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iPhone 15 Pro Max Taptic Engine Replacement

Use this guide to replace the Taptic Engine in...

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Moderate 1 - 2 hours Guide 166243

Licensed iFixit integration

This attributed iFixit guide is displayed through Fixonic's recorded commercial API permission. iFixit remains the independent source and author of the procedure.

Guide overview

Before you begin

Use this guide to replace the Taptic Engine in your iPhone 15 Pro Max. If the vibrations coming from your phone feel rattly or are intermittent, you might need to replace the Taptic Engine. You'll need replacement screen adhesive to complete this repair.

Step 1

Prepare your phone for disassembly

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Allow your phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
Unplug any cables from your phone.
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off your phone.

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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If your screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the bottom edge that's big enough for a suction cup to stick to.

Step 3

Mark your opening picks

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.
Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Step 4

Remove the pentalobe screws

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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 Phillips #000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.2 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.

Step 5

Heat the bottom edge

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Heat Gun Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 6

Insert an opening pick

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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 handle to the bottom edge of the screen.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 7

Screen information

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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As you slice the adhesive securing the screen in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
There are two delicate cables connecting the screen to the phone: one just above the action button, and the other near the middle of the left edge.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in these locations to avoid bending the contacts.

Step 8

Separate the bottom edge adhesive

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Don't insert your opening pick deeper than 3 mm along the bottom edge.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 9

Heat the right edge

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Heat the right edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 10

Position the opening pick

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the right edge.
Slide your pick around the bottom right corner of the screen and toward the power button until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the screen.
Rotate your pick so the flat edge is under the screen.

Step 11

Release the right clip

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Twist the pick to increase the gap between the screen and the frame until the right clip releases.
Insert a second opening pick to the right of the first pick.

Step 12

Separate the right edge adhesive

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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 first pick back to the bottom right corner of the screen.
Slide the second pick to the top right corner of the screen to separate the adhesive.
Leave these picks inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

Heat the top edge

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Heat the top edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 14

Separate the top edge adhesive

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

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Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge.
Slide your pick around the top right corner and along the top edge to release the two clips and adhesive securing it.

Step 15

Heat the left edge

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Heat the left edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 16

Separate the left edge adhesive

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Don't insert your pick deeper than 2 mm along the left edge to avoid the two cables connecting the screen to the phone.
Rotate your pick around the top left corner of the screen.
Slide your pick to the bottom left corner of the screen to separate the adhesive.

Step 17

Swing open the screen

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Gently swing open the screen to the left of the phone.
If the screen feels stuck, go back around the perimeter to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
Rest the screen against a box or similar object so it doesn't strain the cables.

Step 18

Unfasten the logic board cover

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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 Phillips #000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the six screws securing the logic board cover:
One 2.1 mm‑long screw
Five 1.5 mm‑long screws

Step 19

Remove the logic board cover

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use tweezers or your fingers to grab and slide the logic board cover toward the bottom of the phone to clear the sensor cable.
Remove the cover.

Step 20

Disconnect the battery

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
To reconnect a press connector, align it over its socket and gently press down on one side until it clicks into place, then press down on the other side. Make sure it sits flat, as the insulating rubber around the sockets might prevent it from connecting fully.

Step 21

Disconnect the ambient light sensor

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the ambient light sensor press connector from the top left of the logic board.

Step 22

Disconnect the screen

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Disconnect the screen press connector.

Step 23

Remove the screen

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

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Remove the screen.
During reassembly, stop here and use this guide to install new screen adhesive.
Be careful not to damage any of the spring contacts as you clean the frame.

Step 24

Unfasten the loudspeaker

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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 Phillips #000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use your Phillips #000 driver to remove the four screws securing the loudspeaker:
Three 2.1 mm screws
One 2.9 mm screw

Step 25

Separate the tape

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

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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A piece of tape connects the top edges of the Taptic Engine and loudspeaker.
Insert an opening pick under the tape in the small gap between the Taptic Engine and the loudspeaker.
Slide the pick toward the left edge of the phone to separate the tape from the Taptic Engine.

Step 26

Remove the loudspeaker

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger 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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Insert the flat end of a spudger between the right edge of the loudspeaker and the frame.
Pry up until you can grab the loudspeaker with your fingers.
Remove the loudspeaker.

Step 27

Disconnect the Taptic Engine

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use the tip of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the Taptic Engine press connector.

Step 28

Remove the grounding clip

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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

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Remove the two screws securing the grounding clip:
One 1.2 mm Phillips #000 screw
One 1.9 mm tri-point Y000 screw
Use tweezers to remove the grounding clip.

Step 29

Unfasten the Taptic Engine

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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 Phillips #000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Remove the two screws securing the Taptic Engine:
One 2.9 mm Phillips #000 screw
One 3.8 mm standoff screw
If you don't have a standoff driver, you may use a thin flathead driver—but be careful not to strip the shallow notches in the screw heads.

Step 30

Remove the Taptic Engine

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger 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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Insert the flat end of a spudger between the left edge of the Taptic Engine and the frame.
Pry up until you can grab the Taptic Engine with your fingers.
Remove the Taptic Engine.