iPhone 16 Pro Max Ambient Light Sensor Transfer

Step 1

Ambient light sensor information

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• The ambient light sensor is located behind the screen, next to the cut‑out for the Face ID sensors.
• Check if the replacement screen comes with one installed. If it does, click here to skip the next twelve steps.

Step 2

Remove the ambient light sensor bracket

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Use a tri‑point Y000 driver to remove the 1 mm‑long screw securing the bracket on the ambient light sensor.

Step 3

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to lift and remove the ambient light sensor bracket.

Step 4

Heat the ambient light sensor cable

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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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• Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or iOpener to soften the adhesive under the ambient light sensor and ambient light sensor cable.

Step 5

Peel up the ambient light sensor cable

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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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• Be careful and work slowly—the cable is extremely delicate, especially near the sensor. Don't try to lift the sensor itself yet.
• Slowly slide an opening pick under the ambient light sensor cable, starting under the connector at the bottom and working upwards until the cable is free from the screen.
• If the adhesive doesn't peel up easily, apply more heat.

Step 6

Reheat the ambient light sensor

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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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• Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or iOpener to soften the adhesive under the ambient light sensor itself.

Step 7

Pry up 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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• Work slowly to avoid tearing the thin cable attached to the ambient light sensor. If it feels stubborn, apply more heat instead of using more force.
• Use the flat end of a spudger to slowly pry up the ambient light sensor from the side with the protruding cable.
• Remove the ambient light sensor.

Step 8

Prepare the ambient light sensor

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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 to reposition any adhesive that may have covered the ambient light sensor during removal. The adhesive should form a border around the raised rectangle.
• If the adhesive was damaged or stayed with the old screen, replace it with a 1 mm wide strip of thin, double-sided tape along its top border.

Step 9

Place the ambient light sensor

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Align the ambient light sensor with its recess in the back of the screen.
• Use a spudger or your finger to press the ambient light sensor into its recess.

Step 10

Warm the ambient light sensor cable

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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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• Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or iOpener to soften the adhesive under the ambient light sensor and its cable. It only needs to be warm—not hot.

Step 11

Press 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 your finger to press down the ambient light sensor cable.
• If the ambient light sensor cable isn't sticking, apply a few small pieces of thin, double‑sided tape, like Tesa tape, to the back of the sensor cable.

Step 12

Install the ambient light sensor bracket

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Use tweezers or your fingers to hook the ambient light sensor bracket over the back of the sensor and set it into place.

Step 13

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Use a tri‑point Y000 driver to install the 1 mm‑long screw securing the bracket on the ambient light sensor.