iPad Air 11-inch (M3) Volume Buttons

Before You Begin

Warning

Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

Remove the following part before you begin:

Tools

  • 11-inch repair tray

  • Adhesive removal tool

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes

  • JCIS bit for crosshead screws

  • Micro stix bit

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torque driver (black, 0.35 kgf cm)

  • Torque driver (green, 0.45 kgf cm)

Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.

Removal

Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.

  1. Use a torque driver and the JCIS bit to remove the crosshead screw from the camera connector cowling and two crosshead screws from the volume buttons bracket. Set aside the screws. Then remove the cowling and save it for reassembly.

    • Wi-Fi + Cellular models only:

      • Use a torque driver and the JCIS bit to remove the two crosshead screws (2-3) from the antenna.

        • Note: The volume bracket screws (1) were removed in step 1. The antenna is attached to the volume buttons flex cable.

      • Use a torque driver and the Micro stix bit to remove the trilobe screw from the antenna.

      • Lift both ends of the antenna coaxial cable off the connectors. Remove the antenna coaxial cable and save it for reassembly.

  2. Lift the end of the camera flex cable off the connector and gently move it aside.

  3. Wi-Fi models only:

    • Peel back the polyester film tab from the end of the volume buttons flex cable.

    • Flip up the locking lever on the volume buttons flex cable (1). Then slide the flex cable out of the connector (2).

    • Peel the microphone off the enclosure.

      • Note: The microphone is attached to the volume buttons flex cable.

  4. Wi-Fi + Cellular models only:

    • Lift the end of the volume buttons flex cable off the connector.

    • Peel the microphone off the enclosure.

      • Note: The microphone is attached to the volume buttons flex cable.

  5. Use the adhesive removal tool to break the glue between the volume buttons bracket and enclosure. Then pry the volume buttons flex cable and bracket out of the enclosure.

Reassembly

  1. Use the black stick to break away any remaining glue from the volume buttons area in the enclosure. Then use an ethanol wipe or IPA wipe to clean any remaining adhesive residue.

  2. Position the replacement volume buttons flex cable and bracket in the opening of the enclosure.

  3. Wi-Fi models only: Use the green torque driver and JCIS bit to install two new crosshead screws (452-06577) into the volume buttons bracket.

  4. Wi-Fi + Cellular models only:

    • Use the black torque driver and Micro stix bit to install one new trilobe screw (452-08788) into the antenna.

    • Press one end of the antenna coaxial cable to the connector on the antenna. Press the other end of the cable to the connector on the logic board.

    • Use the black torque driver and JCIS bit to install four new crosshead screws into the antenna and volume buttons bracket.

      • Important: One of the crosshead screws (3) installs through the antenna coaxial cable grounding clip and into the volume buttons bracket.

      • One screw (452-09966) (1)

      • One screw (452-07074) (2)

      • Two screws (452-06577) (3)

  5. Wi-Fi models only: Slide the end of the volume buttons flex cable into the connector. Flip down the locking lever. Then press the polyester film tab onto the end of the flex cable.

  6. Wi-Fi + Cellular models only: Press the end of the volume buttons flex cable to the connector.

  7. Press the end of the camera flex cable to the connector.

  8. Position the camera connector cowling over the end of the camera flex cable. Then use the green torque driver and JCIS bit to install one new crosshead screw (452-08786) into the cowling.

Reinstall the following part to complete reassembly:

Published Date: