iPad Mini CDMA LCD Assembly Replacement

Written By: Andrew Optimus Goldheart
  • Comments: 22
iPad Mini CDMA LCD Assembly Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

17

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Preeq to flip the LCD over and expose shield.

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    • Small pieces of foam tape cover the top and bottom right-hand screws securing the LCD to the rear case.

    • Use tweezers to peel up and remove the rectangular piece of foam tape covering the top right LCD screw.

    • Remove the triangular tape covering the lower right LCD screw.

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    • The top left LCD screw may be covered by adhesive tape from the front panel.

    • If the tape is present, use the flat end of a spudger to pry the tape up and away, exposing the LCD screw beneath.

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    • Remove the four 3.9 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the LCD to the rear case.

    In my case the 4 screws are not the same. One is 4mm, and 3 of 3.5mm, or better 2 x 3.5mm and one 3.45mm. I put the longest one at the left edge at left of the LCD flat cable.

    mitja

    Mitja Jankovic -

    Hi Mitja. I just checked the measurements with an electronic digital caliper. I got 3.9 mm for all four screws. Are you sure it was the same model? Thanks.

    Walter Galan -

    The top left screw is longer than the other 3 - iPad mini Retina Wi-Fi.

    sandro -

    On mine the top right screw is longer

    oliver -

    top right is longer on an ipad mini 2 retina wifi 32GB

    sagert -

    ipad mini wifi no screws are longer

    iliketrains kid -

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    • Use a pair of tweezers to peel up the small piece of tape connecting the LCD frame to the right speaker.

    I wonder what does this sticker stands for…

    K8L -

    what sticker?

    iliketrains kid -

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    • A thin strip of foam tape on the LCD frame is covering a piece of tape connecting the LCD to the panel beneath it. To proceed, you'll have to break and peel up some of the foam tape to expose the tape hidden beneath.

    • Use a pair of thin tweezers to pull up the top of the foam tape surrounding the LCD.

    • Be careful not to touch the LCD with the tweezers, as you may damage the display.

    • Use the tweezers to peel the foam tape up to expose the top of the LCD.

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    • Insert the tip of a spudger between the LCD frame and the tape on the top of the LCD.

    • Slide the spudger along the space between the LCD frame and tape, separating the tape from the LCD frame.

    I finished a successful replacement of my screen following these instructions. Thanks.

    Step 36 (remove tape from LCD perimeter), however, seems unnecessary. I ended up spending a lot of time separating the tape from the LCD frame only to discover it was not necessary for steps 37-44 and actually made things really difficult for step 45-46 (removing the tape near the speakers). Finally, steps 45-46 can be skipped since it is much easier to remove this tape once you flip the LCD over (Step 55).

    Kenneth Snyder -

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    • The LCD is glued to the metal LCD shield plate behind it along the top, left, and right edges. In order to safely loosen this adhesive, you'll be using a guitar pick to shift the LCD a couple of millimeters left and right several times.

    • Insert a guitar pick into the gap between the LCD and rear case, near the top of the left side of the LCD.

    • Bend the pick slightly away from the iPad, just enough to spread the gap between the LCD and rear case.

    I found a very simple method for removing the LCD from the metal shield. Slightly lift one of the top corners and insert a 1' piece of fishing line. Insert the line under the other top corner placing the length between the LCD and shield. Once in place, gently pull each end toward the bottom of the LCD breaking the adhesive as you go. This will make things much easier than using the picks and possibly breaking the LCD.

    bababooey -

    The fishing line trick is amazing… although i had already broken the LCD when i saw that comment. Good Learn!

    Brandon Lukasik -

    This step is what destroys my LCDs :(

    Dan Harris -

    Just destroyed my LCD as well. A red warning remarking is missing here! The LCD assembly is very fragile an cannot be bent, even slightly!!

    brauliox -

    I have broken about 10 of the 50 or so iPad minis that I have repaired. I always try to have a LCD on hand. I’ll have to try the fishing line trick!

    northstar -

    I also recommend doing step 45 first (removing the two pieces of foam tape at the bottom).

    northstar -

    I was able to do this the first time w/out damaging the LCD simply by following the instructions to the letter, slowly and carefully. The only thing I did differently was to follow Northstar’s instructions to remove the two pieces of tape at the bottom of the LCD before beginning.

    Jenny Lawson -

    I found a good way to remove the LCD without breaking it. Once you finish to clean up around the LCD just lift a bit one of the white metal backing plate and insert in the gap a plastified playing card under le LCD and slowly make your way to the center of the LCD. Repeat on the other side and the LCD will lift up intact.

    lemerise -

    nothing Brocken after

    (I did not read the comments before doing it lol)

    iliketrains kid -

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    • Insert the guitar pick into three more locations down the left side of the LCD and bend it over in each location, to slide the LCD over to the right side of the rear case.

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    • Now switch to the right side of the LCD, and pry with the guitar pick in several places along the side to shift the LCD back to the left.

    • Repeat this and the previous step a few times, until the LCD is easily moved left and right.

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    • In the next few steps, you'll be sliding a spudger between the LCD and the metal backing plate to fully separate the LCD from the adhesive beneath.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the LCD frame and the metal backing plate.

    • Be sure to get the spudger between the LCD frame and backing plate, and not beneath the plate. Prying up on the plate will damage it, because it is screwed down to the rear case beneath the LCD.

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    • Starting at the top right of the device, slide the spudger in between the LCD frame and metal backing plate, which will separate the adhesive as you push.

    • The goal is to separate the adhesive, not to pry the LCD up, so keep the pointed tip of the spudger as low as possible to prevent bending the LCD.

    • If inserting the spudger causes the corner of the LCD to bend up, repeat the steps with the guitar pick to further loosen the adhesive.

    These steps were hard. I was too scared that I was going to brake the LCD. Luckily I got it off! Don’t know how delicate these things are and how much force they can take.

    Padraic Hoselton -

    me to it was hard

    iliketrains kid -

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    • Repeat the previous procedure along the top of the LCD.

    • Insert the flat end of the spudger between the LCD frame and metal backing plate and gently push the spudger in across the top of the device, separating adhesive.

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    • Continue with the left side of the LCD: insert the flat end of the spudger between the LCD and shield plate and insert the spudger as far as it will go.

    • At this point the LCD should be loosened from the adhesive holding it. If it is not, re-insert the spudger on the right side or top to fully free the LCD.

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    • Lift the LCD up a couple inches from the rear case to ensure it's free from the adhesive.

    When I did it I found that the adhesive sticking was mainly on the edges, so if you take a spudger and just break that adhesive carefully it will help. Be gentle lifting the lcd as it’s very breakable.

    Jasper Holden -

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    • Two wide strips of tape connect the LCD to the speakers.

    • While holding the LCD with one hand, Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap between this tape and the left speaker.

    • Gently pull the LCD away from the speakers while rotating the spudger outward to separate the tape from the speaker.

    I recommend removing these two pieces of foam tape prior to loosening and lifting the LCD.

    northstar -

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    • Insert the flat end of the spudger into the gap between the right speaker and the LCD tape.

    • While pulling the LCD away from the speakers, rotate the spudger outward, widening the gap and releasing the tape from the speaker.

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    • Flip the LCD over and rest it on top of the front panel glass.

    • Do not attempt to remove the LCD from the iPad, as it is still connected by its data cable.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Andrew Optimus Goldheart

Member since: 17/10/09

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