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Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the I/O Assembly cable (includes the headphone jack and micro-USB port).

What you need

  1. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, Rear Panel: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • In the following steps you will release the clips (highlighted in red) along the perimeter of the Nexus 7's rear panel.

    • Do not use excessive force while prying the clips. They can be easily broken.

    Edit

  2. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Gently insert a plastic opening tool near the top of the Nexus 7 between the rear panel and the front panel assembly.

    • Carefully run the plastic opening tool along the top edge to pry the rear panel away from the front panel assembly of the Nexus 7.

    Edit

  3. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the plastic opening tool between the rear panel and the front panel assembly near the power button and pry up at several points along the right edge of the Nexus 7.

    Edit

  4. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Pry up the rear panel along the left edge using the method described in previous steps.

    Edit

  5. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Gently lift and remove the rear panel up off the front panel assembly.

    Edit

  7. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, Battery Cable: step 6, image 1 of 2 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, Battery Cable: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Using the tip of a spudger, push first on one side then the other to "walk" the battery cable straight out of its socket on the motherboard.

    Edit

  8. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, Speaker Cable: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Peel back the copper ESD shielding covering the bottom of the motherboard.

    • Do not try to remove the copper shielding, as it is still attached underneath the battery.

    • If you're just replacing the micro usb charge port, there is no need to peel back the copper heatsink like in the photo, the speaker assembly can simply be moved out of the way once unscrewed. If the speakers are to be replaced simply peel back the bottom corner to expose the speaker connection. Leave the rest of the heatsink shield alone.

    Edit

  9. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Using the tip of a spudger, push the speaker cable straight out of its socket on the motherboard.

    Edit

  10. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, Speaker Assembly: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the speaker assembly to the display assembly:

    • Two 4.25 mm black Phillips screws

    • One 3.2 mm silver Phillips screw

    Edit

  11. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Lift and remove the speaker assembly out of the Nexus 7.

    Edit

  12. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, I/O Assembly Cable: step 11, image 1 of 2 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement, I/O Assembly Cable: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Use the tip of a spudger to peel back the cloth tape covering the headphone jack and the I/O assembly cable.

    • There is no need to completely remove the tape. Just peel it back enough so that the tape is only adhering to the ribbon cable and not the metal frame.

    Edit

  13. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the I/O assembly data ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.The hinged retaining flap is the black piece which flips up easily with the spudger.

    Edit

  14. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the I/O assembly cable to the Nexus 7:

    • Three 3.2 mm silver Phillips screws

    • Two 2.3 mm black Phillips screws

    Edit

  15. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Without stressing the cable, and minding any tape that may still be holding the cable in place, gently lift the headphone jack up off its placement pins.

    Edit

  16. Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 Nexus 7 I/O Assembly Cable Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • In a similar fashion, lift the micro-USB port up off its retaining pins.

    • Lift and remove the I/O assembly cable out of the Nexus 7.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

145 other people completed this guide.

32 Comments

This fix isn't too much of a pain if you can find the parts! The tape on the lower-left hand side was, oddly, a bit of a pain for me. Make sure you try to remove it from the left, and not from the right!

Daniel Horner - Reply

Hi,

Where to find this cable ? It seems to be out of stock everywhere :/

kytrix me - Reply

bloody brilliant guide. Thank you!! Thank you!! new usb port/music jack arrived today and I managed to replace old with new.

Muzza - Reply

Got the cable and some recommended tools on Ebay for $30. Just did this on my old N7 and it works perfect now. Head up tho, the recommended tools didn't come with a small enough head for the two 2.3 mm black Phillips screws. Luckily i did have a super small one. Don't strip those or you SOL. Also the cable doesn't come with the headphone jack cover. it is held on with just tape so take that from the original cable.

Cable: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IO-PORT-CHARGER-...

Do a ebay search for "Nexus 7 I/O". Should pop up. Look for cheaper ones than the $60 ones.

Mike Ricketts - Reply

Thank you so much for the clear guide. My Nexus 7 2012 is charging again! I ordered the part here: http://www.asusparts.eu/Asus-08301-00522...

Hans Iseger - Reply

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