Apple TV 4K 2021 Siri Remote Battery/Charging Port Replacement

Written By: Adriana Zwink

Comments: 21

Apple TV 4K 2021 Siri Remote Battery/Charging Port Replacement

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

40 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a worn-out or dead battery in your Apple TV 4K 2021 Siri Remote. The charging port and the battery of the Siri Remote are connected as one assembly.

Tools

Step 1

Use a P2 Pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 6.1 mm-long screws securing the bottom cover.
Remove the bottom aluminium cover.

These screws seem larger than a P2. My P2 keeps slipping on the screws.

prplecake -

The two screws are at a slight outwards angle. Also the iFixit screwdriver is a little too small for the screws. I had to file off the tip a bit to get a secure grip.

Bachsau -

Step 2

Insert an iFlex into the gap on the right side of the circular clickpad.
Insert the iFlex about 3 mm.
Use the iFlex to create a gap by prying the circular clickpad upwards.

Step 3

Insert an opening pick into the gap. Remove the iFlex after inserting the opening pick.
Slide the opening pick around the top half of the clickpad.
Avoid sliding the opening pick to the bottom half of the clickpad. A flex cable runs there!

Step 4

Lift the clickpad from the lower right side to access the press connector.
Use an opening pick to pry up the clickpad connector to disconnect it.
Remove the clickpad.

Why doesn't iFixit sell replacement clickpads? This component is the most likely to fail on these remotes, and it is one of the easier things to replace.

BitingChaos -

Step 5

Insert the iFlex into the gap on the right edge of the volume button.
Insert the iFlex about 3 mm.

Step 6

Use the iFlex to pry up the volume button to unhinge the plastic clips which keep the button in place.
Remove the volume button.

Step 7

Insert an angled probe into the housing to release the right plastic clip of the mute button.
Carefully push against the buttons clip from the inside.
Make sure that the probe doesn't hit any components on the mainboard and is inserted horizontally.

Getting the power button aligned when reassembling is very tough.

Tracey -

It's much easier to just use one's fingernails to pull the buttons out.

Bachsau -

Step 8

Insert the probe into the gap on the surface of the mute button.
Use the probe to pry up the mute button and unhinge the remaining plastic clips.
Remove the mute button

Step 9

Insert a probe into the case to release the right plastic clip of the play/pause button.
Gently press against the clip from the inside.
Make sure that the probe doesn't hit any components on the mainboard and is inserted horizontally.

Step 10

Insert the probe into the gap on the surface of the play/pause button.
Use the probe to pry up the play/pause button and unhinge the remaining plastic clips.
Remove the play/pause button.

Step 11

Insert the probe into the housing where the clickpad was previously to release the upper plastic clip of the back button.
Carefully press against the clip from the inside.
Make sure that the probe doesn't hit any components on the mainboard and is inserted horizontally.

Step 12

Insert the probe into the gap on the surface of the back button.
Use the probe to pry up the back button and unhinge the remaining plastic clips.
Remove the back button.

Step 13

Insert the probe into the inner housing where the clickpad used to be to release the upper plastic clip of the TV button.
Carefully press against the clip from the inside.
Make sure that the probe doesn't hit any components on the mainboard and is inserted horizontally.

Step 14

Insert the probe into the gap on the surface of the TV button.
Use the probe to pry up the TV button and unhinge the remaining plastic clips.
Remove the TV button.

Step 15

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the two 4.7 mm-long screws securing the Siri button on the right edge of the remote.

Those are T4 on my remote.

Jason Tertadian -

Step 16

Use the pointed end of a spudger or a pair of tweezers to lift the Siri button up and out of the remote.
Remove the Siri button.

Just leave it inside and slide it out with the main board. With the screws removed, it can be slid inwards far enough as to not be an obstacle.

Bachsau -

Step 17

Turn the remote upside down.
This will avoid the power button falling into the case and getting jammed.
Insert the flat end of a spudger into the charging port.
Don't worry! This won't damage the port.
Push the spudger in to slide the insides of the remote out about 1 inch (2.5 cm).
Don't try to push it all out yet! The power button needs to be removed first.

It's very hard to push out. Do NOT insert a spudger into the charging port, as it WILL damage the port. You might need to press it against a flat surface to even get it moving, which is not possible with the sharp tip of the spudger. I'd recommand a flat piece of wood or plastic to push against the full length of the tray instead of inserting something into the port. Also during sliding out and back in later, pay special attention to that knobs of aluminum around the clickpad. They are held in place only by adhesive tape and there's already one missing on the images of this guide. I had to replace one with a piece of plastic. They are exactly 1mm in height and 2mm in diameter.

Bachsau -

Step 18

Turn the remote back over and make sure that the recess of the inner frame aligns with the power button.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to press the power button into the recess of the inner frame (if it didn’t already fall in by itself).
Remove the power button.

Someone picked the power button off from the front and broke two of the four little black clips that hold the power button in place.

Where does one get a new power button, or maybe just the black plastic piece on the back?

Cuepawn -

I have the same problem! Power button fell out on a short drop to the hard floor. Help anyone!

Eric Pattengill -

When reassembling, don't try to put it back before sliding in the tray. Instead push it in from the top afterwards. Hook in the plastic piece on the right side first, then push it in.

Bachsau -

this would be helpful in the actual guide. I just destroyed my remote by trying to do it in reverse order as instructed.

Jason Tertadian -

Step 19

Pull the inner frame out of its aluminum housing.
There is a slight resistance when pulling out.

Step 20

Use a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the eight 4.7 mm-long screws securing the mainboard to the frame.
Don't try remove the mainboard all the way yet. It's still connected to the battery!

So. Anyone trying this: This is the remote with the lightning connector! (2021!) The guide is indeed properly labeled. Up till here all is fine and dandy. From this point forward things change for the USB-C remote... For this specific step: there are TWO (2) more screws, right smack in the middle of the board. Make sure to unscrew those before you start tugging on the board...

Raphael Ferreira -

Step 21

Turn over the frame.
Use an opening pick to lift up the small locking flap on the trackpad cable's ZIF connector.

If you, like me, was "smart enough" to pull on the white plastic tab BEFORE unlocking the flap, and completely tore the white/transparent flap off, unsuccessfully NOT detaching the cable by doing so.., don't despair. (Yet) After you lift up the locking flap, wiggle wiggle, gently, and the cable comes off easily. (The worse is YET to come...)

Raphael Ferreira -

Step 22

Lift the mainboard up and away from the battery to remove it.

Unless it is, read title, the 2021 remote, do NOT do this just yet. There is ONE more power cable running all the way from the battery to the middle of the board for the USB-C remote! And, guess what? Apple GLUES the connector, on BOTH sides. As if they soldered the connector to the socket, instead, it's two droplets of glue (Loctite?) Well, in my case, the reason I was tearing the thing apart was damage precisely in that connector. (So I found out.) Even if I had managed to break off the solid droplets of glue, remove the power cable, and then proceed to remove the board, it would have been no use. The cable attaches to three pins. The damage to my remote was liquid spilled over the remote. The water short-circuited precisely that connector, and one of the connecting pins was toast. It was stuck inside the connector and broke off of the board. And that was it for me. Well, at least it was fun! And good thing it's a less then $100 device... This was HARDER than replacing my HDD on my iMac 27" (Fusion Drive)!

Raphael Ferreira -

Step 23

The battery is held down by mild adhesive.
Insert an opening pick on either side of the battery and pry up to lift it away from its recess.
Make sure you push underneath the battery and not into it. Don't bend or deform the battery
Don't try to remove the battery all the way yet! The charging port is still entangled with the frame.

Step 24

Use the flat end of a spudger to shift the battery port assembly towards the bottom of the frame to free the metal clips holding it in place.

Step 25

Remove the battery and charging port assembly.

What is the replacement battery assembly part and where can I purchase it?

Martin Basil -

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for help.

Author

Adriana Zwink

Member since: 18/12/19

54794 Reputation

5 comments

FWIW, I don’t like having a “non-replacable” battery remote control. I idid find that my old AppleTV remote works with the new device, so if my battery ever dies I will just use my old remote with the button battery.

Phil -

Here here, heartily agree.

Brian Crawford -

And, remember: Push comes to shove, you can use your iPhone as a remote as well. Even the Apple Watch. Sortah. The AWU sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't. Works 10~ 20% of the time. You can definitely choose, say, a playlist, start playing from your watch to the AppleTV. Pausing and unpausing, sure. Now, l0hd fohbid you decide to try and control the volume... Or go back one song in the playlist... Or forward... Nope. No can do. But iPhone works "well". Not perfect, but OK.

Raphael Ferreira -

But where do I get a battery?

Robert V. (Polysculpture) -

Exactly where the &&^& do we buy the replacement battery

Kezza Z -