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Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement

Archived Guide
This guide is retained solely for historical purposes. Use the updated version of the guide to perform your repair.

What you need

Video Overview

  1. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Place Gamepad face down and remove the two 4.7 mm screws with a Phillips size #00 screwdriver.

  2. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • Lift and remove the battery plate.

  3. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • With your finger, press down and pull back on the battery connector plug.

    • Remove the battery from the battery case.

  4. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 1 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 2 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • Remove 10 9mm screws with Tri-Wing size Y1 screwdriver around the outer case.

    • Lift up on the back of case.

    • Lift gently because the rumble motor in the back of the case is still connected by a cable to the motherboard.

  5. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Unplug outer case rumble motor connector from the motherboard with your fingers.

    • Do not pull on the wires as shown in this picture, they will likely break off. Pull directly on the plug (NOT the receptacle)

  6. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Speakers: step 6, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Speakers: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • With your fingers, unplug the left speaker cable from the motherboard.

  7. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • Remove the right speaker cable that's connected to the motherboard with the tweezers.

  8. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, WiFi: step 8, image 1 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, WiFi: step 8, image 2 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, WiFi: step 8, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • Open the top and bottom clasp that connects the white flex cable to the motherboard with the tweezer.

    • Remove the white flex cable with the tweezers.

  9. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • With your fingers, lift and remove WiFi board.

    • Remove the board carefully as there are still two wires attached.

  10. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the black and white wires off of the back of the WiFi module.

  11. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Lift and remove the WiFi module.

  12. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, Motherboard: step 12, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • Disconnect the analog connector with tweezers.

  13. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the blue connector using tweezers.

  14. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Carefully lift the black clasp. It is prone to breaking if only lifted from one point. Remove the brown ribbon by using the tweezers.

    • Unclasp and release the small digitizer ribbon cable to the left of the brown ribbon. Be careful, the clasp breaks easily.

  15. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the small orange ribbon with the tweezers.

  16. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 16, image 3 of 3
    • Remove these two connectors to the motherboard with your fingers.

  17. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the NFC communicator.

    • When removing the NFC communicator, be careful with the small connector on the back side.

    • Remove the small connector plug-in on the back.

  18. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 3 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 18, image 3 of 3
    • Remove the remaining three 5.1 mm screws using the Phillips size #0 screwdriver.

    • Lift and remove the mother board.

  19. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, LCD Display: step 19, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement, LCD Display: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the four 5.1mm screws using Phillips size #0 screwdriver.

    • Pull the white and black cables away from the display case.

  20. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Lift and remove the grey display case with your fingers.

  21. Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 Wii U GamePad LCD Display Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2
    • Gently with your fingers, press on the front of the display and it will lift up.

    • Remove the display with your fingers.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

79 other people completed this guide.

Valentina Cerruty

Member since: 02/10/16

3,369 Reputation

7 Guides authored

Team

USF Tampa, Team 1-6, Sullivan Spring 2016 Member of USF Tampa, Team 1-6, Sullivan Spring 2016

USFT-SULLIVAN-S16S1G6

4 Members

40 Guides authored

18 Comments

was really perfect to repair my device. Thank you very much for this help

Bernd Dietrich - Reply

In step 14 - what does the small gray ribbon do? The replacement LCD display that I got in the mail did not have it.

Stacey Hoggard - Reply

Its the touch screen cable. The screen I ordered did not come with one. I had to carefully remove it from my broken display and put it on the new one. Thankfully the touchscreen still works for me.

Terry Moenkhaus -

Very happy with your manual! I've fixed it.

Paulus 68 - Reply

Mine did not come with the touch screen either.

Edwin Kahn - Reply

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