Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement

Introduction

This guide will show you how to replace the side buttons on your Nexus 9. If your buttons are not depressing fully or are jammed, you may need to replace them.

What you need

Step 1 Rear Case

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Rear Case: step 1, image 1 of 3

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Rear Case: step 1, image 2 of 3

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Rear Case: step 1, image 3 of 3

With your fingers, carefully pry off the back plastic casing. Starting at the corners is usually the easiest.
The rear-facing camera seems to fit a little too snugly in its compartment on the rear case; so make sure that it stays connected to the motherboard.

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Step 2 Battery

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Battery: step 2, image 1 of 2

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Battery: step 2, image 2 of 2

Carefully peel up the copper shielding with your fingers.
Before fully removing the copper shielding, make sure that the blue antenna cable is out of the way of the copper tab.

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Step 3

Using the spudger tool, carefully remove the bottom of the battery from it's location below the logic boards.
The battery is attached to the motherboard with some adhesive, so you may need an iOpener to loosen up the adhesive. Check out the iOpener guide for info on how to do it.
Do not pull the battery from the tablet yet, as it is still connected to the motherboard.

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Step 4

Now remove the metal clip covering the battery's connector cable located above the top left of the battery with the spudger.
After the metal clip is wiggled free, the battery's connector cable can be easily removed by just gently tugging it free.

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Step 5

The battery should now lift free of the tablet.

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Step 6 Antenna Board

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Antenna Board: step 6, image 1 of 2

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Antenna Board: step 6, image 2 of 2

This step is not necessary if you have already removed the battery.
Carefully peel up the copper shielding with your fingers.
Before fully removing the copper shielding, make sure that the blue antenna cable is out of the way of the copper tab.

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Step 7

Unscrew the three 3 mm Torx T5 screws on the antenna board.
This step and the next show the battery removed, but it is not necessary to remove it if you are only replacing the antenna board.

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Step 8

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

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Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to disconnect the blue antenna cable from the motherboard.
When reinstalling the antenna, be sure to clean it with a degreaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to create wireless interference.
The antenna board should now lift free of the motherboard.

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Step 9 Motherboard

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Motherboard: step 9, image 1 of 2

Nexus 9 Power and Volume Buttons Replacement, Motherboard: step 9, image 2 of 2

Remove the three 3 mm T5 Torx screws.
Remove the five 2 mm Phillips #000 screws.

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Step 10

Using your fingers, pull up on ribbon connector to expose another ribbon connector below.
Remove the two 2 mm Phillips #000 screws on top of the second ribbon connector.
Pull up the ribbon connector with your fingers.

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Step 11

Gently lift the motherboard up from the device.

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Step 12

Refer to the rear-facing camera replacement guide to remove the rear-facing camera from the motherboard and transfer it to the new one.
The motherboard remains.