Manual 03 - Display Assembly / Home Button

We provide two methods for removing the screen: one using a suction cup and another using the iSesamo opening tool. The suction cup method is preferred, but the iSesamo may be necessary if the screen is badly cracked.

Picture 1: Place the suction cup on the screen just above the home button. Apply low-level heat (100° Celsius) around the perimeter of the iPod for 60 seconds. Heat the bottom edge for an additional 60 seconds.

The iPod may be hot to the touch.

Pictures 2 & 3: Use the suction cup to pull the screen up just enough to wedge the blue pry tool between the screen and the rubber bezel encircling it.

Leave suction cup attached.

Picture 1: Wedge a guitar pick in the lower-right corner. Using the blue pry tool, work your way across the bottom edge of the iPod gently prying up as you go.

Picture 2: Wedge a guitar pick in the lower-left corner. Work your way up the left side with the guitar pick.

Picture 3: Gently pull up on the suction cup while using the blue pry tool to lift the lower-left corner. Repeat on the lower-right corner. Create just enough space to grab the screen with your fingers.

If you're unable to create suction, use the alternate method in the next two steps. Otherwise, skip the next two steps.

Picture 1: Apply low-level heat (100° Celsius) around the perimeter of the iPod for 60 seconds. Heat the bottom third of the iPod for an additional 60 seconds.

Picture 2: Insert iSesamo along the right edge, 1 inch from the bottom, at a 90 degree angle.

Make sure you push between the screen and the black rubber bezel (NOT between the bezel and rear case).

Picture 3: Pivot iSesamo to begin freeing the screen from the rear case. Work your way up the right edge with just the tip of the iSesamo as shown.

Picture 1: Continue working along the bottom edge with just the tip of the iSesamo as shown.

Picture 2: Pivot the iSesamo around the bottom left corner then work your way up the left edge.

Picture 3: Avoid the digitizer and LCD ribbon cables as marked in the picture.

Picture 1: Wedge the blue pry tool between the screen and the rubber bezel encircling it.

Picture 2: Gently pry the bottom of the screen free from the rear case with your fingers.

Picture 3: Open the display assembly to a 90 degree angle. Disconnect the LCD ribbon cable with the spudger.

Lay the display assembly flat on the worktable.

Don't separate the two halves as the digitizer cable is still attached to the logic board.

Picture 1: Remove one 2.4 mm Phillips screw and place into SLOT 1

Picture 2: Remove three 2.0 mm Phillips screws and place into SLOT 2.

Picture 3: Remove one 3.5 mm Phillips screw and place into SLOT 3.

Picture 1: Remove two 3.0 mm Phillips screws and place into SLOT 4.

Picture 2: Remove one 2.3 mm Phillips screw and place into SLOT 5.

Picture 3: Remove the rear camera bracket and place into SLOT 6. Avoid the tiny spring circled in red.

Picture 1 & 2: Use the iSesamo to pry up the metal plate from bottom edge of the rear case.

Note: The metal plate continues to the top of the iPod

Picture 3: Use the Blue Pry Tool along the left edge to continue prying up the metal plate.

Place metal plate into ZONE I.

Picture 1: Remove two 2.3 mm Phillips screws and place into SLOT 7.

Picture 2: Remove one 2.0 mm Phillips screw and place into SLOT 8.

Picture 3: Use Black Spudger to lift rear camera until it's just above the logic board.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE REAR CAMERA!

Picture 1: Use Curved Tip Tweezers to remove the copper tape wrapped around the digitizer's ribbon connector.

Picture 2: Place the Black Spudger to the right of the front-facing camera and pry the logic board up slightly.

Picture 3: Use your fingers to lift the top right of the logic board one inch above the rear case.

Ribbon cables are still attached - do not lift higher than an inch.

Picture 1: Use the Black Spudger to disconnect the digitizer ribbon underneath the logic board. Separate the display assembly from the rear case.

Never use metal tools on a working display:

Picture 2: Use iSesamo to dig up front-facing camera bracket. Place in COMPARTMENT A.

Picture 1: Use straight-tip tweezers to pull up the edge of the home button just enough to grab it with your fingers.

Picture 2: Peel away home button and place in COMPARTMENT B.

Picture 1: Place home button from COMPARTMENT B on the display assembly. Make sure the home button is aligned.

Picture 2: On the backside, press home button into place and smooth out any wrinkles in the rubber.

Picture 3: Place front-facing camera bracket from COMPARTMENT A on the display assembly.

If you're replacing the display, remove the protective film on the back of the LCD.

Picture 1: Align the digitizer ribbon connector with its socket on the underside of the logic board.

Picture 2: Push down on the logic board to seat the digitizer ribbon connector.

It may take several attempts to properly align and seat the connector. Don't force it - the digitizer connector should seat with minimal pressure. You'll feel a slight 'click' when it's properly seated.

Picture 1: Use your finger to push the rear camera back into place.

Picture 1: Replace one 2.0 mm Phillips screw from SLOT 8.

Picture 2: Replace two 2.3 mm Phillips screws from SLOT 7.

Picture 3: Replace the rear camera bracket from SLOT 6.

Ensure the spring right of the camera is still in place. If dislodged, re-seat it.

Picture 1: Replace metal plate from ZONE I.

Picture 1: Replace one 2.3 mm Phillips screw from SLOT 5.

Picture 2: Replace two 3.0 mm Phillips screws from SLOT 4.

Picture 3: Replace one 3.5 mm Phillips screw from SLOT 3.

Picture 1: Replace three 2.0 mm Phillips screws from SLOT 2.

Picture 2: Replace one 2.4 mm Phillips screw from SLOT 1.

Remove adhesive and glass shards (if any) from rear case.

Clean adhesive from the screen.

Picture 1: Prepare new adhesive by removing the cutout portions with Curved Tip Tweezers.

Picture 2: Fully prepared adhesive strips.

Picture 1: Place thin adhesive strip at the top of the rear case. Use your fingers to place the upper-left corner and curved-tip tweezers to place the upper-right corner. Peel off the paper backing.

Picture 2: Repeat with adhesive strip at the bottom, but don't close the iPod

Tuck in any part of the adhesive hanging over the edge of the rear case, if necessary.

Picture 1: Make sure the digitizer cable folds into a 'Z' shape when closing the iPod.

Picture 2: Connect the LCD cable.

Picture 3: Power up and test the LCD and digitizer while holding the front panel away from the adhesive on the rear case.

After reassembling an iPod, it is common to see lines down the LCD or a white screen. Try turning it off and back on. If that doesn't work, you may have to perform a soft reset. (Press and hold power and home buttons simultaneously for ten seconds). If issues with the LCD persist, try re-seating the LCD cable.

Picture 1: Make sure the clips on the underside of the display, near the top, seat underneath the lip on the rear case.

Picture 2: Slide the top edge of the display assembly into the rear case.

If any of the adhesive is sticking out between the bezel and the digitizer, use the iSesamo to tuck it underneath the display assembly.

Press top firmly into place. Press bottom of the screen firmly into place.

Picture 3: Using light pressure, run your fingers up and down the left and right edges of the iPod to ensure the new display sits flush against the rear case.

Turn the iPod over and press the screen firmly into place, putting moderate pressure at the top and bottom as pictured. Hold for two minutes.

Power up and test the device.

Let the adhesive cure for at least 30 minutes before returning the device to the customer.