iPhone 13 Loudspeaker Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 28 Steps
Get ready to take on the mission of swapping out the loudspeaker in your iPhone 13! This little speaker hangs out at the bottom of your device, and we're going to help it sound its best again. Let's dive in and make some magic happen!
Step 1
Heads up! Before diving in, make sure to discharge your iPhone battery to under 25%. A feisty lithium-ion battery can throw a tantrum and might catch fire or even explode if it gets poked. Safety first, folks!
Cracking open your iPhone’s display means saying goodbye to those waterproof seals. If you’re planning to keep things splash-proof, grab some replacement seals before moving on. If not, just steer clear of any rogue liquids when you put it back together.
- Make sure to power down your iPhone before you start taking it apart.
- Next, grab your screwdriver and take out the two 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws located at the bottom edge of your iPhone.
Step 2
Watch out! If you shove that opening pick in too deep, you might accidentally poke something you shouldn't. Let's keep it safe by marking your pick, so you don't cause any harm.
Feeling creative? You can also put different measurements on the other corners of the pick for extra flair!
Or, if you're in the mood for a little hack, just tape a coin to your pick about 3 mm from the tip. Easy peasy!
- Mark a point 3 mm from the tip of your opening pick with a permanent marker. You're setting yourself up for success here!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep those sneaky glass shards from saying hello to your eyes while you work your magic.
If your iPhone's screen has taken a hit and is cracked, let's keep it from getting worse and avoid any accidental injuries while you tackle the repair. Grab some tape and cover that glass like a pro!
And if you're really in a pinch, don’t fret! You can always superglue that suction cup to the screen for a little extra grip.
- Cover the iPhone screen with overlapping strips of clear packing tape—think of it as giving your phone a shiny, protective jacket.
- If that suction cup just won't cooperate in the next steps, grab some strong tape (duct tape works wonders), fold it into a handle, and gently lift the screen with your new DIY grip.
Tools Used
Step 4
The next three steps walk you through using the Anti-Clamp, a handy tool we created to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, just skip ahead three steps for another way to get it done.
For full details on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
If your iPhone’s surface is feeling a bit too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to grip, try adding some tape to give it a better hold.
- Give the blue handle a gentle pull backwards to set the Anti-Clamp’s arms free.
- Slip those arms over either the left or right side of your iPhone.
- Line up the suction cups close to the bottom edge—one on the screen side, one on the back.
- Press the cups together to get a good grip right where you need it.
Step 5
- Slide that blue handle forward to lock those arms in place.
- Spin the handle clockwise all the way around, or until you see the cups starting to stretch.
- Keep an eye on the suction cups—make sure they stay lined up. If they start wandering, just loosen them a bit and get those arms back in sync.
Step 6
Turn no more than a quarter turn at once, then chill for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic!
For a comprehensive rundown on wielding a hair dryer like a pro, be sure to check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't quite opening up enough space, just warm things up a bit more and give that handle a cheeky quarter turn.
- Prop your iPhone up on something solid, like a hardcover book, so it can chill hands-free and sit nice and flat. Trust us, it makes the next steps way easier!
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone. It should feel just hot enough to make you think, 'Whoa, that's toasty!'
- Give it a minute to let that adhesive loosen up and create a little gap for you to work with.
- When the Anti-Clamp has done its magic and there's a sufficient gap, slide an opening pick right under the screen's plastic bezel.
- Feel free to skip the next three steps!
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep that hair dryer on the move! Staying in one spot for too long can lead to some hot mess – and not the fun kind!
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab a suction handle and stick it onto the bottom edge of your phone, but steer clear of the very edge of the glass. You got this!
Tools Used
Step 9
The waterproof adhesive holding the screen is a tough opponent—getting that first little gap might take some muscle. If the screen isn’t budging, hit it with some more heat and gently wiggle it up and down. You’ll wear down the glue and have enough space to slide in your tool.
- Give that suction cup a solid tug! Pull up with consistent pressure to shimmy the screen away from its frame just enough to wiggle in.
- Now, slip an opening pick into that delightful little gap beneath the screen's plastic bezel. You're making great progress!
Step 10
- 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 bit too hot to handle.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep that pick under 3 mm, or you might just give those internal components a little too much love!
- Glide your opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPhone, loosening that sticky adhesive like a pro.
- Keep sliding your pick up the right edge of the phone—just cruising along—until you hit the top right corner.
- Pause and leave the pick chilling in the top right corner for now. You’re making awesome progress!
Step 12
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a little too toasty to handle comfortably.
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick insertion shallow—no more than 3 mm—to avoid messing with those top sensors.
- Gently slide the opening pick around the top right corner of your iPhone to loosen up that stubborn top adhesive.
- Keep the pick wedged in the top left corner for now before moving on to the next step.
Step 14
- 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 touch.
Tools Used
Step 15
Watch out for those fragile cables on the left edge of your iPhone! It's best to keep your pick away from this area to avoid any accidental damage. You've got this!
Step 16
Gently twist that device to start, taking your time—no need to rush things!
If the adhesive is being a bit stubborn, just give that left edge a little extra heat!
- Place a second opening pick in the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time until you hear the left edge snap free.
Step 17
Hold up on peeling the display all the way off—there are still some delicate ribbon cables hooking it up to the iPhone's logic board.
- If your suction handle is still hanging around, it's time to say goodbye—remove it now.
- Turn your iPhone so the right edge is facing you.
- Swing the display open from the right side, just like you’re flipping open a hardcover book.
- Find something sturdy to lean the display against—it’s too cool to fall over while you work.
- When putting everything back together, line up the display along the top edge, click those clips into place, and gently snap down the rest. If it’s being stubborn, double-check the clips around the edges to make sure they’re not bent out of shape.
Tools Used
Step 18
As you tackle this repair, remember to keep an eye on each screw and return it to its original spot. This will help protect your iPhone from any mishaps.
- Grab your Phillips screwdriver and unscrew the three 1.3 mm screws holding down the cover for the battery and display connectors. Easy does it—no need to Hulk out.
- While putting things back together, this is a great time to power up your iPhone and run a quick test of all the features before sealing the display. Just make sure to shut it down again before diving back into the repair.
Step 19
- Pop off the cover to get started.
Step 20
Be careful around the black silicone seal! It's there to protect your board from water and dust, so try to keep it intact as you work. A little extra care goes a long way in keeping things safe and dry.
- Grab a spudger or your trusty clean fingernail and gently nudge that battery connector right up from its cozy spot on the logic board.
- Now, give that connector a little bend away from the logic board. This way, it'll be less likely to sneak back into the socket and power up your phone while you're busy fixing things!
Tools Used
Step 21
- Gently pop off the display cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail—think of it like opening a stubborn jar, but with way less mess.
To reconnect connectors like this, gently line them up and press down on one side until you hear a satisfying click. Then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle—if things get misaligned, the pins could bend, which is a one-way ticket to permanent damage. Take your time, and if you're feeling unsure, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Let's get those screws out and free the front sensor connector cover! You'll need to remove three screws:
- One 1.7 mm Phillips screw
- One 1.3 mm Phillips screw
- One 1.8 mm Y000 screw
Step 23
- Lift the cover up from the center of the phone until that little clip on the edge pops free—easy does it!
Step 24
- Take off the cover carefully.
- When putting it back, start by snapping the clip on the left side into its spot, then gently swing the rest of the cover into place like closing a book.
Step 25
- Gently pry up the front sensor assembly cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail to disconnect it.
Tools Used
Step 26
- Time to say goodbye to the screen! Gently remove it from the device.
- Now, while you're putting everything back together, take a moment here if you're thinking about giving your display a fresh waterproof adhesive makeover around the edges. It's a nice little touch!
Step 27
- Grab your trusty Phillips driver and go ahead and unscrew those four 1.7 mm screws holding the loudspeaker in place! You've got this!
Step 28
- Make sure to check your new part against the original one—you might need to move some bits over or peel off any sticky layers before putting it in.
- Put your device back together by simply reversing these steps.
- Got e-waste? Take it to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to keep things green.
- If things didn’t go quite right, try some troubleshooting, or if you’re stuck, you can always schedule a repair.
