Tablet · Apple · iPad Mini 3
Apple iPad Mini 3 Charging Port Repair
Charging Port Repair guide for the Apple iPad Mini 3
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cup
- Guitar picks for prying
- Plastic prying tool
- Precision screwdriver set
- Soldering iron
- Desoldering braid
Parts / materials
- Flux
- Solder
- Replacement Lightning Port Assembly
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Pre-cut adhesive strips
Safety
- Wear safety glasses when working with hot solder and heat sources.
- Disconnect the battery before performing soldering work on the logic board.
- Perform soldering operations in a well-ventilated area.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Heat the front panel adhesive
3 minApply a heat gun around the outer edges of the iPad Mini 3 digitizer glass for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 2
Attach suction cup to glass
2 minPlace a suction cup on the lower left corner of the screen and pull upward firmly to create a tiny seam.
- 3
Insert opening pick
2 minSlide a guitar pick into the gap created by the suction cup to hold the glass open.
- 4
Slice perimeter adhesive
5 minMove the pick carefully around all four edges of the glass to slice through the remaining adhesive.
- 5
Open digitizer like a book
2 minGently swing the digitizer glass open from the right side, taking care not to strain the bottom flex cables.
- 6
Unscrew LCD display panel
3 minRemove the four Phillips screws located at each corner of the inner LCD frame.
- 7
Lift LCD panel
2 minInsert a plastic prying tool under the top edge of the LCD panel and tilt it forward onto the digitizer glass.
- 8
Remove EMI shield screws
4 minUnscrew the seven Phillips screws securing the large metal EMI shield cover over the logic board.
- 9
Detach EMI shield
2 minLift the metal EMI shield straight up out of the iPad frame and set it aside.
- 10
Disconnect battery connector
2 minInsert a plastic spudger under the battery connector contact to disconnect power to the board.
- 11
Disconnect LCD cable
2 minPry the LCD ribbon cable straight up from its socket on the logic board.
- 12
Disconnect digitizer cable
2 minPry the digitizer flex cable connectors free from the logic board socket.
- 13
Remove display components
2 minLift both the LCD screen and the glass digitizer assembly off the casing and store them safely.
- 14
Apply liquid flux to port contacts
3 minApply a liberal layer of soldering flux across the micro-soldered lightning port pads at the base of the board.
- 15
Desolder defective lightning port ribbon
10 minUse a soldering iron and desoldering braid to clean solder off the lightning port connector pins and free the flex cable.
- 16
Clean logic board solder pads
3 minWipe the exposed logic board contacts using isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free swab to remove residual flux.
- 17
Position new charging port flex
4 minAlign the pins of the replacement lightning connector flex cable precisely over the logic board pads.
- 18
Solder replacement port to board
12 minSolder each pin on the new lightning port cable to the corresponding logic board pad using fine-tip solder.
After your Apple iPad Mini 3 charging port repair
Power the iPad Mini 3 back on and test the charging port 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 3 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 3 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
