iPad 5 Wi-Fi LCD Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 34 Steps
Exercise caution when using a battery blocker to isolate the battery. You've got this!
Get ready to swap out that LCD on your iPad 5! Just a friendly reminder to handle the battery with care while using a battery blocker – it's a bit of a delicate dance, and those battery contacts can be fragile. Damage them, and you could be looking at some serious logic board woes. If you decide to tackle this guide without isolating the battery, steer clear of metal tools unless absolutely necessary (like for those pesky screws) to keep everything safe and sound. If you ever feel stuck, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair!
Step 1
- Warm up an iOpener and stick it on the left side of your device for a solid two minutes to get things nice and toasty.
Tools Used
Step 2
- While you let that adhesive chill for a bit, keep an eye on these delicate spots that prefer a gentle touch:
- Front camera
- Antennas
- Display cables
Step 3
Get ready, because the next three steps are all about the Anti-Clamp—a nifty tool we've whipped up to make opening your device a breeze! If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, feel free to skip ahead three steps for a different approach.
For all the juicy details on using the Anti-Clamp, be sure to check out this guide.
If your iPad’s surface is feeling a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, just slap some tape on it to create a better hold!
- Give that blue handle a good tug backwards to set the Anti-Clamp's arms free!
- Nestle your iPad on a cozy object so it sits nice and level between those suction cups.
- Place the suction cups close to the middle of the left edge—one up top and one down below.
- Keep a steady hand on the bottom of the Anti-Clamp and give a firm push on the top cup to create some serious suction magic!
Step 4
- Give the blue handle a little nudge forward to lock the arms in place.
- Twist the handle clockwise a full 360 degrees or until the suction cups start to stretch. Don't be shy, give it a good turn!
- Check that the suction cups are still buddies, staying perfectly aligned. If they start to wander, just loosen them up a bit and get them back in line.
Step 5
Turn no more than half a twist at a time, then chill for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and some patience do their thing!
Want to know the full scoop on using a hair dryer for this? We've got you covered in this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't giving you enough room, just crank up the heat and rotate the handle clockwise about half a turn.
- Take a chill minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a small gap for you to work with.
- If your screen feels a bit chilly, warm things up by running a hair dryer along the left edge of the iPad.
- Once the Anti-Clamp opens up a good-sized gap, gently slide an opening pick under the digitizer.
- Feel free to skip the next step.
Step 6
If your screen is shattered to bits, slap on a layer of clear packing tape to help the suction cup stick. If that’s not doing the trick, grab some super strong tape as a backup plan. And if you’re feeling bold, a tiny dab of superglue can bond the suction cup right onto the cracked screen. Easy peasy!
- Once the screen is pleasantly warm to the touch, grab your suction handle and stick it near the left edge—right up close to the frame.
- Gently lift the screen with your suction handle to sneak a tiny gap between the digitizer and the frame.
- Slide an opening pick into that little gap and wiggle it just enough to start loosening things up.
Tools Used
Step 7
It's totally fine if the opening pick peeks through the digitizer – just gently pull it out. Your LCD screen should be just fine, but you might leave some sticky residue behind. No big deal, though, a little cleanup and you're golden!
- Pop a second opening pick into the gap you just made.
- Gently slide that pick down toward the bottom-left corner to loosen up the adhesive.
- Keep the pick wedged in the bottom-left corner so the adhesive doesn’t sneak back together.
Step 8
- If the opening pick is having a tough time with the adhesive, try 'rolling' it along the iPad's edge. This should help keep things moving and get the adhesive to separate smoothly.
Step 9
- Gently slide the first opening pick up towards the top-left corner to loosen the adhesive.
- Keep that pick wedged in the top-left corner so the adhesive doesn't snap back together.
Step 10
- Warm up that iOpener and give it a cozy spot on the top edge of your device for a solid two minutes. You're on the right track!
Tools Used
Step 11
- Twist that pick around the top-left corner of your device to break free the adhesive. You're almost there!
Step 12
Keep that pick away from the front camera! You don't want to risk scratching that lens. Follow these steps to make sure everything stays safe and sound.
- Gently slide the opening pick along the top edge of the device, being careful to stop just shy of the front camera. You're doing great—keep it steady!
Step 13
- Gently pull the pick until just the tip is snugly between the digitizer and the frame.
- Slide the pick right above the front camera to gently separate the adhesive.
- Keep the pick close to the right side of the front camera before moving on to the next step.
Step 14
- Slide the pick back in and glide it over to the top-right corner to fully break through the stubborn adhesive.
- Keep the pick wedged in the top-right corner so the adhesive doesn’t sneak back together.
Step 15
- Warm up your iOpener and gently press it to the right edge of your device for a solid two minutes. This will help loosen things up so you can get down to business!
Tools Used
Step 16
- Gently twist the pick around the top-right corner to break through that stubborn adhesive.
Step 17
The display cables hang out about halfway up from the bottom of your iPad. Time to hit the brakes when you're about three inches from the bottom—safety first!
- Pop a new opening pick in and glide it to the center of the iPad's right edge.
Step 18
- Warm up that iOpener and give it a cozy two-minute hug on the bottom edge of your device.
Tools Used
Step 19
Avoid spinning the pick all the way around the corner to keep the antenna safe and sound.
- Gently slide that bottom-left pick over to the corner like you’re giving it a little nudge to help it out of its sticky situation.
- Once it's snug in the corner, let it chill there while you gear up for the next step!
Step 20
Keep that pick sliding towards the home button and steer clear of the other direction! We wouldn't want you to accidentally give the antenna a little love tap and cause some trouble.
If you need to slide the pick across this area again, just take it out and re-insert it from the bottom-left corner. Easy fix!
- Pop in a shiny new opening pick right into the little gap you just made at the bottom edge of your iPad.
- Gently glide that pick over the antenna, stopping just shy of the home button. You got this!
- Leave the pick resting to the left of the home button before moving on to the next step.
Step 21
Be super careful and only slide that pick in about 1 mm to keep the right antenna safe and sound!
- Gently slide an opening pick into the tiny gap you just made. You're on the right track!
- Carefully maneuver the pick underneath the home button and glide it towards the bottom-right corner, ensuring that just the tip is nestled between the digitizer and the frame. You’ve got this!
Step 22
Slide the pick gently toward the home button—going the other way might mess up the antenna, and we definitely don’t want that!
If you find yourself needing to slide the pick over this part again, just pull it out and pop it back in at the bottom-right corner to keep things moving smoothly.
- Pop that pick back in and give it a gentle slide towards the home button to fully break free the bottom adhesive. You're almost there!
- Once you've got it in place, just leave the pick hanging out to the right of the home button before moving on to the next step. You've got this!
Step 23
- Warm up an iOpener and press it against the right edge of your device for a solid two minutes. Let that heat work its magic!
Tools Used
Step 24
Take it easy with this step! Make sure the adhesive is nice and warm, and take your time to gently separate all the adhesive with a pick. If things get tricky, don’t hesitate to pause and give it another heat-up!
If it feels like a stubborn dance partner, warm up the edges again and gently slide your opening pick along them.
- Gently twist those two opening picks at the left corners of your iPad to lift the digitizer just a bit, helping to break free the last remnants of adhesive along the way. You've got this!
Step 25
- Gently lift the left edge of the digitizer upward to loosen the adhesive along the right side of the iPad a bit more.
Step 26
- Keep the digitizer steady while you carefully slide an opening pick between the two display cables to gently separate the last bit of adhesive holding them together.
Step 27
- Once you've peeled away all the sticky stuff, it's time to open the digitizer like a charming little book and lay it down next to the iPad, all cozy-like.
- When you're putting everything back together, give that frame a good scrub to remove any leftover adhesive—and don’t forget to freshen up the digitizer if you're using it again—with some isopropyl alcohol. Swap out the old adhesive for our nifty adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive cards.
- Keep an eye on those display cables while you're reassembling the device! Make sure they’re tucked away nicely beneath the LCD screen to keep them safe and sound.
Step 28
- Peel away any tape that’s hiding those sneaky LCD screws.
Step 29
- Unscrew the Phillips screws holding the LCD in place.
- Three screws that are 4.0 mm long
- One screw that’s 4.8 mm long
Step 30
Hey there! Just a quick reminder: don’t try to yank that LCD off completely. It's still hanging out with a few cables at the home button end. So, lift gently from the front-facing camera side.
Be careful and keep an eye on those LCD cables while you flip the display. We want to keep everything cozy!
Gently place the LCD on a soft, clean, lint-free surface to keep it safe and sound.
- Gently use the flat end of a spudger to nudge the LCD out of its cozy spot just enough so you can grab it with your fingers.
- Now, flip that iPad LCD like you’re turning the pages of your favorite book, lifting it near the camera and rotating it over the home button end of the back case.
- Once it’s flipped, lay the LCD face down to give yourself easy access to those display cables.
Tools Used
Step 31
Handle the battery blocker with care—those battery contacts are delicate and a little slip can cause permanent damage. Stay sharp!
To keep short circuits at bay, consider slipping in a battery blocker or a handy modified opening pick to disconnect that battery.
If the battery blocker is playing hard to get under the logic board, a trusty playing card might just do the trick to help you disconnect the battery.
- Take out the lone 2.3 mm Phillips screw that’s holding the battery connector down onto the logic board.
- Slide the battery blocker right under the battery connector area on the logic board, and leave it there while you continue working.
Tools Used
Step 32
- Take out those three 1.4 mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket and let’s keep things moving!
Step 33
Be careful when working with the display cable connector, as it's snugly stuck to the bottom of the bracket. Avoid shoving the spudger too deep under there, or you might accidentally harm the connector. Keep it gentle and steady!
- Gently slide the flat end of your trusty spudger in there and pop that display cable bracket right up from the logic board. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 34
- To put your device back together, just follow these steps in reverse. You’ve got this! And if things get tricky, remember you can always schedule a repair with us.
