Introduction
Follow the steps in this guide to replace the display assembly in an iPad Pro 12.9", or to access other internal components for servicing.
Note that the Home Button installed in your original display assembly is paired to the iPad's logic board, and will need to be removed and transferred to the new display to retain Touch ID functionality.
Before beginning, check to see if your replacement part has a daughterboard adhered to its back. If so, this guide will work for you. Otherwise, you will need to transfer the board from the old display to the new one. Transferring the daughterboard from the original to replacement unit will require specialty microsoldering equipment and we recommend DIY users source a new part rather than attempt the procedure.
What you need
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Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.
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Throughout the repair procedure, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for an additional thirty seconds at a time.
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Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.
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Fill a pot or pan with enough water to fully submerge an iOpener.
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Heat the water to a boil. Turn off the heat.
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Place an iOpener into the hot water for 2-3 minutes. Make sure the iOpener is fully submerged in the water.
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Use tongs to extract the heated iOpener from the hot water.
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Thoroughly dry the iOpener with a towel.
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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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If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
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Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad's display until the whole face is covered.
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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.
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Refer to these images while following the guide to see where the adhesive is thickest and where to cut the deepest with your opening tool.
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Lay the hot iOpener over the left edge of the iPad to soften the adhesive holding it in place.
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Wait about two minutes for the adhesive to soften before proceeding to the next step.
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Attach a suction handle to the left edge of the iPad's display, equidistant from the top and bottom corners.
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While holding down the corners of the device, repeatedly pull up on the display then ease it back down to weaken the adhesive.
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Once you've opened a small gap between the front panel and the rear case, insert the blade of a halberd spudger or an opening pick in the gap you've created.
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Lay a hot iOpener along the bottom left corner of the iPad, spanning from the opening pick to the home button.
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After letting the adhesive soften, insert a halberd spudger into the iPad next to the opening pick.
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Cut the adhesive along the bottom left side of the iPad using the halberd spudger. This may require reheating the edge of the iPad.
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Continue to slide the halberd spudger back and forth to ensure most of the adhesive is separated.
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Insert a pick in the bottom left corner of the iPad to ensure that the adhesive doesn't completely reset.
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Remove the halberd spudger.
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Lay a hot iOpener along the upper left corner of the iPad, spanning from the opening pick to the front-facing camera.
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After letting the adhesive soften, insert the blade of your halberd spudger into the iPad above the opening pick.
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Cut the adhesive along the upper left side of the iPad towards the front-facing camera using the halberd spudger. This may require reheating the edge of the iPad.
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Reheat your iOpener and lay it over the top edge of the device. Wait a couple minutes for the adhesive to soften.
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Once the front panel is adequately heated, insert the blade of a halberd spudger next to the opening pick from the previous step.
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Slide the blade along the top edge of the iPad, stopping before reaching the front-facing camera.
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If necessary, reheat your iOpener and lay it over the top edge of the device. Wait a couple minutes for the adhesive to soften before reinserting the blade of the halberd spudger.
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Insert the blade of the halberd spudger just past the front-facing camera, on the opposite side of the opening pick.
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Continue to slide the blade of the halberd spudger to the upper right corner of the iPad.
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Bring the halberd spudger around the corner of the iPad and insert an opening pick in the upper right corner to prevent the adhesive from resettling.
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Soften the adhesive by heating the right edge of the iPad using an iOpener.
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Continue using the halberd spudger to cut away the adhesive holding the display assembly in place, stopping at the middle of the right edge.
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Remove the pick that was placed in the middle of the top edge of the iPad, next to the front-facing camera.
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Insert that pick in the middle of the right edge of the iPad.
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Insert the halberd spudger between the display and rear case, along the right edge of the device.
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Slide the halberd spudger down the side of the iPad to separate the adhesive.
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Bring the blade of your opening tool around the lower right corner of the device.
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Insert a pick in the lower right corner of the iPad where you slid the blade through.
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Remove the halberd spudger.
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Use an iOpener to heat the bottom of the iPad.
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Insert the blade of a halberd spudger to the left of the opening pick on the bottom right corner of the iPad.
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Slide the halberd spudger along the lower edge of the iPad stopping short about 1 centimeter before reaching the home button.
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Remove the pick in the middle of the left side of the iPad.
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Insert the pick to the right of home button.
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Pivot the halberd spudger so that you are slicing with the shortest portion of the blade.
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Slide the halberd spudger to cut the adhesive below the home button.
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Reinsert the blade of the halberd spudger as deep as it will go.
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Continue sliding the blade along the edge until you reach the first opening pick you inserted.
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Return to step 5 of this guide and ensure the thick portions of adhesive are adequately separated from the display assembly. If they are, continue with this step. Otherwise, slice the adhesive to break it up until the display assembly is freed.
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Lift up the upper edge of the display and slide it towards the front-facing camera to access the iPads internal components.
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To disconnect the battery:
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First, securely prop up the display so that it won't fall or strain the display cables while you work.
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Then, remove the nine Phillips screws securing the logic board EMI shield:
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Eight 1.2 mm screws
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One 2.4 mm screw
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Lift the logic board EMI shield from the edge nearest the top of the iPad.
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Peel the EMI shield up from the logic board.
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Remove the logic board EMI shield.
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Insert a Battery Blocker or other insulator underneath the logic board to separate it from the battery connector.
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Leave it there to prevent the battery connector leads from making contact until you have completed your repairs.
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While supporting the display assembly, remove the following three Phillips screws over the display cable bracket.
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2.4 mm Phillips screw
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1.2 mm Phillips screw
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Remove the display cable bracket.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the two display data and digitizer cables from their respective sockets on the motherboard.
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Remove the display assembly.
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Be sure to remove all remaining adhesive from the iPad's enclosure, and install fresh pre-cut adhesive strips when reassembling your iPad.
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