iPad broken? Methods for Fixing Devices Without Visiting an Apple Store
There was a person I knew who would throw every new phone they owned into the bathroom. Not immediately, of course. But as the years passed and time passed, the toilet began to take its victims one by one.
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An iPad is a little more difficult to drop down the toilet, and I haven’t heard the dreaded sound of pricey new equipment falling down the drain just yet. However, I’m not beyond dropping it on the concrete pavement outside my house, for example, while attempting to hold the tablet as my kid thrashes around in the car.
If an iPad breaks, there are a few options for fixing it, such as DIYing it or taking it to your neighborhood third-party shop. If you’re the proactive kind, there are also several ways to prevent it from breaking in the first place.
Eighty percent of tablets are returned within the first two years of purchase, according to technology insurance Asurion. Mine survived for exactly two months short of ten years, most likely because I did, in fact, cease using it for five years. However, once my kids were born, I instantly remembered my old first-generation iPad Air, which was useful for providing them with an in-car entertainment system similar to that of an airline.
That ought to be rather risk-free, right? After all, it’s fastened firmly to the back of a seat. The drawback is that you have to bring the tablet inside to be charged when the battery runs out. Similar to a game of “the floor is lava,” but with actual danger to any screens in its path due to the scorching Californian concrete.
Having children also makes tablet ownership significantly more prevalent; in 2021, four out of five homes with children had tablets, according to the US Census Bureau. I’m ready to wager that homes with children also have a considerably higher likelihood of breaking the tablets that they do have, based on my personal experience of living with two little people who have no respect for gravity or the delicate nature of pricey technology.
So what happens if you—or, to be fair, your child—break your tablet? This is what I carried out. A hint: Visiting an Apple Store wasn’t necessary.
Try DIY repairs for an iPad screen crack or battery problems
In 2022, Apple started to make iPad repairs available to the public by collaborating with iFixit to provide repair manuals and authorized replacement components. You could be daring enough to give it a shot, even if I did not do this at all.
Check out the very thorough step-by-step instructions and difficulty ratings for iFixit’s iPhone DIY repair tutorials here, which vary based on the version of Apple’s tablet you own. For example, iFixit estimates that replacing the screen on your iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th generation model will be a moderately challenging process that takes one to two hours to do.
Afterwards, iFixit offers kits containing the components you’ll need to fix specific problems. For example, this $237 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018-2020) screen repair kit comes with a brand-new screen with adhesive strips, a reusable “iOpener” that you zap in the microwave to soften the adhesive on the screen, an opening tool, six opening picks, plastic cards, a battery blocker, a suction handle, tweezers, a precision bit driver with SIM eject tool, and a 4mm Phillips precision screwdriver bit.
It is also possible to purchase a new battery and change it on your own using iFixit’s tutorial; however, the method for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model is classified as tough and requires two to three hours to complete.
Hire a repairman to mend your broken iPad
There are hundreds of approved Apple repair providers (you can find one near you here), independent repair providers that carry Apple components, and your neighborhood mall repair shop if you’re not comfortable with tough or even moderate DIY repairs.
Depending on how “official” you want your repair to be, costs will change. It will cost more to have Apple handle repairs. You may use our cost calculator to enter the model and issue of your iPad to see out how much it would cost. It is not possible to choose “cracked screen,” but you can see that the projected cost of repairing “other damage” on the most recent iPad is $319, although repairing the battery would only cost about $119.
It’s nearly a tie between those prices and getting a new, less expensive tablet.
However, your best option could be the mall repair shops, which can mend any sort of gadget that has a damaged screen. I recently bought a replacement screen for my old iPad for $100. These stores pledge to offer the most reasonable prices around for their technicians, who can also fix issues including water damage, overheating, audio difficulties, and a battery that is not charging properly or dying too rapidly.
Compare third-party insurers with AppleCare Plus.
Is purchasing tablet insurance really worth it since there are so many ways to fix your iPad in case the screen breaks? It depends on if you’re more likely to break your iPad frequently than that individual I know who kept dropping electronics in the toilet bowl. If you drop it sufficiently hard, it only has to break once for insurance to be beneficial.
There is a wide range of insurance options available for your iPad. You can choose to pay a higher premium of $12 per month for three months, then $24 per month after that from Asurion, a device insurance specialist, or you can opt for a more affordable option starting at about $4 per month from an all-purpose insurer like Progressive or Allstate.
With a $50 deductible, Progressive will insure you against theft, vandalism, power surges from lightning, liquid submersion, and unintentional damage. Costco sells Allstate insurance plans with no deductibles, however they do not cover theft or loss.
Even while Asurion costs a lot more, it protects almost all of the equipment in your house, including your iPad. It offers you limitless photo and video storage along with protection against drops, spills, and theft.
And there’s AppleCare Plus, of course. With unlimited claims for unintentional damage, Apple will replace or repair your iPad, battery, Apple Pencil, Apple iPad keyboard, and your included USB cable and power adapter. The only costs associated with this service are a $49 fee for iPad repairs and a $29 fee (plus tax) for Apple Pencil or iPad keyboard replacements.
Depending on the iPad model you own, AppleCare Plus costs vary: The iPad Air (5th generation) costs $4 per month or $79 annually; the iPad Pro 12.9-inch model costs $8 per month or $149 per year; the iPad Pro 11-inch costs $6 per month or $129 per year; and the iPad and iPad Mini cost $3.50 a month or $69 per year.
However, you can still avoid entering an Apple Store even if you do have Apple’s insurance: If your iPad is beyond repair, you may mail it back along with a pre-paid shipping box or get a replacement sent to you quickly.
Next time, think about getting a screen protector and a tough case.
In the event that your iPad purchase date was more than sixty days ago, AppleCare Plus will not be available to you. Additionally, you might want to think about making a one-time purchase of a robust iPad cover and a screen protector if you don’t want to pay for tablet insurance through those other choices.
I also carried out this action. You know, after breaking the screen and having to pay $100 to get it fixed?
Many excellent iPad cover alternatives are available on Amazon for less than $30, and they come in every possible color.
Just make sure the case you purchase fits the exact model of iPad that you own. And going forward, simply anticipate that you will drop your iPad or use it until the battery runs out, and when that happens, purchase a cover for it or obtain insurance as quickly as possible.