iPad 3 Wi-Fi Home Button Assembly Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 40 Steps
Time to swap out that Home Button Assembly! No worries, it's easier than you think. Follow these steps to get your device back to full functionality. And hey, if you run into any bumps along the way, feel free to schedule a repair with us. Let’s get this done!
Step 1
For carousel microwaves: Check that the plate spins smoothly. If your iOpener is getting stuck, it could overheat and cause damage. Keep it spinning for smooth operation!
Before you dive in, it's a good idea to give your microwave a quick clean. Any leftover grime on the bottom could end up on your iOpener, and nobody wants that!
- Pop that iOpener right in the middle of the microwave and let it get cozy!
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Step 2
Don't let the iOpener get too hot during the repair – it might just burst on you! Keep it under 100˚C (212˚F) to stay safe.
If the iOpener looks a bit puffed up, don't touch it. Better safe than sorry!
If the iOpener is still too hot to handle, just hang tight and let it cool down a bit before you use it again. A good iOpener will stay warm for about 10 minutes, so you’ve got time.
Depending on the power of your microwave, you might need to adjust the time a bit. You'll know the iOpener is ready when it's just about too hot to handle.
- Pop the iOpener in the microwave for about thirty seconds to get it nice and toasty.
- As you work through the repair, if the iOpener starts to cool down, just give it another quick thirty-second zap in the microwave to keep things warm and gooey.
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Step 3
The iOpener can get pretty toasty, so make sure you’re careful when handling it. Oven mitts are your friend here if you need them.
- Carefully grab the iOpener by one of its flat ends to keep your fingers away from the hot middle, then take it out of the microwave.
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Step 4
Heads up! The iOpener gets seriously hot, so make sure to grab it only by the end tabs to keep your fingers safe.
Don't have a microwave? No worries! Just heat up your iOpener by popping it into a pot of boiling water.
- Grab a pot or pan and fill it with enough water to completely cover your iOpener.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil, then switch off the heat.
- Carefully drop your iOpener into the hot water and let it soak for 2-3 minutes, making sure it’s fully submerged.
- Use tongs to fish the warm iOpener out of the water—handle with care!
- Give it a good dry with a towel so it’s ready to work its magic.
- Need to warm it up again? Just reboil the water, turn off the heat, and dunk the iOpener for another 2-3 minutes.
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Step 5
Slip on those safety glasses to keep your eyes safe, and watch out for that delicate LCD screen—let’s keep it in one piece!
This will help keep those pesky glass shards in check and maintain the structure of the display while you're prying and lifting it up.
- If your screen glass has taken a hit and is cracked, let's keep it from shattering further and avoid any finger mishaps during your repair by applying some tape to it.
- Grab some clear packing tape and lay down overlapping strips over the display of your iPad until you've covered the entire face like a protective shield.
- Now, just do your best to follow the guide from here on out. Keep in mind, once that glass breaks, it might keep cracking as you work your magic. You may need to reach for a metal prying tool to help scoop out the glass when needed.
Step 6
Heads up! Since you'll likely be dealing with some broken glass, it's a smart move to pop on some safety glasses to keep those pesky shards out of your eyes.
- Place the iOpener gently along the right edge of your iPad, making sure it’s nice and flat. Give it a little wiggle to ensure good contact with the surface.
- Let the iOpener hang out on the iPad for about 90 seconds to let the magic happen. Once the time is up, you're ready to start working on the front panel!
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Step 7
Getting that wedged tip of the opening tool in between the glass and plastic might need a little muscle! Take your time and stay steady—gently wiggle the plastic opening tool back and forth as you go. You've got this!
- Look for a tiny opening in the iPad's adhesive ring, located in the upper right corner, about 2.0 inches (~5 cm) from the top. This little flaw is your ticket in!
- Position your tool near the mute button and gently slide the tip of a plastic opening tool into the gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just wiggle in the very tip of the tool—enough to widen that crack a bit.
Step 8
- Ensure you tuck that tool right where it needs to be—snugly nestled between the plastic display bezel and the front panel glass.
Step 9
- Place the tip of the plastic opening tool gently between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Then, smoothly slide a plastic opening pick into the gap, right next to where the opening tool is wedged. Nice and easy – you're doing great!
Step 10
- Take that plastic opening tool out of the iPad, and gently nudge the opening pick further under the front glass until you've reached about half an inch deep. You're doing great!
Step 11
- While you're carefully loosening the adhesive on the right side of the iPad, give the iOpener another quick heat-up and place it on the bottom edge of the iPad. This will help make things a bit easier!
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Step 12
The adhesive is pretty strong, so you might need to put in a bit of muscle. Take your time and stay steady!
If the tip of your opening pick is peeking out from under the front glass, gently pull it back a bit. Keeping the pick this deep won’t cause damage, but it might spread some adhesive gunk onto the LCD.
- As the iOpener warms up the bottom edge, start loosening the adhesive along the right side of the iPad.
- Carefully slide the opening pick down the edge, gently freeing the adhesive as you go.
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Step 13
If you're finding it tricky to release the adhesive, try repositioning the heated iOpener on the right edge of the iPad. This will help if the iPad has cooled down too much while you were working on it. A little extra heat might be just what you need to make things stick!
- If the opening pick gets stuck in the adhesive, just give it a little roll along the side of the iPad, and keep on working that adhesive loose.
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Step 14
- Before pulling out that first opening pick from the bottom corner of your iPad, slide a second pick under the right edge of the front glass to keep that sticky adhesive from making a comeback.
- Warm up the iOpener again, then shift it to the top edge of the iPad to keep things nice and pliable.
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Step 15
Heads up! The Wi-Fi antenna is secured to the bottom right corner of the iPad's rear case with screws and a cable. Due to the antenna's tricky orientation, be extra careful during this step—too much force could cause permanent damage. Take it slow and steady!
- These next steps call for some extra care and a steady hand.
- You’ll need to carefully loosen the adhesive holding the antenna to the front panel without harming the fragile connections attaching the antenna to the bottom of the iPad. Take it slow and follow along closely.
Step 16
Be careful not to slide the pick too far into the bottom right corner. Pushing it too far could end up damaging the Wi-Fi antenna. Take it slow and steady!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad to loosen the adhesive and get things moving.
Step 17
Slide the opening pick carefully along the bottom right edge of the front panel. Watch out for the Wi-Fi antenna near the corner—it’s super close and can get nicked if the adhesive comes loose the wrong way.
Just a heads up—don't pull the pick all the way out from under the front glass! Keep it in there just a smidge, about 1/8" (3 mm) of the tip still tucked away under that glass. You've got this!
- Gently glide the tip of your opening pick along the bottom edge of the iPad to release the adhesive over the Wi-Fi antenna. You've got this!
Step 18
- After you’ve passed the Wi-Fi antenna (about 3" (75 mm) from the right edge, right by the home button), slide the opening pick all the way in.
- Gently slide the pick to the right to free up the adhesive holding the Wi-Fi antenna to the front glass.
- The antenna is screwed and connected by a cable at the bottom of the iPad. This step carefully detaches it from the front panel so you won’t accidentally damage it when you take the panel off.
Step 19
Give your iOpener a little break between heats—no more than a minute at a time, and let it chill for at least two minutes before giving it another round in the microwave.
If the adhesive has cooled down too much at the bottom edge, just give that iOpener another warm-up to heat things back up where you're working. Keep it cozy!
- Keep on working that adhesive loose along the bottom of the iPad! Gently pull the opening pick out far enough to navigate around the home button. Once you're past that button, slide it back in to a depth of about 1/2 inch (10 mm). You've got this!
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Step 20
For iPad 4 models, slide the pick in gently, no deeper than 1/2 inch (10 mm), to keep that home button ribbon cable safe and sound.
- Keep working that adhesive loose all the way across the bottom edge of your iPad. You're doing great!
- Once you've got that going, slide the opening pick in and leave it snugly under the front glass near the home button.
Step 21
- Pop that iOpener in the microwave for a quick warm-up and then place it on the left edge of your iPad. This will help get that adhesive nice and toasty in that spot!
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Step 22
If the adhesive has cooled down too much, just swap the iOpener along the top edge and keep going. If the iOpener has gone cold, pop it back in the microwave for a quick reheating session.
- Gently slide the opening pick along the top edge of the iPad, easing it out a bit to get around the front-facing camera bracket.
- Heads up: the adhesive here is super stubborn, so you might need to apply some muscle. Take it slow and steady to avoid any slips or scratches on you or your iPad.
- If the pick starts to get stuck in the adhesive, try "rolling" it like in step 9 to keep things moving smoothly.
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Step 23
If the adhesive is nice and warm, go ahead and remove the iOpener from the iPad to make things easier. But if it's still feeling a bit too sticky, no worries—just reheat the iOpener and lay it on the left edge while you continue working.
- Keep easing the adhesive off along the top edge of your iPad, then gently slide your opening pick around that top-left corner like a pro.
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Step 24
The digitizer cable hangs out about 2" (50 mm) up from the bottom of the iPad. When you're sliding your pick in, pause once you hit around 2.25" (60 mm) from the bottom to avoid any surprises.
- Gently slide the opening pick along the iPad's left edge to loosen the adhesive as you go. The adhesive is pretty thin here because of the digitizer running along the entire left side. Keep the pick shallow—no deeper than about 10 mm (1/2 inch)—to avoid any unwanted damage to the digitizer.
Step 25
Heads up! The bottom of the digitizer cable is just about an inch (25 mm) from the iPad’s bottom edge. Take it slow and steady—this little cable is delicate and definitely not a fan of quick snips.
- Gently slide the opening pick, still tucked under the bottom edge of the iPad, to loosen the adhesive on the bottom left corner. A little patience here goes a long way!
Step 26
If some of the adhesive around the iPad's edge has re-stuck, grab your pick and gently slide it underneath the part of the iPad where the front glass is still holding on. A little wiggle should help you 'cut' through that adhesive like a pro.
- Grab one of your trusty opening picks and gently wedge it under the bottom right corner of the iPad, then slip your fingers in to lift it up with care.
Step 27
Watch out for any leftover adhesive that might still be clinging on. Grab an opening pick and carefully slice through any stubborn glue holding the front panel in place.
- Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners, and gently twist the front glass away from the device. It’s like giving it a little hug and spin!
- Before you put everything back together, give the LCD a quick clean using a microfiber cloth and some compressed air. This will wipe away any dust or fingerprints, leaving your screen looking fresh and flawless.
Step 28
- Unscrew the four 2 mm Phillips #00 screws that are holding the LCD to the aluminum frame. Easy peasy! Just make sure not to lose them – they're tiny but mighty.
Step 29
Handle the LCD with care! The ribbon cable is pretty delicate, and bending it too much might lead to a break. Keep it smooth and gentle!
- Grab a plastic opening tool or spudger and gently pry up the right side of the LCD from the iPad.
- Now, carefully rotate the LCD on its left edge and let it rest gently on top of the front panel.
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Step 30
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently lift up that sneaky tape hiding the LCD ribbon cable connector. You've got this!
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Step 31
- Gently lift the retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF connector. You're almost there!
- 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.
Step 32
- Carefully raise the LCD away from the front panel without getting your fingers on the screen. You've got this!
Step 33
If needed, gently peel off the tape that holds the digitizer ribbon cable in place on the logic board. You've got this!
- Lift the retaining flap on both of the ZIF connectors for the digitizer ribbon cable.
Step 34
- Gently slide the flat end of your spudger under the digitizer ribbon cable to ease up the adhesive holding it down.
- Carefully pull the digitizer ribbon cable straight out from its sockets on the logic board—no wiggle dance needed!
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Step 35
- Gently lift the digitizer ribbon cable and grab a spudger to carefully detach the adhesive that’s holding the cable to the back of the aluminum case. You've got this!
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Step 36
- Gently wiggle and pull the digitizer ribbon cable free from its snug spot in the aluminum frame using your fingers.
- Lift the front panel off the iPad carefully to reveal what's underneath.
Step 37
Heads up! Don’t let the iOpener get too toasty—give it at least three minutes to cool down before warming it up again. Patience pays off!
The home button assembly is stuck to the front panel with some adhesive. Warming it up a bit with an iOpener to loosen the glue is a smart move before you start peeling.
- Pop the iOpener into the microwave and give it a spin for thirty seconds on the highest power setting. Let's heat things up!
- Once it's nice and toasty, place the iOpener right over the home button on the front edge of the display. You're doing great!
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Step 38
- Slide the plastic opening tool under the right edge of the home button assembly and gently pry upward to break the adhesive seal on that side.
Step 39
- With the technique we just learned, gently peel back the adhesive on the left side of the home button. You've got this!
- Carefully lift the home button mount away from the front panel. Easy peasy!
Step 40
- To put your device back together, just go through these steps in reverse—easy peasy! And if you hit a snag, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair with us.
