember, patience is key here.
– You’ll need to gently peel back the adhesive that’s holding the antenna to the front panel. Just be super careful not to mess with the fragile bits that connect the antenna to the bottom of the iPad. Follow the upcoming steps with care and you’ll be golden!
Step 16
Hey there! Just a quick heads-up: avoid sliding the pick past the bottom right corner. Doing so might mess with the Wi-Fi antenna, and we don’t want that!
– Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad to free up that sticky adhesive. You’ve got this!
Step 17
Gently glide that opening pick along the bottom right edge of the front panel. Just a heads-up—the Wi-Fi antenna is sneaky and lurks near the corner, so be careful not to accidentally cut it while you’re peeling away the adhesive!
Keep that pick snugly tucked under the front glass—just a smidge! Pull it out a tad, but make sure about 1/8″ (3 mm) of the tip is still cozy beneath the surface.
– Gently glide the opening pick along the bottom edge of your iPad to free up the adhesive holding the Wi-Fi antenna in place. You’re doing great!
Step 18
– Now that you’ve gracefully navigated past the Wi-Fi antenna (that’s about 3 inches or 75 mm from the right edge, just a hop away from the home button), slide that trusty opening pick back in all the way.
– Give the pick a little nudge to the right to break free the adhesive that’s been keeping the Wi-Fi antenna cozy with the front glass.
Step 19
Keep the iOpener toasty, but don’t go overboard! Heat it for just a minute at a time, and give it a breather of at least two minutes before the next round. Your repair journey will thank you!
– Keep gently peeling back the adhesive at the bottom of the iPad. Make sure to pull the opening pick out far enough to navigate around the home button, then reinsert it to about 1/2 inch (10 mm) deep once you’ve got past that little button. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 20
– Keep peeling that adhesive away along the bottom edge of your iPad like a pro!
– Nestle the opening pick snugly beneath the front glass close to the home button for a secure hold.
Step 22
If the adhesive has gotten a bit too chilly, just pop the iOpener back along the top edge and keep on working your magic. If your iOpener has cooled down too much, give it another heat-up session.
– Gently glide 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 quite stubborn, so you might need to apply some elbow grease. Take your time and be careful—no one wants a slip-up that could hurt you or your iPad!
– If your opening pick feels like it’s stuck in the adhesive, try ‘rolling’ it as illustrated in step 9.
Tools Used
Step 23
If your adhesive is feeling nice and warm, go ahead and take that iOpener off the iPad for a little extra ease. But if it’s still holding on tight, give your iOpener another heat-up and place it on the left edge while you tackle the task at hand.
– Keep peeling back that adhesive along the top edge of your iPad, and gently slide the opening pick around that top left corner like a pro!
Tools Used
Step 24
Hey there! The digitizer cable is hiding about 2″ (50 mm) up from the bottom of the iPad. When you’re about 2.25″ (60 mm) from the bottom, it’s time to hit the brakes on that pick. You’ve got this!
– Gently slide the opening pick down the left side of your iPad, letting the adhesive loosen as you go. This area has a thinner adhesive thanks to the digitizer running along the entire left edge. Just remember to keep the pick shallow—no more than 1/2 inch (10 mm)—to avoid any mishaps with the digitizer.
Step 25
Be gentle! The bottom of the digitizer cable is just about 1″ (25 mm) from the iPad’s edge. Take your time and be careful not to snip this cable while you work.
– With the trusty opening pick still nestled under the bottom edge of your iPad, gently free the adhesive from the bottom left corner. Keep it cool and steady!
Step 26
– Grab one of those nifty opening picks and gently lift up the bottom right corner of your iPad. Once it’s popped up, use your fingers to hold it steady. You’ve got this!
Step 27
Watch out for any stubborn adhesive that might still be clinging on! Grab an opening pick and gently slice through any sticky bits that are keeping the front panel in place.
– Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners and gently twist that front glass away from the device. You’ve got this!
– As you put everything back together, take a moment to pamper that LCD! Use a microfiber cloth and a blast of compressed air to banish any dust bunnies or fingerprints before you seal the glass back on.
Step 28
The bottom left screw is hiding behind the home button ribbon cable connector. Gently nudge the ribbon cable aside so you can access and remove that sneaky bottom left screw.
– Time to get your screwdriver ready! Start by unscrewing those four 2 mm Phillips #00 screws that are holding the LCD snugly to the aluminum frame. You’ve got this!
Step 29
Handle the LCD with care! That ribbon cable is as delicate as a butterfly and could snap if you bend it too much. Stay gentle and keep it safe!
– Grab a plastic opening tool or a spudger and gently lift the right edge of the LCD out of your iPad. Take your time, it’s like opening a present!
– Now, swing that LCD around on its left edge and carefully lay it down on top of the front glass panel. It’s a smooth move, just like a dance!
Tools Used
Step 30
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently lift that piece of tape off the LCD ribbon cable connector. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 31
– Gently lift the retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF connector. You’ve got this!
– With a little finesse, use your fingers or some tweezers to carefully pull the LCD ribbon cable out of its cozy home on the logic board.
Tools Used
Step 32
– Gently lift the LCD away from the front panel, making sure to keep your hands clear of the screen. You’ve got this!
Step 33
If you see it, go ahead and peel off that piece of electrical tape hiding the Wi-Fi antenna, speaker cable, and home button ribbon cable. You’ve got this!
Step 34
– Gently lift the retaining flap on the home button ribbon cable ZIF connector.
Step 35
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently pull the home button ribbon cable straight out of its cozy spot on the logic board. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 36
– Gently pull the home button ribbon cable out from its cozy spot in the back case.
Step 37
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently lift the tape that’s holding down the digitizer ribbon cable to the logic board. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 38
– Gently lift the retaining flap on each of the digitizer ribbon cable ZIF connectors. You’re almost there!
Step 39
– Grab the flat end of your trusty spudger and gently pry up the adhesive holding down that digitizer ribbon cable. It’s like giving it a little nudge!
– Now, with a steady hand, pull that digitizer ribbon cable straight out of its cozy sockets on the logic board. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 40
– Gently peel back the digitizer ribbon cable and grab your trusty spudger! Use the flat end to carefully loosen the adhesive that’s holding the cable snugly against the rear aluminum case. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 41
– With a gentle touch, coax the digitizer ribbon cable out from its snug little spot in the aluminum frame.
– Carefully lift away the front panel from the iPad.
Step 42
– Gently slide the edge of your trusty plastic opening tool between the plastic and aluminum frames near one of the corners. You’ve got this!
– With a steady hand, glide the plastic opening tool along the edge of your iPad to carefully release that pesky adhesive. Easy peasy!
Step 43
– Keep the groove going! Slide that plastic opening tool along the entire left edge of the iPad like you’re painting a masterpiece.
Step 44
– As you approach the bottom left corner, give that plastic opening tool a little twist around the edge, and keep gliding it along the bottom like a pro!
Step 45
– Keep gliding that plastic opening tool down the right side of your iPad like a pro!
Step 46
– Keep an eye on that front-facing camera while you gently slide the plastic opening tool along the top edge of your iPad. We want to avoid any accidental selfies during this repair adventure!
