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iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement

What you need

  1. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement, Case: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Opening the case is a tough and potentially dangerous task. A good amount of force is required to wedge the plastic opening tool in between the case seams. The case may be damaged if this step is not done properly. Make sure not to hurt yourself while opening your iPod.

    • Insert the small plastic opening tool into the seam in between plastic display panel and the metal back panel. The angled edge should point towards the metal back panel.

    • Hold the tool in place once it is wedged inside and the two panels are separated.

  2. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • There are seven interlocking retaining clips on each side of the iPod. The large plastic opening tool will be used to separate the front panel from the metal back of the iPod.

    • Insert the large opening tool into the right side of the iPod, with the edge of the tool pointing towards the metal back.

    • Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the large opening tool and moving it to the right.

    • Continue doing so until the right side of the iPod is loose.

  3. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • Switch to the other side of the iPod.

    • Follow the same procedure as in the previous step to release the seven clips holding the panels in place.

    • Once the panels are separated on this side, the back panel can be separated from the rest of the iPod.

  4. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • Gently lift the rear panel using your fingers.

    • The front and back of the iPod should now be completely separated.

    • The gold antenna (third picture) can easily fall out from its housing. Make sure that the antenna is securely in place before closing the iPod.

  5. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement, Logic Board: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • The battery is glued to the iPod's display, but no screws hold it in place.

    • Flip the iPod 180 degrees so it matches the orientation in the picture.

    • Carefully insert the spudger in between the battery and the display. There are routing cables underneath, so make sure you slowly pry the battery loose.

  6. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Use a spudger (or your fingernails) to remove the gold antenna. The antenna bends easily, so make sure not to apply too much pressure. When re-assembling, put the gold antenna in place before inserting the antenna circuit boards.

    • Use the spudger to remove the connector on the left side.

    • Remove two Phillips screws.

  7. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • The antenna loop board needs to be pried up (it is glued down). Gently use a plastic opening tool or spudger, to dislodge the antenna loop board. The board is connected to the antenna electronics by a small ribbon cable. This two-board assembly is very frail.

    • The two small antenna circuit boards can now be lifted up together, and their orange cable can be peeled from the display.

  8. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Use the spudger to remove the black masking tape. This will reveal the top two screws in the picture.

    • Unscrew the four Phillips screws.

    • Use a spudger to disconnect the black connector.

    • Use a spudger to disconnect the black connector.

  9. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Use the spudger to loosen the logic board from multiple sides. It is held in place by glue and the four screws that were removed in the previous step.

  10. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3
    • Be careful when flipping up the logic board. The headphone jack and docking port are attached to the board.

    • Gently lift the logic board (and attached components) upward.

    • The smaller portion of the logic board that resides underneath is very bendable and frail. Make sure not to pull the spudger upward when using it to detach the small board. Use only side-to-side movement.

    • Slide the spudger under the small portion of the logic board. The board should come loose once the spudger has slid almost all the way to the other side.

  11. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • The logic board and battery can now be fully separated from the rest of the iPod.

  12. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement, Battery: step 12, image 1 of 1
    • Use the tip of a spudger to remove the cloudy white glue covering the battery contacts.

    • To reduce the risk of shorting the red battery lead to the metal shield, you can first remove the glue from the black and white battery leads. After desoldering the black and white leads, then remove the glue and desolder the red lead.

  13. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1
    • We're now ready to begin the soldering process. You'll need a soldering iron, solder, and desoldering wick. You should be able to find these items at a Radio Shack if you don't already have them.

    • Clean the soldering iron by melting a small amount of solder directly onto the soldering iron's tip and then wiping the tip of the soldering iron on a damp sponge.

  14. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Place the desoldering wick on top of the existing solder ball.

    • Place the soldering iron on top of wick above the existing solder ball.

    • Hold the soldering iron in place until the solder melts into the wick.

    • Repeat the same procedure on the remaining two connectors.

    • Lift the old battery out of the iPod. Be sure that all the solder has been removed before pulling the wires away from the board. The wires should come free with little to no resistance.

  15. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3
    • We recommend that you clean the exposed surface of the board with a soft cloth or sponge and a small amount of rubbing alcohol.

    • Melt a small solder bead directly onto the metal connector on the board by placing the soldering iron onto the metal connector and then pressing solder against the tip and the board.

    • Once a small amount of solder has melted onto the board, lift the solder away first and then the soldering iron.

    • The solder bead should look like a small dome or hemisphere. If it is flat or jagged, simply place the soldering iron back on the solder to re-melt it and then pull the soldering iron away. It may require a little more solder if this does not work.

  16. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Attach the black lead first, followed by the red lead, and finish with the white lead.

    • Place the wire from the new battery onto the new solder bead.

    • Press the tip of the soldering iron onto the solder bead until it melts.

    • Slide the wire lead into the liquid solder until the wire goes through the center of the bead, then remove the soldering iron.

    • Continue with the other two connections the same way, taking special care not to solder two of the connectors together.

  17. iPod Touch 1st Generation Battery Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • The wires should look very similar to this picture once you have finished soldering.

Conclusion

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

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8 Comments

When i did this i found the desoldiering wick un necessary. A helper is mutch advised, she held it, i heated and pulled out the old wires, then reused the soldier already there

Dans iPod Repair - Reply

If you don't want to go to all the trouble and risk of breaking something. Don't take everything apart. Just cut the battery wires as close as possible to the old battery terminals and splice the wires from the new battery on them. A little solder and a bit of electrical tape and your done! It's miller time!

Antoine Habel - Reply

while this might be an easy way to get the job done, it is for lack of a better word half-assed. It opens the door for shorts and part malfunction in the future. While i can see where you are coming from, it is not the corect way. Do it right the first time.

Dans iPod Repair -

I just replaced my battery. steps from 6 on are useless. All you have to do is desolder the old battery, take it out, then put the new one in and solder it. i did that and it works fine.

saxm93 - Reply

I stopped at step 5, cut the battery wires and spliced them to those on the new battery and then scotch taped them. It worked, although to official method is doubtless better.

I recommend examining the metal case fastening carefully to see that prongs are flattened before reassembly. Several of mine were bent out and up.

m w - Reply

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