iPhone 12 Pro Max Front-Facing Cameras Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 29 Steps
Face ID won’t be working after this step, heads up!
Ready to swap out your selfie cam on the iPhone 12 Pro Max? Here’s how to get your front camera assembly back in action. Heads up: after replacing this part, Face ID will take a break—unless you’re running iOS 18 or newer, where you can recalibrate a new, genuine camera using Apple’s Repair Assistant. For iOS 17.6 and earlier, only Apple or their approved techs can bring Face ID back. This guide will get your selfie camera working again, so if you hit a snag, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Heads up: Before diving in, make sure your iPhone's battery is below 25%. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit of a drama queen and may catch fire or even explode if it gets punctured. Stay safe!
Opening up your iPhone's display means you're breaking those waterproof seals. Make sure you've got some replacement seals on hand before diving deeper into this step. And hey, if you decide to put your iPhone back together without replacing them, just be extra careful to keep it away from any liquids!
- First things first, power off your iPhone. Trust us, it'll make things easier.
- Now, grab your tool and unscrew those two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom. You've got this!
Step 2
Be careful not to push your opening pick in too deep – you don't want to accidentally damage your device. A quick way to avoid this is by marking your pick before using it.
Feel free to mark other corners of your pick with different measurements, just to keep things consistent.
Another option is to tape a coin to the pick about 3 mm from the tip. It’ll help you get the right depth without any surprises!
- From the tip, measure 3 mm and mark your opening pick with a permanent marker—precision is key, but no pressure!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any rogue glass bits that might decide to bounce around during the repair.
Got a cracked screen on your iPhone? No worries! Just tape over that glass to keep it from shattering further and to protect yourself while you tackle the repair.
And if you're really in a pinch, you might want to superglue that suction cup to the screen. It’s a bit unconventional, but sometimes you gotta get creative!
- Lay a few strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen, overlapping them until the whole front is covered.
- If the suction cup isn't sticking, no worries—just grab a strong piece of tape, like duct tape, fold it into a handle, and use that to lift the screen instead!
Step 4
The next three steps will show you the magic of the Anti-Clamp, our nifty little tool that makes opening your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, just skip ahead three steps for another way to get the job done.
Want to master the Anti-Clamp? Check out this handy guide for all the details!
If your iPhone's surface feels like a slippery slide and the Anti-Clamp just can't grip it, grab some tape to add a little stickiness and make it easier.
- Pull the blue handle back to loosen up the Anti-Clamp's arms. Smooth move!
- Slide those arms over the left or right edge of your iPhone—whichever side you vibe with.
- Line up the suction cups close to the bottom edge: one on the front, one on the back. They’re your tag team.
- Give the cups a good squeeze so they stick right where you need them.
Step 5
- Pull that blue handle forward and snap those arms into place.
- Give the handle a solid clockwise spin—one full turn or until you see those cups start stretching out.
- Keep the suction cups lined up like best buds. If they get wonky, loosen them a bit and realign the arms to keep everything on track.
Step 6
Turn no more than a quarter twist at a time, then chill for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic!
For the full scoop on using a hair dryer like a pro, check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t opening up enough of a gap, just heat it up a bit more and give the handle a quarter turn to loosen things up.
- Prop your iPhone up on something sturdy—like a hardcover book—so it sits hands-free and perfectly level. This makes the next moves way easier.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone until the screen feels just a bit too hot to touch.
- Give it a minute for the sticky stuff underneath to loosen up. Look for a gap starting to show—it’s your sign to move on.
- Slip an opening pick under the screen’s plastic edge when you see a good-sized gap. Take it slow and steady.
- You can skip the next three steps—no need to overcomplicate things.
Tools Used
Step 7
Avoid keeping your hair dryer in one place for too long. Give it some space to breathe and keep things cool!
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and gently warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it gets just hot enough to be a little uncomfortable to touch. Be careful not to overdo it, we’re not trying to cook the phone here!
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab your single suction handle and stick it near the bottom edge of the phone—but be sure to steer clear of the very edge of the glass!
Tools Used
Step 9
Slide the opening pick under the chunky plastic bezel—don't let it get tangled up with your screen. You should spot a nice little gap, and the pick should glide through without snagging. If the gap isn’t showing up, just give the screen a gentle lift and try again.
The adhesive keeping the screen in place is seriously strong, so getting that first gap open takes some elbow grease. If you're struggling to make any headway, don’t stress—just apply a bit more heat and gently wiggle the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive. Once you’ve made enough space, you’ll be able to slip your tool in and carry on.
- Gently pull up on the suction cup with steady pressure until you see a small gap between the screen and the frame.
- Slip an opening pick in at a sharp angle and slide it into the gap. It's like giving your device a little nudge to get things started.
Step 10
- Grab a hair dryer and gently warm up the right edge of your iPhone (the side with the power button) for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a little too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick insertion under 3 mm to avoid poking around where it shouldn’t be—your device’s insides will thank you!
- Glide your opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPhone to loosen up the sticky stuff holding it together.
- Keep cruising up that right edge with the pick until you hit the top right corner.
- Let the pick chill in the top right corner while you get ready for the next move.
Step 12
- Grab your hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a touch too toasty for your fingers.
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick under 3 mm, or you might give those top sensors a little too much love and accidentally damage them!
- Gently slide that trusty opening pick around the top right corner of the iPhone to break free the stubborn top adhesive.
- Once you’ve got it going, just leave the pick hanging out in the top left corner while you move on to the next step.
Step 14
- Grab a hair dryer and gently warm up the left edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to comfortably touch.
Tools Used
Step 15
The cables along the left edge of your iPhone are a bit sensitive. Be careful not to insert your pick here, or you might end up damaging them.
Step 16
Gently twist and turn to ease things apart, no need to rush it!
If the adhesive is being stubborn, give the left edge a little more heat and try again.
- Slide another opening pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time until the clips along the left edge pop free.
Step 17
Hold your horses before you completely detach the display! There are some delicate ribbon cables still hanging on, connecting it to the iPhone's logic board. Let's be gentle with those, shall we?
- Turn your iPhone so the right side is facing you—like you're about to crack open a secret book.
- Lift the display up from the right, swinging it open like a hardcover. This is your grand reveal.
- Prop the display against something sturdy so it doesn't flop around while you work your magic.
- When putting everything back together, set the display in place, line up those top clips, and gently press the top edge in before snapping down the rest. If it’s being stubborn, check out the clips around the edges to make sure none are bent.
Step 18
As you work through this repair, make sure to keep a close eye on every screw and return it to its original spot. This will help keep your iPhone safe and sound throughout the process!
- Take out the four Y000 screws (they’re just 1.1 mm long) that are keeping the battery and display connector cover in place.
- When you’re putting things back together, this is the perfect moment to fire up your iPhone and make sure everything works before sealing up the display. Just don’t forget to shut it down again before you dive back into the repair.
Step 19
- Pop off the battery and display connector cover to get things rolling. It's like opening the door to your device's innards, so let’s get that cover out of the way!
Step 20
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal that hugs this and other board connections. These little heroes help keep water and dust at bay, giving your device some extra love and protection!
- Grab a spudger or just use your fingernail to gently lift the battery connector out of its cozy home on the logic board.
- Now, give the connector a little nudge away from the board. This way, it won't accidentally make a power connection while you're fixing things up.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Grab your trusty spudger or just a good ol' fingernail to gently detach the display cable connector. You've got this!
- When it's time to reconnect, align those connectors like a pro! Press down on one side until you hear that satisfying click, then do the same on the other side. Remember, no pressing in the middle! If things get misaligned, those pins could bend and that's a no-go for your device. Take your time and keep it safe!
Tools Used
Step 22
- Grab your Y000 driver and carefully unscrew the four tiny 1.1 mm screws holding down the front sensor connector cover.
Step 23
- Gently lift the cover from the left side until the little clip on the right side pops free.
- Take the cover off and set it aside.
- When putting it all back together, start by securing the right clip into its slot, then carefully snap the rest of the cover into place.
Step 24
- Grab your spudger or just your trusty fingernail, and gently pop off the front sensor assembly cable connector—like opening a soda, but with way more tech cred.
Tools Used
Step 25
- Time to say goodbye to the display assembly! Carefully remove it.
- When putting everything back together, take a breather here if you want to swap out the waterproof adhesive around the display edges. It's a great opportunity for a little extra protection!
Step 26
- Gently pry open the Face ID sensor cable from its cozy socket on the logic board using a spudger or a trusty fingernail. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 27
- Gently pop the Face ID dot projector cable out of its socket on the logic board using a spudger or your fingernail. Easy does it—no need to force things!
Tools Used
Step 28
- With a gentle nudge, push the Face ID cable connectors away from the logic board to reveal the selfie cam connector hiding underneath. No need to rush, take your time!
- Next, it's time to say goodbye to the selfie camera! Carefully pry its connector straight up to disconnect it. You've got this!
Step 29
- Check out your new replacement part and compare it to the original. You might need to swap some components over or peel off the adhesive from the new part before putting it in.
- When it’s time to reassemble, just follow the steps in reverse—easy, right?
- If you’ve swapped out a part that requires calibration, you might want to try using Apple's Repair Assistant (available in iOS 18 and up). Just update your device, go to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, hit Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the steps that pop up on screen.
- Got e-waste? Don’t let it pile up—take it to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler for proper disposal.
- If things didn’t go quite as planned, don’t stress! You can always try some basic troubleshooting or get help from our iPhone 12 Pro Max community.
