Installing iPod Touch 4th Generation Front Panel Replacement
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This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.
Replace your iPod Touch 4th generation's front panel assembly.
- Author: Walter Galan
- Difficulty: Difficult
Use this guide to replace your front panel assembly. The front panel is not separable from the LCD. A new front panel assembly will give you a new front glass panel, digitizer, and LCD.
If you bought them separately, be careful when sticking the LCD to the digitizer as the entire surface of the LCD is covered with glue. Once it sticks to the LCD, you will not be able to remove it.
Relevant Parts
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Step 1
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Front Panel
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The iPod Touch 4th Generation front panel is attached to the rear case by adhesive. The use of a heat gun to soften the adhesive is highly recommended.
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With the heat gun set on "low", begin heating the lower portion of the Touch near the home button.
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It is suggested to heat the desired portion in a circular motion pattern to evenly dissipate the amount of heat throughout the device.
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Step 2
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Beware, as the Touch will be very hot. It may be helpful to hold it with a towel while prying.
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Insert the edge of an iPod opening tool between the front glass panel and the black plastic bezel near the home button.
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Do not try to pry between the black plastic bezel and the steel rear case.
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Pry the bottom edge of the front panel upward, being careful not to bend the glass excessively.
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If it is too difficult to pry up the front panel assembly, reheat it and try again.
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Step 4
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Due to the construction of the 4th generation Touch, the digitizer cable cannot be disconnected until the logic board is removed. Use extreme caution when handling the front panel assembly, as it is attached to the rest of the Touch by the very delicate digitizer cable.
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Also, the display data cable is very short and is connected to the logic board near the top of the front panel assembly. If it does not become disconnected while freeing the top edge of the front panel assembly, be sure to disconnect it with an iPod opening tool before rotating the front panel assembly out of the Touch.
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Carefully pull the top of the front panel assembly away from the adhesive holding it to the Touch, minding the short digitizer cable connecting the two components.
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Step 7
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Insert the edge of an iPod opening tool under the steel mid plane near the bottom left corner of the Touch.
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Pry upward to separate the plate from the adhesive securing it to the plastic inner case.
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If the plate is still attached to the logic board re-warm the area to loosen the adhesive, then separate the plate from the logic board using the opening tool
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Use extreme care, the speaker is under the area shown in photo. It is connected with very thin and short wires.
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There is a very thin ribbon cable here that connects the volume and power buttons to the logic board. Try to work around this area like shown so not to rip the cable. It is extremely fragile.
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This cable will tear very easily if you are not careful.
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There is also adhesive under the area shown in red.
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Step 8
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Slightly tilt the steel mid plane to dislodge it from the rear case.
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Be careful not to tear the piece of copper tape connecting the rear-facing camera to the steel mid plane.
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Lift the steel mid plane up off the rear case and peel off the piece of copper tape stuck to the rear-facing camera.
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