iPad 5 Home Button Assembly Replacement Tutorial
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 45 Steps
Heads up: The battery isolation method here is kinda old school and might mess up the battery pins on the logic board, which would be a bummer. If you go with this method, follow the warnings and be super careful. If you skip isolating the battery, avoid using metal tools unless absolutely necessary (like for screw removal) to prevent shorting out the battery and damaging sensitive components. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Follow these steps to swap out the home button assembly in an iPad 5 Wi-Fi. Heads up—the Touch ID sensor in the home button is paired with the logic board, so you’ll lose Touch ID functionality if you replace the home button. Fair warning: the battery isolation method here is outdated and might wreck the battery pins on the logic board, which can be pretty catastrophic. If you go this route, take all the warnings seriously and proceed with extreme caution. If you decide to complete the guide without isolating the battery, avoid using metal tools unless it’s absolutely necessary (like for removing screws) to prevent shorting the battery and damaging those delicate circuit parts. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
– Get cozy with an iOpener and gently press it onto the left edge of your device for a sweet two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 2
– While you’re waiting for the adhesive to loosen, take a moment to check out these delicate areas that can be a bit touchy:
Step 3
In the next three steps, we’ll be introducing the Anti-Clamp, a nifty little tool we’ve created to help you open your device with ease. If you don’t have an Anti-Clamp handy, no worries! Just scroll down three steps for a different approach.
– Give that blue handle a gentle tug back to release the Anti-Clamp’s arms—it’s like giving it a little hug!
– Slide something under your iPad to keep it nice and level between those suction cups—think of it as a cozy pillow.
– Place the suction cups close to the center of the left edge—one on top and one on the bottom, like a perfect little sandwich.
– Keep the bottom of the Anti-Clamp steady and give a firm press on the top cup to create some suction magic!
Step 4
– Give that blue handle a little tug forward to secure those arms like a champ!
– Now, twist that handle a full 360 degrees or until you see those suction cups starting to stretch out. Go for it!
– Keep an eye on those suction cups and make sure they stay in sync. If they start to drift apart, just loosen them a tad and bring those arms back into line. You’ve got this!
Step 5
– Hang tight for a minute to let the adhesive work its magic and create an opening gap.
– If the screen isn’t warming up enough, grab a hair dryer and heat along the left edge of the iPad.
– Once the Anti-Clamp has created a big enough gap, slide an opening pick under the digitizer.
– Skip the next step.
Step 6
– Heat up the screen until it’s warm to the touch, then stick a suction handle on the left edge as close to the rim as you can get.
– Gently lift the screen with the suction handle to create a tiny gap between the digitizer and the frame.
– Slide an opening pick into that gap between the digitizer and the frame.
If your screen is looking like a spider web, a layer of clear packing tape might just do the trick to help the suction cup stick. You could also opt for some super strong tape if you want to skip the suction cup altogether. And if you’re really in a bind, a little superglue on the suction cup can help it cling to that cracked screen. Remember, if you need help, you can always schedule a repair!
Tools Used
Step 7
If you spot the opening pick through the digitizer, don’t sweat it — just pull it out. The LCD screen should be safe, but be aware you might leave behind some stubborn adhesive. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Pop in a second opening pick right where you made that gap.
– Gently slide the pick down towards the bottom-left corner of your device to break free the adhesive.
– Keep that pick in the bottom-left corner to stop the adhesive from sticking back together.
Step 8
– If you find the opening pick stuck in the adhesive, simply ‘roll’ it along the side of your device to keep separating the adhesive.
Step 9
– Gently slide the first opening pick toward the top-left corner of your device to break that stubborn adhesive seal.
– Once you’ve got it in place, leave the pick there to keep that adhesive from sticking back together.
Step 10
– Warm up your iOpener and stick it on the top edge of your device for a cozy two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 11
– Gently glide the pick around the top-left corner of your device to break free that pesky adhesive!
Step 12
Hey there! Just a heads up: steer clear of sliding the pick over the front camera, or you might give that lens a boo-boo. No worries though, we’ll guide you through how to dodge this little mishap.
– Move the opening pick along the top edge of your device, and stop just before you hit the front camera.
Step 13
– Gently pull out the pick until just the tip is nestled between the digitizer and the frame. You’ve got this!
– Carefully slide the pick above the front camera to break that adhesive seal. Keep going, you’re doing great!
– Position the pick close to the right side of the front camera and hold steady before you move on. Almost there!
Step 15
– Warm up an iOpener and gently press it against the right edge of your device for a cozy two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 16
– Twist that pick around the top-right corner of your device to break free the adhesive like a pro!
Step 17
The display cables hang out around the halfway mark from the bottom of your iPad. Just slide until you’re about three inches from the bottom, and then stop. You’ve got this!
– Grab a new opening pick and gently slide it right into the heart of the iPad’s right edge. You’ve got this!
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 that trusty pick into the bottom-left corner to break free the adhesive holding things together.
– Keep the pick snug in the bottom-left corner while you gear up for the next step!
Step 20
– Pop in a fresh opening pick right where you made that little gap at the bottom edge of your iPad.
– Gently glide the pick over the antenna, but hold up just shy of the home button.
– Keep that pick hanging out to the left of the home button before you move on.
Step 21
Just a friendly reminder: Insert the pick only up to 1 mm to keep that right antenna safe and sound!
– Get that opening pick ready to work its magic by smoothly sliding it into the gap you just made.
– Gently glide the pick underneath the home button and head towards the bottom-right corner with a little pep in your step, ensuring that only the tip cozy up between the digitizer and the frame.
Step 22
– Slide the pick back in and give it a gentle nudge toward the home button to fully break free that stubborn bottom adhesive.
– Just leave the pick chillin’ to the right of the home button before you move on to the next step.
Step 23
– Warm up your iOpener and lay it on the right side of your device for a cozy two minutes.
Tools Used
Step 24
Take it easy with this step! Make sure the adhesive is nice and toasty, and gently work your pick to separate all that sticky stuff. If you feel like you need a little break, don’t hesitate to reheat and give it another go!
If you’re feeling some serious resistance, give those edges a little heat and gently glide along with an opening pick. You’ve got this!
– Gently twist the two opening picks at the left corners of your iPad to give the digitizer a little lift, while also saying goodbye to the last bits of adhesive. You’ve got this!
Step 25
– Gently lift the left side of the digitizer upwards to loosen the adhesive on the right side of your iPad. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 26
– As you support the digitizer, gently slide an opening pick between the two display cables to free up the last of the adhesive. You’ve got this!
Step 27
– Once you’ve worked your magic and separated all the adhesive, swing the digitizer open like a book and lay it down parallel to the iPad.
– When putting it back together, make sure to clean off any leftover adhesive from the frame and digitizer (if you’re reusing it) using isopropyl alcohol. Then, replace the adhesive with our handy
