iPhone 13 Taptic Engine Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 32 Steps
The Taptic Engine is what makes your iPhone buzz and tingle with haptic feedback magic! Dive into this guide to learn how to expertly remove and replace the Taptic Engine in your iPhone 13. Let’s get your device back to feeling fantastic!
Step 1
Heads up: Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is under 25%. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can get a little too excited and might catch fire or explode if it’s punctured. Play it safe, and let’s get started!
Popping open the iPhone's display means you’ll be messing with its waterproof seals. Make sure you’ve got replacement seals on hand before going further, or be extra careful about keeping liquids away if you’re putting your phone back together without swapping them out.
- Start by turning off your iPhone before diving into the repair process.
- Grab your pentalobe P2 screwdriver and remove the two 6.8 mm screws along the bottom edge of your iPhone.
Step 2
If you push the opening pick in too deep, it might mess up your device. Mark your pick to keep things safe and sound.
Feel free to mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements for extra precision.
Or, tape a coin to the pick about 3 mm from the tip to know exactly how far to go.
- Grab your trusty opening pick and measure out 3 mm from the tip. Give it a little mark with a permanent marker so you know where to start the fun!
Step 3
Pop on those safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any rogue glass shards that might come flying your way during the repair. Safety first, always!
If your iPhone screen is cracked, keep those sharp shards in check and avoid any ouch moments by taping over the glass before you start the repair.
If the suction cup isn’t sticking, a little superglue on the cup can help it grab the screen better.
- Start by placing overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen, making sure the entire front is covered.
- If the suction cup isn't sticking well in the following steps, grab a sturdy piece of tape (like duct tape), fold it into a handle, and use that to lift the screen instead.
Tools Used
Step 4
The next three steps show off the Anti-Clamp—a nifty gadget that makes opening your device way less dramatic. Not using the Anti-Clamp? Just jump ahead three steps for a backup approach.
Want the full breakdown on rocking the Anti-Clamp? Check out this guide for all the moves.
If your iPhone is doing its best slip-and-slide impression, grab some tape to give the Anti-Clamp a better grip.
- Give that blue handle a gentle pull back to free the Anti-Clamp's arms.
- Slide those arms over the edge of your iPhone—left or right, it’s your call!
- Place the suction cups close to the bottom of your iPhone—one on the front and one on the back, like a perfect pair.
- Now, give those cups a squeeze to lock in some suction magic on your chosen spot.
Step 5
- Give the blue handle a gentle pull forward to secure the arms in place.
- Twist the handle a full 360 degrees clockwise or keep turning until the suction cups start stretching out.
- Keep those suction cups nice and lined up. If they start to drift, no worries—just loosen them a bit and realign the arms.
Step 6
Turn no more than a quarter turn at a time, then take a breather for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic!
For step-by-step directions on how to handle a hair dryer like a pro, check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t opening up enough, just add a bit more heat and twist the handle a quarter turn to get things moving.
- Prop your iPhone up on something solid—like a hardcover book—so it’s hands-free and level. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
- Grab a hair dryer and aim it along the bottom edge. The goal: get the screen warm enough that you think, 'Hmm, that’s hotter than my coffee mug.'
- Hang tight for a minute while the glue starts to loosen up and you spot a gap appearing.
- Once that gap’s looking roomy, slide an opening pick under the plastic bezel of the screen. Smooth moves only.
- Feel free to skip the next three steps—you’re ahead of the game!
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep your hair dryer moving—don’t let it hang out in one spot too long!
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of the iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a bit too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Stick your suction handle near the bottom edge of your phone—just make sure you stay clear of the very edge of the glass.
Tools Used
Step 9
The glue locking down the screen is no joke—breaking that seal takes some muscle! If the gap isn't budging, crank up the heat a bit and shimmy the screen gently until the adhesive lets up enough for your tool to sneak in.
- Grab the suction cup and pull up with steady, confident pressure to gently pop a small gap between the screen and frame.
- Slip an opening pick into the gap just beneath the screen’s plastic bezel to start the separation.
Step 10
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the right edge of the iPhone (the side with the power button) for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too hot to keep your finger on comfortably.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick shallow—going deeper than 3 mm could poke something important inside.
- Start by sliding the opening pick along the bottom right corner of your iPhone to loosen up that adhesive. Nice and steady.
- Keep the momentum going by sliding up the right edge of the phone, making your way to the top right corner. Almost there!
- Once you've reached the top right corner, leave the pick in place for a moment before moving on. You got this!
Step 12
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and give the top edge of your iPhone a warm-up session for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a tad too toasty to handle. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm—going deeper could lead to some unintended sensor damage. Stay safe and happy repairing!
- Glide your opening pick along the top right corner of your iPhone—let that sticky adhesive know you mean business.
- Pause for a moment and leave the pick chilling in the top left corner before you move on.
Step 14
- Give that left edge of your iPhone a warm hug with a hair dryer for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a bit too toasty for your fingers. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 15
Be careful around the left edge of your iPhone – there are some sensitive cables hiding there! Avoid inserting your pick in this area to keep those cables safe and sound.
Step 16
Gently twist to apply the force—slow and steady wins the race!
Struggling with that pesky adhesive? No worries, just give the left edge a little reheat action!
- Place your second opening pick carefully in the bottom left corner of the iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time, and watch as the left edge pops right open.
Step 17
Hold up! Don’t go yanking the display all the way off just yet – there are still a couple of delicate ribbon cables holding it to the logic board. Gently take your time here.
- First things first, if your suction handle is still hanging on, it's time to give it the boot! Remove it now.
- Now, let's get cozy with your iPhone – rotate it so the right edge is facing you, like it's ready for some quality time.
- Time to open up your iPhone! Gently swing the display up from the right side, just like flipping open the front cover of a book. Easy peasy!
- Once it’s open, prop that display up against something sturdy so it stays put while you work your magic on the phone.
- When you’re ready to put it all back together, lay the display back in place. Line up those clips along the top edge and give that top edge a careful press until it clicks in. If it’s being stubborn and won’t click, take a peek at those clips around the edges and make sure they’re not bent out of shape.
Tools Used
Step 18
As you tackle this repair, keep a close eye on those screws! Remember to place each one back in its original spot to keep your iPhone happy and healthy.
- Grab your Phillips screwdriver and take out the three 1.3 mm screws holding down the battery and display connector cover. No sweat!
- Once you start putting things back together, now’s a smart moment to turn on your iPhone and see if everything’s working as it should. Just make sure to shut it down completely before you keep going—no surprise buzzes while you work!
Step 19
- Start by gently removing the cover. It’s like peeling back the lid of a treasure chest – no rush, just a smooth lift to get to the good stuff inside.
Step 20
Careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other board connections—these little guys are the unsung heroes keeping water and dust out!
- Grab a spudger or just your clean fingernail and gently lift the battery connector off the logic board socket.
- Tilt the connector slightly away from the board so it doesn’t sneakily touch the socket and power up the phone while you’re working your magic.
Tools Used
Step 21
To re-attach connectors like this one, gently align it and press down on one side until you hear that satisfying click. Then, give the other side some love and do the same! Avoid pressing down in the middle – it's like the connector's no-go zone. If it's a bit off, those pins might get bent, and we definitely don't want that kind of trouble!
- Gently pop off the display cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail—like opening a stubborn pickle jar, but with way less mess.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Take out the three screws holding down the front sensor connector cover:
- One 1.7 mm Phillips screw
- One 1.3 mm Phillips screw
- One 1.8 mm Y000 screw
Step 23
- Lift the cover upward from the center of the phone—keep going until that little clip near the edge pops free.
Step 24
- Pop off the cover—don’t be shy, it’s tougher than it looks.
- When putting it back, start by sliding the left edge clip into its spot, then swing the rest of the cover down like you’re closing a tiny door.
Step 25
- Gently pop off the front sensor assembly cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail. No need to wrestle with it—just a little nudge will do!
Tools Used
Step 26
- Take off the screen with style.
- When putting everything back together, now’s your moment to swap out that waterproof adhesive around the edges if you’re feeling extra protective.
Step 27
- Grab your Phillips driver and unscrew the three tiny 2.2 mm screws holding down the Taptic Engine. Steady hands win this round!
Step 28
- Pop off the Taptic Engine bracket from those top two screw hole tabs like a pro!
Step 29
Watch out for that super thin ribbon cable hooking up the Taptic Engine to the logic board—it’s fragile! When you’re swinging the Taptic Engine over to the SIM card reader, keep your moves smooth and gentle. No yanking, no twisting—your Taptic Engine’s got feelings too!
- Gently flip the Taptic Engine over so it's chilling upside down on top of the SIM card reader. Like a little hammock break for your repair buddy.
Step 30
- Gently use the tip of a spudger to lift the Taptic Engine cable connector straight up and unplug it from its socket on the logic board.
Tools Used
Step 31
- Take out the Taptic Engine from the iPhone.
Step 32
- First things first, give your shiny new replacement part a good look-over compared to the original. You might need to shift over some components or peel off those sticky backings before the big install!
- Now, let’s put your device back together by retracing your steps—easy peasy!
- When it’s time to say goodbye to your old tech, make sure it goes to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
- Things didn’t go quite as planned? No worries! Try out some basic troubleshooting, or if you're feeling stuck, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair for some extra help!
