iPod Touch 1st Generation Front Panel Replacement

Insert the small plastic opening tool into the seam in between plastic display panel and the metal back panel. The angled edge should point towards the metal back panel.

Hold the tool in place once it is wedged inside and the two panels are separated.

Insert the large opening tool into the right side of the iPod, with the edge of the tool pointing towards the metal back.

Gently enlarge the existing crevice by wiggling the large opening tool and moving it to the right.

Continue doing so until the right side of the iPod is loose.

Switch to the other side of the iPod.

Follow the same procedure as in the previous step to release the seven clips holding the panels in place.

Once the panels are separated on this side, the back panel can be separated from the rest of the iPod.

Gently lift the rear panel using your fingers.

The front and back of the iPod should now be completely separated.

Flip the iPod 180 degrees so it matches the orientation in the picture.

Carefully insert the spudger in between the battery and the display. There are routing cables underneath, so make sure you slowly pry the battery loose.

Use a spudger (or your fingernails) to remove the gold antenna. The antenna bends easily, so make sure not to apply too much pressure. When re-assembling, put the gold antenna in place before inserting the antenna circuit boards.

Use the spudger to remove the connector on the left side.

Remove two Phillips screws.

The antenna loop board needs to be pried up (it is glued down). Gently use a plastic opening tool or spudger, to dislodge the antenna loop board. The board is connected to the antenna electronics by a small ribbon cable. This two-board assembly is very frail.

The two small antenna circuit boards can now be lifted up together, and their orange cable can be peeled from the display.

Use the spudger to remove the black masking tape. This will reveal the top two screws in the picture.

Unscrew the four Phillips screws.

Use a spudger to disconnect the black connector.

Use a spudger to disconnect the black connector.

Use the spudger to loosen the logic board from multiple sides. It is held in place by glue and the four screws that were removed in the previous step.

Gently lift the logic board (and attached components) upward.

Slide the spudger under the small portion of the logic board. The board should come loose once the spudger has slid almost all the way to the other side.

The logic board and battery can now be fully separated from the rest of the iPod.

Peel the orange tape up covering the sixteen Phillips screws on the back of the display.

Use a #00 Phillips screwdriver to remove the sixteen screws.

Separate the display from the front panel by gently lifting it.

The display and the front panel should now be completely separated.

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to loosen the glue around the perimeter of the front panel.

Wedge the spudger in between the frame and front display in the upper left corner of the iPod, as shown in the first picture.

Gently insert the spudger in between the frame and front display.

Carefully work around the edge of the front panel to separate the upper portion of the front panel from the black metal framework.

Rotate the iPod 180 degrees and re-heat the exposed side with hair dryer/heat gun.

Continue using the spudger along the edge of the display to completely loosen it on all sides.

The front panel should now be separated from the metal framework.