Apple iPod Gen 1-4

How to fully disassemble an iPod 4th Gen

2009-01-01T22:03:25Z

Preparations

Read this website's Legal Guidelines and make sure you understand the risks of this repair. Place your Apple iPod 4th Generation on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the required opening tools

Step 1
The narrow part of the backplate between dock connector and the front plate is the best place to insert the safe open tool.

Step 2
Slide the tool through the dock connector aperture to create a gap between backplate and frontplate.

Step 3
Use the gap just created to start separating the backplate from the frontplate.

Step 4
Slide the spudger towards the edge, holding the open tool down firmly to keep it inside the gap. The goal is to maintain the gap, while you slide the tool around the corner.

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8
Repeat the last steps and twist the safe open tool. You will need to apply some force here and be patient until the backplate will come loose.

Step 9

Step 10
When the backplate comes loose, raise it and twist it at a 90 degree angle as shown in the image. Be careful not to tear the ribbon cable of the audio jack module.

Step 11
Pry up the headphone jack module connector to release backplate. Be careful not to damage the pins on the connector.

Step 12
Pull the Hard drive Cable out of the hard drive.

Step 14
Set the hard drive aside.

Step 15
Remove the Torx T5 screw next to the battery connector.

Step 16
To remove the battery, push the safe open tool between the battery and the frontplate and try to pry the battery upward, glue is strong and will come loose abruptly. Also pry on the opposite side, one of the sides usually comes loose more easily.

Step 18
This is how the ipod 4th gen battery looks when it is detached from the frontplate/ clickwheel.

Step 19
If you want to replace the logic board , remove the 6 Torx T5 screws holding it in place. There are two on the bottom, two in the middle and two at the top.

Step 20
You can now lift up the logic board, but be careful: the clickwheel ribbon cable is still connected.

Step 21
To remove the clickwheel ribbon cable, open the connector latch.

Step 22
Open the clickwheel connector.

Step 23
Lift the 4th generation logic board from the front plate and pull the screen away from the frontplate.

Step 24
Open the screen connector latch using the safe open tool.

Step 25 (Optional)
Do the same with the hard drive cable connector latch.

Step 26 (Optional)
If you need to replace the clickwheel, firmly push the open tool under the metal part holding the clickwheel in place inside the frontplate.

Step 27
Slide the tool around entire metal plate to release the glue on all sides.

Step 28
Carefully release the wheel from the frontplate as shown in image. The edges of the front plate are sharp. Be sure to avoid abrupt movements.

Step 29
Success! You have fully disassembled your iPod 4th Generation. For re-assembly follow the steps in reverse order.

iPod mini - How to repair

2009-01-01T22:03:25Z

Preparations

Read this website's Legal Guidelines and make sure you understand the risks of this repair. Place your Apple iPod mini on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the required opening tools.

Step 1

This is the mini fully assembled.

Step 2

Use a green tool to wedge between the plastic top piece and the metal frame.

Step 3

Use a small flathead to slowly remove teh plastic top protector from the metal frame. It is attached by double sided tape so it slowly do you do not bend or damage the top piece.

Step 4

The entire top piece can be removed.

Step 5

The bottom piece can be removed just like the top piece. Again be careful not to bend the plastic too much.

Step 6

You can use the flathead to do the last part of removing the bottom piece.

Step 7

This is what it looks like when the plastic piece is removed.

Step 8

This piece of metal on the bottom clips in the main metal frame at each of its 4 corners. To use a flathead to to release the clips and wedge it free, insert the flathead in the corner and spin it to wedge the spring shaped extension out of the groove.

Step 9

This is the same step from a different angle.

Step 10

This is what it looks like when the extension is removed from the groove.

Step 11
The entire metal piece comes out.

Step 12

This is the clickwheel cable and needs to be CAREFULLY disconnected from the logicboard. Use a flathead and gently rock it back and forth to ease the cable loose.

Step 14

Once it comes out a little you will see the plastic connector.

Step 15

Try to put pressure on the the plastic connector while trying to disconnect the cable and no the cable itself since it cannot handle much force.

Step 16

Here comes the tricky part. Once the clickwheel cable is fully disconnected push the motherboard out from the bottom of the ipod to the top. It should slike right out. Once you can't push from the bottom anymore pull it out from the top.

Step 18

Now you have completely seperated theipod mini motherboard from the frame.

Step 19

This is the iPod mini motherboard view from the back. You will see the battery at the top and the microdrive on the bottom.

Step 20

The battery can be removed from the motherboard one the connector cable is disconnected.

Step 21

This is the connector cable for the battery.

Step 22

Use a flat head to gently disconnect the cable.

Step 23

If you can't release the cable with a flathead you can always gently pull it out of the motherboard.

Step 24

The battery is now fully disconnected. You can proceed to install a new battery and start re-assemblying your ipod mini.

Step 25 (Optional)

Connect the iPod minibattery connector to the motherboard.

Step 26 (Optional)

Lay the battery horizontally so that it fits squarely on to the back of the motherboard.

Step 27

Tuck in the excess battery connector cable above the connection point so it does not get in the way when you are putting your mini back together.

Step 28 - Tips for reassembly

Slide the motherboard back in and put the metal base piece back in so it clicks into the four grooves.

Step 29

Follow the first steps backwards if you have any problems with further re-assembly