iPad Pro 11" LiDAR Sensor Assembly Replacement

Written By: Chayton Ritter

Comments: 11

iPad Pro 11" LiDAR Sensor Assembly Replacement

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

This is a prerequisite-only guide! This guide is part of another procedure and is not meant to be used alone.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

The LiDAR sensor assembly is paired to the Face ID hardware. You'll need to transfer it to your replacement screen to keep Face ID functionality. The following steps show how to remove the sensor assembly and install it on your replacement screen.
The LiDAR sensor assembly is composed of four total sensors:
Two ambient light sensors
One proximity sensor
One microphone
You'll need to separate each sensor from the screen before removing the entire assembly.

I broke off the right most ambient light sensor. How much trouble am I in?

imurfathersimba -

why is this photo inverted?

Ved Mo -

This photo is flipped. The microphone is on the side furthest from the silver brace held on with two screws. Microphone can also be identified by the angled cable. The ambient light sensor has a thicker, straight cable.

nclee -

Step 2

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top of the screen for two minutes.

Step 3

Insert one arm of your angled tweezers between the ambient light sensor and the screen.
You can also use a precision knife, but be careful not to damage the ribbon cable.
Pry up to separate the sensor from the screen.
This might take significant force.
Repeat this procedure for the other ambient light sensor.

The ambient light sensor system is constructed with a few component parts arranged in layers starting with its connection cable down to the last part that is attached to the glass.

It is not super clear from the photos/instructions between which layers we need to pry to separate the sensor from the part that touches the glass. I'd like to see a straight on view of the exposed layer.

I think I ended up separating the ambient light sensors incorrectly; my exposed sensor layers don't look the same as those you see of the stock part for sale on this site. Those have that layer with the small circle, but the instruction photos here show that layer left attached to the glass.

My FaceID doesn't work and I suspect it may be because of this mistake I made.

Chong Lee Khoo -

Yes, the diffuser was a black film layer with a white milky circle.

We broke one of the sensors off from the cable, and ended up just having one working ambient light sensor.

FaceID however continued to work with that one sensor in the end.

quak -

Following the guide instructions left the diffuser layer of the ambient light sensor adhered to the screen. The use of an Exacto knife with a straight 6mm perpendicular blade, was used to separate this layer from the screen. All of the other sensors were separated successfully with the use of the Exacto knife.

Dools -

Thank you for that hint! A carefully applied Exacto knife worked much better than the original recommendation, for all of the sensors!

quak -

Step 4

Insert one arm of your angled tweezers between the proximity sensor cable and the screen.
Slide the tweezers toward the screen while prying to separate the sensor from the screen.
This might take significant force and multiple iOpener heating cycles.

Step 5

Peel off any tape covering the microphone.
Set the tape aside. You'll use it during reassembly.

Any hints on re-applying the tape? It didn't stick anymore properly.

quak -

Step 6

Slide an opening tool under the microphone to separate its adhesive.
Pry up to separate the microphone from the screen.

Step 7

Slide an opening pick under the LiDAR sensor assembly cable to separate it from the screen.

Step 8

Continue sliding your opening pick under the LiDAR sensor assembly until it's completely separated from the screen.
Remove the LiDAR sensor assembly.

Step 9

During reassembly, you'll have to perform the following:
Align the LiDAR sensor assembly on your replacement screen.
Use Tesa tape, or similar double-sided tape, to secure the cables to the screen.
Use E6000 adhesive, or similar adhesive, to secure the sensors to their cutouts on the screen.
Only apply adhesive to the edges of the sensors. Placing adhesive on the front will break them.

Applying the E6000 was very cumbersome, as the cable was quite springy and lifted up the sensors. We needed to weigh the sensors down for some hours to really have them stick.

quak -

E6000 adhesives are not mentioned in the materials list at the top, I believe this should be included.

Tijmen -

The iFixit screen Fix Kit does not come with E6000 adhesive.

nclee -