iPad 3G SIM Board Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 16 Steps
Follow this guide to swap out that pesky broken SIM board and get your device back in action. Let's make this repair a breeze!
Step 1
Put on those safety glasses to keep your peepers safe and sound, and watch out for that LCD screen—let's keep it in one piece!
This will help keep those pesky glass shards under control and make it easier to pry and lift the display without any drama.
- Got a cracked screen? Let’s keep those shards in check and your fingers safe by covering the glass with tape.
- Lay strips of clear packing tape across the entire display, overlapping them until the whole surface is sealed in.
- Follow the rest of the guide as best as you can. Heads up: broken glass tends to keep cracking while you work, so you might need a metal prying tool to scoop out stubborn pieces.
Step 2
The iPad in the pictures might have a different style than yours, but don't worry—the steps are still the same!
- Slide a metal spudger into the gap between the right side of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly. You've got this!
- Gently twist the spudger away from you to pop those tabs loose along the top edge of the display. It's all part of the dance!
Tools Used
Step 3
- Slide a second metal spudger between the top edge of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly to keep those sneaky tabs from snapping back into their cozy little spots.
- Gently pry the display assembly away from the rear panel, like peeling a banana—just be careful not to go too wild!
Tools Used
Step 4
Heads up! As you get close to the top edge of the iPad, take extra care—the digitizer ribbon cable is hanging out near the rear panel edge and is super easy to nick. Stay sharp!
- Keep gently working your way around the display assembly, carefully separating it from the rear panel along the bottom and left edges of the iPad. You're doing great!
Step 5
Easy does it! When lifting the display assembly from your iPad, remember there's a delicate antenna cable still keeping the two parts connected, and it doesn't have much wiggle room. Give it some gentle respect to avoid any mishaps!
- Gently lift the display assembly from the rear panel by its bottom edge—like you're opening a pizza box to reveal the good stuff inside!
Step 6
- Take the flat end of a spudger and gently lift the antenna connector that's closest to the bottom of the iPad off its socket on the communications board. Nice and steady, you got this!
Step 7
- Alright, it's time to disconnect the three cables that are holding the display assembly to the logic board. These cables are linked to the following components:
- Digitizer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Display Data Cable
Step 8
Make sure you're lifting the retaining flap, not the socket itself—easy to mix up, so keep those fingers on point!
- Gently use the edge of an iPod opening tool to lift up the little flaps that keep the digitizer ribbon cables locked into their spots on the logic board.
- Carefully pull the digitizer ribbon cables straight out from their sockets.
Step 9
- Grab your iPod opening tool and carefully pry upward to pop the ambient light sensor connector free from its socket. Easy does it!
Step 10
Gently tug the connector straight out, keeping it parallel to the surface of the logic board. You've got this!
- Gently lift the metal retainer by its black plastic tab to free the display data cable from the main board.
- Carefully slide the cable connector out of its socket.
Step 11
- Gently lift the display assembly away from the rear panel assembly, like you're unveiling a hidden treasure.
Step 12
- Take the edge of your trusty iPod opening tool and gently lift the SIM board connector out of its cozy socket on the logic board. Easy does it!
Step 13
You might need to apply a little muscle here.
- Grab a paperclip and gently poke it into the tiny hole on the SIM card tray to pop it out of your iPad.
Step 14
- Carefully pop out the SIM card and its tray from your iPad, like a tiny treasure waiting to be discovered.
Step 15
- Gently use an iPod opening tool to pop the SIM board free from the sticky adhesive holding it to the back case.
Step 16
- Now that you've powered through the repair, just retrace your steps to put everything back together. If things don’t look quite right or you hit a snag, remember you can always schedule a repair.
