The battery has a limited lifespan, and its health degrades over time. If your iPad is losing charge more quickly than it should, the battery needs a replacement. 

Replacing the iPad battery comes with a few caveats. For starters, the cost of iPad battery replacement is quite high, and you may not be compelled to pay that much for replacing the battery of an old iPad. 

Why not replace the iPad battery yourself? Not only will you save a lot of money, but you can get the iPad repaired in a single day. Don’t worry if you have never done this repair before because this article has a step-by-step DIY guide for iPad battery replacement. 

What will you need for the iPad battery replacement repair?

The following tools aid the iPad battery replacement process and help streamline the process. 

• New iPad battery 
• T5 Torx Screwdriver
• Suction cup
• Metal Spudger 
• Triangle plastic opening pick 
• Tweezer

What is the difficulty level of the Repair? 

The difficulty level of the repair varies from person to person. It depends on how familiar you are with the tools and if you have previously repaired an iPad before. 

Someone who hasn’t repaired an iPad before will find the DIY iPad battery replacement to be quite difficult. Generally speaking, on a scale of 1-10, the iPad battery replacement gets a 7 for difficulty. 

What is the average time needed to complete the repair?

The average time needed to complete the repair greatly varies depending on the user's level of expertise and how hard he is willing to push the repair. On average, most users take 3-5 hours to complete the iPad battery replacement process. Needless to say, a lot of spare time is required if you want to attempt this repair. 

How do I know if my iPad battery needs replacing?

The main symptom of a bad battery is losing charge quickly and unevenly. If the battery drops 1% in less than a minute or if the battery drains directly from 80% to 50%, it needs replacing.

iPad Battery Replacement - DIY Guide 

Source 

Step 1: Discharge the battery and turn off the device

• The battery is flammable, and any puncture during the repair can ignite a fire. So, before attempting the repair, drain the iPad’s battery and remove any cables attached to it. 
• Press and hold the top power and the volume down buttons until you see the slider. To get the device ready for repair, turn it off. 

Step 2: Pry open the display

• The iPad opens from the front. The screen of the iPad is attached to the frame using 14 clips. 
• To release the clips, use a metal spudger and place it between the frame and the screen. 
• Gently pry the screen away from the frame to free the clips. Make sure you are not using excessive force. The clips are fragile, and they can be easily bent or broken. 
• Every side of the iPad has multiple clips that you will need to undo. Once you have released a clip, place a triangle opening pick between the screen and the frame so that it stays put while you are working on the next clip.   
• Rinse and repeat the process until all 14 clips are free and the screen becomes loose.

Step 3: Separate the Display from the frame

• Once you have released all 14 clips, the screen should be loose. 
• Lift up the screen from the bottom edge, and it should come right off with three cables still attached. 
• Lifting the screen from the top edge can cause damage to the display cables, so make sure you are separating the screen from the left side.           

Step 4: Disconnect the Digitizer Cable 

• The digitizer cable is located at the bottom edge of the iPad. 
• To disconnect this cable, use a plastic pry bar tool to lift up the retaining flap on the socket. This will open the socket, and the digitizer ribbon cable should come right off. 

Step 5: Disconnect the ambient light sensor cable

• The ambient light sensor cable is located in the middle section of the iPad. 
• Disconnect the ambient light sensor cable by sliding the plastic pry bar under the connector and pushing it up. 

Step 6: Disconnect the data cable

• Lift open the pull tab containing the metal bracket. 
• Slide the cable out of the connector socket to release it. 
• After the data cable is disconnected, you can remove the front screen assembly from the frame. 

Step 7: Remove the logic board

• To remove the logic board, you will need to disconnect the speaker, side button, and headphone jack cable and remove four screws. 
• The first cable is located at the top left of the iPad, next to the Digitizer ribbon connector. Disconnect it using a plastic spudger. 
• The next cable is located near the data cable connector. Disconnect it using the same procedure.
• The last cable is located right next to the battery; disconnect it as well. 
• After disconnecting all three cables, undo the four screws holding the logic board to the frame. 
• Use a spudger and lift up the long L-shaped strip running down the middle of the battery. This is called the dock. At this point, remove the dock partially. Lifting it slightly will give enough clearance for the logic board to come out from the iPad.

Step 8: Remove the Dock 

• To Remove the dock, undo the three Torx T5 screws. 
• After the screws are removed, pry the dock using a plastic spudger to separate it from the iPad. 
• The dock has two small flimsy cables attached. These are for the Wi-Fi and the Bluetooth antenna. To remove these cables, slide a plastic spudger underneath the tip of the connector and push the spudger upwards to release the cables. 
• The dock should now come right off, and you can set it aside. 

Step 9: Disconnect the speaker assembly

• To remove the speaker assembly, undo the single Torx screw holding the speaker to the iPad’s frame. 
• Push the speaker up and away from you to release it from the frame. 

Step 10: Remove the battery

• The battery is installed using adhesive. Pry the battery using a plastic spudger to break away the adhesive. 
• Start prying from the lower right side of the battery and move your way up until the entire right side is free from adhesive. Repeat the same on all the other sides of the battery.
• After the adhesive has become loose, use a metal spudger to lift the battery away from its housing. If you feel resistance, gently wiggle the spudger to remove any leftover adhesive residue. 

Step 11: Install the new battery

• Before installing the new battery, clean the surface using isopropyl alcohol. The isopropyl alcohol will dissolve any leftover adhesive, ensuring that the new battery can bond better with the surface. 
• Align the battery correctly and gently put it in its place. Give the battery a slight wiggle to validate if it is correctly seated into its place. 

Step 12: Re-attach the speaker assembly 

• Align the speaker assembly with the bottom edge of the case and install it. 
• To secure the speaker assembly to the iPad frame, tighten the single Torx T5 screw. 

Step 13: Re-attach the Dock

• The dock attaches to the middle of the battery. Before placing the dock on the battery, make sure to connect the Bluetooth and the Wi-Fi cables. 
• You will need to fasten three Torx T5 screws to secure the dock in place. 

Step 14: Re-attach the logic board

• Using the dock as a guiding support, tuck the end of the logic board underneath the dock to align it with its housing. 
• Once the logic board is set up properly, secure it in place using four screws. 
• Do not forget to replug the speaker, headphone, and side button cables.

Step 15: Re-plug the Digitizer, Data, and Ambient light sensor cables

• After the screen is aligned correctly, re-plug the Digitizer, data, and ambient light sensor cables to their respective connectors. 
• To plug in the Digitizer and the data cable, you will need to open the socket first by releasing the metal bracket, and then you will be able to slide the ribbon cable into the connector. 

Step 16: Attach the Display

• Align the edges of the display with the frame, ensuring that all 14 clips line up with their respective locks. 
• Using even force push on the edges of the display to lock all the clips. 
• You will know the display is attached properly if it sits flush with the iPad’s frame. 

If you feel that you cannot follow all the steps correctly or the damage is more serious than you thought, try to contact a professional repair store who can fix your device in no time.

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