iPhone 16 Pro Back Glass Removal

Step 1

Prepare the 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 the phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
• Unplug any cables from the phone.
• Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off the 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 the 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 Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C 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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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iOpener Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
• Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass 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 back glass, above the USB-C port.
• Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
• Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 7

Back glass 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 iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
• There's a delicate cable connecting the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume up button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
• There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in each step to avoid bending these contacts.
• If you damage the spring contacts, gently bend them back with a spudger or opening pick so they align with their gold contact pads on the back glass.

Step 8

Separate the bottom edge adhesive

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or Greater) 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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• Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm on the bottom edge to avoid damaging the spring contact.
• 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 resealing.

Step 9

Heat the right edge

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• Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 10

Separate the bottom right corner adhesive

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or Greater) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and halfway up the right edge, or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
• Don't slice near the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging/flash cable.
• Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 11

Heat the left edge

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• Heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 12

Separate the left 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 Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or Greater) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
• Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the screen 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 at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

Heat the top edge

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• Heat the top edge of the back glass, including the area around the volume buttons, 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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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or Greater) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
• Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
• You'll hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.

Step 15

Swing open the back glass

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Polyimide Tape 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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• Don't try to fully remove the back glass just yet—it's still attached with a delicate ribbon cable. Follow the next few steps to remove it safely.
• If the back glass doesn't swing open easily, don't force it—go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
• You may need to lift the back glass up slightly before swinging it open to fully disengage the clips.
• Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons.
• Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.
• Remove the opening picks.
• Consider using polyimide tape to protect the rear camera lenses while you're working inside the phone. Don't push against the lenses to avoid damaging the delicate stabilizers.

Step 16

Disconnect the battery

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver 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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• Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the lower connector cover:
• Two 1.2 mm‑long screws
• One 1.0 mm‑long screw

Step 17

Repair step

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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 pick up and remove the lower connector cover.

Step 18

Repair step

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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 battery press connector.

Step 19

Disconnect the back glass

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver 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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• Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the upper connector cover:
• Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
• One 1.2 mm‑long screw
• One 1.6 mm‑long screw

Step 20

Repair step

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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 pick up and remove the upper connector cover.

Step 21

Repair step

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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 back glass press connector.

Step 22

Remove the back glass

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• Lift the back glass off the frame and remove it.