iPod Nano 7th Generation Front Panel Assembly Replacement

Written By: Sam Goldheart

Comments: 9

iPod Nano 7th Generation Front Panel Assembly Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Tools

Step 1

Lay the iOpener over the plastic tab to loosen the adhesive. Let the bag sit on the device for approximately 90 seconds before attempting to open the panel.

Step 2

Use a plastic opening tool to pull the rear plastic cover away from the device until there is enough room to insert a spudger.
Insert a spudger under the cover, then pry it up and away from the device.
Remove the rear plastic cover from the iPod.
Be very careful in removing the plastic cover as the bluetooth antenna is adhered to it.

Too bad there is not a warning for bluetooth antenna damage... This guide led me to tearing my antenna.

trogfield - 15/06/15

still broke the antenna its very easy too

Bin Chicken -

Step 3

Gently bend the Bluetooth antenna to the right, out of the way of the screws in the bottom of the device.
Remove the single 1.4 mm Phillips #000 screw from the black plastic spacer.

Step 4

Use a plastic opening tool to remove the black plastic spacer from the Nano.

Step 5

Remove the two 2 mm Phillips #000 screws from the bottom of the case.

Step 6

Insert a plastic opening tool into the seam between the white plastic front panel and the rear case.
Slide the opening tool along the edge of the front panel to free it from clips and adhesive.

Step 7

Use a spudger to press the midframe screw tab up and out of the rear case.

I CAN NOT find this midframe screw tab.

Donald Fournier - 09/03/21

Step 8

Use a metal spudger to carefully pry near the Lightning connector and under all parts of the front panel assembly: the front glass/digitizer, the LCD display and the metal midframe.
The adhesive under the metal midframe/display assembly is quite strong and the components are fragile, so go slowly and gently. Make sure you do not bend the LCD screen.

This step is extremely difficult to do... How am I supposed to manage to lift the frame with the LCD screen without potentially causing damage to the LCD screen?

Uriel Melchor - 29/02/16

Yeah, I did run into a roadblock with that too, so I’ll have to find a heat gun (or iOpener) and see if I can use that to loosen the frame.

Kevin Bhasi - 24/08/18

Hello, My name is Michael , in this moment I destroyed one of the lines of the screen, because in this point every connector it is the right side , so I advice start for the another side , left up through right down side i think is the better way.

it is the shame for me.

Michael Lendian Castillo - 28/05/20

This is quite bad way to separate the display from the housing. Many people will destroy the touch panel ribbon or the LCD. It is far better way that you insert very thin(~0.5mm) plastic card (do not use metal tool) to the gap between the housing and the iron LCD mounter, and the do as written.

mamarama9904 -

Step 9

Continue prying along the edges under the front panel assembly, releasing the clips and adhesive along the sides of the device.

Step 10

Pull the front panel assembly slightly down and partially out of the device.
You only need to open the device enough to gain access to the display cable connectors near the sleep/power button.
Do not separate the two halves entirely, they are still connected by several cables.

STOP! DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS UNTIL AFTER STEP 14 IF YOU VALUE NOT SEVERING THE LCD CABLE! Just please, please be aware that the battery cable CANNOT be disconnected, be careful!

Colin Gubler - 18/07/20

Step 11

Use a spudger to release the digitizer cable and display data cable connectors.

Step 12

Gently unfold the two halves of the device to access the internal components.
Do not try to completely separate the two sections, yet, as they are still attached via a soldered cable.