Step-by-step

1. 1

   Heat the front panel edges

   3 min

   Use a heat gun to warm the perimeter of the iPad Air 3 display for two minutes to soften the adhesive.

2. 2

   Attach a suction cup

   2 min

   Place a suction cup near the bottom edge of the screen glass and pull upward gently to create a gap.

3. 3

   Insert an opening pick

   2 min

   Slide a plastic opening pick under the glass rim once a small gap opens up.

4. 4

   Slice perimeter adhesive

   5 min

   Slide picks around the left, right, and bottom edges to separate the screen adhesive.

5. 5

   Open the display assembly

   2 min

   Carefully swing open the screen like a book page from the right side.

6. 6

   Remove display shield screws

   3 min

   Unscrew the Phillips screws securing the metal display cable shield.

7. 7

   Detach the display cable shield

   1 min

   Lift the metal shield off the board with tweezers and set it aside.

8. 8

   Disconnect screen flex cables

   3 min

   Use a plastic spudger to gently pop the display and digitizer connectors off the board.

9. 9

   Insert battery blocker

   2 min

   Slide a plastic guitar pick under the battery contact to fully isolate power.

10. 10

    Remove logic board screws

    4 min

    Remove all Phillips screws securing the main logic board to the iPad casing.

11. 11

    Heat rear enclosure

    3 min

    Warm the back of the iPad aluminum case under the logic board to loosen the mounting tape.

12. 12

    Pry up logic board

    5 min

    Gently pry up the logic board starting from the top edge using a flat spudger.

13. 13

    Unseat charging port housing

    2 min

    Lift the Lightning connector assembly out of its recess in the bottom frame.

14. 14

    Apply soldering flux

    2 min

    Apply a liberal amount of liquid flux across the charging port solder pads on the logic board.

15. 15

    Desolder port connection pin joints

    8 min

    Use a soldering iron and desoldering braid to wick away solder from the port pads.

16. 16

    Remove damaged charging port flex

    2 min

    Lift the old charging port assembly off the logic board once all pins are free.

17. 17

    Clean logic board pads

    3 min

    Wipe the solder pads clean using isopropyl alcohol and a cotton swab.

18. 18

    Position new charging port flex

    3 min

    Align the replacement charging port flex cable precisely with the board contact pads.

19. 19

    Solder replacement port pins

    10 min

    Solder each individual pin of the new charging port flex to the logic board pads.

20. 20

    Reinstall logic board

    4 min

    Place the logic board back into the rear enclosure, aligning the charging port into its frame socket.

21. 21

    Secure logic board screws

    4 min

    Reinstall all Phillips screws to secure the logic board into the aluminum chassis.

22. 22

    Remove battery blocker

    1 min

    Pull out the plastic pick isolating the battery contact pin.

23. 23

    Reconnect display flex cables

    3 min

    Press the display and digitizer press connectors directly onto their sockets.

24. 24

    Reattach display shield bracket

    3 min

    Place the shield plate over the connectors and tighten the holding screws.

25. 25

    Apply display adhesive

    5 min

    Lay fresh custom adhesive strips along the perimeter frame of the iPad.

26. 26

    Press display assembly closed

    3 min

    Align the display with the body and press firmly around all edges to seal.