iPad 8 LTE Button Control Cable Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

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iPad 8 LTE Button Control Cable Replacement

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

1 - 3 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the button control cable in your iPad 8 LTE.

Note: this guide is for the LTE version only. For the Wi-Fi version, click here.

The button control cable has the lock button and volume buttons integrated within it. You’ll need to replace the entire cable if any of those buttons are malfunctioning.

Be very careful when you isolate the battery using a battery blocker. The battery contacts are easily bent or broken, resulting in irreversible damage. If you choose to complete the guide without isolating the battery, avoid using metal tools except when completely necessary (like when removing screws) to prevent shorting the battery and damaging sensitive circuit components.

Some photos in this guide are from a different model and may contain slight visual discrepancies, but they won't affect the guide procedure.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the device for two minutes.

Step 2

While you're waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following areas that are sensitive to prying:
Front camera
Antennas
Display cables

Step 3

The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
Place an object under your iPad so it rests level between the suction cups.
Position the suction cups near the middle of the left edge—one on the top, and one on the bottom.
Hold the bottom of the Anti-Clamp steady and firmly press down on the top cup to apply suction.
If you find that the surface of your iPad is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, use tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 4

Pull the blue handle forward to lock the arms.
Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

Step 5

Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
If your screen isn't getting hot enough, you can use a hair dryer to heat along the left edge of the iPad.
For complete instructions on how to use a hair dryer, check out this guide.
Insert an opening pick under the digitizer when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.
Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next step.

Step 6

If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.
Once the screen is warm to touch, apply a suction handle to the left edge of the screen and as close to the edge as possible.
Lift the screen with the suction handle to create a small gap between the digitizer and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap between the digitizer and the frame.

Step 7

Insert a second opening pick into the gap you just created.
Slide the pick toward the bottom-left corner of the device to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick in the bottom-left corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.
Don't worry if you can see the opening pick through the digitizer—just pull the pick out. The LCD screen shouldn't be damaged, but you risk leaving behind hard-to-clean adhesive.

Step 8

If the opening pick gets stuck in the adhesive, "roll" the pick along the side of the iPad to continue separating the adhesive.

Step 9

Slide the first opening pick towards the top-left corner of the device to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick in the top-left corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 10

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

Step 11

Rotate the pick around the top-left corner of the device to separate the adhesive.

Step 12

Slide the opening pick along the top edge of the device, stopping just before you reach the front camera.
Avoid sliding the pick over the front camera, as you may damage the lens. The following steps will show how to prevent this.

Step 13

Pull the pick out until only the tip is between the digitizer and the frame.
Slide the pick above the front camera to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick near the right side of the front camera before continuing.

Step 14

Re-insert the pick and slide it towards the top-right corner of the device to completely separate the top adhesive.
Leave the pick in the top-right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 15

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the device for two minutes.

Step 16

Rotate the pick around the top-right corner of the device to separate the adhesive.

Step 17

Insert a new opening pick and slide it to the middle of the iPad's right edge.
The display cables are located approximately halfway from the bottom of the iPad. Stop sliding once you reach three inches from the bottom of the iPad.

Step 18

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the device for two minutes.

Step 19

Slide the bottom-left pick to the bottom-left corner to separate the adhesive.
Don't fully rotate the pick around the corner, as you may damage the antenna.
Leave the pick in the corner before moving to the next step.

Step 20

Insert a new opening pick into the gap you just created on the bottom edge of the iPad.
Slide the pick over the antenna, stopping just before the home button.
Only slide the pick towards the home button and not away from it, as you may damage the antenna.
If you need to slide the pick over this section again, remove and re-insert it at the bottom-left corner.
Leave the pick to the left of the home button before continuing.

Step 21

Insert an opening pick into the gap you just created.
Slide the pick underneath the home button and towards the bottom-right corner, making sure only the tip is between the digitizer and the frame.
Only insert the pick up to 1 mm to avoid damaging the right antenna.

Step 22

Re-insert the pick and slide it towards the home button to completely separate the bottom adhesive.
Only slide the pick towards the home button and not away from it, as you may damage the antenna.
If you need to slide the pick over this section again, remove and re-insert it at the bottom-right corner.
Leave the pick to the right of the home button before continuing.

Step 23

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the device for two minutes.

Step 24

Be very careful with this step. Take your time, ensure the adhesive is hot and soft, and make sure you separated all of the adhesive with a pick. Don't be afraid to stop and reheat.
Twist the two opening picks on the left corners of the iPad to lift the digitizer slightly, separating the the last of the adhesive in the process.
If there's a significant amount of resistance, reheat the edges and work along them with an opening pick.

Step 25

Lift the left edge of the digitizer upwards to further separate the adhesive along the right edge of the iPad.

Step 26

While supporting the digitizer, slide an opening pick between the two display cables to separate the last of the adhesive.

Step 27

Once all of the adhesive has been separated, open the digitizer like a book and rest it parallel to the iPad.
During reassembly, clean the remaining adhesive from the frame—and the digitizer if you're re-using it—with isopropyl alcohol. Replace the adhesive with our adhesive strips or pre-cut adhesive cards.
Be mindful of the display cables when reassembling the device. Make sure they are folded properly underneath the LCD screen to prevent any damage.

Step 28

Use a pair of tweezers to peel off the tape covering the home button cable ZIF connector.

Step 29

Use a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the home button cable ZIF connector.

Step 30

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the home button ribbon cable straight out of the ZIF connector.

Step 31

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the two digitizer cable press connectors.
To avoid damaging your iPad, pry only on the connectors themselves, not on the socket on the logic board.

Step 32

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the vibration isolator below the SIM card reader.
Take care not to puncture or tear the home button ribbon cable.
Remove the vibration isolator.

Step 33

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the home button cable away from the rear case.
The cable is secured with some light adhesive.

Step 34

Remove the front panel assembly.
Use an opening pick to cut away any residual adhesive that may still be connecting the front panel assembly to the frame.
If you experience "ghost" or "phantom" touch input issues with your new display, this can be resolved by adding a layer of very thin insulating tape, such as Kapton (polyimide) tape, to the highlighted areas on the back of the panel. iFixit replacement digitizers come with the proper insulation and should not require the addition of any tape.
Without the proper insulation, these areas of the digitizer can ground out against other components, causing touch input malfunction.
The insulation is not visible to the naked eye and is different from the foam dust barrier strips found on many iPads.
During reassembly, before installing a display, remove any remaining adhesive from the iPad, and clean the glued areas with high concentration isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater) and a lint-free cloth. This helps prep the iPad for fresh adhesive and ensures that it will bond properly.
Test your iPad's functions and install pre-cut adhesive strips to the back of the display using our display adhesive application guide before sealing it up.

Step 35

Use a pair of tweezers to peel off the tape covering the home button cable ZIF connector.

Step 36

Use a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the home button cable ZIF connector.

Step 37

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the home button ribbon cable straight out of the ZIF connector.

Step 38

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the two digitizer cable press connectors.
To avoid damaging your iPad, pry only on the connectors themselves, not on the socket on the logic board.

Step 39

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the vibration isolator below the SIM card reader.
Take care not to puncture or tear the home button ribbon cable.
Remove the vibration isolator.

Step 40

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the home button cable away from the rear case.
The cable is secured with some light adhesive.

Step 41

Remove the front panel assembly.
Use an opening pick to cut away any residual adhesive that may still be connecting the front panel assembly to the frame.
If you experience "ghost" or "phantom" touch input issues with your new display, this can be resolved by adding a layer of very thin insulating tape, such as Kapton (polyimide) tape, to the highlighted areas on the back of the panel. iFixit replacement digitizers come with the proper insulation and should not require the addition of any tape.
Without the proper insulation, these areas of the digitizer can ground out against other components, causing touch input malfunction.
The insulation is not visible to the naked eye and is different from the foam dust barrier strips found on many iPads.
During reassembly, before installing a display, remove any remaining adhesive from the iPad, and clean the glued areas with high concentration isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater) and a lint-free cloth. This helps prep the iPad for fresh adhesive and ensures that it will bond properly.
Test your iPad's functions and install pre-cut adhesive strips to the back of the display using our display adhesive application guide before sealing it up.

Step 42

Carefully peel the LCD buffer tape up off of the upper component bracket.

Step 43

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five screws securing the upper component bracket:
Three 1.4 mm-long screws
Two 1.9 mm-long screws

Step 44

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the upper component bracket until you can grip it with your fingers.
Remove the upper component bracket.
You may need to peel the upper component bracket off of some tape securing it to the logic board.

Step 45

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the rear camera press connector.

Step 46

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top-left edge of the iPad's rear for thirty seconds to loosen the rear camera adhesive.

Step 47

Use an opening tool to pry the rear camera out of the rear case.

Step 48

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the rear camera.

Step 49

Peel off any tape covering the button control cable ZIF connector.

Step 50

Use the tip of a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the button control cable ZIF connector.

Step 51

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully pull the button control cable straight out of the ZIF connector.

Step 52

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 2.3 mm-long screws securing the volume button bracket to the rear case.

Step 53

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 2.3 mm-long screws securing the lock button bracket.

Step 54

Insert the point of a spudger between the rear case and the bottom of the volume button bracket to dislodge it.
Remove the volume button bracket.

Step 55

Use the flat end of a spudger to push the volume buttons out of their slots in the rear case.

Step 56

Insert an opening pick between the button control cable and the rear case.
Slide the opening pick up toward the lock button to cut the adhesive securing the button control cable to the rear case.

Step 57

Remove the button control cable.
The lock button will become loose once the button control cable is removed.
Upon reassembly, remember to set the lock button back into the its slot.

Step 58

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the button control cable for thirty seconds.

Step 59

Use a pair of tweezers to grip the upper volume button.
Insert an opening pick between the volume control cable and the upper volume button.
Peel the volume control cable off of the upper volume button.

Step 60

Repeat the same process to peel the volume control cable off of the lower volume button.

Step 61

Use a pair of tweezers to grip the lock button bracket.
Insert a halberd spudger or opening pick between the lock button bracket and the button control cable.
Peel the button control cable up and off of the pegs on the lock button bracket.
Upon reassembly, apply Tesa tape to reattach the volume buttons and lock button bracket to the button control cable.