Installing iPad 3G Battery Replacement

Replace a worn out battery on your iPad 3G.

  • Add Note x
  • x 9

Use this guide to replace your iPad's battery.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Display Assembly  ¶ 

  • The iPad shown in the photos may look slightly different from your iPad, but the procedure is the same.

  • Insert a metal spudger between the right edge of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly.

  • Rotate the spudger away from you to release the tabs along the top edge of the display.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Insert a second metal spudger between the top edge of the display assembly and the rear panel assembly to keep the tabs from snapping back into place.

  • Pry the display assembly away from the rear panel.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Continue prying the display assembly away from the rear panel along the bottom and left edges of the iPad.

  • Use extreme caution as you approach the top edge of the iPad. The digitizer ribbon cable is located near the edge of the rear panel and can easily be damaged.

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Add Note Edit Step 4  ¶ 

  • Lift the display assembly away from the rear panel assembly by its bottom edge.

  • Do not excessively lift the display assembly off the rest of the iPad, as a fragile antenna cable with very little slack still connects the two components.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the antenna connector closest to the bottom of the iPad up off its socket on the communications board.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • In the following steps, you will disconnect the three cables attaching the display assembly to the logic board. The cables are for the following components:

    • Digitizer

    • Ambient Light Sensor

    • Display Data Cable

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Add Note Edit Step 7  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to flip up the retaining flaps holding the digitizer ribbon cables in their sockets on the logic board.

  • Be sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the digitizer ribbon cables straight out of their sockets.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Use an iPod opening tool to remove the ambient light sensor connector from its socket by gently prying upward.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Disconnect the display data cable from the main board by flipping up the metal retainer by its black plastic pull tab.

  • Pull the cable connector away from its socket.

  • Pull the connector parallel to the face of the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Remove the display assembly from the rear panel assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 11 — Communications Board  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the remaining antenna connector up off the communications board.

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Add Note Edit Step 12  ¶ 

  • De-route the control button cable along the top edge of the communications board.

  • Pull the communications cable upward to lift its connector up and out of the socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Remove the single T5 Torx screw securing the communications board to the rear case.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • If necessary, lift the right edge of the communications board upward to release it from the adhesive pad attached to the rear case.

  • Pull the communications board away from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 15 — Logic Board  ¶ 

  • Carefully peel back the rubber EMI shield covering the GPS antenna socket.

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to flip up the GPS ribbon cable retaining flap attached to the GPS cable's socket on the logic board.

  • Be sure you pry up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Pull the GPS antenna ribbon cable out of its socket.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to pry up the retaining flap on the headphone jack/microphone socket.

  • Be sure you pry up on the retaining flap, not the socket itself.

  • Pull the headphone jack/microphone ribbon cable out of its socket.

  • Pull the cable toward the left side of the iPad.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Use an iPod opening tool to pry the SIM board connector up off its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

  • Fold the SIM cable toward the bottom of the iPad to access the speaker connector.

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to pry the speaker connector up and out of its socket on the logic board.

  • Pry up from beneath the wires.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Remove the following screws securing the logic board to the rear panel assembly.

    • Two 4.56 mm T5 Torx screws.

    • Two 3.76 mm T5 Torx screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the dock cable connector straight up off the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Lift the logic board out of the rear panel assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 23 — Battery Replacement  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to release the SIM board from the adhesive securing it to the rear case.

  • Remove the SIM board from your iPad.

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Add Note Edit Step 24  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 2.84 mm T5 Torx screws securing the speaker assembly to the rear panel assembly.

  • Remove the single T5 Torx screw securing the middle of the dock cable to the rear panel assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 2.84 mm T5 Torx screws securing the dock connector cable to the rear case.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Using an iPod opening tool, carefully remove the plastic cover shielding the WiFi/Bluetooth board and dock connector cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 27  ¶ 

  • Carefully pry the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas up from their respective sockets on the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth board.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • Lift the dock connector cable out of the rear panel assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 29  ¶ 

  • De-route the speaker cable from the left side of the battery case.

  • De-route the Wi-Fi antenna through its channel in the speaker assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 30  ¶ 

  • Lift the speaker assembly and push it forward until the ports clear the bottom side of the lower case.

  • Remove the speaker assembly from the rear panel assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 31  ¶ 

  • The battery is held to the rear panel by an excessive amount of adhesive. Proceed with patience and caution.

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery up from the the lower case.

  • Gently continue to enlarge the gap by wiggling the spudger and running it along the right side of the battery.

  • Continue to pry until the right side of the battery is free from the rear panel.

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Add Note Edit Step 32  ¶ 

  • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the top edge of the battery and continue to separate the adhesive.

  • Continue doing so until the top of the battery is free from the rear panel.

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Add Note Edit Step 33  ¶ 

  • When there is enough clearance, use your hands to peel the battery off any adhesive still securing it to the rear panel.

  • Remove the battery from the rear panel.

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

For more information, check out the iPad 3G device page.

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