iPad 5 (2017) / iPad Air 1 Touch Screen Digitizer

It's the iPad that ended up on the kitchen floor: a 9.7-inch iPad 5 or an original iPad Air with a spiderweb crack spreading from one corner. The picture underneath is still sharp, but swipes miss and the edges catch fingers. On these models the touch glass is a separate layer from the display, so you only need to replace the glass.

This aftermarket touch screen digitizer is the front glass with its touch layer, in Black or White. The LCD is not included.

Why people replace the digitizer

The most common reason is cracked glass after a drop. Next comes touch that has gone patchy, where one area ignores taps or the screen registers presses on its own. A chipped edge that keeps spreading is another good reason to act before the crack reaches the middle.

Match the model number on the back (A1474, A1475, A1476, A1822 or A1823) and pick the color of the front you have. Removing the old glass means softening adhesive with heat and working slowly with picks. The LCD below is thin and breaks easily, so keep tools shallow along the edge. Wear eye protection, since broken glass can flake.

With fresh glass, an older 9.7-inch iPad is fine again for reading, video and homework.