iPad 4 Screen Replacement Guide

When the screen on your iPad 4 cracks or shatters, broken pixels accumulate, or you encounter a yellow screen, it’s time to consider an iPad 4 screen replacement. With AppleCare+, the replacement screen for your iPad 4 won’t cost you a dime to fix, but without the protection plan, you’ll be looking at spending a pretty penny to restore your broken iPad 4 screen. Properly protecting your iPad 4 and repairing your device on your own are feasible options. Find more information on how to do protect and repair your iPad 4 screen below.

Protection Options for iPad 4 Screen

To avoid a cracked iPad 4 screen and having to replace the LCD, properly protecting your iPad is your first line of defense. We recommend the following screen protectors, cases, and cleaners:

• InvisibleShield by Zagg starts at $29.99 and is composed of army-grade materials that protect your iPad 4 from scratches, reduces fingerprints, smears and glares while never affecting the touch ability. This product also comes fully equipped with a one-year warranty and a free replacement. To top it all off, Zagg also provides a 45-day return policy just in case you aren’t 100% satisfied.
• Survivor All-Terrain by Griffin sells for $79.99 and is the most protective case you’ll every buy, seriously. The overly-engineered frame is composed of shatter-resistant polycarbonate wrapped in rugged, shock absorbing silicone. The Survivor All-Terrain is also tested and certified to meet and exceed US Department of Defense Standard 810F to protect your device from sand, dirt, rain, shock, vibration and mother nature completely.
• OmniCleanz by Radtech starts at $6.95 and is 100% safe, contains no alcohol, ammonia, detergents or harmful VOC’s. Omnicleanz leaves no residue, non-streaking and is excellent for LCD and plasma displays.

iPad 4 Screen Replacement Cost

When deciding on a repair provider, ensure you get the best price, parts and expert technicians to repair your precious iPad 4. You have the ability to choose from the Apple Store, a competitor of CPR or the expert technicians of CPR Cell Phone Repair.

Official Apple Store

AppleCare+ covers two incidents of accidental damage, each with a $49.00 service fee, and the out-of-warranty cost is $299.00 to repair your broken iPad 4 LCD.

Competitor of CPR

There are alternative repair solutions like uBreakiFix who charge $149.99 (labor not included) to repair the iPad 4 glass replacement. Remember that uBreakiFix only offers a 90-day warranty, but CPR Cell Phone Repair offers a limited lifetime warranty to all customers on parts and labor associated with preceding repairs.

CPR Service

To ensure your broken iPad 4’s screen is replaced for the best price, with the highest quality parts and the quickest turnaround, the technicians at CPR Cell Phone Repair are the experts to trust and rely on. CPR technicians can repair the LCD and digitizer (labor included) for $119 – $129 respectively.

How to Replace iPad 4 Screen – DIY Guide

Follow CPR Cell Phone Repair’s step-by-step instructions to replace a broken iPad 4 screen. First, you’ll need a screen replacement kit. You can find excellent iPad 4 screen repair kits online for only $79.99. A good kit provides you with all the tools and instructions you’ll need to successfully repair your iPad 4 screen with your own hands.

NOTE: We highly recommend using safety glasses during the repair to prevent flying glass shards from entering your eyes.

• Spudger
• Phillips #0 screwdriver
• Tweezers
• Plastic opening tools
• iFixit Opening picks – set of six
• iPad 3/4 front glass/digitizer touch panel

Step 1: Heating The iOpener

Prior to heating the iOpener, we recommend thoroughly cleaning your microwave as food particles may stick to the iOpener. Place the iOpener directly in the center of your microwave and heat for thirty seconds. During the heating process, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for thirty-second intervals.

NOTE: Never touch the iOpener if it appears to be swollen and be cautious not to overheat during the repair as it may lead the iOpener to burst.

Step 2

Take the iOpener out of the microwave by carefully holding it by one of the two flat ends to avoid touching the hot center. We recommend using an oven mitt for extra precaution.

Step 3: The Front Panel

If your iPad 4 glass is shattered, to prevent further breakage and bodily harm, simply tape the glass by laying strips of clear scotch tape over the entire iPad display. Doing so will keep glass shards intact when prying and lifting the display.

Step 4

Place the iOpener flat on the right edge of your iPad, so that it’s completely smooth against the surface of your device. Let the iOpener bag sit on the iPad for approximately 90 seconds prior to opening the front panel.

Step 5

You’ll notice there’s a small gap in the iPad’s adhesive ring located in the upper right corner, approximately 2.0 inches from the top of the iPad. Take your opening tool and align it with the mute button. Then you’ll insert the tip of the plastic opening tool directly inside the gap located between the front glass and the plastic bezel.

Patiently and carefully wedge the tip of the opening tool between the plastic and the glass, slowly wiggling the plastic opening tool back and forth.

Step 6

Ensure you properly place the tool in the exact spot between the plastic display bezel and the front panel glass on your iPad.

Step 7

Make sure that the tip of the plastic opening tool remains wedged between the front glass and plastic bezel by sliding a plastic opening pick directly into the gap, right next to the opening tool.

Step 8

Carefully remove the plastic opening tool from the iPad and gently push the opening pick further underneath the front glass about 0.5 inches and no further.

Step 9

Gently release and remove the adhesive on the right side of your iPad, reheat the iOpener, and place it directly on the bottom edge of your iPad.

Step 10

Begin slowly releasing the adhesive from the right side of the iPad while the bottom edge is heated by the iOpener.

Step 11

As you remove the adhesive, you may need to move the heated iOpener back onto the right edge of the iPad depending on how cool the iOpener becomes while working. Continue removing the adhesive by slowly “rolling” the pick along the side of the iPad.

Step 12

Insert a second pick directly under the right edge of the front glass to ensure the adhesive does not reapply. Do not remove the first opening pick from the bottom corner of the iPad. You’ll then want to reheat the iOpener and place it directly on the top edge of the iPad.

Step 13

NOTE: The following steps require you to take extreme caution.

Directly attached to the bottom right edge of the rear case of the iPad, you’ll see the Wi-Fi antenna. It’s connected via screws and a cable, and it’s imperative to continue cautiously. Damages to the Wi-Fi antenna are irreversible.

Gently release the adhesive that’s securing the antenna to the front panel without damaging the fragile parts attaching the antenna to the iPad. Proceed with caution.

Step 14
Carefully slide the opening pick slowly around the bottom right corner of the iPad so the adhesive is released.

NOTE: Do not slide the pick past the right corner as you’ll damage the Wi-Fi antenna.

Step 15

The Wi-Fi antenna is extremely close to the right edge of the iPad and is easily damaged if the adhesive is released incorrectly. Without completely removing the pick from underneath the front glass, gently pull it out a little so that 1/8” of the pick is still gently tucked under the front glass.

Cautiously slide the tip of the opening pick along the bottom edge of the iPad to release the adhesive over the Wi-Fi antenna.

Step 16

Once past the Wi-Fi antenna, insert the opening pick to its full depth. Then you’ll gently slide the pick to the right ensuring the adhesive securing the Wi-Fi antenna is released from the front glass.

The Wi-Fi antenna is secured to the bottom of the iPad via screws and a cable, so carefully detaching the antenna from the front panel while ensuring that when you remove the panel the antenna isn’t damaged, is crucial.

Step 17

Continue to release the adhesive along the bottom of the iPad by gently pulling the opening pick out far enough that it safely goes around the home button, and re-inserting once it successfully makes it past.

If at any point the adhesive has cooled, reheat the iOpener to warm the spots where you’re working. Never reheat the iOpener more than a minute to avoid bursting the pouch.

Step 18

Continue to work your way around along the iPad releasing the adhesive and leave the opening pick wedged underneath the front glass by the home button.

Step 19

Start warming the adhesive on the left edge of the iPad by properly preparing your iOpener.

Step 20

Carefully slide your opening pick along the top edge of the iPad, slightly pulling it out to go around the front facing camera. You’ll notice that the adhesive around this section is particularly thick, so applying gentle force may be required. Again, if the adhesive has cooled make sure to reheat your iOpener and place it on the desired area.

Step 21

Remove the adhesive by sliding the opening pick around the top left corner.

Step 22

The digitizer cable is located 2” from the bottom of your iPad so do not slide the pick once you’ve reached 2.25” from the bottom of your iPad.

Step 23

The opening pick should still be located underneath the bottom edge of the iPad, so release the adhesive along the bottom left corner gently. Work carefully to ensure no damages occur to the cable as it’s only 1” from the bottom of the iPad.

Step 24

Gently pry up the bottom right corner of the iPad with your opening pick and grab it with your fingers. If any of the adhesive is stuck, slowly slide your pick to “cut” the adhesive.

Step 25

Hold the iPad at the top and bottom right corners, and rotate the front glass away from your iPad. Cut free any adhesive that may be still holding the front panel down.

Step 26: The Front Panel Assembly

Remove the four 2 mm Phillips #00 screws that are securing the LCD to the iPad’s aluminum frame. To remove the bottom left screw, carefully move the home button ribbon cable aside.

Step 27

Using the spudger or plastic opening tool, slowly lift the right edge of the LCD out of your iPad. Then rotate the LCD along the left edge and gently lay it down directly on top of the front glass panel.

Step 28: The LCD

Use the tip of the spudger tool to slowly peel away the piece of tape covering the LCD ribbon cable connector.

Step 29

Carefully flip up the retaining flap located on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF connector. Next, use a pair of tweezers to slowly pull the LCD ribbon cable from its socket located on the logic board.

Step 30

Do not touch the front LCD, but lift the LCD off the front panel carefully.

Step 31: The Front Panel Assembly

Slowly remove the piece of electrical tape covering the Wi-Fi antenna, speaker cable, and the home button ribbon cable.

Step 32

Carefully flip up the flap on the home button ribbon cable ZIF connector.

Step 33

Using tweezers, gently pull the home button ribbon cable out of its socket located on the logic board.

Step 34

Next, you’ll want to de-route the home button ribbon cable from its socket in the rear of your iPad case.

Step 35

Using tweezers, slowly peel back the piece of tape that secures the digitizer ribbon cable that’s connected to the logic board.

Step 36

Carefully flip up the retaining flap on both of the digitizer ribbon cable ZIF connectors.

Step 37

Use the flat end of a spudger tool to loosen the adhesive underneath the digitizer ribbon cable. Then you’ll want to pull the digitizer ribbon cable out of its sockets located on the logic board.

Step 38

Slowly peel away the digitizer ribbon cable and use the flat end of a spudger tool to release the adhesive that’s securing the cable to the rear aluminum case.

Step 39

Use your fingers to peel the digitizer ribbon cable from out of its recess in the frame and remove the front panel directly from your iPad.

Step 40: The Home Button Assembly

The iOpener will assist in softening the adhesive on the home button assembly when removing it from the front panel. Place your iOpener directly over the home button on the front edge of your iPad’s display.

Step 41

Gently peel the home button ribbon cable from the front panel.

Step 42

Carefully wedge the plastic opening tool under the right side of the home button assembly and slowly pry upwards, releasing the adhesive. Using the techniques mentioned above, release the adhesive on the left side of your iPad’s home button. Slowly lift the home button mount up off the front panel.

Step 43

Gently insert the edge of your plastic opening tool underneath the edge of the home button mounting bracket. Then, slide your plastic opening tool along the retaining spring bracket to release the adhesive. Finally, you’ll remove the home button with the mounting bracket from the front panel.

Step 44: The Camera Bracket

The camera’s bracket is directly attached to the front panel by adhesive, and using the iOpener will soften the adhesive prior to removal. Place your heated iOpener directly over the front facing camera on the front edge of the top display.

Step 45

Using the flat end of the spudger, gently push the camera bracket off the adhesive that’s securing it to the front panel. You’ll then notice that the camera bracket will move about 2 mm to the right or left depending on which way you push it.

Step 46

Gently lift and remove the camera bracket up and away from the front panel.

Step 47: The Front Panel

Finally, the front panel remains. Reassemble your iPad 4 by following these instructions in reverse order. Use the iPad 4 front panel adhesive strips to reattach the front panel.

To ensure your broken iPad 4’s screen is repaired by the best technicians with the highest quality parts and backed by a limited lifetime warranty, you can rely on the experts at CPR Cell Phone Repair. To learn more about our iPad 4 repair services, please contact your local CPR Cell Phone Repair today!