Opening Procedure

Step 1

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 2

Screen damage warning

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

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• To avoid damaging your screen in the next step, note the following:
• There's a plastic bezel on the underside of the screen. Your opening pick will go underneath this bezel.
• There's a seam between the plastic bezel and the display panel. Don't insert your pick here or you'll damage the screen.
• Sometimes the display panel separates from the bezel before you even get a chance to insert a pick. This may be unavoidable depending on the condition of the adhesive. In this case, you’ll most likely need to replace your entire 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—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 forward 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 and the plastic bezel, not the screen itself.
• 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 iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
• Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.
• If you use a hairdryer or heat gun, do not heat to much because that can result in damaging the screen.

Step 7

Repair step

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

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• If using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the curved portion of the 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 screen and the frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap under the screen's plastic bezel, not the screen itself.
• The watertight adhesive holding the screen 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 the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the display in place.
• Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage internal components.

Step 10

Screen information

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

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 pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating 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 iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• The top edge of the display is secured with both glue and clips.
• Slide the opening pick around the top corner of the display, while gently pulling or wiggling the display down in the direction of the Lightning port.
• The clips will break if you use too much force. Work carefully and be patient.
• Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the front panel sensor array.
• Slide the pick to the opposite corner and cut any remaining adhesive securing 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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• 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.
• As pictured, make sure the frame comes off with display and doesn't get stuck in the device.
• Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.
• During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.