Featured

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

17

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

3

  • Glass Panel
  • 7 steps
  • Display
  • 5 steps
  • Display
  • 5 steps

Flags

1

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

  • BackiPod Nano 4th Generation

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Glass Panel
  • Insert the edge of an iPod opening tool into the gap between the outer case and the top bezel.
  • Pry the top bezel off the adhesive securing it to the display retainer.
  • At this point the hold switch slider is free and may fall. Be careful not to lose it.

Insert the edge of an iPod opening tool into the gap between the outer case and the top bezel.

Pry the top bezel off the adhesive securing it to the display retainer.

At this point the hold switch slider is free and may fall. Be careful not to lose it.

1024

Step 2

  • Remove the hold switch slider from the top of the Nano.

Remove the hold switch slider from the top of the Nano.

Step 3

  • Remove the two angled Phillips screws from the two corners of the display retainer.
  • These screw heads are extremely small and easily stripped.

Remove the two angled Phillips screws from the two corners of the display retainer.

These screw heads are extremely small and easily stripped.

Step 4

  • Insert an iPod opening tool between the outer case and the display retainer.
  • Use the tool to slide the display assembly out of the case slightly.
  • Do not rotate the display retainer about the top edge of the display, as it is attached to a thin steel bracket that is easily broken.
  • Do not forcefully remove the display retainer, as the hold switch cable is liable to snap.

Insert an iPod opening tool between the outer case and the display retainer.

Use the tool to slide the display assembly out of the case slightly.

Do not rotate the display retainer about the top edge of the display, as it is attached to a thin steel bracket that is easily broken.

Do not forcefully remove the display retainer, as the hold switch cable is liable to snap.

Step 5

  • Slide the display out of the Nano. It will move about .5" until the display data cable limits its travel.
  • Do not put unnecessary tension on the very thin display data cable.

Slide the display out of the Nano. It will move about .5" until the display data cable limits its travel.

Do not put unnecessary tension on the very thin display data cable.

Step 6

  • With the display pulled out of the case as much as possible, gently press on the lower edge of the glass panel until it pops in slightly (~1 mm).
  • Use your thumbs on the lower edge of the glass panel to slide the glass down and into the case until the top edge pops up out of the case.

With the display pulled out of the case as much as possible, gently press on the lower edge of the glass panel until it pops in slightly (~1 mm).

Use your thumbs on the lower edge of the glass panel to slide the glass down and into the case until the top edge pops up out of the case.

Step 7

  • Lift the glass panel out of the Nano.
  • Before reinstalling the glass panel, be sure to clean the face of the display and the inside of the panel as any dust or fingerprints will be annoyingly visible when the Nano is turned on.

Lift the glass panel out of the Nano.

Before reinstalling the glass panel, be sure to clean the face of the display and the inside of the panel as any dust or fingerprints will be annoyingly visible when the Nano is turned on.

Step 8

              Display
  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to separate the hold switch from the adhesive securing it to the top edge of the display.
  • The hold switch ribbon cable is extremely fragile and easily broken. Work gently.

Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to separate the hold switch from the adhesive securing it to the top edge of the display.

The hold switch ribbon cable is extremely fragile and easily broken. Work gently.

Step 9

  • Peel back the Kapton tape covering the display data cable socket.

Peel back the Kapton tape covering the display data cable socket.

Step 10

  • While holding the light colored socket down with one finger, use the tip of a spudger to flip the ZIF cable lock up toward the bottom of the Nano.

While holding the light colored socket down with one finger, use the tip of a spudger to flip the ZIF cable lock up toward the bottom of the Nano.

Step 11

  • Use an iPod opening tool to peel the display data cable off the thin metal plate attached to the display.
  • Be careful not to rip the display data cable.

Use an iPod opening tool to peel the display data cable off the thin metal plate attached to the display.

Be careful not to rip the display data cable.

Step 12

  • Pull the display out of the Nano, minding the hold switch cable that may get caught.
  • As you pull the display out of the case, be careful not to break the hold switch cable.

Pull the display out of the Nano, minding the hold switch cable that may get caught.

As you pull the display out of the case, be careful not to break the hold switch cable.

Step 13

              Display
  • If present, remove the strip of tape covering the display electronics.

If present, remove the strip of tape covering the display electronics.

Step 14

  • The display bracket is attached to the display by a strip of adhesive around its perimeter.
  • Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the display bracket off the rear of the display.
  • Continue separating the display bracket along the side of the display.

The display bracket is attached to the display by a strip of adhesive around its perimeter.

Use the edge of an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the display bracket off the rear of the display.

Continue separating the display bracket along the side of the display.

Step 15

  • Separate the display bracket from the other side of the display.

Separate the display bracket from the other side of the display.

Step 16

  • Use an iPod opening tool to carefully peel the display electronics off the display bracket.

Use an iPod opening tool to carefully peel the display electronics off the display bracket.

Step 17

  • Remove the display from the display bracket.

Remove the display from the display bracket.

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

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      48 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 4 other contributors 


                    Andrew Bookholt

575,478 Reputation

                                      618 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       47







                                                        +44 more badges

Fred Rodolf - Jul 27, 2010

Reply

And what to do if you break the hold switch?!

irrevocablemihiranga97 - Jun 23, 2015

Reply

Hello, can I connect a 10" LCD display to the iPod display connection instead of it’s original display?

the bongo guy - Oct 20, 2020

No. No idea what you’re talking about because even if it was connected it wouldn’t physically fit. TV out would be your best friend.

ndinijimi - Jul 13, 2019

Reply

Your instructions are well prepared and very helpful! Thanks a lot!