Step 1: Prepping the 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.

Step 2: Loosening the adhesive

• Use a hair dryer to heat the left edge of the iPad.

• A heat gun, heat pad, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the iPad.

• While you wait, note the location of the adhesive (highlighted in red) holding the screen cover in place. This is what needs to be loosened and cut to open the iPad.

Step 3: Slicing the adhesive

• Place a suction cup half way up the heated edge of the iPad. Be sure the cup is completely flat on the screen to get a tight seal.

• While holding the iPad down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the front panel glass from from the rear case.

• Due to the adhesive's strength, this is very difficult and may take multiple attempts. If you can't create a gap, re-apply heat and try again.
• Insert the point of an opening pick or credit/debit card into the gap.

• Place a second opening pick alongside the first and slide the pick down along the edge of the iPad, cutting the adhesive as you go.

• Reheat when the adhesive starts to feel stiff.

• Don't go too far in with the pick. If you can see the tip of the opening pick through the front glass, don't panic—just pull the pick out just a little bit. Most likely, everything will be fine, but try to avoid this as it may deposit adhesive on the front of the LCD that is difficult to clean off.

• As you work your way around the top, pull the pick back and work around the camera.

• There are 3 other places where you will need to keep the pick pulled back. They are indicated in the following picture.

• Use cards or similar to keep the adhesive from closing again as you work your way around the iPad. Debit/Credit card types work best.

Step 7: Opening the iPad

• On the side of the iPad opposite the volume controls, twist the picks slowly to lift the glass slightly, separating the last of the adhesive along the display cable edge.

• If there is resistance anywhere, heat it and cut it again. Take your time with this step.

• Lift slowly and gently to further detach the adhesive along the display cable edge.

Step 8: Final dissection

• While supporting the front panel glass, use an opening pick to cut the last of the adhesive.

• Be very careful not to cut or damage any of the display cables.

Step 9: Open sesame

• Once all of the adhesive has been separated, open the front glass like a page in a book and rest it on your workspace.

Step 10: Unscrew LCD

• Remove the following Phillips screws securing the LCD.

• Three 4.0 mm screws

• One 4.8 mm screw

Step 11: Removing the LCD

• Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the LCD out of its recess just enough to grab it with your fingers.

• Do not attempt to fully remove the LCD. It is still connected to the iPad by several cables at the home button end. Lift only from the front-facing camera end.

• Flip the iPad LCD like a page in a book, lifting near the camera and turning it over the home button end of the rear case.

• Lay the LCD on its face to allow access to the display cables.

• Set the LCD down on a soft, clean, lint-free surface.

• Remove the three 1.4 mm Phillips screws from the display cable bracket.

• Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the display cable bracket straight up from the logic board.

Step 12: Remove the LCD

• Remove the LCD.

Step 13: Disconnect Front Panel

• Remove any tape covering the home button ribbon cable connector.

• Use the flat end of a spudger to flip the tab on the home button ribbon cable ZIF connector upward.

• Carefully pull the home button ribbon cable horizontally out of the ZIF connector.

• Use a the flat end of a spudger or a fingernail to carefully pop the two digitizer cable connectors straight up from their sockets.

• Peel the home button ribbon cable up off of the adhesive holding it to the rear case.

Step 14: Remove Front Panel

• Remove the front panel assembly.

• During reassembly, wipe any dust or fingerprints off of the inside of the front panel assembly to ensure a clean display.

Step 15: Unscrewing the Battery

• Remove the single 2.3 mm Phillips screw securing the battery connector to the logic board.

Step 16: Removing the Battery Adhesive

• The battery is glued in place by an adhesive. Flip the iPad over, and heat the back side of the battery to loosen the adhesive.

• After sufficient heat is applied, test if the adhesive is loose enough to cut away the adhesive by inserting a card between the battery and the iPad. 

• Start from the bottom and work your way bottom up around the side.

Step 17: Installing Asesino Aftermarket Battery

• Work your way backwards to install new battery. Be sure to peel all the stickers off to expose the adhesive on the back.

• Be sure to apply heat wherever there are adhesives involved to activate the glue.