iPad 7 Glass Digitizer Replacement

Written By: Mark D Schlossman
  • Comments: 2
iPad 7 Glass Digitizer Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

12

Time Required

25 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

This guide will walk you through replacing the glass digitizer on an iPad 7/8. The most difficult part of this repair is removing the original damaged glass of the screen. It is important to do so fully prior to placing a replacement screen to avoid an improper seal or damage to the new screen.

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    • Apply heat to the screen(along the red lines), my personal rule is that hot to the touch is the best level of heat in order to weaken the adhesive. (Although not too hot).

    • I prefer to use a heating pad to heat the screen enough in order to weaken the adhesive. You may also use a hair dryer and focus the heat onto the edges of the device in order to weaken the adhesive.

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    • Pry around the screen's edges as shown. Be careful of parts at the bottom, and under the screen, such as the home button, Wifi attachments, and GPS antennas.

    • The screen is connected by a ribbon cable about 1/3 of the way up the right edge. Take particular care at that point.

    • Depending on the nature of the crack in the screen it is likely that the screen will form glass shards. Be careful with your hands and wear gloves if possible.

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    • Lift and jiggle the digitizer from the top left.

    • The screen will swing open like a hinge on the ribbon cable on the right side of the screen.

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    • Prop-up the glass digitizer in order to have both hands free.

    • Unscrew the 4 PH000 screws from the four corners of the LCD screen.

    • Use a metal tool to gently pry up the LCD from the top left and right screw brackets.

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    • Lift the LCD screen from the top carefully.

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    • Unscrew the 1 PH000 screw from the battery connection.

    • Slide a plastic pick under the battery connection.

    • Unscrew the 3 PH000 screws from the display cable bracket.

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    • Disconnect the LCD ribbon cable.

    • Disconnect the digitizer's two ribbon cable connections.

    • Swing open the lock which holds the home button ribbon cable in place.

    • Disconnect the home button ribbon cable with the flat end of a plastic spudger, or gently slide it out of the connection port with tweezers.

    Wish there was a better picture of the lock mechanism for the home ribbon. I ended up pushing it with a spudger as illustrated by the green arrows and broke the swinging lock mechanism! The lock mechanism is tiny and swings back and forth! Don't push on it with a spudger, open it with tweezers!!! Not sure if I can properly secure the home button ribbon now. Sucks

    Christian Lee -

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    • Remove the cable from the iPad housing and keep the rubber covering over the home button cable.

    • It is now safe to remove the glass digitizer fully from the iPad housing.

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    • Use a heat gun or heating pad to heat up the home button for removal. A blow dryer may also work.

    • Lift the home button upwards pulling gently on the ribbon cable. Be careful to not damage the cable.

    • Gently pry off the metal home button bracket with a metal pry tool.

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    • With the home button and bracket removed, apply liquid adhesive around the new glass digitizer's home buttonhole.

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    • Place the home button down first, then place the metal bracket. Give the button some test clicks to insure it is mounted correctly and stable.

    • Prepare for testing, by reconnecting the home button and glass digitizer's ribbon cables in the same way they were disconnected in step 7.

    • Remove the plastic pick from the battery connector and replace the PH000 screw.

    • Replace the display cable bracket with its 3 PH000 screws.

    • Make sure you clean the edges before continuing. A Q-Tip with a very small amount of isopropanol can assist in this. Any debris in the digitizer groove can cause the digitizer to crack.

    • Remount the LCD using its 4 PH000 screws into the iPad housing.

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    • Lay the new digitizer into its groove.

    • Do not glue until the new digitizer and home button have been tested.

    • Power on the iPad and verify the device is working properly.

    • Lift the digitizer back up gently, ensure the LCD and inside pane of the digitizer are clean.

    • Run a small bead of glue along the edge of the digitizer groove on the iPad housing.

    • Relay the digitizer into its groove and gently clamp until the glue sets.

Conclusion

The replaced screen should function identically to the original prior to the damage.

Author

Mark D Schlossman

Member since: 25/09/19

5525 Reputation

One comment

Great guide! This applies to the iPad 8 identically.

Benjamin Klenklen -