Ipad Mini 6 Sim Card Reader Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

SIM Card
1 step
Taping Over a Cracked Screen
1 step
Screen Removal
12 steps
Battery Disconnection
1 step
SIM Card Reader
5 steps

Flags

In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

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Introduction

You’ll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the SIM card tray

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole on the bottom-right edge of the device.
Press the SIM eject tool into the SIM card tray hole to eject the SIM card tray.
Remove the SIM card tray.
If you accidentally inserted the SIM eject tool into a microphone hole, don’t worry! You most likely didn’t damage the microphone.

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole on the bottom-right edge of the device.

Press the SIM eject tool into the SIM card tray hole to eject the SIM card tray.

Remove the SIM card tray.

If you accidentally inserted the SIM eject tool into a microphone hole, don’t worry! You most likely didn’t damage the microphone.

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Step 2

              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.

Step 3

              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 4

              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 5

              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 6

              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 7

              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 8

              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 9

              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 10

              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 11

              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 12

              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 13

              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 14

              Remove the screen

Remove the screen from the frame.

Remove the screen from the frame.

Step 15

              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 16

              Remove the tape

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the black tape on top of the SIM card reader’s ZIF connector.

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the black tape on top of the SIM card reader’s ZIF connector.

Step 17

              Disconnect the SIM card reader's ZIF connector

Use a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the SIM card reader cable’s ZIF connector.

Use a spudger, an opening tool, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the SIM card reader cable’s ZIF connector.

Step 18

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the SIM card reader cable straight out of its connector on the frame.

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the SIM card reader cable straight out of its connector on the frame.

Step 19

              Separate the SIM card reader's adhesive

Insert an opening pick between the frame and the SIM card reader’s edge closest to its ZIF connector.
Slice while prying up with the pick around the perimeter of the reader to separate the adhesive.

Insert an opening pick between the frame and the SIM card reader’s edge closest to its ZIF connector.

Slice while prying up with the pick around the perimeter of the reader to separate the adhesive.

Step 20

              Remove the SIM card reader

Gently peel back the remaining adhesive attached to the SIM card reader.
Remove the SIM card reader.

Gently peel back the remaining adhesive attached to the SIM card reader.

Remove the SIM card reader.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPad mini 6 Answers community for help.

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Author

                    Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 01/16/2022

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