iPhone 12 Pro Max SIM Card Reader Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 31 Steps
Get ready to tackle the task of swapping out the SIM card reader in your iPhone 12 Pro Max! With a bit of care and some handy steps, you’ll have your device up and running in no time. Remember, if you ever feel stuck or need a helping hand, just schedule a repair and we’ll be there to assist you!
Step 1
- Take your SIM card eject tool (or a trusty paperclip) and gently insert it into the tiny hole in the SIM card tray, which you'll find near the volume button on your iPhone.
- Give it a little push to pop the tray out.
Tools Used
Step 2
The SIM card will pop right out of the tray without any fuss.
- Pop out the SIM card tray from your iPhone with care.
- When sliding the SIM card back in, double-check it’s facing the right way inside the tray.
- That slim rubber gasket around the SIM tray is your iPhone’s shield against water and dust. If it’s missing or looking worse for wear, swap out the gasket or the whole tray to keep your phone safe and sound.
Step 3
Heads up: Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is under 25% charged. A lithium-ion battery that’s too full can get spicy if poked the wrong way—think fire or explosion. Stay safe!
Popping open your iPhone’s display will mess with its waterproof seals. Make sure you have some replacement seals on hand before you go any further, or be extra careful to keep liquids away if you’re putting it back together without swapping them out.
- First things first, let's power down your iPhone before we dive into the nitty-gritty of disassembly!
- Now, grab your trusty pentalobe P2 screwdriver and remove those two 6.7 mm screws at the bottom edge of your iPhone. You're doing great!
Step 4
Be careful not to shove that pick in too deep, or you might accidentally give your device a little love tap it didn't ask for. Take a moment to mark your pick to keep everything safe and sound!
Feeling fancy? You can also make note of the other corners of the pick with a variety of measurements for extra precision.
Or, if you're in the mood for a DIY twist, tape a coin 3 mm from the tip of your pick. Who knew repairs could have a little flair?
- Grab your opening pick and make a mark with a permanent marker exactly 3 mm from the tip. Precision is key, so channel your inner ruler and go for it!
Step 5
Pop on those safety glasses! Protect your eyes from any stray glass bits that might come loose during the repair. Better safe than sorry, right?
Got a cracked screen on your iPhone? No worries! Just grab some tape and cover that glass to keep any further accidents at bay and protect yourself while you get it sorted.
If you're really in a pinch, a little superglue on the suction cup can do the trick to help you lift that screen off.
- Layer strips of clear packing tape across your iPhone screen, going edge to edge until the whole front is covered. Think of it as a DIY screen protector, but stickier.
- If the suction cup refuses to play nice, grab some tough tape (duct tape does the trick), fold it into a handle, and use that to lift the screen. Sometimes you just have to outsmart the tools!
Step 6
The next three steps walk you through using the Anti-Clamp, a handy tool we created to make prying open your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, just jump ahead three steps for another way to get it done.
For the full lowdown on how to handle the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
If your iPhone’s surface feels a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, try sticking on some tape to give it a better hold.
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug back to release the Anti-Clamp's arms. You've got this!
- Slide those arms right over the left or right edge of your iPhone—whichever feels right!
- Place the suction cups close to the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front and one on the back. Perfect positioning!
- Squeeze the cups together to create a solid grip on the area you want to work on. Nice and snug!
Step 7
- Give that blue handle a friendly tug forward to lock those arms in place.
- Now, spin that handle all the way around—360 degrees, baby!—until you notice those cups starting to stretch.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups and make sure they’re staying in sync. If they start to drift apart, just loosen them a bit and gently guide the arms back into alignment.
Step 8
Give the Anti-Clamp a quarter turn, tops—then chill for a minute and let it handle the heavy lifting. Patience pays off!
Want the full scoop on using a hair dryer like a pro? Check out this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t opening up enough space, heat it a bit more and give the handle a quarter turn to get things moving.
- Place your iPhone on a solid surface like a hardcover book so it sits hands-free and flat, making the next steps way easier.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of the iPhone until it feels just a bit too hot to touch.
- Give it a minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a small gap.
- Slide an opening pick under the screen’s plastic bezel once the Anti-Clamp has made enough room.
- Skip the next three steps.
Tools Used
Step 9
Keep your hair dryer moving—don’t let it hang out in one spot too long!
- Grab your hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, until the screen feels just a little too warm to handle.
Tools Used
Step 10
- Grab your suction handle and stick it near the bottom edge of your phone—just make sure you don't go right up to the edge of the glass.
Tools Used
Step 11
Slide your opening pick under the chunky plastic bezel—this helps keep your screen safe from any accidental dings. Look out for a little gap you can see; if the pick gets stuck, you might need to lift the screen up a bit more before trying again.
The adhesive keeping your screen in place is no joke—getting that first gap open might feel like a mini workout. If the screen won’t budge, hit it with a bit more heat and gently wiggle it up and down. Keep at it until you’ve got enough room to slide your tool in.
- Grab the suction cup and pull up with steady, confident pressure to gently pop a small gap between the screen and frame.
- Slide an opening pick into the gap at a sharp angle to start the separation.
Step 12
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and give the right edge of your iPhone (you know, the one with the power button) a warm hug for about 90 seconds, or until it feels a bit too toasty to touch. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick under 3 mm to avoid bumping into any of those delicate internal parts. We want your device to stay happy and healthy!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPhone to loosen up that stubborn adhesive.
- Keep sliding the pick smoothly 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 14
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a bit too toasty to keep your finger on.
Tools Used
Step 15
Keep your pick shallow—no more than 3 mm—to avoid messing up those top sensors.
- Glide your opening pick along the top right corner of the iPhone to loosen that stubborn adhesive. It’s like slicing through butter, but with more high-tech vibes.
- Let the pick chill in the top left corner for a bit before moving forward.
Step 16
- 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 fingers on comfortably.
Tools Used
Step 17
Watch out for the delicate cables running along the left edge of your iPhone. Avoid inserting your pick in this area, or you might end up causing some unwanted damage to those fragile cables.
Step 18
Apply a little twisting force, but take it slow and steady.
If the adhesive is giving you a hard time, just reheat the left edge and try again.
- Slide a second 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 19
Hold off on yanking that display all the way—there are some delicate ribbon cables still tethering it to the iPhone’s logic board.
- Turn your iPhone so the right side is facing you.
- Lift the display up from the right, just like opening a book cover.
- Prop the screen against something sturdy so it stays put while you work your magic.
- When putting things back together, rest the display in place, line up the clips at the top, and gently press the top edge down before snapping in the rest. If it refuses to click, double-check those perimeter clips—make sure they’re not bent out of shape.
Step 20
Keep a close eye on every single screw during this repair and make sure each one goes back to its original spot—your iPhone will thank you!
- Unscrew the four 1.1 mm-long Y000 screws holding down the cover for your battery and display connectors. Tiny screws, but they do a big job!
- Before sealing up your iPhone, turn it on and make sure everything’s working. Once you’ve checked, power it off again to keep things safe while you finish up.
Step 21
- First things first, pop off that battery and gently lift the display connector cover. It’s like getting to the heart of the device – easy does it!
Step 22
Be gentle with that black silicone seal! It's there to keep out the pesky water and dust, so try not to damage it while you're working around the board connections. A little care here goes a long way in keeping things protected!
- Grab a spudger or use your fingernail (clean hands, please!) to gently lift the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.
- Tilt the connector away from the board—just a little nudge—so it doesn’t sneak back and power up the phone while you’re working your repair magic.
Tools Used
Step 23
- Gently pry the display cable connector loose using a spudger or even your fingernail—no need to be rough, just a smooth move.
- When it’s time to reconnect, line up one side carefully and press down until you hear a satisfying click, then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle to keep those pins happy and unbent!
Tools Used
Step 24
- Grab your Y000 driver and carefully unscrew the four tiny 1.1 mm screws holding down the front sensor connector cover.
Step 25
- Lift the cover up from the left side until the little clip on the right side pops free.
- Take off the cover with ease.
- When putting it back together, start by sliding the clip on the right edge into its spot, then gently swing the rest of the cover down into position.
Step 26
- Grab a spudger or your trusty fingernail and gently pry apart the front sensor assembly cable connector. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 27
- Carefully take out the display assembly.
- When putting everything back together, take a moment here if you want to swap out the waterproof adhesive lining the edges of the display.
Step 28
- Gently use the tip of your spudger to lift the charging port connector straight up and out of its cozy little home on the logic board.
Tools Used
Step 29
- Gently use the tip of your spudger to lift the SIM card reader cable connector straight up and out of its cozy little home on the logic board. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 30
In a tight spot, a small flathead screwdriver can save the day—but be super careful to keep it steady and avoid causing any collateral damage to nearby parts.
The best way to get those standoff screws out is with a standoff screwdriver or the right bit—makes the job smooth and easy!
- Take out the two screws holding the SIM card reader in place. One's a 3.8 mm standoff screw, and the other's a 1.3 mm Phillips screw. Keep these little guys safe—no one likes a lost screw!
Step 31
- Give your new replacement part a good look-over compared to the original—don't forget to snag any leftover components or peel off those pesky adhesive backings from the new part before you dive into the install!
- To put everything back together, just retrace your steps in reverse. Piece of cake!
- When your old tech needs a new home, make sure to check out an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
- Things didn’t go as smooth as you hoped? No worries! Try some basic troubleshooting, or if you're still stuck, feel free to schedule a repair and get some expert help from our community!
