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iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi Volume Button Cable Assembly Replacement

Written By: Paige Reisman (and 5 other contributors)
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Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

45

Time Required

Suggest a time??

Sections

5

Flags

1

Prerequisite Only

Prerequisite Only

Please note that this guide is only a prerequisite for other guides.

Introduction

Pre-requisite only guide to remove the volume button cable assembly from an iPad Air 2. Following this guide, you can either further take apart the assembly in order to replace the volume cable, or you can remove the volume buttons for replacement.

  1. We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener. Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.

    • We recommend that you clean your microwave before proceeding, as any nasty gunk on the bottom may end up stuck to the iOpener.

    • Place the iOpener in the center of the microwave.

    • For carousel microwaves: Make sure the plate spins freely. If your iOpener gets stuck, it may overheat and burn.

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  2. Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.

    • Heat the iOpener for thirty seconds.

    • Throughout the repair procedure, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for an additional thirty seconds at a time.

    • Be careful not to overheat the iOpener during the repair. Overheating may cause the iOpener to burst.

    • Never touch the iOpener if it appears swollen.

    • If the iOpener is still too hot in the middle to touch, continue using it while waiting for it to cool down some more before reheating. A properly heated iOpener should stay warm for up to 10 minutes.

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  3. Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.

    • Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid the hot center.

    • The iOpener will be very hot, so be careful when handling it. Use an oven mitt if necessary.

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  4. If you don't have a microwave, follow this step to heat your iOpener in boiling water. Fill a pot or pan with enough water to fully submerge an iOpener.

    • If you don't have a microwave, follow this step to heat your iOpener in boiling water.

    • Fill a pot or pan with enough water to fully submerge an iOpener.

    • Heat the water to a boil. Turn off the heat.

    • Place an iOpener into the hot water for 2-3 minutes. Make sure the iOpener is fully submerged in the water.

    • Use tongs to extract the heated iOpener from the hot water.

    • Thoroughly dry the iOpener with a towel.

    • The iOpener will be very hot, so be careful to hold it only by the end tabs.

    • Your iOpener is ready for use! If you need to reheat the iOpener, heat the water to a boil, turn off the heat, and place the iOpener in the water for 2-3 minutes.

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  5. 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.

    • 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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  6. The following steps involve using an iOpener to soften the adhesive holding the front panel assembly in place. When using the iOpener, be sure to heat it in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds.

    • The following steps involve using an iOpener to soften the adhesive holding the front panel assembly in place. When using the iOpener, be sure to heat it in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds.

    • Handling it by the tabs on either end, place a heated iOpener over the top edge of the iPad.

    • Let the iOpener sit on the iPad for two minutes to soften the adhesive securing the front panel to the rest of the iPad.

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  7. While the iPad looks uniform from the outside, there are delicate components under certain portions of the front glass. To avoid damage, only heat and pry in the areas described in each step. As you follow the directions, take special care to avoid prying in the following areas: Home Button

    • While the iPad looks uniform from the outside, there are delicate components under certain portions of the front glass. To avoid damage, only heat and pry in the areas described in each step.

    • As you follow the directions, take special care to avoid prying in the following areas:

    • Home Button

    • Front Facing Camera

    • Main Camera

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  8. Place a suction cup over the iPad's front-facing camera and press down to create a seal. To get the most leverage, place the suction cup as close to the edge as possible without going past the edge of the display.

    • Place a suction cup over the iPad's front-facing camera and press down to create a seal.

    • To get the most leverage, place the suction cup as close to the edge as possible without going past the edge of the display.

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  9. Firmly pull up on the suction cup to create a small gap between the front panel and the rear case. Do not pull too hard or you may shatter the glass. Once you've opened a sufficient gap, insert an opening pick into the gap to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

    • Firmly pull up on the suction cup to create a small gap between the front panel and the rear case.

    • Do not pull too hard or you may shatter the glass.

    • Once you've opened a sufficient gap, insert an opening pick into the gap to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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  10. Slide the pick along the edge of the display, towards the headphone jack. If there is still a considerable amount of resistance when sliding the opening pick, repeat the iOpener heating procedure and apply additional heat. Be careful not to let the opening pick slide between the fused LCD and front panel, as doing so can permanently damage the display.

    • Slide the pick along the edge of the display, towards the headphone jack.

    • If there is still a considerable amount of resistance when sliding the opening pick, repeat the iOpener heating procedure and apply additional heat.

    • Be careful not to let the opening pick slide between the fused LCD and front panel, as doing so can permanently damage the display.

    • A good rule of thumb is to never insert the opening pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into the iPad.

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  11. Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera. Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera.

    • Insert a second opening pick by the front-facing camera.

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  12. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button. Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button.

    • Slide the second pick along the top edge of the iPad, towards the Sleep/Wake Button.

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  13. Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera. Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera.

    • Insert a third pick by the front-facing camera.

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  14. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad. Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad.

    • Bring the right opening pick down and around the top right corner of the iPad.

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  15. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet. Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet.

    • Bring the left opening pick around the top left corner of the tablet.

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  17. Reheat the iOpener and lay it over the right edge of the display to loosen the adhesive underneath.

    • Reheat the iOpener and lay it over the right edge of the display to loosen the adhesive underneath.

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  18. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display. Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display.

    • Slide the right opening pick roughly halfway down the display.

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  19. Reheat the iOpener and apply heat to the left side of the iPad.

    • Reheat the iOpener and apply heat to the left side of the iPad.

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  20. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display. Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick about halfway down the edge of the display.

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  21. Slide the opposite opening pick down to the bottom right corner of the iPad. If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly. If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly.

    • Slide the opposite opening pick down to the bottom right corner of the iPad.

    • If necessary, reheat the adhesive on the right edge to loosen the display assembly.

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  22. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner. Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick down the edge of the display until you reach the corner.

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  23. Use the iOpener to apply heat to the bottom edge of the iPad.

    • Use the iOpener to apply heat to the bottom edge of the iPad.

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  24. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad. Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad.

    • Bring the right-hand opening pick around the bottom corner of the iPad.

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  25. Repeat for the left-hand pick. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener.

    • Repeat for the left-hand pick.

    • Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed. Always wait at least ten minutes before reheating the iOpener.

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  26. Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad. Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad.

    • Remove the right-hand opening pick at the bottom of the iPad.

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  27. Slide the left-hand opening pick along the bottom edge of the display, then remove it from the bottom right corner of the iPad. Be very careful to not insert the pick more than 2 mm below home button to avoid damaging the button. Be very careful to not insert the pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into either side of the home button to avoid damaging the display cables underneath.

    • Slide the left-hand opening pick along the bottom edge of the display, then remove it from the bottom right corner of the iPad.

    • Be very careful to not insert the pick more than 2 mm below home button to avoid damaging the button.

    • Be very careful to not insert the pick more than a quarter inch (6 mm) into either side of the home button to avoid damaging the display cables underneath.

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  28. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case. Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case.

    • Twist the remaining pick by the front-facing camera to separate the top edge of the display assembly from the rear case.

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  29. Continue lifting the display assembly from the front-facing camera side. Pull the display slightly away from the bottom edge to completely separate it from the rear case. Keep lifting until the display assembly is roughly perpendicular to the body of the iPad.

    • Continue lifting the display assembly from the front-facing camera side.

    • Pull the display slightly away from the bottom edge to completely separate it from the rear case.

    • Keep lifting until the display assembly is roughly perpendicular to the body of the iPad.

    • Do not attempt to remove the display yet—it is still attached to the rear case by three delicate ribbon cables.

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  30. Remove the single 1.8 mm Phillips screw securing the battery terminals to their contacts on the logic board.

    • Remove the single 1.8 mm Phillips screw securing the battery terminals to their contacts on the logic board.

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  31. These photos show what the battery connector looks like underneath the logic board. Use these photos as a reference while you safely disconnect the battery. Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery. Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery.

    • These photos show what the battery connector looks like underneath the logic board. Use these photos as a reference while you safely disconnect the battery.

    • Notice that the battery connector has springs on the logic board that press down against the battery contact pads. You'll need to slide something thin and flexible between the contact points to disconnect the battery.

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  32. To reduce the risk of a short, you can use a battery isolation pick to disconnect the battery. Be very careful when you isolate the battery using a battery blocker. The battery contacts are easily damaged, resulting in irreversible damage to the logic board.

    • To reduce the risk of a short, you can use a battery isolation pick to disconnect the battery.

    • Be very careful when you isolate the battery using a battery blocker. The battery contacts are easily damaged, resulting in irreversible damage to the logic board.

    • Slide a battery isolation pick underneath the battery connector area of the logic board, and leave it in place while you work.

    • Alternatively, make a battery blocker using a playing card and slide it underneath the logic board connector to disconnect the battery.

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  33. Remove the three 1.3mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket. Remove the bracket. Remove the bracket.

    • Remove the three 1.3mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket.

    • Remove the bracket.

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  34. Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board. Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board.

    • Disconnect the display data connector from its socket on the logic board.

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  35. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable. Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable.

    • Disconnect the two remaining digitizer cables underneath the display data cable.

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  36. Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • If you plan to reuse your display assembly, you will need to replace the display adhesive. Follow our iPad Adhesive Guide to reapply your display adhesive and reseal your device.

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  37. Remove the following four Phillips screws securing the upper component cable bracket to the tablet. Two 1.6 mm Two 1.3 mm

    • Remove the following four Phillips screws securing the upper component cable bracket to the tablet.

    • Two 1.6 mm

    • Two 1.3 mm

    • Slide the upper component cable bracket out from under the protective flaps and remove it from the iPad.

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  38. Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the iSight camera from its socket on the logic board. Remove the iSight camera. Remove the iSight camera.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the iSight camera from its socket on the logic board.

    • Remove the iSight camera.

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  39. Remove the 1.2 mm Phillips screw from the bracket covering the volume button cable connector.

    • Remove the 1.2 mm Phillips screw from the bracket covering the volume button cable connector.

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  40. Remove the bracket.

    • Remove the bracket.

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  41. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the volume button cable connector from its socket. Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the volume button cable connector from its socket.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the volume button cable connector from its socket.

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  42. Remove the following four Phillips screws:

    • Remove the following four Phillips screws:

    • One 2.8 mm

    • Three 2.4 mm

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  43. Slide an opening pick underneath the volume button cable to break up the adhesive attaching it to the rear case. Slide an opening pick underneath the volume button cable to break up the adhesive attaching it to the rear case. Slide an opening pick underneath the volume button cable to break up the adhesive attaching it to the rear case.

    • Slide an opening pick underneath the volume button cable to break up the adhesive attaching it to the rear case.

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  44. Using a spudger or your finger, press in on the volume buttons to pop out the button component board. Using a spudger or your finger, press in on the volume buttons to pop out the button component board. Using a spudger or your finger, press in on the volume buttons to pop out the button component board.

    • Using a spudger or your finger, press in on the volume buttons to pop out the button component board.

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  45. Slide an opening pick underneath the microphone on the ribbon cable. Pry the microphone up to release it from its adhesive. Pry the microphone up to release it from its adhesive.

    • Slide an opening pick underneath the microphone on the ribbon cable.

    • Pry the microphone up to release it from its adhesive.

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  46. Remove the volume button and microphone assembly from the iPad.

    • Remove the volume button and microphone assembly from the iPad.

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Conclusion

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

Author

with 5 other contributors

Paige Reisman

Member since: 2014년 04월 07일

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