iPhone 13 Rear-Facing Camera Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 34 Steps
Dive into this guide to swap out and install the rear-facing cameras on your iPhone 13. The camera modules come as a handy single unit for easy replacement. And hey, if you're rocking iOS 18 or later, you can calibrate those shiny new camera modules with Apple's Repair Assistant. So, let’s get those cameras shining like new!
Step 1
Heads up: Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is below 25% charge. A fully charged lithium-ion battery is like a tiny firecracker waiting to pop if poked the wrong way. Stay safe and proceed carefully!
Opening up your iPhone's display? Just a heads up: you might be saying goodbye to those waterproof seals. Make sure you’ve got some replacement seals on hand before you dive deeper into this step. Or, if you choose to reassemble without swapping them out, just keep your iPhone away from any liquid adventures!
- First things first—make sure to power off your iPhone before diving in. Safety first, right?
- Now, grab your tools and unscrew the two 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom of your iPhone. We're just getting started!
Step 2
If you push the pick in too deep, you risk giving your device an accidental makeover it didn’t ask for. Mark your pick so you know exactly how far to go—no unwanted surprises.
Feeling precise? Mark different measurements on each corner of your pick for extra control.
Or, tape a coin to your pick 3 mm from the tip for an easy depth stop—your device will thank you for the gentle touch.
- Grab your trusty ruler and measure out 3 mm from the tip! Give that opening pick a little dot with your permanent marker to mark the spot. You're doing great!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any sneaky glass bits that might break free during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? Keep those shards in check and avoid any ouch moments by taping over the glass before you start your repair.
If the suction cup just won’t stick, no worries — a little superglue can make it cling like a champ.
- Start by layering clear packing tape over your iPhone's screen, overlapping each strip until the entire face is covered.
- If the suction cup isn't sticking, no worries! Just fold a sturdy piece of tape, like duct tape, into a handle and use it to gently lift the screen.
Tools Used
Step 4
Up next, we're diving into the magic of the Anti-Clamp! This nifty little tool is here to help you breeze through the opening process. If you’re not rolling with the Anti-Clamp, no worries! Just skip down three steps for another way to get the job done.
Want to master the Anti-Clamp? Check out our detailed guide for all the ins and outs.
If your iPhone's surface is feeling a bit too slippery for the Anti-Clamp, grab some tape to add a little grip. You'll be all set!
- Give that blue handle a little tug back to release the Anti-Clamp's arms from their grip.
- Slide those trusty arms over either the left or right side of your iPhone—your choice!
- Carefully place the suction cups near the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front, and another on the back.
- Squeeze the cups together to create a strong suction for a secure hold on the area.
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug forward to secure those arms in place.
- Now, twist the handle a full 360 degrees or until those suction cups start stretching like a good rubber band.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to ensure they stay perfectly aligned. If they start to wander off course, just loosen them a bit and guide those arms back into line.
Step 6
Take it easy – no need to rush! Turn just a quarter turn at a time, then hang tight for a minute before the next one. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their thing for you.
For a fun and thorough walkthrough on hair dryer usage, make sure to check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't opening things up enough, give it another blast of heat and give that handle a twist of about a quarter turn!
- Give your iPhone a comfy spot on a solid surface, like a sturdy hardcover book, so it can chill hands-free and stay nice and level. This will make your life easier in the next steps!
- Grab a hair dryer and gently warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone. It should feel just a tad too hot to touch—perfect for loosening things up.
- Now, take a breather for a minute. Let that adhesive have a little party and loosen up, creating a tiny gap for you.
- When the Anti-Clamp has worked its magic and opened up enough space, slide an opening pick under the screen's plastic bezel.
- Feel free to skip the next three steps!
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep your hair dryer moving and grooving! Don't let it chill in one spot for too long.
- Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and give the bottom edge of your iPhone some cozy love for about 90 seconds. Aim for a bit of warmth that's just shy of too hot to handle – you want it to be warm and toasty, not a scorcher!
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab your suction handle and stick it near the bottom edge of your phone—just don’t go hugging the very tip of that glass.
Tools Used
Step 9
The adhesive keeping your screen snug as a bug is super strong, so getting that first gap might feel like a workout! If you’re struggling to pry it open, don’t worry—just add a little more heat and give the screen a gentle wiggle up and down. This will help loosen that adhesive, making it easier to slip your tool in and get started on your repair journey!
- Gently tug on the suction cup with steady force to create a little space between the screen and the frame. You got this!
- Slide an opening pick into that newly formed gap under the screen's plastic bezel. Easy peasy!
Step 10
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and give the right side of your iPhone (the one with the power button) a good 90-second warm-up. Keep at it until the screen is just about too hot to touch—then you're ready to move on!
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick shallow—no deeper than 3 mm—so you don’t accidentally poke something important hiding inside.
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPhone to start loosening that sticky adhesive.
- Keep sliding the pick up along the right edge until you reach the top right corner.
- Leave the pick in place at the top right corner before moving on to the next step.
Step 12
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and blast the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels a tad too hot to handle. Keep it cool and safe – we want to be careful while getting things nice and warm!
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick insertion under 3 mm to avoid messing with those delicate top sensors.
- Glide your opening pick around the top right corner of your iPhone—think of it as slicing through the last bit of stubborn pizza cheese—to loosen up that adhesive.
- Park the pick in the top left corner for now. It's going to hang out there while you handle the next steps.
Step 14
- Fire up your hair dryer and warm up the left side of your iPhone for about 90 seconds—aim for that 'just a bit too hot to handle' feeling on the glass.
Tools Used
Step 15
Heads up: There are some fragile little cables running along the left edge of your iPhone. Keep your pick away from there so you don’t accidentally mess with them!
Step 16
Twist it gently and steadily to loosen things up.
Struggling to get that adhesive to budge? Warm up the left edge a bit more and give it another go.
- Slide a second pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone—like you're dealing cards at a high-stakes tech poker night.
- Give both picks a gentle twist at the same time and watch those left edge clips pop loose. Nailed it!
Step 17
Hold up! Don't yank the display all the way off just yet—there are still some delicate ribbon cables hooking it up to the iPhone's logic board.
- First things first, if your suction handle is still hanging out, it's time to say goodbye to it!
- Now, flip your iPhone so the right edge is facing you like it's ready to chat.
- Gently open the iPhone by lifting the display up from the right side, just like flipping the front cover of a book.
- Once you've got it open, lean the display against something sturdy to keep it nice and propped up while you work your magic on the phone.
- When it's time to put everything back together, lay the display in its rightful place, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully push the top edge down until it snaps into place. If it's playing hard to get, take a peek at those clips around the display's perimeter to ensure they aren't bent.
Tools Used
Step 18
As you tackle this repair, keep an eye on those screws! Make sure each one finds its way back to its original home to keep your iPhone happy and healthy.
- Grab a Phillips screwdriver and remove the three tiny 1.3 mm screws that are keeping the battery and display connector cover in place.
- When you’re putting things back together, it's a good idea to power on your device and double-check all functions before sealing the display. Just make sure to power it down completely before diving back in and continuing the work.
Step 19
- Pop off the cover. Easy does it!
Step 20
Go easy around that black silicone seal hugging the board connections. It’s the superhero cape keeping water and dust from sneaking in.
- Grab your trusty spudger or a clean fingernail and gently nudge that battery connector up from its cozy spot on the logic board. It's like giving it a little lift-off!
- Once you've got it up, give the connector a tiny bend away from the logic board. This little move will keep it from accidentally reconnecting and powering up your phone while you're on your repair mission.
Tools Used
Step 21
To re-attach those connectors, here's the trick: carefully align one side and press down until you hear a satisfying click. Then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle—if it's misaligned, you risk bending the pins, and trust us, that's no fun. Keep it neat and tidy!
- Gently pry open the display cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 22
- Let's get started by taking off three screws that are holding down the front sensor connector cover:
- First up, grab that tiny 1.7 mm Phillips screw.
- Next, there's a 1.3 mm Phillips screw waiting for you.
- And don't forget about the 1.8 mm Y000 screw—it's the last piece of the puzzle!
Step 23
- Lift the cover from the center of the phone and gently swing it up until the little clip near the edge pops free.
Step 24
- Take off the cover like you’re opening a secret treasure chest.
- When you’re putting it back, start by slotting the left edge clip in first, then swing the rest of the cover down like you’re closing a book.
Step 25
- Gently use a spudger or your fingernail to pry apart the front sensor assembly cable connector. Take it slow and steady, you've got this!
Tools Used
Step 26
- Take off the screen carefully.
- When putting it back together, take a moment here if you want to swap out the waterproof adhesive sealing the display edges.
Step 27
- Grab your trusty Phillips screwdriver and tackle those three 1.7 mm screws holding the rear-facing camera cover in place. You've got this!
Step 28
- Gently pop up the camera cover starting from the edge farthest from the logic board, then take it off.
- To put the camera cover back on, line up the tabs on the side nearest the logic board with their slots in the phone frame, then swing the cover closed like a pro.
Step 29
- Grab a spudger or your fingernail and gently pry the first camera cable connector straight up to unplug it from its socket.
Tools Used
Step 30
- Grab a spudger or just your fingernail and gently pry the second camera cable connector straight up from its socket to disconnect it.
Tools Used
Step 31
- Gently slide the tip of a spudger under the bottom left cable of that camera assembly and give it a little lift to free the rear-facing camera assembly. You've got this!
- Now, use the spudger to nudge the top edge of the camera assembly. Lift it just enough so you can easily grab it with your fingers. You're doing awesome!
Tools Used
Step 32
- Pinch the camera assembly gently with your fingers and lift it out like you’re picking up a prize from a claw machine.
Step 33
- Gently pop out those rear cameras from your iPhone—like removing sprinkles from a cupcake, just a lot more high-tech!
Step 34
- Make sure to compare your new part with the original one—you might need to move some leftover bits or peel off adhesive backing before popping it in.
- When putting everything back together, just follow these steps backwards.
- Once you're done, some parts can be calibrated using Apple's Repair Assistant on iOS 18 or later. Just update your device, go to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the prompts.
- Don’t forget to recycle your old parts at an R2 or e-Stewards certified facility.
- If things didn’t go quite as planned, give some basic troubleshooting a shot, or if you need extra help, you can always schedule a repair.
