Tablet · Apple · iPad Air 1
Apple iPad Air 1 Home Button Repair
Home Button Repair guide for the Apple iPad Air 1
Before you begin
Tools
- Precision screwdriver set
- Plastic opening tools
- Suction cup
- Plastic spudger
- Heat gun or iOpener
- Tweezers
Parts / materials
- Replacement iPad Air 1 home button flex cable
- Pre-cut digitizer adhesive strips
- Home button double-sided adhesive tape
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
Safety
- Wear eye protection to guard against flying glass shards if the digitizer cracks.
- Do not apply excessive heat to avoid damaging the underlying LCD display.
- Use plastic prying tools around the battery to avoid puncturing the soft cells.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Heat Front Glass Edges
3 minApply a heat gun or heated pad around the outer edges of the iPad front glass for 2-3 minutes to soften the frame adhesive.
- 2
Attach Suction Cup
1 minPlace a heavy-duty suction cup near the bottom edge of the glass, directly above the home button.
- 3
Insert Opening Pick
2 minPull up on the suction cup to create a small gap and insert a plastic opening pick under the glass edge.
- 4
Slice Perimeter Adhesive
5 minSlide plastic picks around all four edges of the glass to slice through the adhesive, taking care near the bottom right Wi-Fi antenna.
- 5
Open Digitizer Assembly
1 minGently lift the right side of the front glass and swing it open like a book cover to avoid straining the left-hand flex cables.
- 6
Remove LCD Screws
2 minUnscrew the four Phillips screws securing the corners of the LCD display panel to the aluminum frame.
- 7
Lift LCD Display
2 minCarefully pry up the top edge of the LCD panel and flip it forward toward the bottom of the device.
- 8
Remove Display Shield
2 minRemove the three Phillips screws holding the metal display cable shield and lift the shield off the logic board.
- 9
Disconnect Display Cables
2 minUse a plastic spudger to pry the digitizer flex cables and LCD cable straight up from their sockets.
- 10
Peel Home Button Tape
1 minPeel back the black electrical tape covering the home button metal bracket on the back of the detached digitizer glass.
- 11
Pry Metal Bracket
2 minInsert a spudger under the metal retention bracket securing the home button and carefully pry it off the glass.
- 12
Remove Home Button Cable
2 minGently peel the old home button flex cable away from the glass alignment ring and remove the button assembly.
- 13
Install New Home Button
2 minAlign and seat the replacement home button assembly into the recessed plastic mounting ring on the back of the glass.
- 14
Secure Retention Bracket
2 minPlace the metal retention bracket back over the home button assembly and secure it firmly with double-sided adhesive tape.
- 15
Reconnect Flex Cables
2 minPress the digitizer cables and LCD flex cable back onto their respective logic board connectors until they click into place.
- 16
Reinstall Display Shield
2 minReposition the metal connector shield over the logic board sockets and reinstall the three Phillips screws.
- 17
Reseat LCD Screen
2 minLower the LCD panel back into the chassis and secure it using the four corner Phillips screws.
- 18
Seal Front Glass
4 minApply new adhesive strips along the iPad perimeter frame, align the front glass, and press firmly around all edges to seal.
After your Apple iPad Air 1 home button repair
Power the iPad Air 1 back on and test the home button repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Apple iPad Air 1 job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Apple iPad Air 1 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
