Tablet · Apple · iPad Mini 3
Apple iPad Mini 3 Home Button Repair
Home Button Repair guide for the Apple iPad Mini 3
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cups
- Guitar picks for prying
- Precision screwdriver set
- Plastic prying tools
- Anti-static wrist strap
Parts / materials
- Replacement iPad Mini 3 home button assembly
- Pre-cut display adhesive strips
- Isopropyl alcohol (91%+)
Safety
- Wear safety glasses to protect against potential glass splinters.
- Isolate the battery before touching internal components to prevent short circuits.
- Do not puncture or bend the internal lithium-ion battery.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power Off iPad
1 minPress and hold the power button, then slide to power off the device completely.
- 2
Heat Perimeter Adhesive
3 minUse a heat gun or hair dryer along the edges of the front glass for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Attach Suction Cup
2 minPlace a suction cup near the top edge of the screen and pull upward to create a small gap.
- 4
Insert Opening Pick
2 minSlide a guitar pick into the small seam between the glass digitizer and the aluminum frame.
- 5
Slice Screen Adhesive
5 minGlide opening picks around the top, left, and right borders to sever the adhesive bond.
- 6
Open Front Glass
2 minGently swing the front glass open toward the right side like a book, taking care not to strain the bottom cables.
- 7
Unscrew LCD Screen
3 minRemove the four Phillips screws located in each corner of the LCD panel.
- 8
Lift LCD Display
2 minPry up the top edge of the LCD panel and flip it forward onto the detached digitizer glass.
- 9
Unscrew EMI Shield
4 minUnscrew the metal display shield covering the logic board flex connectors.
- 10
Remove EMI Shield
2 minLift the metal EMI shield off the logic board with tweezers and set it aside.
- 11
Disconnect Battery Connector
2 minInsert a plastic pick between the battery contact and the logic board to disconnect power.
- 12
Disconnect Display Cables
3 minUse a plastic spudger to pry up the LCD and digitizer flex cables from their board sockets.
- 13
Separate Glass Assembly
1 minRemove the digitizer assembly from the chassis and place it face-down on your workspace mat.
- 14
Heat Home Button Adhesive
3 minApply mild heat to the lower front glass face to soften the glue under the home button bracket.
- 15
Remove Metal Bracket
3 minPry up the metal retaining bracket covering the home button assembly using a plastic tool.
- 16
Peel Home Button Flex
3 minCarefully peel the home button flex ribbon and contact pad off the digitizer glass.
- 17
Install New Home Button
4 minAlign the replacement home button in the glass cutout and secure the metal bracket firmly over the flex ribbon.
After your Apple iPad Mini 3 home button repair
Power the iPad Mini 3 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 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.
