Introduction
Use this guide to replace the screen in your Kobo Clara BW eReader.
If your screen is cracked, unresponsive, or not lighting up, you may need to replace it.
The screen part comes with the display pre‑installed into the frame, so you'll need to transfer all the internals from your old eReader into the new screen.
Following this guide will remove your eReader's IP (Ingress Protection) rating, making it susceptible to water damage.
If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
After this repair, follow this guide to calibrate your eReader to your replacement screen. If you don't, you might experience "ghosting" or visual artifacts of the E ink.
Kobo supports their eReaders with a warranty. If your device is still under warranty, Kobo may be able to help. Before starting a repair, review your warranty information or check support documentation.
What you need
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Lay your eReader down so the back cover is facing up.
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Insert the flat edge of an opening pick between the frame and the bottom left corner of the back cover.
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Push the pick downwards at a slight angle until it slides under the back cover.
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Slide the pick toward the bottom right corner to release the clips along the bottom edge.
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Slide the pick toward the top left corner to release the clips along the left edge.
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Grip the left edge of the back cover and lift it away from the eReader to release the remaining clips.
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Remove the back cover.
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The coating is brittle and can flake into many small pieces. Heating the coating helps, but working with it is still a time-consuming process.
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The ZIF connector locking tabs are coated in a gel that can jam the hinge and keep the locking tab from completely unlocking. Make sure the tabs are completely upright before disconnecting any cables.
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Depending on your repair, you might have to remove the coating from ZIF connectors and their cables.
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Heat an iOpener and lay it on the battery connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Use the tip of a spudger to scrape up the coating along the white battery connector head—enough so you can grab clumps of it with pointed tweezers.
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Insert the point of a spudger under the edge of the battery connector head opposite of the cable.
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Lift up the connector with the spudger to separate the rest of the coating and disconnect the battery.
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Inspect the connector head and its socket for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
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Peel off the coating, heating the area when the coating becomes too brittle.
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If your battery comes with stretch release adhesive, follow the next two steps to remove them.
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Otherwise, skip ahead three steps to remove the normal adhesive.
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Use tweezers to pull on the battery adhesive strip's pull tab until you can grip it with your fingers.
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While holding the battery in place, pull the strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.
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If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers and continue pulling—but don’t pry under the battery.
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Lift the battery out of the frame and remove it.
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If you're transferring the battery to a new screen, inspect the battery for any dents or deformations.
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Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol under the right edge of the battery.
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Tilt the eReader up to let the isopropyl alcohol flow under the battery and wait one minute for it to soften the adhesive.
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Slide a plastic card a half an inch (~13 mm) under the top right corner of the battery.
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Rotate the plastic card so its short edge sits under the right edge of the battery.
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Lift the battery off the frame and remove it.
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If you're transferring the battery to a new screen, inspect the battery for any dents or deformations.
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Insert the tip of a spudger under the right side of the power button ZIF connector's black locking tab.
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Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.
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Heat an iOpener and lay it on the power button connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
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Keep pulling on the cable until the cable comes completely out of its socket.
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Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
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Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
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Heat an iOpener and lay it on the power button board for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Heat an iOpener and lay it on the power button board for 90 seconds to soften the adhesive.
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Insert an arm of pointed tweezers under the edge of the power button board that you separated the coating from.
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Slide the arm along the edge of the board to separate enough adhesive to fit an opening pick under the board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to lift up the locking tab on the digitizer cable ZIF connector.
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Apply a heated iOpener to the digitizer cable ZIF connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Grip the digitizer cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
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Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.
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Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
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Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
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Insert the flat end of a spudger under the right side of the ZIF connector's black locking tab.
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Lift up the locking tab with the spudger to unlock it.
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Apply a heated iOpener and lay it on the display connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the corner of the display cable closest to the charging port.
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Pull the cable away from the ZIF connector slowly and steadily at a level angle to separate the coating at the corner.
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Lift up the display cable and peel off any remaining coating holding it to the motherboard.
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Inspect the ends of the cable and the ZIF connectors for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
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Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
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Lift the display cable out of the way of the backlight cable underneath.
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Use the point of a spudger to lift up the blue locking tab on the backlight cable ZIF connector.
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Apply a heated iOpener and lay it on the backlight connector for 90 seconds to soften the coating.
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Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the cable close to the head and pull it away from its ZIF connector slowly and steadily to separate the coating.
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Keep pulling on the cable until it comes completely out of its socket.
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Inspect the head of the cable and the ZIF connector for any remaining coating that could prevent a good connection.
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Peel off the coating—heating the cable and the ZIF connector when the coating becomes too brittle.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 2.4 mm‑long screws securing the motherboard.
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Slide an opening pick under the top left corner of the motherboard and lift it up enough to grip the motherboard with your fingers.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3 mm‑long screws securing corners of the front cover.
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The screen is secured by adhesive along the perimeter of the front cover and a layer of coating at the bottom edge.
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Bend the top edge of the front cover around the screen to separate the adhesive.
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Lift and rotate the screen off the bottom edge of the front cover to separate the coating.
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Remove the screen.
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You've now disassembled your eReader enough to transfer the internals to your new screen.
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Align the front cover over the screen and press down around the perimeter until the clips snap back into place.
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Follow this guide to update the VCOM number on your eReader to match the replacement screen.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Remember: after repairs, your eReader is no longer IPX8 waterproof.
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.
Make sure each of your device's main functions still work, e.g., LED backlight, touch, Wi-Fi, etc.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers Community for help.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Remember: after repairs, your eReader is no longer IPX8 waterproof.
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.
Make sure each of your device's main functions still work, e.g., LED backlight, touch, Wi-Fi, etc.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers Community for help.
