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iPhone 16 Pro Max Battery Replacement

This guide shows how to remove and replace the...

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Moderate 1 - 3 hours Guide 178831
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Guide overview

Before you begin

This guide shows how to remove and replace the battery in your iPhone 16 Pro Max. iPhone batteries are rated to hold 80% of their capacity for up to 500 charge cycles, or roughly 18–24 months. If your iPhone needs to be charged more often or runs slower, it might be time to replace the battery. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions. You'll need replacement battery and back glass adhesive to complete this repair. As of iOS 18.1, battery health works with both genuine and aftermarket replacement batteries. After your repair, run Repair Assistant to reset the battery metrics.

Step 1

Before you begin

  • Allow your iPhone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
  • Unplug any cables from your iPhone.
  • Hold the power and either volume buttons, and slide to power off your iPhone.
Step 2

Tape over any cracks

  • 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

Remove the pentalobe screws

  • Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.4 mm-long screws on either side of the charge port.
Step 4

Mark your opening picks

  • 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 5

Create a gap using a suction handle

  • The next two steps show how to create an initial gap using a suction handle.
  • Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
  • You can also use an iOpener to heat the back glass. Follow these instructions to heat and apply the iOpener properly.
Step 6

Repair step

  • Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass.
  • Pull up on the handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
  • If a gap doesn't appear, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
  • Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.
Step 7

Back glass information

  • As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the following steps, don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the following areas:
  • A delicate cable connecting the back glass to the iPhone, right next to the volume up button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
  • Multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the iPhone.
Step 8

Separate the bottom edge adhesive

  • Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge to slice the adhesive.
  • If the adhesive feels difficult to slice, reheat the edge for a minute and try again.
  • Leave the opening pick in the bottom-left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 9

Heat the left edge

  • Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 10

Separate the left adhesive

  • Insert a second opening pick into the bottom-left corner, close to the existing pick.
  • Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
  • Slide your pick along the left edge to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
  • You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
  • Leave this pick inserted in the top-left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 11

Heat the top edge and corner

  • Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the top edge and top-right corner of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 12

Separate the top adhesive

  • Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
  • Insert a third opening pick into the top-left corner.
  • Slide the opening pick along the top edge and around the top-right corner, stopping above the volume up button.
  • Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 13

Heat the right edge

  • Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 14

Separate the right adhesive

  • Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
  • Insert a fourth opening pick into the bottom-right corner.
  • Slide the opening pick around the corner and up the right edge, stopping below the volume down button.
  • Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 15

Reposition the back glass

  • At this point, the back glass should be free from the frame. If the back glass feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
  • Swing open the back glass to the right of the iPhone to separate the remaining adhesive.
  • Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object.
Step 16

Remove the battery connector cover

  • Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the three screws securing the battery connector cover:
  • Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
  • One 1.0 mm‑long screw
Step 17

Repair step

  • Lift and remove the battery connector cover.
Step 18

Disconnect the battery

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
Step 19

Remove the back glass connector cover

  • Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the four screws securing the back glass connector cover:
  • Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
  • Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
Step 20

Repair step

  • Lift the back glass connector cover straight up and remove it.
Step 21

Remove the back glass

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back glass connector.
Step 22

Repair step

  • Remove the back glass.
Step 23

Remove the Taptic Engine cover

  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the Taptic Engine cover:
  • One 2.9 mm‑long screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long screw
  • One 2.4 mm‑long screw
Step 24

Repair step

  • Use tweezers or your fingers to lift the top edge of the Taptic Engine cover.
  • Once the bottom edge unlatches from the frame, remove the Taptic Engine cover.
Step 25

Loosen the lower assembly cable

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the lower assembly cable from the logic board.
Step 26

Repair step

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the two connectors near the bottom right edge of the frame.
Step 27

Repair step

  • Remove the two screws securing the lower assembly cable:
  • One 1.0 mm‑long tri-point Y000 screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long Phillips screw
Step 28

Repair step

  • Use a hair dryer to heat up the lower assembly cable section on top of the Taptic Engine until it's hot to the touch.
Step 29

Repair step

  • Slide an opening pick under the lower assembly cable to separate it from the Taptic Engine.
  • Carefully bend the cable out of the way so you can access the Taptic Engine.
Step 30

Remove the Taptic Engine

  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 2.1 mm‑long screw securing the Taptic Engine.
Step 31

Repair step

  • Use the point of a spudger to pivot the corner bracket up.
Step 32

Repair step

  • Slide the tip of an opening pick along the top edge of the Taptic Engine to separate the plastic buffer strip adhered to it.
Step 33

Repair step

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up the Taptic Engine.
  • Be careful not to pry against the battery.
  • Remove the Taptic Engine.
Step 34

Remove the loudspeaker

  • Remove the four screws securing the loudspeaker:
  • One 1.7 mm‑long Phillips screw
  • One 1.5 mm‑long Phillips screw
  • One 4.1 mm‑long standoff screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long tri-point Y000 screw
Step 35

Repair step

  • Insert the point of a spudger underneath the loudspeaker's bottom-right screw hole.
  • Pry up and remove the loudspeaker.
Step 36

Battery adhesive information

  • Your iPhone's battery is secured with three stretch release adhesive strips. The next four steps show how to remove them and free your battery.
  • Be careful not to dent or puncture the battery. Avoid using sharp tools near it.
Step 37

Remove the battery

  • Use the tip of an opening pick to separate a black pull tab from the bottom of the battery.
  • Use tweezers to help peel the tab away from the battery.
  • Don't try to pull the tab out from under the battery just yet.
Step 38

Repair step

  • Use tweezers or your fingers to grab the pull tab.
  • Slowly pull the adhesive out from under the battery at as low of an angle as possible.
  • Give the strip plenty of time to stretch and re-grip it as necessary. Avoid dragging it over the components or cables above the battery.
  • When the strip becomes too long, wrap it around your tweezers and continue pulling.
  • If a strip breaks off, try to retrieve it from under the battery. If you can't retrieve it, move onto the next strip.
Step 39

Repair step

  • Repeat the procedure with the two remaining adhesive strips.
  • Carefully bend the lower assembly cable out of the way as needed to access the adhesive strips.
Step 40

Repair step

  • If you removed all three stretch release adhesive strips, congratulations! Remove the battery and skip down three steps for reassembly instructions.
  • If one or more adhesive strips broke, skip to the next step to remove them with isopropyl alcohol.
Step 41

Alternate method to remove the battery

  • The next two steps show how to remove the battery if the adhesive strips broke.
  • Lift the bottom edge of the frame to tilt the iPhone.
  • Use a pipette or a syringe to apply 2–3 drops of high concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol along the bottom edge of the battery, close to where each broken adhesive strip came out.
  • Wait one minute for the isopropyl alcohol to flow under the battery and soften the adhesive.
Step 42

Repair step

  • Insert the flat edge of an opening pick between the left edge of the battery and the frame.
  • Pry the battery upwards slowly with steady force. Give the adhesive time to release.
  • Don't bend or crease the battery. If it feels stubborn, apply a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol and try again.
  • Once the adhesive loosens, grab and remove the battery.
Step 43

Disassembly complete

  • Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your iPhone.
  • Depending on your iPhone model, some reassembly photos may have minor visual discrepancies. The procedure, however, will be correct for your iPhone.
Step 44

Install the replacement battery

  • Remove any remaining adhesive from the battery recess. Wipe the frame surface with a lint-free cloth and a few drops of isopropyl alcohol.
Step 45

Repair step

  • Peel the adhesive liner away from the battery.
  • If your new battery doesn't have adhesive installed, follow this guide to apply new stretch release adhesive strips, or use thin, double-sided tape to secure it.
Step 46

Repair step

  • The battery adhesive is very sticky! Be careful as you align the battery in its recess—once it sticks, you won't be able to realign it.
  • Lower the battery partially into its recess.
  • Temporarily connect the battery to the logic board to ensure that the cable reaches.
  • Lay the battery in its recess.
Step 47

Repair step

  • Use your fingers to press firmly against the battery for ten seconds to bond it to the frame.
  • Disconnect the battery from the logic board.
Step 48

Install the loudspeaker

  • Angle the bottom edge of the loudspeaker towards the frame.
  • Press the loudspeaker into its recess.
Step 49

Repair step

  • Install the four screws securing the loudspeaker:
  • One 1.7 mm‑long Phillips screw
  • One 1.5 mm‑long Phillips screw
  • One 4.1 mm‑long standoff screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long tri-point Y000 screw
Step 50

Install the Taptic Engine

  • Lay the Taptic Engine in its recess.
Step 51

Repair step

  • Use your finger to pivot the corner bracket down into place.
Step 52

Repair step

  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the 2.1 mm‑long screw securing the Taptic Engine.
Step 53

Repair step

  • Use your finger to gently press the lower assembly cable onto the top of the Taptic Engine.
Step 54

Repair step

  • Install the two screws securing the lower assembly cable:
  • One 1.0 mm‑long tri-point Y000 screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long Phillips screw
Step 55

Repair step

  • Use your finger or a spudger to press and connect the two lower assembly cable connectors.
Step 56

Repair step

  • Lay the Taptic Engine cover in place and align it by its screw holes.
  • Make sure the bottom edge of the cover latches properly to the frame.
Step 57

Repair step

  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the three screws securing the Taptic Engine cover:
  • One 2.9 mm‑long screw
  • One 1.3 mm‑long screw
  • One 2.4 mm‑long screw
Step 58

Repair step

  • Use your finger or a spudger to press the assembly cable connector onto the logic board.
Step 59

Remove the leftover adhesive

  • Work around the fragile grounding clips as you're cleaning the frame. If you bend one out of place, gently bend it back with your fingers or tweezers.
  • Use blunt nose tweezers or your fingers to remove large pieces of adhesive from the frame perimeter.
  • Use a spudger to scrape the adhesive residue off of the frame.
  • If the adhesive feels stubborn, apply some heat using a hair dryer or heat gun and try again.
Step 60

Clean the back glass

  • If you're reusing your back glass, apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to a microfiber or lint-free cloth and wipe around the perimeter to prepare the surface for new adhesive.
Step 61

Clean the frame

  • Wrap a lint-free cloth or a coffee filter over the point of a spudger and apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to it.
  • Wipe in one direction along the perimeter of the frame to clean the adhesive residue.
  • Take your time doing this. A clean frame allows replacement adhesive to lay evenly, ensuring a better bond.
Step 62

Apply the replacement adhesive

  • Lay the adhesive sheet over the frame to determine its proper orientation.
  • Use features such as the camera cutout and notches along the top and bottom edges to visualize how the adhesive will lay in the frame.
Step 63

Repair step

  • Grab the tab in the corner of the adhesive sheet and peel the liner to expose a third of the adhesive.
  • The exposed adhesive is very sticky. Don't let it touch anything until you're ready to apply it to the frame.
  • If your adhesive has multiple liners, peel the liner that exposes the side that sticks to the frame.
Step 64

Repair step

  • Carefully align the exposed edge of the adhesive strip with the corresponding edge of the iPhone's frame.
  • Once the adhesive is pressed into place, you can't reposition it—you'll have to remove it and start over with new adhesive.
  • When it's correctly aligned, gently press the exposed adhesive strip onto the frame.
Step 65

Repair step

  • Continue peeling away the liner from the adhesive, gently pressing the adhesive into place.
  • If you've correctly aligned the adhesive, the edges will fall perfectly into place.
  • If your adhesive is slightly misaligned, gently pull the long edges into alignment with the frame.
  • If the adhesive begins to crease or wrinkle, remove it and start over with fresh adhesive.
  • If you don't have another set of adhesive strips handy, it's okay to temporarily put your iPhone back together and use it normally without any adhesive. Just keep in mind that your iPhone's water resistance will be compromised until you replace the adhesive.
Step 66

Repair step

  • Use a spudger to press the adhesive around the entire perimeter of your iPhone.
  • Work around the fragile grounding clips. If you bend one out of place, gently bend it back with your fingers or tweezers.
  • Don't press too hard, or you'll stretch and deform the adhesive.
Step 67

Repair step

  • Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the pull tab connected to the large front liner. The pull tab is often in a corner of the liner.
  • Use the pull tab to peel off the large front liner from the adhesive.
  • At this point, you may still have a liner covering the perimeter, which prevents the adhesive from accidentally sticking to anything while you're reassembling your iPhone. Don't remove these small release liners just yet.
Step 68

Connect the back glass

  • Prop up the back glass along the right edge of your iPhone.
Step 69

Repair step

  • Use your finger or the flat end of a spudger to press and connect the back glass connector onto the logic board.
Step 70

Connect the battery

  • Use your finger or a spudger to press and connect the battery press connector onto the logic board.
  • This is a good point to test your repair before sealing up your iPhone. Power on your iPhone and make sure it works as expected. Power it back down and continue reassembly.
  • If your iPhone doesn't turn on, connect it to a power source and try again.
  • If you've replaced the logic board and the screen fails to turn on, you'll need to follow the screen guide to manually connect the display connector.
Step 71

Install the connector covers

  • Align the back glass connector cover by its screw holes and lay it in place.
Step 72

Repair step

  • Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the four screws securing the back glass connector cover:
  • Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
  • Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
Step 73

Repair step

  • Align the battery connector cover by its screw holes and lay it in place.
Step 74

Repair step

  • Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the three screws securing the battery connector cover:
  • Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
  • One 1.0 mm‑long screw
Step 75

Remove the final adhesive liners

  • Use your fingers or a spudger to peel away all perimeter liners, exposing the adhesive.
  • As you remove the liners, make sure nothing touches the exposed adhesive.
  • Check the frame and back glass for any stray liners and remove them. There should be no liners remaining.
Step 76

Install the back glass

  • Lower the back glass onto the frame, beginning with the top edge.
  • If you feel resistance, a perimeter clip may have bent out of place and is being crushed by the frame. Look at the point of resistance and gently straighten any bent clips.
  • Press along the edges of the iPhone until the back glass sits flush against the frame.
Step 77

Apply heat to the perimeter

  • Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or an iOpener to heat the back glass perimeter until it's slightly too hot to touch.
  • The heat softens the adhesive and helps create a better bond.
Step 78

Apply pressure to the perimeter

  • Use your fingers to firmly squeeze around the perimeter of the iPhone.
Step 79

Repair step

  • Place your iPhone screen-side down on a clean, flat work surface.
  • Lay a strip of tape around the perimeter of the back glass to protect the finish.
  • Stack coins around the perimeter of the back glass until you create a wall that's as tall as the rear camera protrusions.
  • Alternatively, you can use vise clamps around the perimeter of your device to set the new adhesive.
Step 80

Repair step

  • Place 3-4 heavy books squarely on top of your iPhone.
  • The coins may leave a slight impression on the bottom book cover, so don't use anything valuable.
  • Leave the books in place for about 30 minutes.
  • The pressure will help activate the adhesive.
Step 81

Install the pentalobe screws

  • Use a P2 pentalobe driver to install the two 7.4 mm-long screws on either side of the charge port.