iPhone 12 mini Rear-Facing Cameras Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 31 Steps
Ready to swap out the rear cameras on your iPhone 12 mini? This guide walks you through removing and replacing both camera modules together as one unit. Note: If you're on iOS 18 or later, you can easily calibrate your new, authentic camera modules using Apple's Repair Assistant. Just remember, you'll need replacement adhesive to get everything back together smoothly when you're reassembling the device. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Heads up: Zap your iPhone battery down below 25% before you get started. Lithium-ion batteries pack a punch when charged, and if you accidentally poke one, things could get fiery—literally.
- First things first: Power down your iPhone before diving in. Safety first, right?
- Now, grab your tools and remove the two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe screws located at the bottom edge of your iPhone. You’re doing great!
Step 2
Be careful not to shove that opening pick in too deep; you don’t want to cause any harm to your gadget! Use this tip to mark your pick and keep things safe.
Feel free to add some flair by marking the other corners of the pick with different measurements.
Another fun trick? Tape a coin to the pick, about 3 mm from the tip, and you're ready to go!
- Mark the opening pick 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker so you know exactly where to work your magic.
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any sneaky glass shards that might decide to take flight during the repair.
Got a cracked screen? No worries! Tape over the glass to stop it from shattering further and keep yourself safe while you work on the repair.
If the suction cup is just not sticking, a little superglue can work wonders to keep it in place while you fix that screen!
- Start by laying down some overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone’s screen, making sure the entire face is covered. It's like giving your phone a cozy blanket!
- If the suction cup isn't playing nice in the next steps, grab a sturdy piece of tape (like duct tape) and fold it into a handy handle. You can use that to lift the screen instead!
Step 4
Ready for some tool action? The next three steps show off the Anti-Clamp—a nifty gadget we whipped up to make prying your device open a breeze. If you’re not rolling with the Anti-Clamp, feel free to skip ahead three steps for the classic method.
Need a full rundown on the Anti-Clamp? Check out our detailed guide.
If your iPhone’s surface is slicker than a dance floor, slap on some tape to give the Anti-Clamp a better grip.
- Pull that blue handle back to release the Anti-Clamp's arms. It's like giving it a little stretch!
- Gently slide the arms over the left or right edge of your iPhone—whichever feels more natural to you.
- Now, place the suction cups right near the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front, one on the back. They're like the iPhone’s support squad.
- Give those cups a little squeeze to create suction. It's like a handshake, but for your phone!
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a little push forward to lock those arms in place.
- Now, twist the handle a full 360 degrees (or until the cups start to stretch). No rush, just let it do its thing!
- Keep those suction cups lined up like best friends at a concert. If they start drifting apart, gently loosen them and guide them back into perfect harmony.
Step 6
Make sure the opening pick is tucked just right between the plastic bezel and the frame so your screen stays happy and scratch-free.
Take it easy with the clamp—turn no more than a quarter turn at a time, then give it a minute to do its magic. Patience pays off!
If the Anti-Clamp isn't giving you the gap you need, no worries! Just heat up the area a bit more and give that handle a quick quarter turn. That should do the trick.
- Prop your iPhone up on something solid, like a hardcover book—hands free and nice and level. This will make life a lot easier for the next steps.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone until it’s just a bit too warm for comfort. We want that glue to loosen up.
- Hang tight for a minute to let the adhesive get soft, so you’ll spot a little gap opening up.
- Once the Anti-Clamp has made enough room, slide an opening pick under the plastic edge of the screen.
- 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 for too long!
Popping open your iPhone’s display will break its waterproof seals. Make sure you have replacement seals on hand before going further, or be extra careful to keep liquids away if you plan to put it back together without new seals.
Warming up the bottom edge of your iPhone helps loosen the adhesive holding the display in place, making it easier to lift.
If the display feels stubborn and won’t budge, the adhesive probably cooled off. Just add a bit more heat to soften it up again.
- Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it’s just a bit too hot to comfortably touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Got just one suction handle? Stick it right near the bottom edge of your phone—get it as close to the edge as possible for the best grip.
- If your screen’s looking like it survived a ninja fight, slap on some clear packing tape so the suction cup actually sticks. Super strong tape works, too, if you’re feeling bold. If nothing’s working, a dab of superglue can help the suction cup hold onto the shattered glass—just don’t glue your fingers!
Tools Used
Step 9
Be sure to slide that opening pick under the sturdy plastic bezel with care to keep your screen safe and sound! You should spot a little gap appear, and the pick should glide right in without any hiccups. If you’re not seeing that gap, give the screen a gentle nudge upwards until it shows up!
The adhesive that's keeping your screen snugly in place is like super glue; so opening that initial gap requires a bit of muscle! If you're struggling, try giving it some extra heat and gently wiggling the screen up and down to loosen the adhesive until you've got just enough room to slip your tool in.
There's a plastic bezel glued to the back of the display that wants to come along for the ride. Just a heads up: if you try to slide a pick between the bezel and the display, you might end up damaging that panel. So, be gentle!
- Give that suction cup a solid upward pull—steady and confident—to open up a little space between the screen and the metal frame.
- Slide an opening pick into the gap, aiming between the screen and the plastic bezel (not directly under the screen itself).
Step 10
- Grab your hair dryer and give the right edge of your iPhone (you know, the side with the power button) a warm hug for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a smidge too hot to touch. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick to a maximum depth of 3 mm to avoid unintentionally bumping into sensitive internal parts. You've got this!
- Take your opening pick and cruise around the bottom right corner, then glide up the right side of the iPhone. Slice through that stubborn adhesive—just keep the pick moving smooth and steady.
Step 12
- Grab your hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about a minute and a half, or until it feels just a bit too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick shallow—no deeper than 3 mm—to avoid bumping into the front panel sensor array.
The top edge of the screen is held on tight with both sticky glue and some sneaky clips.
If you gently pull the front panel toward the bottom of the phone, this part gets way less tricky.
- Start by sliding your pick under the top-right corner of the display panel. Nice and easy, you've got this!
- Gently work the pick around the corner. The clips might give you a bit of resistance, but don't worry—keep going!
- Now, slide the pick along the top edge, cutting through any leftover adhesive holding the display in place. You're almost there!
Step 14
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and give the left edge of your iPhone some love for about 90 seconds, or until it’s warm enough to make you think, 'Whoa, that’s toasty!'
Tools Used
Step 15
Watch out for two fragile cables along the left side of your iPhone—one at the top, and the other a bit lower down. Keep your pick away from these spots to avoid causing any damage to those cables.
Step 16
Gently twist to apply the force. You've got this!
If the adhesive is putting up a fight, just give the left edge a little heat 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 you hear the left edge clips pop free.
Step 17
Hold off on pulling the display apart—some delicate ribbon cables are still hanging on to the iPhone’s logic board.
- Turn your iPhone so that the right edge is facing you.
- Gently lift the display up from the right side, just like opening a book—easy peasy!
- Prop the display against something sturdy to keep it upright while you tackle the rest of the phone.
- When you're putting it all back together, position the display carefully, align those clips at the top edge, and give it a gentle press to snap that top edge into place. If it’s being a little stubborn and doesn’t click right away, take a peek at those clips around the display’s edge to ensure they're not bent out of shape.
Step 18
Keep a keen eye on each screw throughout the repair, making sure every single one goes back to its original spot to keep your iPhone safe and sound.
- Take out the 1.25 mm-long Y000 screw holding down the battery & display connector cover bracket.
- When putting everything back together, it's the perfect moment to power on your iPhone and give all the functions a quick test before sealing the display back in place. Remember to fully power it down again before continuing with the reassembly.
Step 19
- Grab your trusty tweezers and gently lift out the battery & display connector bracket.
- Look for the two tiny hinges hanging out on the right side of the bracket—make sure they line up perfectly with their matching parts when you put it all back together.
Tools Used
Step 20
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other board connectors. These little guys are the unsung heroes, keeping water and dust out like champs.
- Gently use a spudger or your clean fingernail to lift the battery connector out of its spot on the logic board.
- Carefully nudge the connector away from the board just enough to keep it from accidentally reconnecting and powering up the phone while you work.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Grab your trusty spudger or a clean fingernail and gently lift the OLED panel cable connector from its cozy spot on the logic board. You've got this!
- When it's time to reconnect those connectors, take a moment to carefully line them up. Press down on one side until you hear that satisfying click, and then do the same on the other side. Just remember, no pressing down in the middle! If things get misaligned, those little pins can bend, and we definitely don’t want that. If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair!
Tools Used
Step 22
- Unscrew those five tiny (1 mm-long) Y000 screws holding down the front sensor assembly cover bracket. Go ahead, show them who's boss!
Step 23
- Grab your tweezers and gently lift out the bracket for the front sensor assembly.
Tools Used
Step 24
- Grab a trusty spudger or your clean fingernail and gently pry away the front sensor assembly cable connector. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 25
- Lift off the display assembly like you're opening a treasure chest—nice and easy.
- When putting everything back together, this is the perfect spot to swap out that waterproof adhesive around the edges if you're feeling fancy.
Step 26
- Let's get started by taking out those two 1.6 mm-long Phillips #000 screws. You've got this!
Step 27
On the right side of the bracket, you’ll spot a couple of tiny nibs tucked into the iPhone frame. Grab the bracket by its left edge and slide it toward the volume buttons—that’s the smooth way to get it out.
- Grab your trusty tweezers and carefully lift off the camera module cover bracket. You've got this!
- When it's time to put things back together, just remember to line up those two metal nibs with their cozy slots in the iPhone frame. Easy peasy!
Tools Used
Step 28
The camera flex cables in the iPhone 12 mini are stacked on top of each other, so it's important to disconnect and reconnect them in the right order to avoid any headaches later.
- Gently use a spudger to pop the ultra wide angle camera flex cable out of its socket by lifting it straight up. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 29
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry up the wide camera flex cable from its socket. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 30
- Slide the pointy end of your trusty spudger between the top edge of the camera module and the iPhone frame.
- Gently nudge the spudger downward to pop the camera module out of its snug spot.
Tools Used
Step 31
- Before you wrap things up, take a quick look at your new part and the old one—sometimes little bits or sticky strips need to make the journey over.
- Reassembling? Just work backwards through the steps. If you spot any old gunk, a dab of isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and fresh adhesive will keep things solid.
- For certain parts, iOS 18 lets you run a snazzy calibration in Settings: pop over to General → About → Parts & Service History, hit Restart & Finish Repair, and tap through the prompts.
- Got leftover bits and bobs? Drop your e-waste at an R2 or e-Stewards recycler—they know what to do.
- If your device is still giving you attitude, try a little troubleshooting, or pop into our iPhone 12 mini Answers community for some wisdom. And remember, if you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.
