DIY Guide to Replace iPad GSM Display Data Cable
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 35 Steps
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder to be extra careful while you’re on this repair adventure. Your device deserves some love, and we want you to have a smooth journey. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair. Happy fixing!
Follow this guide to swap out the display data cable like a pro! Some parts were filmed using a Wi-Fi model, so don’t be surprised if the insides look a tad different from the cellular version. The steps are pretty much the same for both models, except where we mention otherwise. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Before diving into the repair, it’s a good idea to give your microwave a quick clean. Trust us, that pesky gunk on the bottom could end up hitching a ride on your iOpener.
– Pop the iOpener right in the middle of your microwave like a pro!
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Step 2
Keep an eye on that iOpener during your repair adventure! Overheating could make it pop, and we definitely don’t want that. So, let’s keep it under 100˚C (212˚F), alright?
If your iOpener looks a bit puffy, steer clear! Safety first, my friend.
Still feeling the heat in the middle of that iOpener? No worries! Just let it cool down a bit before giving it another go. A well-heated iOpener should stay cozy for up to 10 minutes, so hang tight!
– Give your iOpener a warm-up session in the microwave for thirty seconds. It’s like a spa day for your repair tool!
– As you dive into the repair adventure, keep an eye on the iOpener. When it starts to cool down, pop it back in the microwave for another thirty seconds to keep the heat flowing.
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Step 3
The iOpener gets super toasty, so watch your fingers! Feel free to rock an oven mitt if you need to. Stay safe out there!
– Carefully take the iOpener out of the microwave, grabbing it by one of the flat ends to keep your fingers away from the hot center. Stay cool and safe!
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Step 4
If a microwave isn’t in your toolkit, no worries! Just pop your iOpener into 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.
– Bring that water to a rolling boil, then turn off the heat. We’re not cooking dinner here!
– Carefully drop the iOpener into the hot water for about 2-3 minutes. Make sure it’s having a good soak and is fully submerged.
– Using some tongs, fish out the warm iOpener from its steamy spa session.
– Give the iOpener a good towel dry – no one likes a soggy iOpener!
– And voilà! Your iOpener is all set to go! If you ever need to warm it up again, just repeat the steps: heat the water to a boil, turn off the heat, and let it chill in the water for 2-3 minutes.
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Step 5
Put on those snazzy safety glasses to keep your peepers protected, and remember to handle that LCD screen with care – it’s more fragile than it looks!
– Got a cracked display? No worries! Let’s keep that glass from shattering into a million pieces and protect your fingers while we work. Grab some tape and cover that glass up.
– Layer on some clear packing tape over your iPad’s display, making sure to overlap the strips until the entire screen is sealed. It’s like giving your device a cozy little blanket!
– Now, follow the guide as best as you can. Just a heads up, once that glass starts to break, it might want to keep cracking. If that happens, don’t hesitate to use a metal prying tool to gently scoop out the shards.
Step 6
Just a friendly reminder: while you’re tackling this repair, keep those peepers safe! We highly suggest rocking some safety glasses to shield yourself from any unexpected glass surprises. Safety first, fun second!
– Place the iOpener flat against the right edge of the iPad, ensuring it makes solid contact with the surface. Give it a nice little hug to make sure it sticks!
– Allow the bag to chill on the iPad for about 90 seconds before you dive into opening that front panel.
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Step 7
Getting that pesky wedged tip of your opening tool in between the glass and plastic might take a little muscle! Stay cool and take your time—gently wiggle the plastic tool back and forth as needed to make it work. You’ve got this!
– Notice that there’s a tiny little gap in the iPad’s adhesive ring, hanging out in the upper right corner, about 2.0 inches (~5 cm) down from the top. Time to take advantage of this little flaw!
– Now, let’s get that tool aligned with the mute button. Gently insert the tip of a plastic opening tool into the gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just slide in the very tip, enough to gently widen that crack. You’ve got this!
Step 9
– With the plastic opening tool snugly positioned between the front glass and plastic bezel, gently slide a plastic opening pick into the gap right next to your trusty tool. You’re doing great!
Step 10
– Take out that trusty plastic opening tool from your iPad, and slide the opening pick a little deeper under the front glass, about half an inch should do the trick!
Step 12
The adhesive is super strong, so you might need to put in some elbow grease. Just take your time and be gentle!
If the tip of your opening pick is peeking out from under the front glass, gently pull it out a tad. While it’s totally safe to use the pick this deep, it might leave some sticky adhesive traces on your LCD. No biggie, just part of the adventure! And remember, if you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– As the iOpener works its magic on the bottom edge, let’s get to work on loosening that sticky adhesive from the right edge of your iPad.
– Gently slide the opening pick down the edge of the iPad, releasing the adhesive like a pro as you go.
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Step 13
As you work on releasing the adhesive, you might want to slide that warm iOpener back to the right edge of the iPad. Just keep in mind, this will depend on how long your iPad has had the chance to cool down while you’ve been busy.
– If your opening pick decides to play hide and seek in the adhesive, just give it a little ‘roll’ along the side of the iPad to help it break free from the sticky situation.
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Step 14
– Before you dive in and pull out that first opening pick from the bottom corner of your iPad, slip a second pick under the right edge of the front glass. This little buddy will help keep the adhesive from sticking back together on you.
– Give your iOpener a little reheat love, then place it at the top edge of the iPad. You’re doing great!
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Step 15
The Wi-Fi antenna is snugly secured to the bottom right edge of the rear case of the iPad with screws and a cable. Given the unique positioning of the Wi-Fi antenna, it’s super important to handle this with care, or you might end up causing some serious damage to it. So, take it easy and go slow!
– Alright, folks, it’s time to take a deep breath and gear up for the next few steps—safety first! You’ve got this! Now, when it comes to releasing the adhesive that’s holding the antenna to the front panel, just remember to tread lightly. We want to keep those delicate parts that connect the antenna to the bottom of the iPad safe and sound. So, follow along closely, and let’s make this a smooth operation!
Step 16
Hey there! Just a quick heads-up: try not to slide that pick beyond the bottom right corner. It could mess with your Wi-Fi antenna, and we wouldn’t want that!
– Gently glide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad to free up that stubborn adhesive. You’re doing great!
Step 17
Be careful as you glide the opening pick along the bottom right edge of the front panel. The Wi-Fi antenna is lurking close to the corner, and if the adhesive is not handled with care, it might just wave goodbye!
Just a friendly tip: don’t yank that pick out from under the front glass completely! Give it a little tug so that about 1/8″ (3 mm) of the tip stays snugly in place under the glass. You’re doing great!
– Gently glide the opening pick along the bottom edge of your iPad, freeing up the adhesive that’s hugging the Wi-Fi antenna. You’ve got this!
Step 18
– Once you’ve gracefully glided past the Wi-Fi antenna—about 3 inches (75 mm) from the right edge, or right next to the home button—go ahead and reinsert that opening pick all the way in.
– Now, gently slide the pick to the right to break free the adhesive that’s been keeping the Wi-Fi antenna snug against the front glass. You’ve got this!
Step 19
Keep the iOpener’s heating time to a minute max, and remember to give it a cool-down of at least two minutes before firing it up again!
– Keep on peeling that adhesive along the bottom of your iPad! Gently pull the opening pick out far enough to navigate around the home button, and then slide it back in to a depth of about 1/2 inch (10 mm) once you’re past the home button. You’ve got this!
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Step 20
– Keep peeling back that sticky stuff along the bottom edge of the iPad until it’s all gone!
– Once you’ve got that sorted, just leave the opening pick snugly tucked under the front glass close to the home button.
Step 22
If the adhesive has gotten a bit too cool, just pop the iOpener back on the top edge and keep at it! And if the iOpener itself is feeling a little chilly, give it a quick reheat to get back in the game.
– 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 pretty tough, so you might need to apply a bit of muscle. Take your time and be careful—no need to rush and risk a mishap with your iPad!
– If the opening pick seems to be stuck in the adhesive, try ‘rolling’ it as demonstrated in step 9.
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Step 23
If the adhesive is feeling cozy and warm, go ahead and take the iOpener off the iPad for a smoother experience. But if it’s still a bit clingy, just re-heat that iOpener and rest it on the left edge while you get to work.
– Keep peeling away that adhesive at the top edge of the iPad, and gently maneuver the opening pick around the top left corner. You’re doing great!
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Step 24
The digitizer cable is hanging out about 2″ (50 mm) from the bottom of your iPad. When you slide that pick, give it a little stop when you’re around 2.25″ (60 mm) from the bottom. You’re doing great!
– Gently slide your trusty opening pick down the left side of your iPad, letting it work its magic on the adhesive as you go. The glue is pretty thin along this edge because of the digitizer, so you’re in good shape! Just remember to keep that pick no deeper than half an inch (10 mm) to avoid any mishaps with the digitizer. You’ve got this!
Step 25
Be careful, the bottom of the digitizer cable is just about 1″ (25 mm) from the iPad’s edge. Take your time and handle it gently to avoid cutting this cable.
– With that trusty opening pick still tucked under the bottom edge of your iPad, gently work to free the adhesive from the bottom left corner. You’ve got this!
Step 26
– Grab one of those nifty opening picks and gently pop up the bottom right corner of the iPad. Once it’s lifted, give it a friendly pinch with your fingers to hold it in place.
Step 27
Watch out for any leftover sticky stuff that might still be clinging on, and grab your trusty opening pick to slice through any adhesive that could be keeping that front panel in place.
– Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners, and gently twist the front glass away from the device. You’ve got this!
– When putting it all back together, take a moment to use a microfiber cloth and some compressed air to give that LCD a good clean. No one likes fingerprints or dust sneaking around!
Step 28
– Let’s get those four 2.0 mm Phillips screws outta there so we can free the LCD from the rear case!
Step 29
– Gently lift the LCD from the edge closest to the volume buttons and give it a little twist to free it from the rear case.
– Now, lay the LCD down on the front panel just like you see in the second picture.
Step 30
– Grab your trusty plastic opening tool and gently nudge the metal retaining clip upwards to release the display data cable from its cozy home on the logic board.
Step 31
When you’re disconnecting the display data cable connector, remember to keep it level—no upward lifting, please!
– Gently wiggle the display data cable free from its snug little spot on the logic board.
Step 32
– Carefully detach the LCD assembly from your iPad 2.
Step 33
– Peel away that tiny strip of black tape that’s keeping the display data cable connector on the LCD under wraps. You’ve got this!
Step 34
– Grab a plastic opening tool and gently nudge up the metal retaining clip on the display data cable connector. You’re doing great!
