iPhone 14 Pro Max Earpiece Speaker Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 25 Steps
Follow this guide to swap out a busted earpiece speaker on your iPhone 14 Pro Max. The steps are based on the A2894 (international) model, so if you have a different variant, things might look a bit different, but the process stays the same. Don’t forget, you’ll need some replacement adhesive to seal the screen back on when you’re done. Your phone will work just fine afterward, though it will probably lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.
Step 1
- First things first, let’s give your iPhone a little nap by powering it off before we dive into the disassembly fun!
- Next up, grab a pentalobe P2 screwdriver and carefully remove those two 6.8 mm-long screws at the bottom edge of your iPhone. You got this!
Step 2
If you shove the pick in too deep, it might mess up your device. Mark your pick to keep things safe and sound.
Feel free to mark other corners of the pick with different measurements for handy reference.
Or, stick a coin on your pick about 3 mm from the tip as a quick and easy depth guide.
- Grab your trusty opening pick and measure out a cool 3 mm from the tip. Once you've got that down, give it a little mark with a permanent marker to keep things snazzy!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any sneaky glass shards that might fly free during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? Slap some tape over that glass to keep shards in check and save your fingers from surprise pokes while you work.
If your suction cup keeps slipping, go full MacGyver and glue it to the screen. Sometimes you just have to improvise.
- Start by laying down some overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen until you've got the whole face nicely covered. It's like giving your phone a cozy little blanket!
- If the suction cup isn’t playing nice in the next few steps, don't fret! Grab a sturdy piece of tape (duct tape works wonders) and fold it into a handy handle to lift the screen instead. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 4
The next three steps will introduce you to the Anti-Clamp, our nifty little gadget designed to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not rocking the Anti-Clamp, no worries! Just skip ahead three steps for another way to do it.
Need the scoop on using the Anti-Clamp? Check out this guide for all the details.
If your iPhone's surface feels like a slip 'n slide and the Anti-Clamp isn't gripping well, a little tape can do wonders to create a better hold.
- Give that blue handle a confident pull backward to free up the Anti-Clamp’s arms.
- Slide those arms over either the left or right side of your iPhone—no wrong choice here.
- Line up the suction cups near the bottom edge, one hanging out on the front and one chilling on the back.
- Squeeze the cups together until you’ve got a solid grip in the spot you want.
Step 5
- Gently pull the blue handle forward to secure those arms in place.
- Spin that handle a full 360 degrees clockwise, or until you see those cups start to stretch a bit.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to make sure they're aligned perfectly. If they start to wander off course, just loosen them a tad and realign the arms. You've got this!
Step 6
Take it easy, and remember: just a quarter turn at a time! Chill for a minute between each twist. Let the Anti-Clamp do its magic while you take a breather.
For a full rundown on how to wield a hair dryer like a pro, check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t opening up enough space, just warm things up a bit more and give the handle a quarter turn to loosen it up.
- Place your iPhone on a solid surface like a hardcover book so it sits hands-free and flat—makes the next moves way easier.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone until the screen feels a bit too toasty to touch.
- Give it a minute to let the adhesive soften and create a little gap for you to work with.
- Slide an opening pick under the screen’s plastic bezel once the Anti-Clamp has made enough space to get it in.
- You can skip the next two steps.
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep that hair dryer moving—parking it in one spot is a no-go!
Got a suction handle? Great! Follow these next two steps to gently wiggle the screen free.
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and gently warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a tad too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
The adhesive keeping the screen stuck is no joke—it takes some muscle to get things started. If it feels like the screen isn’t budging, hit it with a bit more heat and gently wiggle it up and down. That’ll help loosen things up until you’ve got enough of a gap for your opening pick.
- Place a suction cup near the bottom edge of the screen, but steer clear of the very edge of the glass.
- Gently pull up on the suction cup with steady pressure to create a small gap between the screen and the frame.
- Slide an opening pick carefully into the gap beneath the screen's plastic bezel.
Tools Used
Step 9
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the right edge of your iPhone (the side with the power button) for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a touch too hot to keep your fingers on it.
Tools Used
Step 10
Keep your pick under 3 mm to avoid accidentally causing damage to the delicate internal parts.
- Take your pick and cruise along the bottom right corner of your iPhone—this helps loosen up that stubborn adhesive.
- Keep that pick moving up the right edge, all the way to the top right corner. You’re making progress!
- Once you hit the top right, let the pick chill there for a moment before you go any further.
Step 11
- Warm up the top edge of your iPhone with a hair dryer for about 90 seconds, or until it feels a bit too hot to the touch. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 12
Keep your pick insertion under 3 mm to avoid messing with the top sensors — they’re more sensitive than you think!
- Slide your pick gently under the top right edge of your phone. Glide it around that corner and along the top edge, stopping just short of the earpiece speaker cut-out. You're doing great!
Step 13
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the left edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to keep your finger on it comfortably.
Tools Used
Step 14
Heads up: there are some super-sensitive cables along the left edge of your iPhone. Keep your pick out of this zone to avoid any accidental cable drama.
Step 15
Gently twist with patience, no need to rush – slow and steady wins this race.
If the adhesive's feeling stubborn, give the left edge a quick reheat and try again.
- Pop in a second opening pick at the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Give both picks a gentle twist at the same time until the left edge clips decide to let go.
Step 16
If you don’t have a sturdy surface to rest the screen on, your trusty suction handle can lend a hand here.
- Spin your iPhone so the right side is facing you—like you're giving it a little spotlight.
- Flip open your iPhone by lifting the screen from the right, just like cracking open a book for a good read.
- Prop the screen against something sturdy so it stays up while you work your magic inside.
- When putting everything back together, set the screen in place, line up the clips along the top edge, and gently press the top into position before snapping down the rest. If it’s being stubborn, check for any bent clips around the edge and give them a gentle fix.
Tools Used
Step 17
As you dive into this repair adventure, make sure to keep a close eye on each screw and return it to its original spot. This way, your iPhone will stay happy and healthy without any mix-ups!
- Grab your trusty Y000 screwdriver and carefully remove the eight screws holding down the battery connector cover:
- When putting everything back together, it's a perfect moment to power on your iPhone and make sure everything is working smoothly before sealing up the screen. Remember to shut it down completely again before moving on.
- Six screws that are 1.3 mm long
- One screw that's 1.6 mm long
- One screw measuring 1.9 mm long
Step 18
- Grab the connector cover with your tweezers and slide it down like you’re moving a little curtain out of the way for the flex cables.
- Take off the connector cover and set it aside.
Tools Used
Step 19
Be gentle with the black silicone seal around this and other board connectors. These little guys work hard keeping water and dust out, so treat them like the VIPs they are!
- Grab the pointy end of your spudger and gently pry the battery connector straight up to unplug it from its socket.
- Give the connector a little bend away from the logic board so it doesn’t accidentally touch the socket and power up the phone while you’re working.
Tools Used
Step 20
- Grab your trusty spudger and use the pointed end to gently lift the first display cable right out of its cozy socket. It’s like giving it a little nudge to say 'Hello!'
- When it's time to reconnect magic, make sure to align those connectors just right! Start by pressing down on one side until you hear that satisfying click, then do the same on the other side. Remember, no pressure in the middle! If things get a little out of line, those pins might bend and nobody wants that. If you're feeling unsure, you can always schedule a repair!
Tools Used
Step 21
- Grab the pointy end of your spudger and gently pop the second display cable connector straight up—like opening a tiny treasure chest.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Gently take off the screen.
- Clean the spots that need it with some 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, then slap on fresh adhesive where it counts.
- When putting everything back together, this is a great moment to pause if you want to swap out the screen adhesives.
Step 23
- Grab your Phillips screwdriver and remove those two tiny 1.6 mm screws holding the earpiece speaker in place.
Step 24
- Slide the pointed tip of your spudger gently under the right side of the earpiece speaker.
- Carefully tilt the back end of the spudger downward to lift the earpiece speaker out.
- Heads up: the top right corner of the earpiece speaker has a rubber gasket. When putting it back, make sure this gasket fits snugly into its spot on the frame.
Tools Used
Step 25
- If you can, power on your device and give your repair a quick test before popping on new adhesive and sealing it up.
- Line up your new part with the old one—sometimes you’ll need to move over leftover bits or peel off adhesive covers before fitting it in.
- To put everything back together, just follow these steps backwards.
- Remember to take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to keep things green.
- If things didn’t go as planned, try some basic troubleshooting or feel free to schedule a repair for a hand.
