Will I lose my data if I change the iPad battery?

Ensure that you have created an iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPad before it receives battery or other repair service. Disconnection of the iPad battery will almost certainly result in locally stored data being erased.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

For practical purposes, in lieu of replacing the battery in your own iPad, Apple usually exchange the iPad for a renewed/refurbished iPad of the same model and specification. The cost of the exchange is the same as would otherwise be charged for battery replacement.

When exchanged, the replacement iPad is yours to keep; your own iPad will not be returned - and as such, you will require your iCloud or iTunes backup to restore your data and settings to the replacement device.

You can verify both eligibility and cost for battery replacement in your country/region here:

iPad Repair & Service - Apple Support

Exchanging the iPad is a quick and easy alternative - and if exchanged in store, is usually same day. Unlike iPhone, for which an in-store battery replacement might be possible, iPad’s must be sent to Apple’s service partner - this process taking potentially many weeks.

patricfromca wrote:

I know.. 114g of data,,photos etc in this iPad. How long to back up to finder. This iPad has OS 17.1 I think, and my iMac is running Catalina.

Here is how to: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with your Mac - Apple Support

Data loss happens, and is not fun. I’ve worked with various folks that have lost precious memories. Here is somebody coming to terms with data loss from earlier today: I have unexpected restart - Apple Community

I keep photos synced with Mac (and not iCloud Photos), and use Time Machine for backups.

Beyond backups discussions, iPadOS 17.1 is rather old. IPadOS 18.3.1 is current. I’d consider an upgrade after the backups.

Here is how to: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

The only way to mark data as being valuable is with backups.

Otherwise, you’re one drop, one dunk, one fire, one loss, one theft away from data loss.

Or one failed repair.

No backups, no value.

Theoretically it shouldn’t.

Real world, any repair can cause data loss or need for a reimage.

You should be backing up your iPad regularly.

Definitely do a backup before any repairs.