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iPad Air 2 LTE Home Button Assembly Replacement

Written By: Scott Havard (and 4 other contributors)
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  • Completions: 10

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

46

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

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3

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0

Introduction

Follow the steps in this guide to replace the Home Button Assembly, including the gasket and cable, in your iPad Air 2 LTE. Note that home buttons are paired with their respective logic board, so Touch ID will no longer work after you replace the Home Button Assembly.

Parts of this guide were shot with a Wi-Fi model and as such the internals may look slightly different from the LTE model. The procedure is the same for both models except where noted.

Warning: the battery isolation method in this guide is outdated, and may result in irreversible damage to the battery pins of the logic board, effectively destroying it. If you choose to isolate the battery this way, heed all warnings and work extremely carefully. If you choose to complete the guide without isolating the battery, avoid using metal tools except when completely necessary (like when removing screws) to prevent shorting the battery and damaging sensitive circuit components.

  1. We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener. Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.

    • We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener.

    • Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.

    • For carousel microwaves: Make sure the plate spins freely. If your iOpener gets stuck, it may overheat and burn.

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  2. Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.

    • Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.

    • Throughout the repair procedure, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for an additional thirty seconds at a time.

    • Be careful not to overheat the iOpener during the repair. Overheating may cause the iOpener to burst.

    • Never touch the iOpener if it appears swollen.

    • If the iOpener is still too hot in the middle to touch, continue using it while waiting for it to cool down some more before reheating. A properly heated iOpener should stay warm for up to 10 minutes.

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  3. Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.

    • Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.

    • The iOpener will be very hot, so be careful when handling it. Use an oven mitt if necessary.

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  4. If you don't have a microwave, follow this step to heat your iOpener in boiling water. Fill a pot or pan with enough water to fully submerge an iOpener.

    • If you don't have a microwave, follow this step to heat your iOpener in boiling water.

    • Fill a pot or pan with enough water to fully submerge an iOpener.

    • Heat the water to a boil. Turn off the heat.

    • Place an iOpener into the hot water for 2-3 minutes. Make sure the iOpener is fully submerged in the water.

    • Use tongs to extract the heated iOpener from the hot water.

    • Thoroughly dry the iOpener with a towel.

    • The iOpener will be very hot, so be careful to hold it only by the end tabs.

    • Your iOpener is ready for use! If you need to reheat the iOpener, heat the water to a boil, turn off the heat, and place the iOpener in the water for 2-3 minutes.

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  5. If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass. Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad's display until the whole face is covered. This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

    • If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

    • Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad's display until the whole face is covered.

    • This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

    • Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.

    • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.

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  6. The following steps involve using an iOpener to soften the adhesive holding the front panel assembly in place. When using the iOpener, be sure to heat it in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds.

    • The following steps involve using an iOpener to soften the adhesive holding the front panel assembly in place. When using the iOpener, be sure to heat it in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds.

    • Handling it by the tabs on either end, place a heated iOpener over the top edge of the iPad.

    • Let the iOpener sit on the iPad for two minutes to soften the adhesive securing the front panel to the rest of the iPad.

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  7. While the iPad looks uniform from the outside, there are delicate components under certain portions of the front glass. To avoid damage, only heat and pry in the areas described in each step. As you follow the directions, take special care to avoid prying in the following areas: Home Button

    • While the iPad looks uniform from the outside, there are delicate components under certain portions of the front glass. To avoid damage, only heat and pry in the areas described in each step.

    • As you follow the directions, take special care to avoid prying in the following areas:

    • Home Button

    • Front Facing Camera

    • Main Camera

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  8. Place a suction cup over the iPad's front-facing camera and press down to create a seal. To get the most leverage, place the suction cup as close to the edge as possible without going past the edge of the display.

    • Place a suction cup over the iPad's front-facing camera and press down to create a seal.

    • To get the most leverage, place the suction cup as close to the edge as possible without going past the edge of the display.

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  9. Firmly pull up on the suction cup to create a small gap between the front panel and the rear case. Do not pull too hard or you may shatter the glass. Once you've opened a sufficient gap, insert an opening pick into the gap to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

    • Firmly pull up on the suction cup to create a small gap between the front panel and the rear case.

    • Do not pull too hard or you may shatter the glass.

    • Once you've opened a sufficient gap, insert an opening pick into the gap to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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  10. Slide the pick along the edge of the display, towards the headphone jack. If there is still a considerable amount of resistance when sliding the opening pick, repeat the iOpener heating procedure and apply additional heat. Be careful not to let the opening pick slide between the fused LCD and front panel, as doing so can permanently damage the display.

    • Slide the pick along the edge of the display, towards the headphone jack.

    • If there is still a considerable amount of resistance when sliding the opening pick, repeat the iOpener heating procedure and apply additional heat.

    • Be careful not to let the opening pick slide between the fused LCD and front panel, as doing so can permanently damage the display.

    • A good rule of thumb is to never insert the opening pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into the iPad.

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  11. Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera. Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera.

    • Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera.

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  12. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button.

    • Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button.

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  13. Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera. Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera.

    • Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera.

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  14. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad.

    • Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad.

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  15. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet.

    • Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet.

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  16. Reheat the iOpener and lay it over the right edge of the display to loosen the adhesive underneath.

    • Reheat the iOpener and lay it over the right edge of the display to loosen the adhesive underneath.

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  18. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display.

    • Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display.

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  19. Reheat the iOpener and apply heat to the left side of the iPad.

    • Reheat the iOpener and apply heat to the left side of the iPad.

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  20. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display.

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  21. Slide the opposite opening pick down to the bottom right corner of the iPad. If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly. If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly.

    • Slide the opposite opening pick down to the bottom right corner of the iPad.

    • If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly.

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  22. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner.

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  23. Use the iOpener to apply heat to the bottom edge of the iPad.

    • Use the iOpener to apply heat to the bottom edge of the iPad.

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  24. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad.

    • Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad.

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  25. Repeat for the left-hand pick. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener.

    • Repeat for the left-hand pick.

    • Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener.

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  26. Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad. Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad.

    • Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad.

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  27. Slide the left-hand opening pick along the bottom edge of the display, then remove it from the bottom right corner of the iPad. Be very careful to not insert the pick more than 2 mm below home button to avoid damaging the button. Be very careful to not insert the pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into either side of the home button to avoid damaging the display cables underneath.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick along the bottom edge of the display, then remove it from the bottom right corner of the iPad.

    • Be very careful to not insert the pick more than 2 mm below home button to avoid damaging the button.

    • Be very careful to not insert the pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into either side of the home button to avoid damaging the display cables underneath.

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  28. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case.

    • Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case.

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  29. Continue lifting the display assembly from the front-facing camera side. Pull the display slightly away from the bottom edge to completely separate it from the rear case. Keep lifting until the display assembly is roughly perpendicular to the body of the iPad.

    • Continue lifting the display assembly from the front-facing camera side.

    • Pull the display slightly away from the bottom edge to completely separate it from the rear case.

    • Keep lifting until the display assembly is roughly perpendicular to the body of the iPad.

    • Do not attempt to remove the display yet—it is still attached to the rear case by three delicate ribbon cables.

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  30. Remove the single 1.8 mm Phillips screw securing the battery terminals to their contacts on the logic board.

    • Remove the single 1.8 mm Phillips screw securing the battery terminals to their contacts on the logic board.

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  31. These photos show what the battery connector looks like underneath the logic board. Use these photos as a reference while you safely disconnect the battery. Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery. Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery.

    • These photos show what the battery connector looks like underneath the logic board. Use these photos as a reference while you safely disconnect the battery.

    • Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery.

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  32. To reduce the risk of a short, you can use a battery isolation pick to disconnect the battery. Be very careful when you isolate the battery using a battery blocker. The battery contacts are easily damaged, resulting in irreversible damage to the logic board.

    • To reduce the risk of a short, you can use a battery isolation pick to disconnect the battery.

    • Be very careful when you isolate the battery using a battery blocker. The battery contacts are easily damaged, resulting in irreversible damage to the logic board.

    • Slide a battery isolation pick underneath the battery connector area of the logic board, and leave it in place while you work.

    • Alternatively, make a battery blocker using a playing card and slide it underneath the logic board connector to disconnect the battery.

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  33. Remove the three 1.3mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket. Remove the bracket. Remove the bracket.

    • Remove the three 1.3mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket.

    • Remove the bracket.

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  34. Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board. Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board.

    • Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board.

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  35. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable.

    • Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable.

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  36. Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • If you plan to reuse your display assembly, you will need to replace the display adhesive. Follow our iPad Adhesive Guide to reapply your display adhesive and reseal your device.

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  37. Lay the display assembly facedown. Use a plastic opening tool to pry the bracket off the back of the Home Button. Use a plastic opening tool to pry the bracket off the back of the Home Button.

    • Lay the display assembly facedown.

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the bracket off the back of the Home Button.

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  38. Remove the Home Button bracket and peel up the tape connected to it. During reassembly, after installing the home button, you'll need to glue this bracket into place to secure it Scrape off as much of the old adhesive residue from the bracket as you can, then clean it with acetone or high-concentration (90% or greater) isopropyl alcohol.
    Tool used on this step:
    Tesa 61395 Tape
    $5.99

    • Remove the Home Button bracket and peel up the tape connected to it.

    • During reassembly, after installing the home button, you'll need to glue this bracket into place to secure it

    • Scrape off as much of the old adhesive residue from the bracket as you can, then clean it with acetone or high-concentration (90% or greater) isopropyl alcohol.

    • Secure the bracket with hot-melt glue, superglue, or high-strength double-sided tape. Make sure the bracket is aligned correctly before allowing your adhesive to cure, or the home button will not click when pressed.

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  39. Peel up the tape covering the Home Button ZIF connector. Peel up the tape covering the Home Button ZIF connector. Peel up the tape covering the Home Button ZIF connector.

    • Peel up the tape covering the Home Button ZIF connector.

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  40. Use the flat end of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the Home Button cable socket. Use the flat end of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the Home Button cable socket.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the Home Button cable socket.

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  41. Disconnect the Home Button ribbon cable. Disconnect the Home Button ribbon cable.

    • Disconnect the Home Button ribbon cable.

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  42. Use the flat end of a spudger to peel up the Home Button ribbon cable and Touch ID control chip. Use the flat end of a spudger to peel up the Home Button ribbon cable and Touch ID control chip. Use the flat end of a spudger to peel up the Home Button ribbon cable and Touch ID control chip.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to peel up the Home Button ribbon cable and Touch ID control chip.

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  43. Peel up the remaining corner of the Home Button ribbon cable. Peel up the remaining corner of the Home Button ribbon cable.

    • Peel up the remaining corner of the Home Button ribbon cable.

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  44. Reheat your iOpener and lay it over the bottom edge of the display to loosen the adhesive on the Home Button gasket.

    • Reheat your iOpener and lay it over the bottom edge of the display to loosen the adhesive on the Home Button gasket.

    • Wait about two minutes for the adhesive to soften before moving on to the next step.

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  45. In the following steps, you will be separating the home button gasket from the iPad's front panel. This gasket is extremely delicate and can tear easily. If the gasket does not separate easily from the front panel, reapply heat using the iOpener before continuing. Use the pointed end of a spudger to gently pry the Home Button assembly up from the display. Use the pointed end of a spudger to gently pry the Home Button assembly up from the display.

    • In the following steps, you will be separating the home button gasket from the iPad's front panel. This gasket is extremely delicate and can tear easily. If the gasket does not separate easily from the front panel, reapply heat using the iOpener before continuing.

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to gently pry the Home Button assembly up from the display.

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  46. Continue working the tip of the spudger around the edge of the gasket until the gasket is fully separated from the front panel. Continue working the tip of the spudger around the edge of the gasket until the gasket is fully separated from the front panel. Continue working the tip of the spudger around the edge of the gasket until the gasket is fully separated from the front panel.

    • Continue working the tip of the spudger around the edge of the gasket until the gasket is fully separated from the front panel.

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  47. Remove the home button assembly. If you are replacing your LCD assembly, some assemblies have a slightly different home button connector placement that will require you to fold over the home button cable in a "S" shape like shown in the picture. If you are replacing your LCD assembly, some assemblies have a slightly different home button connector placement that will require you to fold over the home button cable in a "S" shape like shown in the picture.

    • Remove the home button assembly.

    • If you are replacing your LCD assembly, some assemblies have a slightly different home button connector placement that will require you to fold over the home button cable in a "S" shape like shown in the picture.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

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Scott Havard

Member since: 06/27/2016

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