Be Excellent To Each Other

My daughter dropped my ipad the other day and smashed the screen. You can imagine how amused I was at this!

Anyway, it's an ipad pro 2017 model. 256gb and because of a grant I had at the time, it cost me £384.

I've been quoted £325 to fix the screen by a place that specialises in broken Apple products which I guess is a fair price but to me, quite expensive seeing as the only thing I really use it for is watching YouTube and scrolling eBay. (Now I think about it, I didn't really use it much at all. The kids used it mainly)

So I'm tempted to try and replace the screen myself. Has anyone here ever done such a thing? I imagine it's hard but not impossible and probably worth it to get it back up and running.

Alternatively, I can get an iPad Air on Amazon for £539. It's 'only' 64gb but on my current iPad, I've only used 55gb and that's with a load of films on that the kids watched travelling to holiday. So should I replace it? Would it even be worth me getting an even cheaper tablet type thing just to watch YouTube on? I know, I know.. I'm thinking out loud here.

So yeah, main question is... Has anyone here replaced an ipad screen and was it easy?

No,

But I understand, if you don't use an Apple bod to fix it, the ipad "knows" this, and then it might refuse to run properly

This is what I was thinking of

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/ ... rty-repair

(although that is over 5 years old, so things may have changed now)

Getting it fixed is still cheaper than a new one!
I’ve read the ifixit repairs for iPad screens, and it is tricky and not something I would attempt, primarily as it is bonded in…

That's interesting. Thanks Malc.. I've had a look at a couple of YouTube videos and they don't mention this so maybe it's not an issue anymore?

What IS an issue is which screen to buy should I want to replace it? I've seen some for £25 and some for £180. I must be getting confused somewhere along the line here.

Yeah, there does seem a lot of glue melting and residue removing. That may be hard to do properly.

I've changed an Ipad screen myself and it was ok. It was an older model though, one with the separate home button.

My biggest problem was getting the old glass off. Because it was cracked, when I started to remove it, the whole thing crumbled to tiny shards of bastard sharp glass. It took ages to get it all.

Also, I put the home button back in backwards, so the magnetic case cover actually UNlocked the screen. Great work, DP

This one has shattered so I think I may have a similar problem. I'll get the vacuum on it first I reckon.

I think I'm going to have a go at replacing it myself. I mean, really... What's the worst that can happen?

Top Tip! Cover the screen in masking tape before you start.

Top Tip! Use a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive.

Nothing to lose if you see how the disassembly goes before shelling out for a new screen.

I've replaced a shattered iPhone 4S screen before and that was fairly straightforward, just fiddly. I imagine it'd be the same here, just dialled up to 11.

The only thing I've heard, similar to Malc's thing I guess, is that if you're replacing the Touch ID sensor at the same time (assuming they're all part of the same part) then the iPad might not like it.

I think the Touch ID will remain and carry across to the new screen from what I've seen. It looks like if that's replaced, it won't work with Touch ID anymore which is fair enough.

Good tips! I wouldn't have thought of the masking tape.

I've also got a heat gun but it may be a bit too powerful for this.

And if the glass is shatterred, you won't need a load of plectrums to wedge under it as you prize it off.

I had one done at a local place about 5 years ago. Dunno if it was a genuine Apple part, but I doubt it, and it was significantly cheaper than an Apple repair. They didn't do a great job, there was (and still is) a bit of dust in the inside of the glass, and the screen underneath is not completely flat, but I don't notice these cock ups any more. It works, and that's the main thing.

Also put some newspaper down.

Take the edge off by buying an old Lexus and heat the screen on an air conditioned seat.

Buy a cheapo tablet for the kids, even a used one. They won't really care as long as it's mostly the same as the old one.

Masking tape over the screen is good
Small containers for any screws is good
Plastic wedges, spudgers and plectrums are good.
Suction cups for lifting or leveraging any unbroken part of the screen is good.
Heat guns are way too powerful for this.
If you have any of those grain filled microwaveable bags that people use for neck/muscle issues, I’d use those. Nuke em and lay them on the screen. Repeat and it should soften them.
Make sure you’ve got a 000 Phillips screwdriver and any other requisite tiny drivers to unscrew things.
Buy some spare screws etc. You will shear the head or lose at least one.
Marvel at how tightly packaged it is. This will saving you turning the air blue while reassembling and wondering how the fuck you’re going to get everything back together.

Brilliant advice and yes, we have one of those grain filled bags! I'd never have thought of that... I'd have just melted it with my heat gun.