How to Replace iPad CDMA LCD – Step-by-Step Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 34 Steps
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder to handle your device with care during this repair journey. If you run into any bumps along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out for a helping hand. You can always schedule a repair if you need assistance!
Dive into this guide to swap out your LCD! Keep in mind that some of the visuals are from a Wi-Fi model, so the insides might look a tad different compared to the cellular version. Don’t worry though, the steps are pretty much the same for both models, unless we mention otherwise. And hey, if you run into any bumps along the way, feel free to schedule a repair!
Step 1
Give your microwave a little TLC before diving in. A quick clean will prevent any stubborn gunk from sticking to your iOpener during the process.
– Pop the iOpener right in the center of the microwave and let it warm up a bit.
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Step 2
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder to keep an eye on the iOpener during your repair. We definitely don’t want it to get too hot and pop! Make sure it doesn’t exceed 100˚C (212˚F).
If the iOpener looks a bit puffy, steer clear of it for your safety.
If the center of the iOpener is still too toasty to handle, no worries! Keep using it as you wait for it to cool down a bit before reheating. A well-heated iOpener should stay cozy for up to 10 minutes.
– Pop that iOpener in the microwave for thirty seconds to get it nice and toasty.
– As you work through the repair, keep an eye on the iOpener. When it starts to cool down, just give it another thirty seconds in the microwave to keep the warmth flowing.
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Step 3
Careful with that iOpener! It’s going to be hot, so handle it with care. An oven mitt can be your best buddy here if you need it.
– Carefully take the iOpener out of the microwave, making sure to grab it by one of the flat ends to steer clear of that hot center. Stay safe and keep it cool!
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Step 4
If a microwave isn’t in your arsenal, 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 completely dunk that iOpener.
– Turn up the heat and bring the water to a rolling boil, then switch off the burner.
– Now, gently place the iOpener into the steamy bath for about 2-3 minutes. Just make sure it’s fully submerged and soaking up the warmth!
– Using some tongs (safety first!), carefully pull out the hot iOpener from the water.
– Give it a good dry with a towel so it’s ready for action.
– And voila! Your iOpener is all set to go! If you find yourself needing to warm it up again, just repeat the process: heat the water to a boil, turn off the heat, and let the iOpener soak for 2-3 minutes.
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Step 5
Don those safety glasses to keep your peepers safe, and take it easy on that LCD screen—let’s keep it in one piece!
– If your display glass is looking a bit worse for wear, let’s keep it from shattering into a million pieces and causing a mess! Grab some tape and cover that glass up.
– Apply overlapping strips of clear packing tape over your iPad’s display until it’s completely covered. Think of it as giving your device a protective shield!
– Now, follow the rest of the guide as best as you can. Just a heads up: once that glass starts to crack, it might keep on breaking. You might need a metal prying tool to help scoop out the glass. No worries, you’ve got this!
Step 6
Just a friendly reminder: while you’re diving into this repair, you might encounter some tricky broken glass. So, why not protect those peepers with some safety glasses? It’s all about keeping those flying shards at bay and making this process a breeze!
– Place the iOpener flat against the right edge of your iPad, making sure to smooth it out for a snug fit that ensures great contact with the surface.
– Give the bag a little time to work its magic on the iPad—about 90 seconds should do the trick—before you dive into opening the front panel.
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Step 7
Getting that snug tip of the opening tool between the glass and plastic might take a little muscle. Just take your time and be gentle with it! Wiggle that plastic tool back and forth as needed and you’ll be on your way.
– Hey there! Spot a tiny gap in the iPad’s adhesive ring in the upper right corner? It’s about 2.0 inches (~5 cm) from the top. Let’s use that little opening to our advantage!
– Now, grab your trusty tool and align it with the mute button. Gently insert the tip of a plastic opening tool into that gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just slide in the very tip—enough to create a little wiggle room.
Step 9
– While keeping the tip of the plastic opening tool snugly fitted between the front glass and plastic bezel, gently slide a plastic opening pick into that little gap right next to the tool. You’ve got this!
Step 10
– Take that trusty plastic opening tool out of your iPad’s toolkit, and gently slide the opening pick a little deeper, about half an inch under the front glass. You’re doing great!
Step 12
The adhesive is super strong, so you might need to bring out your inner Hulk! Just take it easy and work with care.
If the tip of your trusty opening pick is peeking out from beneath the front glass, give it a gentle tug. Don’t worry, using the pick this way won’t cause any harm, but it might leave a little adhesive residue on the LCD, and nobody wants that!
– While the iOpener warms up the bottom edge, let’s get started on freeing up that adhesive from the right edge of your iPad.
– Gently glide the opening pick down the side of the iPad, peeling away the adhesive as you go. You’ve got this!
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Step 13
As you peel away the adhesive, you might need to slide that warm iOpener back over to the right edge of the iPad. This little maneuver will depend on how long the iPad has been cooling off while you were busy working your magic.
– If your opening pick seems to be having a tough time with the adhesive, just give it a little ‘roll’ along the side of the iPad. Keep at it, and you’ll gradually free up that sticky stuff.
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Step 14
– Before you pop that first opening pick into the bottom corner of your iPad, slide a second pick under the right edge of the front glass. This little buddy will help keep the adhesive from playing tricks and sticking back down.
– Give your iOpener a little reheat love, then place it at the top edge of the iPad. Let’s keep things warm and toasty!
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Step 15
The Wi-Fi antenna hangs out at the bottom right edge of the iPad’s rear case, secured with screws and a cable. Given the Wi-Fi antenna’s position, it’s super important to handle this part with care—otherwise, you might accidentally cause some serious damage to it. So, let’s keep things smooth and take our time!
– Alright, friends, time to tread carefully for the next few steps!
– You’ll need to gently release the adhesive that’s holding the antenna to the front panel. Just remember, we want to keep those delicate parts attached to the bottom of the iPad safe and sound. So, take a deep breath and follow these steps with care!
Step 16
Hey there! Just a quick heads up: avoid sliding the pick beyond the bottom right corner. It could lead to some unwanted damage to the Wi-Fi antenna. Let’s keep your device in tip-top shape!
– Gently glide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad to free up that pesky adhesive. You’ve got this!
Step 17
As you glide that opening pick along the bottom right edge of the front panel, keep an eye out! The Wi-Fi antenna is sneaky and hangs out close to the corner, so be gentle. If you’re not careful with the adhesive, you might accidentally give it a haircut!
Just a little tip: keep that pick snug under the front glass! Pull it out just enough so about 1/8″ (3 mm) of the tip stays tucked in there. You’re doing great!
– Gently glide the tip of the opening pick along the bottom edge of your iPad to free up the adhesive sticking to the Wi-Fi antenna. You’re doing great!
Step 18
– Once you’ve navigated past the Wi-Fi antenna (about 3″ (75 mm) from the right edge, or right next to the home button), slide that opening pick back in all the way. You’ve got this!
– Now, give that pick a gentle slide to the right. This will help release the adhesive that’s holding the Wi-Fi antenna to the front glass. Easy peasy!
Step 19
Keep that iOpener toasty, but don’t go overboard! Heat it for a minute max, and give it a little chill time of at least two minutes before you fire it up again.
– Keep peeling away the sticky stuff along the bottom of your iPad. As you do this, gently pull the opening pick out far enough to navigate around the home button. Once you’ve cleared the home button, slide that pick back in to a depth of about 1/2 inch (10 mm). You got this!
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Step 20
– Keep peeling back that adhesive along the bottom edge of the iPad—you’re almost there!
– Let that opening pick chill under the front glass close to the home button while you work your magic.
Step 22
If the adhesive has cooled down too much, simply swap in a fresh iOpener along the top edge and keep on working. If your iOpener is feeling a bit chilly, give it another heat-up!
– Gently glide the opening pick along the top edge of your iPad, giving it a little tug to maneuver around the front-facing camera bracket.
– The adhesive in this area is quite stubborn, so you might need to put in a bit of elbow grease. Take your time and be cautious to avoid any slips that could hurt you or your iPad.
– If the opening pick feels like it’s stuck in the adhesive, try to ‘roll’ it as illustrated in step 9.
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Step 23
If the adhesive is feeling warm and friendly, go ahead and take out the iOpener from the iPad for a smoother experience. But if it’s still a bit clingy, just give the iOpener another heat-up and place it on the left edge while you tackle the task at hand.
– Keep peeling away that sticky stuff along the top edge of the iPad, and give that opening pick a little dance around the top left corner.
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Step 24
The digitizer cable hangs out around 2″ (50 mm) from the bottom of your iPad. Make sure to stop sliding that pick when you get to about 2.25″ (60 mm) from the bottom—it’s like a little safety zone!
– Gently slide that trusty opening pick along the left edge of your iPad, letting it work its magic on the adhesive as you go. Don’t worry, the adhesive here is pretty thin thanks to the digitizer stretching along the entire left side. Just remember, keep that pick no deeper than 1/2 inch (10 mm) to avoid any accidental damage to the digitizer. You’ve got this!
Step 25
Be careful! The bottom of the digitizer cable is just about 1 inch (25 mm) from the bottom of the iPad. Take your time and handle with care to avoid accidentally cutting this cable.
– With the trusty opening pick still nestled under the bottom edge of your iPad, gently free the adhesive from the bottom left corner. You’re doing great!
Step 26
– Grab one of those handy opening picks and gently pry up the bottom right corner of your iPad. Once it’s lifted, give it a little hug with your fingers to hold it in place.
Step 27
Watch out for any leftover sticky stuff that might be hanging around! Grab an opening pick and gently slice through any adhesive that’s keeping the front panel in place.
– Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners and give that front glass a gentle twist away from the device. You’re doing great!
– When it’s time to put everything back together, take a microfiber cloth and some compressed air to give the LCD a little love—wipe away any dust or fingerprints before you place that glass back on. Keep it neat!
Step 28
– Start by unscrewing those four 2.0 mm Phillips #0 screws that are holding the LCD snugly to the rear case. Let’s get that display free and ready for action!
Step 29
– The front panel ribbon cables are tucked away beneath the LCD. To get to them, just flip the LCD over for a moment and set it aside, like you’re turning the page of your favorite book.
– Gently lift the LCD from the edge nearest the volume buttons and flip it out of the rear case—think of it as a graceful page turn.
– Now, carefully place the LCD face down on the front panel. You’re doing great!
Step 30
Be gentle when disconnecting the display data cable connector—no need to lift it up!
– Grab your trusty plastic opening tool and gently nudge that metal retaining clip upwards to release the display data cable from its cozy spot on the logic board.
– Now, with a little tug, carefully pull the display data cable out of its home on the logic board.
Step 32
– Peel away the tiny strip of black tape that’s cozying up to the display data cable connector on the LCD.
Step 33
Remember, when disconnecting the display data cable, keep it cool and don’t yank it upwards!
– Grab your trusty plastic opening tool and gently nudge that metal retaining clip up on the display data cable connector. It’s a small move with a big impact!
– Now, give the display data cable a little tug and slide it out of its socket, freeing it from the LCD. You’ve got this!
Step 34
– The LCD is still hanging in there.
