iPad Mini 6 Speaker Assembly Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

iPad Mini 6 Speaker Assembly Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace one or both speakers in your iPad mini 6.

You'll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.

Tools

Step 1

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad's display until the whole face is covered.
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.

Step 2

Completely power off your device before you begin.
Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.

Step 3

While you're waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following:
The areas at the top and bottom of the screen are sensitive to prying.
Don't insert a pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the screen.
There's a long circuit board attached to the screen that sits parallel to the left edge.
Don't insert a pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
The first two images are mirrored for demonstration purposes.

Step 4

Once the screen is warm to touch, apply a suction handle to the bottom 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 screen and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap between the frame and the screen.
Don't insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 5

Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the device towards the bottom-right corner.
Leave the pick in to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 6

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.

Step 7

Rotate the opening pick around the bottom-right corner of the device.

Step 8

Repeat the heating, slicing, and leaving opening picks for the remaining edges of the device.
When you slice near the front camera, don't insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.

Step 9

If there's still resistance around the edges of the screen, use an opening pick to cut the adhesive again.
Don't try to remove the screen all the way yet; it's still connected to the frame by a flex cable.
With the bottom of the device facing you, pull the right edge of the screen up and towards the left edge of the device.
Rest the screen upside down and parallel to the frame before continuing.
Don't twist the screen or move it too far away from the frame to avoid damaging the flex cable.

Step 10

Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the five 1.2 mm-long screws securing the frame bracket to the frame.

Step 11

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the display cable bracket from the frame.

Step 12

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable's two press connectors secured to the frame.

Step 13

Remove the screen from the frame.

Step 14

The the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery's press connector secured to the frame.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 15

If you're replacing a specific speaker, use the links below to skip to the corresponding steps:
Top speaker
Bottom speaker

Step 16

The next 11 steps will show how to remove the top speaker.
Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the two 1.2 mm screws securing the front camera shield to the frame.

Step 17

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the front camera shield.

Step 18

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the volume button board's press connector secured to the frame.

Step 19

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to peel back the volume button board's cable from the top speaker.

Step 20

Use the point of spudger to pry up and disconnect the top speaker's cable.
Be very careful when performing this step; apply equal force to both cords to prevent any damage to the connector.

Step 21

The top speaker's cable is lightly adhered to the frame.
Gently peel back the cable to separate it from the frame.

Step 22

Apply a heated iOpener to the top-left edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the top speaker's adhesive.

Step 23

While you're waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following:
Adhesive is located around the perimeter of the speaker.
Insert a pick 2 mm to separate this adhesive.
Adhesive is also located in the center of the speaker.
Insert a pick 7 mm to separate this adhesive.

Step 24

Insert an opening pick between the top speaker and the frame.
Insert the pick at least 7 mm to separate the center adhesive.

Step 25

Slice along the perimeter of the top speaker to separate the adhesive.

Step 26

At this point, the perimeter of the speaker should be separated from the frame. If there's still resistance around the edges of the speaker, use an opening pick to cut the adhesive again.
Pry up with the opening pick to completely separate the top speaker from the frame.
Remove the top speaker.

Step 27

The next six steps will show how to remove the bottom speaker.
Use the point of spudger to pry up and disconnect the bottom speaker's cable.
Be very careful when performing this step; apply equal force to both cords to prevent any damage to the connector.

Step 28

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom-left edge of the device to loosen the bottom speaker's adhesive.

Step 29

While you're waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following:
Adhesive is located around the perimeter of the speaker.
Insert a pick 2 mm to separate this adhesive.
Adhesive is also located in the center of the speaker.
Insert a pick 9 mm to separate this adhesive.

Step 30

Insert an opening pick between the bottom speaker and the frame.
Insert the pick at least 9 mm to separate the center adhesive.

Step 31

Slice along the perimeter of the bottom speaker to separate the adhesive.

Step 32

At this point, the perimeter of the speaker should be separated from the frame. If there's still resistance around the edges of the speaker, use an opening pick to cut the adhesive again.
Pry up with the opening pick to completely separate the bottom speaker from the frame.
Remove the bottom speaker.

Conclusion

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

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPad mini 6 Answers community for help.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

117875 Reputation

iPad Mini 6 Speaker Assembly Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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