iPad 4 CDMA Home Button Assembly Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 45 Steps
Get ready to give your device a little makeover by swapping out the Home button assembly! It's simpler than it sounds, and with this guide, you'll be back to tapping and swiping in no time. Just follow the steps, and if you find yourself in a bind, don't hesitate to schedule a repair for some extra support!
Step 1
For carousel microwaves: double-check that the plate spins without any hiccups. If your iOpener gets stuck, it could overheat and cause burns, so keep it moving!
Give your microwave a quick wipe down before you start—any leftover gunk hanging out on the bottom might decide to hitch a ride on the iOpener. Nobody wants that!
- Pop the iOpener right in the center of the microwave. Easy peasy!
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Step 2
Hey there! Just a quick heads-up: keep the iOpener from getting too hot during your repair adventures. If it overheats, it could pop like a balloon! So, let's keep it below 100˚C (212˚F).
And remember, if the iOpener looks like it's puffing up, steer clear of it!
If the middle of the iOpener is still too toasty to handle, just hang tight and let it cool down a bit before you give it another heat-up. A well-heated iOpener should stay cozy for about 10 minutes!
Microwave wattage can change how long you need to heat the iOpener. It’s ready when it’s just a tad too warm to keep your fingers on comfortably.
- Give that iOpener a quick thirty-second spa treatment in the microwave!
- As you work your magic on the repair, keep an eye on the iOpener—when it starts to cool down, just pop it back in the microwave for another thirty seconds. Easy peasy!
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Step 3
Caution! The iOpener is going to be quite toasty, so watch your fingers! If it gets too hot to handle, don’t hesitate to grab an oven mitt. Safety first, right?
- Carefully take the iOpener out of the microwave, gripping one of the flat ends to steer clear of that sizzling hot center.
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Step 4
Be cautious with the iOpener—it gets pretty toasty! Make sure to grab it only by the end tabs to keep your fingers safe and sound.
No microwave? No problem! Just pop your iOpener into some boiling water to warm it up. You've got this!
- Grab a pot or pan and fill it with enough water to completely dunk your iOpener.
- Bring the water to a boil, then switch off the heat.
- Pop the iOpener into the hot water for 2-3 minutes, making sure it’s fully submerged.
- Carefully fish out the heated iOpener using tongs.
- Give it a good dry-off with a towel.
- And there you go—your iOpener is all warmed up and ready to go! Need to reheat? Just boil the water again, turn off the heat, and soak the iOpener for another 2-3 minutes.
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Step 5
Put on those safety glasses to shield your peepers, and tread lightly to avoid any mishaps with the LCD screen.
This helps keep those sneaky glass shards in check and adds some solid support while you pry and lift the display.
- If your display glass is cracked, keep things safe and avoid any ouch moments by taping over the glass before you start.
- Cover the entire face of the iPad with overlapping strips of clear packing tape to hold everything in place.
- Try to follow the rest of the guide as usual. Just a heads up: once the glass is broken, it might keep cracking as you go, and you may need to carefully use a metal prying tool to lift the glass out.
Step 6
Hey there! Just a little heads up: as you're tackling this repair, you might be dealing with some fragile glass. So, for your own safety, we totally suggest rocking a pair of safety glasses to shield yourself from any unexpected flying bits. Safety first, right?
- Place the iOpener flat against the right edge of your iPad, giving it a nice little press to ensure it's making good contact with the surface.
- Allow the bag to chill on the iPad for about 90 seconds before you get started on opening that front panel.
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Step 7
Getting that opening tool tip wedged between the glass and plastic might take a bit of muscle. Take it slow and steady, gently wiggle the tool back and forth until it slips in. Patience is key!
- Notice that there's a tiny little gap in the iPad's adhesive ring up in the upper right corner, about 2.0 inches (or roughly 5 cm) from the top. Time to take advantage of this little flaw!
- Get your tool lined up with the mute button. Now, gently slide the tip of a plastic opening tool into that gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just the tip—enough to give that crack a little nudge!
Step 8
- Ensure you pop that tool right in its happy place—between the plastic display bezel and the front panel glass. It's like a cozy little spot for your tool to get the job done!
Step 9
- Gently wedge the tip of your plastic opening tool between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Then, slide a plastic opening pick into the gap, snugly right next to the tool. You're just creating a little space here, so take your time—patience is key!
Step 10
- Carefully remove the plastic opening tool from the iPad, then gently slide the opening pick underneath the front glass, pushing it in about 0.5 inches deep. Take your time, and remember, if this step gets tricky, you can always schedule a repair for extra hands!
Step 11
- As you carefully loosen the adhesive on the right side of the iPad, pop the iOpener back in the microwave to warm it up again, then place it on the bottom edge to keep things nice and toasty.
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Step 12
The adhesive is super tough, so you might need to bring your A-game. Take your time and stay cool!
If the tip of your opening pick is peeking out from under the front glass, give it a gentle pull. Don't worry, using the pick this deep won't cause any harm, but it might leave a bit of sticky residue on the LCD. Just a little heads up!
- While the bottom edge gets cozy under the heat from the iOpener, start loosening up the adhesive on the right edge of the iPad.
- Gently slide the opening pick along the edge of the iPad, peeling away the adhesive as you go. Take your time, you've got this!
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Step 13
If you're finding the adhesive a bit tricky to release, you might want to bring that warm iOpener back onto the right edge of the iPad. How long you let the iPad cool down while you’re working will determine if you need this step. Keep an eye on it and give it a little extra heat if needed.
- If the opening pick gets stuck in the adhesive, try gently 'rolling' it along the edge of the iPad to keep breaking through the sticky stuff.
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Step 14
- Before you start prying open the iPad, slip a second pick under the right edge of the front glass. This will keep the sticky stuff from making things tricky when you remove the first pick from the bottom corner.
- Give the iOpener another heat-up, then slide it to the top edge of the iPad to loosen things up a bit more.
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Step 15
Hey there! The Wi-Fi antenna is snugly secured to the bottom right corner of the rear case of your iPad, held in place by screws and a cable. Given how it's positioned, take it easy and proceed with care—otherwise, you might accidentally cause some serious damage to the Wi-Fi antenna. Let's keep that connection strong!
- Alright, it's time to take it slow and steady for the next few steps. Precision is key here, so stay focused.
- You’ll need to carefully peel off the adhesive holding the antenna to the front panel. Just make sure you don’t damage the delicate connections at the bottom of the iPad. Follow the steps closely and you’ll be fine!
Step 16
Hey there! Just a little heads up: Don't slide that pick too far into the bottom right corner. You might accidentally give the Wi-Fi antenna a bit of a rough time, and we wouldn't want that!
- Gently work the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad to break free the adhesive hiding there.
Step 17
Carefully slide the opening pick 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 be easily cut if the adhesive is released the wrong way.
Just gently nudge that pick out from under the front glass—no need to pull it all the way out! Leave about 1/8" (3 mm) of the tip snugly tucked under there for best results.
- Gently slide the tip of your opening pick along the bottom edge of the iPad. You'll be releasing the adhesive that’s keeping the Wi-Fi antenna in place – it’s a smooth move, trust us.
Step 18
- Alright, once you’ve navigated past the Wi-Fi antenna (that’s about 3 inches or 75 mm from the right edge, right by the home button), slide that opening pick back in to its full depth like a pro.
- Now, give that pick a little shimmy to the right to break free the adhesive that’s keeping the Wi-Fi antenna glued to the front glass.
- Just a heads up, the antenna is secured to the bottom of the iPad with screws and a cable. This step is key to disconnecting the antenna from the front panel, so when you lift that panel off, you won’t accidentally harm the antenna. You're doing great!
Step 19
Remember, keep the iOpener's hot streak to just a minute at a time, and give it a cool two-minute break before you reheat it. It's all about that perfect temperature dance!
If the adhesive along the bottom edge has cooled off too much, just give the iOpener another quick warm-up to soften the glue right where you’re working.
- Keep gently easing the adhesive along the iPad's bottom, and as you pull the opening pick out, make sure it wraps around the home button. Once you're past the button, slide the pick back in, about half an inch (10 mm), to keep things moving smoothly.
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Step 20
For iPad 4 models, gently insert the pick up to 1/2 inch (10 mm) into this spot—just enough to get the job done, but not so far as to harm the home button ribbon cable.
- Keep peeling the adhesive all along the bottom edge of your iPad—almost there!
- Slip the opening pick under the front glass near the home button and let it hang out there for now.
Step 21
- Pop the iOpener back in the microwave to heat it up again, then place it on the left edge of the iPad to gently loosen that stubborn adhesive with some warm vibes.
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Step 22
If the adhesive has cooled down too much, swap out the iOpener along the top edge and keep going. If it’s still too cool to work with, just reheat the iOpener and get back to it.
- 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 quite the stubborn one, so be prepared to put in some elbow grease. Take your time, and remember to keep your fingers clear of any potential mishaps or damage to your iPad.
- If the opening pick feels like it's stuck in the gooey adhesive, try giving it a little 'roll' as shown in step 9.
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Step 23
If the adhesive is nice and warm, feel free to take the iOpener off the iPad for a bit of ease. On the other hand, if it’s still a bit clingy, just give the iOpener another heat session and lay it on the left edge while you tackle the task.
- Keep peeling away the adhesive along the top edge of your iPad, and gently glide the opening pick around the top left corner. You're doing great!
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Step 24
The digitizer cable hangs out about 2" (50 mm) from the bottom edge of your iPad. When sliding your pick in, ease off once you hit around 2.25" (60 mm) from the bottom to keep things safe and sound.
- Gently glide that opening pick along the left side of your iPad, letting it work its magic on the adhesive as you go! It's nice and thin here thanks to the digitizer stretching all the way down the left edge. Just a friendly tip: keep that pick no deeper than half an inch (about 10 mm) to avoid any mishaps with the digitizer. You've got this!
Step 25
Heads up! The bottom of the digitizer cable hangs out just about an inch (25 mm) from the iPad’s bottom edge. Take it slow and steady to avoid any accidental snips!
- With your trusty opening pick still nestled at the bottom edge of the iPad, gently work to break free the adhesive at the bottom left corner. You're doing great—keep it up!
Step 26
It looks like some of that sticky stuff around the edge of your iPad has decided to reattach itself. No worries! Just slide a pick under the edge of the iPad where the front glass is still holding on and give that adhesive a little 'snip' to free it up.
- Grab one of those trusty opening picks and gently pry up the bottom right corner of your iPad, then snag it with your fingers like a pro.
Step 27
Watch out for any stubborn adhesive still hanging on—grab an opening pick and gently slice through it to free the front panel.
- Grab your iPad by the top and bottom right corners and give the front glass a gentle twist away from the device—like a friendly handshake!
- When you're putting everything back together, don’t forget to whip out a microfiber cloth and some compressed air to give that LCD a little spa treatment, removing any dust bunnies or fingerprints before sealing it up with the glass.
Step 28
That bottom left screw is playing hide and seek behind the home button ribbon cable connector. Gently nudge the ribbon cable out of the way to grab that sneaky screw.
- Unscrew the four tiny 2 mm Phillips #00 screws holding the LCD to the aluminum frame—careful, these little guys are important!
Step 29
Handle the LCD with care! The ribbon cable is delicate, and bending it too much might cause it to snap. Go slow and steady, and you'll be golden!
- Grab your trusty plastic opening tool or spudger and gently lift the right edge of the LCD out of the iPad. You've got this!
- Now, give that LCD a little rotation around its left edge and carefully lay it down on the front glass panel. Easy peasy!
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Step 30
- Carefully use the tip of a spudger to lift and peel back the tape that’s covering the LCD ribbon cable connector.
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Step 31
- First things first, give that retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF connector a little flip up – it’s like opening a tiny door!
- Now, using your fingers or some tweezers, gently pull the LCD ribbon cable out from its cozy spot on the logic board.
- If your LCD screen is playing hard to get and doesn’t light up after you reconnect the ZIF connector, don’t panic! Just give your iPad a little force restart by holding down the power button and home button together for at least ten seconds until you see that lovely Apple logo. You’ve got this!
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Step 32
- Gently lift the LCD off the front panel, but make sure to avoid touching the screen. A little care goes a long way here!
Step 33
If there's any electrical tape covering the Wi-Fi antenna, speaker cable, or home button ribbon cable, go ahead and peel it off carefully. It’s just like unwrapping a little surprise, but less fun and more useful!
Step 34
- Gently lift the retaining flap on the home button ribbon cable ZIF connector. You've got this!
Step 35
- Grab a pair of tweezers and gently pull the home button ribbon cable out of its socket on the logic board. No rush—just take it slow and steady!
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Step 36
- Gently pop the home button ribbon cable out from its snug spot in the back case.
Step 37
- With the spudger's tip, gently lift the tape holding the digitizer ribbon cable to the logic board.
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Step 38
- Gently flip up the little retaining flap on each of the digitizer ribbon cable ZIF connectors to unlock them.
Step 39
- Gently wiggle the flat end of your spudger underneath the digitizer ribbon cable to break up the stubborn adhesive holding it down.
- Carefully pull the digitizer ribbon cable straight out from its connectors on the logic board—steady hands win here!
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Step 40
- Gently peel back the digitizer ribbon cable and use the flat end of a spudger to lift off the adhesive that's holding the cable in place against the rear aluminum case.
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Step 41
- With a gentle touch, coax the digitizer ribbon cable out of its cozy spot in the aluminum frame. It just needs a little encouragement!
- Carefully lift away the front panel from the iPad, like you're unveiling a surprise gift. Easy does it!
Step 42
Don’t let the iOpener get too toasty! Give it a solid two minutes to chill before heating it up again.
The home button assembly sticks to the front panel with some adhesive. Warming it up gently with an iOpener to loosen the glue is a smart move.
- Pop the iOpener in the microwave for about one minute on the highest power setting (or just thirty seconds if you’ve got the newer gel-filled iOpener).
- Place the iOpener gently over the home button, right at the front edge of the display.
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Step 43
- Gently lift the home button ribbon cable off the front panel—take it slow and steady!
Step 44
- Slide the plastic opening tool under the right side of the home button assembly and gently pry upwards to break the adhesive seal on that side.
- Now, do the same on the left side to free it from the adhesive. Nice and easy.
- Lift the home button mount off the front panel. You're almost there!
Step 45
- To put your device back together, just retrace your steps in reverse. Don’t forget to check out our iPad 4 CDMA Front Panel Adhesive strips guide for a smooth front panel reattachment. If you hit a snag, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair with us!
