Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
21
Time Required
1 - 2 hours
Sections
4
- Taping Over a Cracked Screen
- 1 step
- Screen Removal
- 12 steps
- Battery Disconnection
- 1 step
- Battery
- 7 steps
Flags
2
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Introduction
This iPad uses both stretch-release and normal adhesives to hold the battery in place. Use plenty of high concentration isopropyl alcohol to help remove the battery and to clean any adhesive residue.
For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your tablet. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
You’ll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.
What you need
Step 1
Apply tape to a cracked screen
- If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
- Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad’s display until the whole face is covered.
- This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
- Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.
- Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.
If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPad’s display until the whole face is covered.
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
Do your best to follow the rest of the guide as described. However, once the glass is broken, it will likely continue to crack as you work, and you may need to use a metal prying tool to scoop the glass out.
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes, and be careful not to damage the LCD screen.
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Step 2
Heat the bottom edge
- Completely power off your device before you begin.
- Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.
- A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.
Completely power off your device before you begin.
Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device.
Step 3
Screen removal information
- While you’re waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following:
- The areas at the top and bottom of the screen are sensitive to prying.
- Don’t insert a pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the screen.
- There’s a long circuit board attached to the screen that sits parallel to the left edge.
- Don’t insert a pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
- The first two images are mirrored for demonstration purposes.
While you’re waiting for the adhesive to loosen, note the following:
The areas at the top and bottom of the screen are sensitive to prying.
Don’t insert a pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the screen.
There’s a long circuit board attached to the screen that sits parallel to the left edge.
Don’t insert a pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
The first two images are mirrored for demonstration purposes.
Step 4
Insert an opening pick
- Once the screen is warm to touch, apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen and as close to the edge as possible.
- Lift the screen with the suction handle to create a small gap between the screen and the frame.
- Insert an opening pick into the gap between the frame and the screen.
- Don’t insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
- Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Once the screen is warm to touch, apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen and as close to the edge as possible.
Lift the screen with the suction handle to create a small gap between the screen and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap between the frame and the screen.
Don’t insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging the circuit board.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 5
Separate the bottom adhesive
- Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the device towards the bottom-right corner.
- Leave the pick in to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Slide the pick along the bottom edge of the device towards the bottom-right corner.
Leave the pick in to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 6
Heat the right edge
- Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.
Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the device for 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive underneath.
Step 7
Separate the bottom-right corner adhesive
- Rotate the opening pick around the bottom-right corner of the device.
Rotate the opening pick around the bottom-right corner of the device.
Step 8
Separate the remaining adhesive
- Repeat the heating, slicing, and leaving opening picks for the remaining edges of the device.
- When you slice near the front camera, don’t insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
Repeat the heating, slicing, and leaving opening picks for the remaining edges of the device.
When you slice near the front camera, don’t insert the pick more than 1.5 mm to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
Step 9
Reposition the screen
- If there’s still resistance around the edges of the screen, use an opening pick to cut the adhesive again.
- Don’t try to remove the screen all the way yet; it’s still connected to the frame by a flex cable.
- With the bottom of the device facing you, pull the right edge of the screen up and towards the left edge of the device.
- Rest the screen upside down and parallel to the frame before continuing.
- Don’t twist the screen or move it too far away from the frame to avoid damaging the flex cable.
If there’s still resistance around the edges of the screen, use an opening pick to cut the adhesive again.
Don’t try to remove the screen all the way yet; it’s still connected to the frame by a flex cable.
With the bottom of the device facing you, pull the right edge of the screen up and towards the left edge of the device.
Rest the screen upside down and parallel to the frame before continuing.
Don’t twist the screen or move it too far away from the frame to avoid damaging the flex cable.
Step 10
Unfasten the display cable bracket
- Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the five 1.2 mm-long screws securing the frame bracket to the frame.
Use a Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the five 1.2 mm-long screws securing the frame bracket to the frame.
Step 11
Remove the display cable bracket
- Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the display cable bracket from the frame.
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the display cable bracket from the frame.
Step 12
Disconnect the display
- Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable’s two press connectors secured to the frame.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable’s two press connectors secured to the frame.
Step 13
Remove the screen
- Remove the screen from the frame.
Remove the screen from the frame.
Step 14
Disconnect the battery
- The the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery’s press connector secured to the frame.
- To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.
The the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery’s press connector secured to the frame.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.
Step 15
Battery removal information
- Before you begin the procedure, note the following:
- There are four stretch release adhesive pull tabs that have to be removed to separate the adhesive underneath the battery.
- The remainder of the adhesive is located on the top edge of the battery, near the connector; keep this in mind when inserting a plastic card.
Before you begin the procedure, note the following:
There are four stretch release adhesive pull tabs that have to be removed to separate the adhesive underneath the battery.
The remainder of the adhesive is located on the top edge of the battery, near the connector; keep this in mind when inserting a plastic card.
Step 16
Remove the stretch release adhesive
- Use tweezers, or your fingers, to grasp the black pull tab on one of the adhesive strips.
- Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to grasp the black pull tab on one of the adhesive strips.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
Step 17
- Pull the strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.
- If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers or blunt tweezers, and continue pulling—but do not pry under the battery.
- Repeat the process on all four stretch release adhesive strips.
Pull the strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.
If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers or blunt tweezers, and continue pulling—but do not pry under the battery.
Repeat the process on all four stretch release adhesive strips.
Step 18
Apply isopropyl alcohol
- Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire. In case you’re struggling to pull up the battery, apply more isopropyl alcohol and try again.
- Apply a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to the gaps surrounding the battery’s top edge.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire. In case you’re struggling to pull up the battery, apply more isopropyl alcohol and try again.
Apply a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to the gaps surrounding the battery’s top edge.
Step 19
- Tilt the top edge of the device upward to allow the isopropyl alcohol to work its way underneath the battery.
- Hold for 1–2 minutes to allow time for the isopropyl alcohol to weaken the adhesive.
Tilt the top edge of the device upward to allow the isopropyl alcohol to work its way underneath the battery.
Hold for 1–2 minutes to allow time for the isopropyl alcohol to weaken the adhesive.
Step 20
Separate the battery's adhesive
- Insert a plastic card into the gap between the battery’s top edge and the frame.
- Use the plastic card to slice the adhesive underneath the battery.
Insert a plastic card into the gap between the battery’s top edge and the frame.
Use the plastic card to slice the adhesive underneath the battery.
Step 21
Remove the battery
- Pry up with the plastic card to separate the battery from the frame.
- Remove the battery.
- If there’s any alcohol remaining, use a lint-free cloth to wipe it off or allow it to dry before installing a new battery.
- During reassembly, remove the old adhesive and apply stretch release adhesive strips, double sided adhesive tape, or pre-cut adhesive to secure the new battery.
- Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
Pry up with the plastic card to separate the battery from the frame.
Remove the battery.
If there’s any alcohol remaining, use a lint-free cloth to wipe it off or allow it to dry before installing a new battery.
During reassembly, remove the old adhesive and apply stretch release adhesive strips, double sided adhesive tape, or pre-cut adhesive to secure the new battery.
Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPad mini 6 Answers community for help.
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