DIY iPad 5 Wi-Fi Case Button Cable Replacement Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 48 Steps
Get ready to tackle the replacement of your iPad 5 Wi-Fi case buttons and ribbon cable! Just a heads up, when you’re isolating the battery with a battery blocker, take it easy—those battery contacts are delicate and can cause some serious trouble for the logic board if damaged. If you decide to skip isolating the battery, steer clear of metal tools unless absolutely necessary (like for those pesky screws) to keep the battery safe and protect those sensitive circuit components. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair!
Step 1
– Warm up the iOpener and gently place it on the left side of the device for a cool two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 2
– As you chill and let that adhesive do its thing, keep an eye out for these delicate spots that prefer a gentle touch when prying:
Step 3
In the next three steps, we’ll show you how to use the Anti-Clamp, our nifty little tool designed to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not rocking the Anti-Clamp, no worries! Just skip ahead three steps for a different approach.
– Give that blue handle a gentle tug backward to release the Anti-Clamp’s arms. You’ve got this!
– Slide something underneath your iPad to keep it steady and flat between those suction cups. Balance is key!
– Plop the suction cups near the midpoint of the left edge—one on top and one on the bottom. Positioning is everything!
– Grip the bottom of the Anti-Clamp securely and press down on the top cup to create some solid suction. Let’s make it stick!
Step 4
– Push the blue handle forward to lock those arms in place.
– Give the handle a full 360-degree turn clockwise or until the cups start to stretch a bit.
– Keep those suction cups aligned! If they start to slip, just loosen them a tad and realign the arms.
Step 5
– Give it a minute for the adhesive to release and create an opening.
– If your screen isn’t getting warm enough, use a hair dryer to heat up the left edge of the iPad.
– Slide an opening pick under the digitizer when the Anti-Clamp creates a big enough gap.
– Skip the next step.
Step 6
If your display is looking like a disco ball, a little clear packing tape magic can make that suction cup stick like glue! Feeling extra strong? Go for very tough tape if the suction cup isn’t your jam. Last resort superhero move? Superglue that suction cup superhero to the broken screen and save the day!
– Get that screen nice and warm to the touch, then grab a suction handle and pop it onto the left edge of the screen as close to the edge as you can.
– Use the magic of that suction handle to lift the screen and make a little gap between the digitizer and the frame.
– Slide an opening pick into that sweet little gap between the digitizer and the frame. You’re on your way!
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Step 7
No need to panic if you spy the opening pick peeking through the digitizer — just gently remove the pick. Your LCD screen should be just fine, but watch out for some sticky adhesive that might be a bit of a hassle to clean up later.
Step 8
– If your opening pick hits a snag in the adhesive, just give it a little spin and glide it along the iPad’s edge to keep peeling that sticky stuff away. And hey, if you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 9
– Glide that opening pick up to the top-left corner to break the adhesive bond.
– Keep the pick chilling in the top-left corner so the adhesive doesn’t re-stick.
Step 10
– Warm up an iOpener and place it on the top edge of your device for a solid two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 11
– Gently glide the pick around the top-left corner of your device to break that adhesive seal. You’ve got this!
Step 12
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder to steer clear of sliding the pick over the front camera—nobody wants to risk a scratched lens! Follow these steps to keep everything safe and sound.
– Gently glide the opening pick along the top edge of your device, but pause right before you get to the front camera. You’ve got this!
Step 13
– Gently ease the pick out so just the tip is between the digitizer and the frame.
– Slide the pick above the front camera to loosen the adhesive.
– Pause with the pick near the right side of the front camera before moving on.
Step 15
– Get the iOpener nice and toasty, then gently place it on the right side of your device for a couple of minutes.
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Step 16
– Gently glide the pick around the top-right corner of your device to break free the adhesive. You’ve got this!
Step 17
The display cables are about halfway up from the bottom of your iPad. When you’re around three inches from the bottom, that’s your cue to stop!
– Slip in a fresh opening pick and glide it to the center of the iPad’s right edge. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 18
– Warm up your iOpener and give it a cozy two-minute hug on the bottom edge of your device.
Tools Used
Step 19
– Gently slide the pick to the bottom-left corner to free the adhesive.
– Keep the pick snug in the bottom-left corner as you prepare for the next step.
Step 20
– Stick a new opening pick into the gap you just made at the bottom edge of the iPad.
– Glide the pick over the antenna, but stop just before the home button.
– Leave the pick to the left of the home button before moving on. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 21
Be careful to insert the pick only about 1 mm in to keep that right antenna safe and sound!
– Go ahead and pop in an opening pick right into the gap you’ve just made.
– Gently maneuver the pick under the home button and towards the lower-right corner, ensuring only the tip slips between the digitizer and the frame.
Step 22
– Gently re-insert the pick and slide it towards the home button to completely separate the bottom adhesive.
– Feel free to leave the pick to the right of the home button before moving forward.
Step 23
– Warm up your trusty iOpener and let it cozy up to the right edge of your device for a couple of minutes.
Tools Used
Step 24
Take your time on this step! Make sure the adhesive is nice and warm, and be sure to remove all of it with a pick. Feel free to pause and warm it up again if needed.
If you feel a lot of resistance, warm up the edges and gently work along them with an opening pick.
– Give those two opening picks a little twist in the left corners of your iPad. This will help you lift the digitizer just a smidge, and you’ll be separating the last bits of adhesive along the way. You’re doing great!
Step 26
– Hold that digitizer steady, then slide an opening pick between the two display cables to loosen the last bit of adhesive. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 27
– Now that you’ve smoothly separated all that adhesive, it’s time to crack open the digitizer like a cool novel and lay it down flat, just like a pro.
– When putting things back together, get rid of any leftover adhesive using some isopropyl alcohol. Give the frame and the digitizer a good scrub. If you’re reusing the digitizer, don’t forget to slap on our
