iPad 2 Wi-Fi EMC 2415 Dock Connector Replacement

Use this guide to replace a broken dock connector.

Sections
iOpener Heating 3 steps
Front Panel 23 steps
LCD 2 steps
Dock Connector 4 steps
Tools
iFixit Opening Picks set of 6 Buy it
Buy these parts and tools
Tools (continued)
iOpener Buy it
Phillips #00 Screwdriver Buy it
Plastic Opening Tools Buy it
Relevant Parts
iPad 2 Dock Connector

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EditStep 1 — iOpener Heating
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.
If you have not used your iOpener for some time, or if you're using a new iOpener for the first time, microwave it wrapped in a damp paper towel. This will prevent it from burning if it is overheated.
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EditStep 2
Heat the iOpener for one minute on the highest power setting.
If you are using one of the new, gel-filled iOpeners, heat the iOpener for only thirty seconds.
Throughout the repair procedure, as the iOpener cools, reheat it in the microwave for an additional minute at a time.
If you are using one of the new, gel-filled iOpeners, only reheat the iOpener for thirty seconds at a time.
Be careful not to overheat the iOpener during the repair. Always wait at least two minutes before reheating the iOpener.
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EditStep 3
Remove the iOpener from the microwave, holding it by the printed tag.
If your iOpener has no tag, grab it by a corner, or handle with an oven mitt to avoid burning yourself.
The bag will be very hot, so be careful when handling it. Use an oven mitt if necessary.
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EditStep 4 — Front Panel
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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5 EditStep 5
Again, as you may find yourself working with broken glass during this procedure, we strongly recommend wearing safety glasses for protection from flying shards.
Lay the iOpener flat on the right edge of the iPad, smoothing it out so that there is good contact between the surface of the iPad and the iOpener.
Let the bag sit on the iPad for approximately 90 seconds before attempting to open the front panel.
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8 EditStep 6
There is a small gap in the iPad's adhesive ring in the upper right corner of the iPad, approximately 2.0 inches (~5 cm) from the top of the iPad. You are going to exploit this weakness.
Align the tool with the mute button. Insert the tip of a plastic opening tool into the gap between the front glass and the plastic bezel. Just insert the very tip of the opening tool, just enough to widen the crack.
It may require some force to get the wedged tip of the opening tool between the glass and plastic. Work patiently and carefully, wiggling the plastic opening tool back and forth as necessary.
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EditStep 7
Make sure you place the tool in the proper spot—between the plastic display bezel and the front panel glass.
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EditStep 8
Keeping the tip of the plastic opening tool wedged between the front glass and plastic bezel, slide a plastic opening pick in the gap, right next to the plastic opening tool.
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2 EditStep 9
Remove the plastic opening tool from the iPad, and push the opening pick further underneath the front glass to a depth of ~0.5 inches.
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EditStep 10
While you work on releasing the adhesive on the right side of the iPad, reheat the iOpener, and replace it on the bottom edge of the iPad.
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EditStep 11
While the bottom edge is being heated by the iOpener, begin releasing the adhesive from the right edge of the iPad.
Slide the opening pick down along the edge of the iPad, releasing the adhesive as you go.
The adhesive is very strong, and some serious force may be required. Work carefully.
If you can see the tip of the opening pick underneath the front glass, pull the pick out just a little bit. While using the opening pick this deep won't damage anything, it may get adhesive residue all over the LCD.
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EditStep 12
It may be necessary to move the heated iOpener back onto the right edge of the iPad as you release the adhesive. This depends on how long the iPad has been able to cool while you were working on it.
If the opening pick gets stuck in the adhesive, "roll" the pick along the side of the iPad, continuing to release the adhesive.
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EditStep 13
Before removing the first opening pick from the bottom corner of the iPad, insert a second pick under the right edge of the front glass to keep the adhesive from re-adhering.
Re-heat the iOpener, and move it to the top edge of the iPad.
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EditStep 14
The next few steps require extreme caution.
The Wi-Fi antenna is attached to the bottom right edge of the rear case of the iPad via screws and a cable. Because of the orientation of the Wi-Fi antenna, it is imperative to proceed with caution otherwise irreversible damage to the Wi-Fi antenna may result.
You will have to release the adhesive securing the antenna to the front panel without damaging the delicate parts attaching the antenna to the bottom of the iPad. Follow the next steps carefully.
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2 EditStep 15
Slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPad, releasing the adhesive there.
Do not slide the pick further than the bottom right corner. You may damage the Wi-Fi antenna by doing so.
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3 EditStep 16
This step requires you to move the opening pick along the bottom right edge of the front panel. The Wi-Fi antenna is very close to the corner and is easily severed if the adhesive is released improperly.
Do not completely remove the pick from under the front glass, but pull it out just a little bit so that ~1/8" of the tip is still under the front glass.
Slide the tip of the opening pick along the bottom edge of the iPad, releasing the adhesive over the Wi-Fi antenna.
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1 EditStep 17
Once you have moved past the Wi-FI antenna (approximately 3" from the right edge, or right next to the home button) re-insert the opening pick to its full depth.
Slide the pick to the right, releasing the adhesive securing the Wi-Fi antenna to the front glass.
The antenna is attached to the bottom of the iPad via screws and a cable. This step detaches the antenna from the front panel, ensuring that when you remove the panel, the antenna will not be damaged.
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EditStep 18
Continue releasing the adhesive along the bottom of the iPad, pulling the opening pick out far enough to go around the home button, and re-inserting it once the pick is past the home button.
If the adhesive has cooled too much along the bottom edge, reheat the iOpener to warm the adhesive where you are working.
Do not heat the iOpener more than a minute at a time, and always allow at least two minutes before reheating it.
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1 EditStep 19
Continue releasing the adhesive all the way along the bottom edge of the iPad.
Leave the opening pick wedged underneath the front glass near the home button.
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EditStep 20
Reheat the iOpener in the microwave and set it on the left edge of the iPad to start warming the adhesive in that section.
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2 EditStep 21
Slide the opening pick along the top edge of the iPad, pulling it out slightly to go around the front-facing camera bracket.
The adhesive along this section is very thick, and a fair amount of force may be required. Work carefully and slowly, making sure to not slip and damage yourself or your iPad.
If the adhesive has cooled too much, replace the iOpener along the top edge and continue working. If the iOpener has cooled too much, reheat it.
If the opening pick is getting stuck in the adhesive, "roll" the pick as shown in step 8.
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EditStep 22
Continue releasing the adhesive along the top edge of the iPad, and slide the opening pick around the top left corner.
If the adhesive is warm enough, remove the iOpener from the iPad for convenience. However, if the adhesive is still quite sticky, re-heat the iOpener and lay it on the left edge while you work.
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1 EditStep 23
Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the iPad, releasing the adhesive as you go.
The digitizer cable is located approximately 2" from the bottom of the iPad. Stop sliding the pick when you get ~2.25" from the bottom of the iPad.
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EditStep 24
Using the opening pick that is still underneath the bottom edge of the iPad, release the adhesive along the bottom left corner.
The bottom of the digitizer cable is only ~1" from the bottom of the iPad. Work carefully and slowly, making sure to not sever this cable.
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2 EditStep 25
Using one of the opening picks, pry up the bottom right corner of the iPad and grab it with your fingers.
Some of the adhesive along the perimeter of the iPad may have stuck back down again. If this is the case, slide a pick underneath the edge of the iPad where the front glass is still stuck and "cut" the adhesive.
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6 EditStep 26
Holding the iPad by the top and bottom right corners, rotate the front glass away from the iPad.
Be careful of any adhesive that may still be attached, and use an opening pick to cut any adhesive that may still be holding the front panel down.
4 EditStep 27 — LCD
Remove the four 2.0 mm Phillips screws securing the LCD to the rear case.
EditStep 28
The front panel ribbon cables are connected beneath the LCD. To access them, you'll need to temporarily flip the LCD over and out of the way.
Be very careful when moving the LCD, and do not attempt to remove it from the iPad—its display data cable will remain connected while it is rotated over.
Lift the LCD from its long edge closest to the volume buttons and gently flip it out of the rear case—like turning the page in a book.
Set the LCD face down on the front panel.
EditStep 29 — Dock Connector
Use a plastic opening tool to help remove the piece of tape covering the end of the dock connector cable.
EditStep 30
Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to carefully pry the dock connector cable's connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Peel the dock connector ribbon cable off the rear case.
Do not try to completely remove the cable, as it is still securely attached to the rear case.
1 EditStep 31
Remove the two 2.0 mm Phillips screws securing the dock connector to the rear case.
EditStep 32
Pull the dock connector out of its slot in the rear case and remove it from the iPad 2.