Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation Screen/Display Touch Panel Replacement

Written By: Micah Smart

Comments: 26

Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation Screen/Display Touch Panel Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

15 - 20 minutes

Introduction

Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite 3rd Generation possesses a six inch, 300 PPI display. This guide requires that the Kindle is turned off, and that a plastic opening tool, angled precision tweezers, and a PH000 screwdriver are used.

Tools

Parts

Kindle Paperwhite (3rd Gen) LCD and Digitizer

Step 1

Ensure that the device is turned off before beginning.
Gently pry the bezel off the screen using a plastic opening tool. Start at the corners and slide around the edges until you return to your starting point.
Be careful if using the metal spudger, as it can scratch the surface of the Kindle.

Be very careful along the lower left side, where the cable to the touchscreen can be easily cut with a plastic spudger.

John Kenny - 18/04/17

Be careful at the top of the 3G version. The wifi and cell antennas are located along here.

James Sullivan - 20/01/20

I can’t get my spudger in to start lifting. Any advice?

Davey - 05/06/20

it takes a bit of force to first insert the spudger into the crack

jookieapc - 01/08/20

Be careful inserting the spudger too quickly. The glue holding the screen pulled loose in two spots along the side before the bezel did and there are lines along the border of my screen now.

Nick -

I made my own version of Nick’s error: I inserted a pick too far under the bezel, and very slightly separated the screen, leaving a small shadow in a corner. Easy does it!

Other than that, battery replacement was super-easy and successful.

Brad Compton -

I couldn't get a purchase from the outside, so started from the inside of the bezel. It was secured with double sided tape. Might have been better to apply some heat before prying.

David Glover -

Step 2

Use extreme caution when prying up the bezel. Be careful not to allow your pry tool to fall underneath the display. Look under the cover as you work, separating the display from the adhesive of the bezel.
You want to make sure your separator goes through both sides of the bezel over top of the display.
The second photo is the layer you want your tool to pass through safely.
The third photo is an example of what can go wrong. If this happens your digitizer layer will misread touches and the display is permanently damaged.

Step 3

Unscrew the eleven 3.2 mm Phillips #000 screws surrounding the frame.

I have a 3rd Gen Paperwhite and there are only 10 screws. 5 along each side

jookieapc - 01/08/20

Mine had 11, as per the instructions, one of which was hidden under tape. I cut an opening in it.

David Glover -

Step 4

Gently lift the mid-frame out of the case with your hands.
Lift the side opposite of the power button out first.

I had trouble removing it. It was stuck and I managed only to free it with force. Now I have to fix the button..

LGenie -

Step 5

Unscrew the three 3.0 mm Phillips #000 screws that are securing the battery.

Step 6

Gently lift the battery from the frame.

We had a Kindle that unfortunately took a dunk in (clean) water. It was then inoperative. I followed this guide, and took the battery out, let everything dry for a few days, then replaced the battery. Now it works fine! Thanks!

Frank Demarest - 24/11/17

Step 7

Flip the black latch with a plastic opening tool, and then gently pull back the orange ribbon cable.

Step 8

Flip the tiny off-white latch with angled precision tweezers toward the direction of the battery.
Gently peel back the orange ribbon cable.

Step 9

Peel back the orange ribbon cable near the battery.
Flip the tiny black latch with angled precision tweezers toward the closest edge of the device.

Step 10

Peel back the white connector with your fingers.

Step 11

Unscrew the six 3.0 mm Phillips #000 screws surrounding the motherboard.
Unscrew the one 2.5 mm Phillips #000 screw.
There is a little metal plate underneath the 2.5 mm screw and washers under four of the 3.0 mm screws.

Step 12

Use a plastic opening tool to lift the motherboard upwards from the frame.

Step 13

The touchscreen is attached to the rest of the frame. Purchasing a new frame will require reattaching the motherboard and the battery.

Conclusion

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

Author

Micah Smart

Member since: 10/02/16

3116 Reputation

15 comments

hi there thank youfor your helping tutorial.

i just bought some used Kindle in order to buy at my shop. but i have a problem with some Kindle that i disassembled in order to have some spare parts and especially with the screen.

even after removing the screen it will stay frozen, even if i change the motherboard with a new one it will stay on the last screen shown.

Might you give me any explanation about the issue? and is that a way to reset the screen in order to use it as spare parts for other kindles?

charbel - 21/08/17

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Thanks to it I was able to replace a (physically) broken display. I un-assembled the entire device, let it rest until the shipment from China arrived and re-assembled it. It works flawlessly again and looks like new. One word of caution, though: The new display came without frame and removing the old display from the frame (both are pretty tightly glued together) resulted in quite some patient work and many pieces of broken glass (even with having it all heated). Anyway it worked out like a charm at the end!

Uwe Ritter - 26/10/17

Hello, where I can but a replacement screen for Kindle Paperwhite 300 ppi?? Thanks!!

Andres Barrera - 30/10/17

For anyone curious, the panel number for the PW3 is ED060KD1. You can use this to look it up on eBay etc.

Joshua Rong Xing Ong - 22/12/17

Do you have to take the broken screen out of the frame and then put the new one in? Is it difficult?

Chris - 07/02/19

Hello! Thanks for the tutorial.my kindle screen is broken. Also the screen lights up every 3 seconds and then gets dark again. It could be some kind of bootloop because the device wont stop, even if I press the power button for a long time. Does anyone know if the device will work again after I change the display? I dont know if there is something more broken. The kindle was damage by pressure. Thanks for your help!

Joscha B - 14/03/18

Hi. I have the problem of removing the screen from the metal frame too. Do you have any advise for that?

Thank you.

Michele - 21/03/18

Go Bulls!!!!!

Jason Stewart - 09/05/18

where can I buy a replacement screen for this

Joel Simpson - 24/05/18

ebay search ED060KD1

Webber Lai - 07/08/18

I would like to know if the screen of my kindle amazon, with reference ED060KD1 C2-YA

It is compatible with any screen ED060KD1 C1, C4, etc.

Thank you very much and greetings.

vert273 - 15/09/18

Thank you for this guide, it was very helpful. I replaced a broken screen. I disassembled the unit to be able to see the model # of the screen before ordering a new one on eBay. The replacement screens on eBay did not come glued in to a tray so I needed to peel off the old one. I also had to be careful when buying a replacement because the cheapest screens did not some with backlight or touch!

Nigel Maynard - 24/08/19

Is compatible with paperwhite 2?

Mariano Politano - 15/10/20

would doing this fix dead touch in most of the screen?

leymons123 -