iPAD: Touch Screen Not Working After Digitizer Replacement

APPLIES TO: iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4

SYMPTOMS: After replacing the digitizer on an iPad the touch screen does not respond. The iPad turns on and the display works, home button works, as well as power and volume buttons.

RESOLUTION: iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad 4 all use a Zif connector to connect the digitizer to the motherboard.

On the ribbon cable of the digitizer, there is a white stripe, usually, that stripe indicates how far to push the ribbon cable into the connector having the white line exactly line up with the front edge of the connector. However, in this case the white line needs to be inside the connector.

Seat the ribbon cable into the connector as far as it can go and test the device.

If this still does not work try the following.

Clean the ribbon cable ends with a 90% alcohol. Retest.
Connect everything and try a hard reset by holding the home button and wake/power button at the same time. Retest.
Disconnect digitizer and LCD, remove screws from the motherboard to allow for disconnection of the battery. Place a plastic pick between the battery and motherboard to keep the connection open. Reconnect Digitizer and LCD and reconnect the battery last. Retest.

If you are still experiencing a problem with the touch screen it is beyond the scope of this article.

MORE INFORMATION: Suggested investigation: iOS issues, digitizer may be bad or the motherboard is damaged.

PROPERTIES: Last modified: 6/13/20 Revision: 1.0

Keywords: iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, Touch screen not working, digitizer replacement

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