Tablet · Apple · iPad Mini 1
Apple iPad Mini 1 Home Button Repair
Home Button Repair guide for the Apple iPad Mini 1
Before you begin
Tools
- Precision screwdriver set
- Plastic opening tools
- Anti-static wrist strap
- Tweezers
- Heat gun or iOpener
- Suction cup
- Spudger
Parts / materials
- Replacement iPad Mini 1 home button flex cable
- Pre-cut digitizer adhesive strips
- 90%+ Isopropyl alcohol
Safety
- Wear eye protection in case the cracked glass shatters during removal.
- Do not apply excess heat to prevent damaging the LCD underlying components.
- Handle the logic board connectors gently with non-conductive plastic tools.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the device
1 minPress and hold the top power button, then slide the screen slider to turn off the iPad completely.
- 2
Heat the screen perimeter
3 minApply a heated iOpener or heat gun around the outer edges of the glass frame for 2-3 minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Attach a suction cup
1 minPlace a suction cup on the lower portion of the front glass directly above the home button.
- 4
Slice perimeter adhesive
5 minPull up on the suction cup to create a small gap, then slide plastic opening picks around all four edges to release the glue.
- 5
Pivot the digitizer glass open
2 minGently hinge the glass panel open from the left edge like a book cover, taking care not to strain the ribbon cables at the bottom right.
- 6
Remove the LCD corner screws
2 minUse a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the four corner screws securing the LCD panel to the frame.
- 7
Pry up the LCD panel
2 minCarefully insert a spudger under the top edge of the LCD display and flip it downward over the opened glass panel.
- 8
Unscrew the metal EMI shield
4 minRemove the 16 Phillips #00 screws securing the large metal shield plate to the iPad frame.
- 9
Remove the metal shield
1 minLift the metal EMI shield plate straight up out of the iPad body and set it aside.
- 10
Remove the connector bracket
2 minUnscrew the three Phillips #00 screws holding down the metal logic board bracket and remove it using tweezers.
- 11
Disconnect the display and digitizer cables
2 minUse the flat end of a spudger to pry the LCD connector, digitizer connector, and home button connector straight up from their sockets.
- 12
Separate the front glass
1 minLift the front glass assembly off the body completely to access the home button assembly on the back side of the glass.
- 13
Peel back the home button bracket tape
2 minUse tweezers to carefully peel off the black tape securing the home button metal bracket.
- 14
Pry out the old home button flex cable
3 minInsert a spudger under the home button contact pad and flex cable to detach them from the digitizer frame adhesive.
- 15
Install the new home button assembly
4 minAlign the replacement home button flex cable and gasket into the recess, press firmly into place, and secure the bracket.
After your Apple iPad Mini 1 home button repair
Power the iPad Mini 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 Mini 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 Mini 1 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
