Tablet · Apple · iPad Air 1
Apple iPad Air 1 Screen Replacement
Screen Replacement guide for the Apple iPad Air 1
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cups
- Guitar picks for prying
- Plastic spudger
- Precision Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Tweezers
Parts / materials
- Replacement iPad Air 1 front glass digitizer
- Pre-cut double-sided adhesive strips
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Safety
- Wear protective safety glasses to guard against loose glass splinters.
- Do not bend, puncture, or apply heat directly over the internal Li-ion battery.
- Keep heating tool temperatures under 80°C (175°F) to avoid damaging internal components.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Apply heat to the outer edges
3 minUse a heat gun or hair dryer along the glass perimeter for 2 to 3 minutes to soften the strong frame adhesive.
- 2
Attach a suction cup near top edge
1 minPlace a suction cup on the upper front glass near the camera and pull upward gently to create a narrow seam.
- 3
Insert an opening pick
2 minSlide a thin plastic guitar pick into the gap created between the glass and the outer aluminum frame.
- 4
Slice adhesive along the left side
2 minSlide the pick down the left edge of the iPad screen to cut through the adhesive layer.
- 5
Slice adhesive along the top and right side
2 minMove the pick around the top edge and down the right side, keeping the tip shallow to avoid underlying components.
- 6
Carefully release adhesive near bottom edge
3 minSlide the pick shallowly along the bottom edge, taking care not to damage the home button cable or Wi-Fi antennas.
- 7
Open the digitizer like a book
1 minGently lift the front glass assembly from the left edge and swing it open to the right.
- 8
Remove the four LCD corner screws
2 minUse a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the four screws holding the LCD panel at each corner.
- 9
Lift and fold the LCD panel
2 minGrasp the top edge of the LCD panel, gently lift it, and fold it face-down over the front glass.
- 10
Remove the metal shield screws
2 minUnscrew the three Phillips #00 screws securing the metal EMI shield over the motherboard display connectors.
- 11
Remove the metal EMI shield
1 minUse tweezers to lift and remove the metal cover shield from the logic board.
- 12
Disconnect the LCD ribbon cable
1 minUse the flat end of a plastic spudger to pry the LCD connector straight up from its socket.
- 13
Remove the LCD panel
1 minLift the free LCD panel off the iPad chassis and set it face-up on a clean, soft surface.
- 14
Disconnect digitizer cable connectors
2 minPry up the two digitizer flex cable connectors from the logic board using a spudger.
- 15
Remove the old front glass assembly
1 minLift the old digitizer glass clear off the device body and set it aside.
- 16
Scrape off residual frame adhesive
5 minUse a spudger and isopropyl alcohol to thoroughly remove old glue residue and glass splinters from the aluminum frame.
- 17
Apply new pre-cut adhesive strips
4 minAlign and press pre-cut adhesive strips onto the cleaned perimeter of the iPad frame.
- 18
Connect the replacement digitizer cables
2 minAlign and press the two press connectors from the new front glass into their motherboard sockets.
- 19
Reconnect LCD and reinstall EMI shield
3 minSnap the LCD ribbon cable into place, reinstall the metal EMI shield, and secure its three screws.
- 20
Secure the LCD panel
2 minFold the LCD back into the frame and reinstall the four corner Phillips #00 screws.
- 21
Test screen functionality
2 minPower on the iPad temporarily to confirm touch responsiveness and display output before final sealing.
- 22
Seal the front glass assembly
2 minPeel the adhesive backing strips, align the front glass precisely, and press firmly along all edges to lock it in place.
After your Apple iPad Air 1 screen replacement
Power the iPad Air 1 back on and test the screen replacement 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.
