Introduction
Use this guide to replace a scratched or damaged rear case on your iPhone 5s.
This guide requires removing the battery. The adhesive strips securing the battery are not re-usable, so you'll want to have a supply of replacement adhesive strips on hand before you begin. Alternatively, you can secure the battery in the case using a piece of double-sided tape.
Tools
-
-
If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
-
Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.
-
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
-
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.
-
-
-
In the following steps you will be pulling the display up out of the phone body. The display is composed of a glass screen and a plastic bezel with metal clips.
-
Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.
-
If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.
-
If you are reassembling a phone with a separated display bezel, you may want to place a thin strip of adhesive between the plastic bezel and the glass to keep the phone closed.
-
-
-
The next two steps demonstrate using the [product|IF145-243|iSclack], a great tool for safely opening the iPhone 5s that we recommend for anyone doing more than one repair. If you aren't using the iSclack, skip to [invalid guide link].
-
Close the handle on the iSclack, opening the suction-cup jaws.
-
Place the bottom of your iPhone in between the suction cups, against the plastic depth gauge.
-
The top suction cup should rest just above the home button.
-
Open the handles to close the jaws of the iSclack. Center the suction cups and press them firmly onto the top and bottom of the iPhone.
-
-
-
Hold onto your iPhone securely and close the handle of the iSclack to separate the suction cups, pulling the front panel up from the rear case.
-
The iSclack is designed to safely open your iPhone just enough to separate the pieces, but not enough to damage the home button cable.
-
Peel the two suction cups off your iPhone.
-
Skip the next three steps and continue on Step 9.
-
-
-
If you don't have an iSclack, use a single suction cup to lift the front panel:
-
Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.
-
Be sure the cup is completely on the screen to get a tight seal.
-
-
-
The front panel is attached with clips, and there are several ribbon cables connecting it to the rest of the phone. Your goal here is to release the clips and open the phone only enough to disconnect the cables. Go slowly and carefully to avoid damage.
-
Make sure the suction cup is firmly attached to the front panel assembly near the home button.
-
While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the home button end of the front panel from the rear case.
-
With a plastic opening tool, gently pry the edges of the rear case down, away from the front panel assembly, while you pull up with the suction cup.
-
Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The 5s front panel assembly is a much tighter fit than most devices.
-
-
-
Open the phone just enough to reveal the metal bracket covering the home button cable.
-
Do not open the phone too far or you risk damaging the home button cable, or the socket it plugs into. Keep the cable loose—if it is stretched taut, that's too far.
-
Only the phone's original home button assembly will be capable of using the Touch ID functionality. If you rip the cable, installing a new home button will only restore ordinary home button functions, not the Touch ID features.
-
Use the tip of a spudger to push the bracket free and remove it with tweezers.
-
The next two steps apply to reassembly. Skip them and continue to Step 12 until reassembly.
-
-
-
During reassembly, you will need to reinstall the Touch ID cable bracket. The top of the bracket needs to slide between the battery and Touch ID cable connector, and the front must latch down over the connector.
-
Slide the top of the bracket over the Touch ID cable connector from left to right.
-
-
-
Once the connector has been released, pull the home button end of the assembly away from the rear case, using the top of the phone as a hinge.
-
Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.
-
Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.
-
In a pinch, you can use an unopened canned beverage to hold the display.
-
-
-
Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:
-
One 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw
-
One 1.2 mm Phillips #000 screw
-
One 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screw
-
One more 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw
-
This 1.7 mm screw tends to not be attracted to a magnetized screwdriver. Take care not to lose it when removing.
-
It is especially important to keep track of your screws in this step for reassembly. Accidentally using the 1.3 mm screw or one of the 1.7 mm screws in the bottom right hole will result in significant damage to the logic board causing the phone to no longer boot properly.
-
Be careful not to over-tighten the screws, and don't force them. If they don't fit easily when you are securing them, they may be the wrong size.
-
-
-
While still supporting the front panel, disconnect the LCD cable connector.
-
When reassembling your phone, the LCD cable may pop off the connector. This can result in white lines or a blank screen when powering your phone back on. If that happens, simply reconnect the cable and power cycle your phone. The best way to power cycle your phone is to disconnect and reconnect the battery.
-
-
-
Remove the following screws from the logic board:
-
One 2.4 mm Phillips #000 screw
-
This screw also holds a small metal contact beneath the logic board. It's held in place underneath a plastic bracket, but if you see it slipping out, refer to this step to remove it.
-
Two 2.3 mm Phillips #000 screws
-
Four 2.8 mm standoff screws
-
Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove these standoff screws.
-
During reassembly, you can use the tip of a spudger to get the standoff screw started.
-
-
-
At this point, a small metal plate near the rear facing camera is loose and may come free from its recess.
-
Because it is very small and easy to lose, it's best to remove this plate and set it aside while you continue to work on your phone.
-
Use tweezers to remove the plate from beneath the bracket to the left of the rear-facing camera.
-
When reassembling, orient the plate with the small tab to the right and the longest flat edge against the top of the phone.
-
-
-
Try to keep the strips flat and unwrinkled during this procedure; wrinkled strips will stick together and break instead of pulling out cleanly.
-
Slowly pull one of the battery adhesive strips away from the battery, toward the bottom of the iPhone.
-
Pull steadily, maintaining constant tension on the strip as it slips out from between the battery and the rear case. For best results, pull the strip at a 60º angle or less.
-
-
-
Guide the strip carefully around the corner and up the side of the battery.
-
Be careful not to snag it on the corner of the battery or on any of the other internal iPhone components.
-
The strip will stretch to many times its original length. Continue pulling, re-grabbing the strip near the battery if necessary, until the entire strip comes free.
-
-
-
Flip the iPhone back over and insert a plastic card between the case side of the battery and the rear case.
-
Be careful to keep the card as flat as possible to avoid bending the battery, which may damage it and cause it to release dangerous chemicals.
-
Press the card in farther to break up the adhesive behind the battery.
-
-
-
Remove the battery from the rear case.
-
When installing the battery, refer to this guide to replace your battery's adhesive strips.
-
-
-
Use the tip of a spudger to pry the ringer switch bracket from the side of the rear case.
-
Remove the ringer switch.
-
Note the orientation for reassembly: The red line should be at the top of the button. The notch in the back of the ringer switch button should be in the same position as, and mate with, the mechanical switch on the cable.
-
-
-
Use the tip of a spudger to push the power/sleep button into the phone slightly.
-
Use a set of tweezers to remove the button.
-
Double check the orientation of the button for reassembly. The two "L" shapes should be upside down, and the metal bar should be folded onto the top of the button.
-
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.