Nexus 7 Power & Volume Button Cable Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan

Comments: 21

Nexus 7 Power & Volume Button Cable Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

This guide will show you how to replace the power and volume button ribbon cable.

Tools

Step 1

In the following steps you will release the clips (highlighted in red) along the perimeter of the Nexus 7's rear panel.
Do not use excessive force while prying the clips. They can be easily broken.

Mine doesn't look like this. There is no metal band around it. The only opening looks like its between the front glass and back which is on the front. I'm afraid to try it for fear of breaking it. Any suggestions?

Kim McCauley - 25/09/18

There is no front or rear panel. There’s no sign of any seam whatsoever. The front and back are one solid piece of plastic.

Proud Liberal - 06/08/20

Step 2

Gently insert a plastic opening tool near the top of the Nexus 7 between the rear panel and the front panel assembly.
Carefully run the plastic opening tool along the top edge to pry the rear panel away from the front panel assembly of the Nexus 7.

My Nexus 7 looks nothing like this. These instructions are horrible as they do not work.

Andy Garcia - 17/09/17

someone help? my nexus looks completely different

Music Raider - 07/02/19

Step 3

Insert the plastic opening tool between the rear panel and the front panel assembly near the power button and pry up at several points along the right edge of the Nexus 7.

Step 4

Pry up the rear panel along the left edge using the method described in previous steps.

Step 5

Gently lift and remove the rear panel up off the front panel assembly.

Step 6

Using the tip of a spudger, push first on one side then the other to "walk" the battery cable straight out of its socket on the motherboard.

I have the newer version of Nexus and the battery connection inside is different from pictured here. I can't seem to get any part of the connector backed out. Any further details about how to accomplish this step?

indianowen31 - 01/01/15

After my post I tried it again, and realized the connector comes straight UP, not OUT. Once I went this direction, the process was simple.

indianowen31 - 01/01/15

I followed this, everything worked fine. Even though the battery is now charging, the OS doesn't recognise when the USB cable is connected to a wall socket or a PC. The battery icon when the tablet is shut down shows charging so it works, but the OS in itself doesn't seem to know about it...any ideas?

Daniel Zakrisson - 07/02/15

Thanks for your guide. It makes the process very straightforward. Easier than I was expecting.

Les Gordon - 10/02/15

Superb easy to follow guide. Thanks greatly, the nexus 7 lives on ! Just need to patiently wait for it charging now !

stuart - 17/02/15

Yes, this is a really helpful guide. I wouldn't have had a clue without it, but it all turned out to be very simple. Thanks a lot!

Ian Gibson - 08/05/15

I managed to break one of the two small golden pins to the right of the battery cable (obscured by the tool in the picture above).

Is this terminal (sorry for the pun)?

I tried re-assembling (without screwing the assembly back to the bezel) and the display doesn't work.

gravelld - 30/09/15

Step 6 could be much clearer. I thought it meant to pry the connector upward, away from the surface. When I did this, all the pins broke off. The correct procedure would appear to be to slide the connector along the surface toward the wire side and battery, leaving the pins at parallel to the surface.

Unfortunately I don't think my Nexus 7 is salveagable now.

Warren Harris - 21/11/15

Watching a YouTube video helped. Dislodge the battery first, then pull the battery away from the connector and the connector will become dislodged quite easily.

d_ratner_1999 - 01/05/17

Step 7

Peel back the label covering the power and volume button ZIF connector.

Step 8

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the power and volume button ribbon cable ZIF socket.
Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the power and volume button ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Looking to purchase a power & volume cable strip?

Mike Patrick - 28/03/15

Step 9

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the power and volume button cable and the metal frame.
Carefully slide the spudger along the length of the ribbon cable, releasing the buttons.
T

Step 10

Remove the power and volume button ribbon cable from the Nexus 7.

Conclusion

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

Author

Walter Galan

697731 Reputation

7 comments

Hi All,

I've been to Orlando/FL this Sept/October and I bought 2 ASUS NEXUS 7 Tablets.

The first one was opened and used there, in Orlando. The second one, is a gift for my wife, and we had just unopened the box (yes, december/11/2012) and for our surprise the device simply do not turned on. I did a search on Internet, and I have opened the device. As we have two devices, I could compare and I noticed that it has a Missing "small flat cable", the one with the function of the buttons (power and volume).

I took a picture of both devices, if you tell me how, I can send you the pictures.

Where can I "buy" this small cable?

Thanks for your support.

Marcos Guireli -

Nice, but can u show how to do it with 2013 nexus 7? Pls, i need to replace my n7 buttons.

sotyka94 - 01/05/14

what's the problem of your nexus 7 (2013)?

leopay - 26/06/14

The volume buttons on my Nexus 7 (2013) don't work. Is this procedure applicable to the 2013 version and do you think it will solve the problem?

Carl Bezanson - 16/11/14

Carl, Its the same fix as the Power& Volume Button Cable in our free guide u downloaded

Mike Patrick - 22/03/15

I done had to fix my screen dog got it. There not to bad to work on.

Mike Patrick - 22/03/15

Where can I buy a power & volume button cable ribbon?

Mike Patrick - 23/03/15