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iPad Screen Protector Install...Too Difficult?

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macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 27, 2005
330
22
Los Angeles
So I'm going to pick up my iPad today after work. I have a Power Support Anti-Glare ready and waiting. Thing is, I've heard screen protector horror stories, and am not trying to flush $25 down the drain.

On the other side of the coin, I don't have a car, and would have to enlist a friend to take me down to burbank and have the protector installed. I'd inevitably have to buy them dinner or something for the effort...thus setting me back some coin as well.

So, that out of the way, is it possible for a first timer to get this installed properly without having a nervous breakdown, or should I just take it to power support? I've watched the YouTube video and it seems pretty self-explanatory--far from rocket science. But still.
 
Power Support screen protectors go on very easily. You shouldn't have any trouble. I always raise the humidity in a closed room - hot shower running for a few minutes in a closed bathroom - to hold down dust. Clean the screen well with a microfiber cloth, and follow the instructions. You should be fine.

An outing and dinner with a friend sound like fun, though.
 
Excellent, sounds good. I was also thinking of doing it in the bathroom, for the same reason.

If I'm taking the iPad directly out of the box and installing the protector before using it, should I still clean it with LCD cleaner and a microfiber?
 
I would clean it with a microfiber anyway. There is dust everywhere in the world. You have nothing to lose by doing it and potential annoyances to avoid. If you do have a couple of trapped dust speck when you are done, take a piece of scotch tape and lift the appropriate corner. Use a second piece of tape to nab the dust. I generally be sure I use the adhesive side on both on the glass and the underside of the protector because I can never tell which the dust is on.

I'm not sure about the LCD cleaner, though. I seem to remember that the power support directions tell you not to use a liquid cleaner, but it's been awhile since I installed my last on (on an iPhone - my iPad screen is staying naked), and I am not where I can review the instructions.

I am sure you will find other tips about doing this if you use the forum search. There may be things people have discovered that are peculiar to the iPad that you would enjoy knowing in advance.

But you shouldn't obsess too much.
 
The trick is to apply one end of the screen protector and peel it slowly back from the supporting film whilst simultaneously applying it to the screen and smoothing it down. Then wrap your credit card in a micro fiber cloth and go to town on those bubbles.

It took a wee bit of effort, but I got a screen protector on perfectly using this method, which I failed to explain coherently!
 
Sounds good, thanks for the tips.

As an aside, are any of you getting a "rainbow" or "screen-door" effect with the anti-glare films? This issue has got me kind of worried now, as I purchased the PS AG protector.
 
+1 for the PowerSupport anti Glare! I love mine! I used my iPad in my car and its perfect when using navigation etc.

On the install side, I am by all definitions an "amateur" and I was able to install mine with no problems. I have heard a lot of people doing the bathroom trick, like the poster above, however I did not do this and still was ok. Just make sure there is no grease, fingerprints and as little dust as possible. Start from the bottom where the Home button is and work up, it is much easier this way. The ONLY place where mine could be a lil better is making sure the sides are aligned correctly, and mine aren't even that bad to be honest. Goodluck, just be patient!

and NO, not rainbow affect!
 
Have some scotch tape ready. As you lay the screen protector down, whenever you see a dot of dust show up, peel back the protector a little bit, and stick the scotch tape in to lift it off where it will be stuck in the screen protector.

Works like a charm. Took me 3 minutes to install my PS antiglare protector, had to do the tape trick 4 times. Turned out flawless, no bubbles or dust.
 
tmarks11 said:
Have some scotch tape ready. As you lay the screen protector down, whenever you see a dot of dust show up, peel back the protector a little bit, and stick the scotch tape in to lift it off where it will be stuck in the screen protector.

Works like a charm. Took me 3 minutes to install my PS antiglare protector, had to do the tape trick 4 times. Turned out flawless, no bubbles or dust.
Click to expand...

Yes, a couple pieces of scotch tape at the ready is very helpful for that random speck of dust that flies under there at the last minute.

I didn't care for the anti-glare, as it made the icons and such a little fuzzy. The clear is MUCH better, IMO.
 
Another tips is work under good LED lightings. For my case, I simply use two LED torches to shine across the screen while working on the screen protector.

I also used the Power Support Anti-glare for iPAD and the result is excellent. The time to install the film doesn't take long but the prep work could take a long time (ie, make sure the screen is free of dusts under LED lighting). The cleaning also doesn't take long if you install it when the iPAD is freshly out of the box.

The scotch tape is almost a necessity as regardless of how meticulous and diligent you are, there are always a few specks of dust get trapped unless you are working in a absolutely dust-free environment.

Also remember to make sure the screen protector and the backing paper are clean prior to install.
 
Well, it was tedious. Got it perfectly installed...then I saw what appeared to be a bit of detritus stuck under the protector. I went nuts trying to get this bit of crap out, completely ruined the screen protector in the process, only to find out it was a piece of whatever embedded in the glass itself.

Great. Wonderful. I'm out $25 for this protector, and now I have to go down to an Apple store to have it replaced...AND I have to go down to Burbank for a new film. My iPad experience is, thus far, not shaping up to be a good one.
 
I got the anti-glare cheapo 3 pack from handhelditems.com and it could not have went smoother. Each one even comes with a cloth and faux credit card. Best $ 10 I ever spent.
 
I'll tell you what, having spend years installing vinyl I consider myself really good at installing theses screen protectors. I've kept them on every iPhone and iPod touch I've ever had and never had to much issue but the iPad kicked my arse.

I actually started with the zagg shield which really went well as it was the wet method. I hated the feel of the plastic and I ordered the power support anti glare.

I got it lined up just fine and still found a few specks of dust under it. Was able to get some out of the upper corner using tape but when it came time for the lower corner I couldn't get the film up and tried using the tip of a knife blade to do so. Ended up scratching the underside of the film which of course left two nice air bubbles. One is in the black but the other is at the edge of the screen.

It hacks me off every time I use it, now as I type, but 95% is better then nothing and I didn't want to order another one.

Sorry to hear yours didn't go so well. I don't know if I would attempt my first film on a iPad but kudos for giving it a try.
 
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