Opening Procedure

Step 1

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP P2 Pentalobe Screwdriver iPhone Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.
• Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
• Remove the two 3.5 mm pentalobe screws from the bottom edge of the iPhone.
• Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Step 2

Tape over any cracks

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• If your iPhone has a cracked screen, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping over the glass.
• Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen until the whole face is covered.
• Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.
• If you can't get the suction cup to stick in the next few steps, fold a strong piece of tape (such as duct tape) into a handle and lift the screen with that instead.
• If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the screen.

Step 3

Anti-Clamp instructions

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.
• For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
• Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
• Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.
• Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone just above the home button—one on the front, and one on the back.
• Squeeze the cups together to apply suction to the desired area.
• If you find that the surface of your iPhone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 4

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Pull the blue handle forwards to lock the arms.
• Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.
• Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

Step 5

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iOpener Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Heat an iOpener and thread it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp.
• You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but extreme heat can damage the display and/or internal battery, so proceed with care.
• Fold the iOpener so it lays on the bottom edge of the iPhone.
• Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
• Insert an opening pick under the screen when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
• If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle a quarter turn.
• Don't crank more than a quarter turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
• Skip the next three steps.

Step 6

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iOpener Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• The next three steps show how to separate the screen using a suction cup.
• Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
• Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about 90 seconds in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 7

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Apply a suction cup to the lower half of the front panel, just above the home button.
• Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.

Step 8

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
• Insert an opening pick or other thin pry tool a few millimeters into the gap.
• The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

Step 9

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Slide your pick around the corner and up the left edge of the phone, moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch, breaking up the adhesive holding the display in place.
• Stop near the top left corner of the display.

Step 10

Screen information

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• There's a delicate cable along the right edge of your iPhone. Don't insert your pick here, as you may damage the cable.

Step 11

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Re-insert your tool at the lower right corner of the iPhone, and slide it around the corner and up the right side of the phone to separate the adhesive.
• Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the display cables.

Step 12

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Gently pull up on the suction cup to lift up the bottom edge of the display.
• Do not raise the display more than 15º or you'll risk straining or tearing the ribbon cables connecting the display.

Step 13

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Suction Handle Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Step 14

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Slide an opening pick underneath the display along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive.

Step 15

Repair step

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• Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

Step 16

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.
• Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.
• Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.