iPhone 12 mini Screen Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 32 Steps
The earpiece speaker and sensor assembly is carefully matched to your iPhone at the factory, so you'll want to make sure it's properly aligned when reattaching it. Take your time, and if you're feeling unsure, remember you can always schedule a repair for extra peace of mind.
If your iPhone 12 mini screen is cracked, unresponsive, or simply not showing anything when you power it on, don’t worry – we've got you covered! Follow this guide to replace the screen and get your iPhone back to its good-as-new self. Keep in mind, the earpiece speaker and sensor assembly, which is attached to the back of the display, is specifically paired with your iPhone from the factory. You'll need to carefully transfer it to your new screen to ensure everything works properly. This assembly includes the flood illuminator, a crucial part of the Face ID biometric security feature. So, if you’re not careful, you could accidentally mess with Face ID – and we’re sure you don’t want that! If that happens, only Apple or an authorized technician can get it back in action. Also, a heads-up: on iOS 17.6 and earlier, True Tone stops working after replacing the screen, even if you’re using an original Apple display. On iOS 18 and later, Apple’s Repair Assistant helps you calibrate the screen to restore True Tone – as long as you're using a genuine screen from Apple. Don’t forget to grab some replacement adhesive for reassembly, so everything sticks in place when you're done. And, if you’re feeling unsure at any point, don’t hesitate to schedule a repair!
Step 1
Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit of a drama queen – it might overreact with a fire or explosion if it gets punctured. Better safe than sorry!
- First things first, let’s give your iPhone a little nap by powering it off before diving in.
- Now, grab your trusty pentalobe screwdriver and take out those two 6.7 mm-long screws chilling at the bottom edge of your iPhone.
Step 2
If you push the opening pick in too deep, it might mess up your device. To avoid that, mark your pick so you know when to stop.
Feel free to mark other corners of the pick with different measurements too—it’s like your little repair cheat sheet.
Or, just stick a coin on the pick about 3 mm from the tip with some tape—easy peasy, and no guesswork!
- Grab your opening pick and measure 3mm from the tip, then give it a quick mark with a permanent marker. A little prep goes a long way.
Step 3
Don't forget to rock those safety glasses! They’re your best buddies when it comes to shielding your peepers from any sneaky glass shards that might pop loose during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? Slap some tape over the glass to keep those shards from getting rowdy and save your fingers from surprise stabbings while you work.
If your suction cup’s playing hard to get, you can totally superglue it to the screen. Whatever works, right?
- Start by layering some clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen like you're wrapping a gift—make sure the entire face is covered to protect it!
- If the suction cup is being stubborn and won't stick during the next steps, grab a sturdy piece of tape (duct tape works great!) and fold it into a handle to help lift the screen instead.
Step 4
We're about to show off the Anti-Clamp—a slick little gadget that makes popping your device open a breeze. If you’re not rolling with the Anti-Clamp, just skip ahead three steps for the classic way.
Want the full Anti-Clamp rundown? Check out the detailed guide linked here.
If your iPhone is doing its best ice rink impression and the Anti-Clamp keeps slipping, slap on some tape to give it some grip.
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug backward to set the Anti-Clamp arms free.
- Slide the arms over either the left or right side of your iPhone—whichever feels right.
- Line up those suction cups close to the bottom edge: one goes on the front, one on the back.
- Squeeze the cups together to get a nice, firm grip where you want to work.
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 to do their stretchy thing.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to ensure they're staying in sync. If they start to drift apart, just loosen them up a bit and get those arms back in line.
Step 6
Ensure that the opening pick is snugly nestled between the plastic bezel and the frame to keep your screen safe from harm.
Remember, take it easy! Only twist a quarter turn at a time and give it a minute to breathe between each turn. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic!
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t opening up enough of a gap, give the area a bit more heat and twist the handle a quarter turn to help it along.
- Set your iPhone on something solid like a hardcover book—hands-free and nice and flat, just the way we like it. This will make the next steps a breeze.
- Grab a hair dryer and give the bottom edge of your iPhone a good blast. The goal? Warm it up until it’s just past comfy to touch.
- Let it sit for a minute—think of it as giving the adhesive a chance to loosen up and create a gap for you.
- When the Anti-Clamp shows off with a big enough opening, slide an opening pick under the screen's plastic bezel.
- You can skip the next three steps—look at you, moving right along!
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep your hair dryer moving—don’t let it chill in one spot too long!
Popping open your iPhone's screen will break its waterproof barrier. Make sure you have new seals on hand before going further, or be extra careful to keep your phone dry if you put it back together without fresh seals.
Warming up the bottom edge of the iPhone softens the glue holding the screen, making it a lot easier to lift.
If the screen is being stubborn, the glue probably cooled off. Just warm it up a bit more to get things moving again.
- Grab a hair dryer or a heat gun, and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about a minute and a half, or until it feels just a bit too warm to touch. This helps loosen things up for the next step.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab your single suction handle and stick it right at the bottom edge of the phone, as close to the edge as you can get.
- If your screen is shattered into a million pieces, slap on a layer of clear packing tape to give the suction cup something to hold onto. If you’re feeling crafty, strong tape works too instead of the suction cup. And if all else fails, a tiny dab of superglue can secure the suction cup to the cracked screen.
Tools Used
Step 9
Be sure to slide that opening pick under the sturdy plastic bezel—it's your ticket to avoiding any screen mishaps! Look for a nice little visual gap; if the pick isn't snagging on anything, you're golden. Can't see that gap? Just lift the screen a bit more and you'll get there!
The sticky waterproof glue holding the screen isn’t messing around—you’ll need some muscle to get that first gap open. If it’s fighting you, warm it up a bit more and gently wiggle the screen up and down until the adhesive gives in and you can slip your tool through.
There’s a plastic border tucked under the display that should come up along with it. Don’t sneak your pick between the border and the screen, or you’ll end up with a sad, busted panel.
- Give that suction cup a good, steady pull—just enough to convince the screen to part ways with the metal frame a little.
- Slip an opening pick into the tiny gap you’ve created, sliding it between the screen and the plastic edge (not under the screen itself—let’s keep things cool).
Step 10
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and give the right edge of the iPhone (that's the side with the power button, in case you were wondering) a warm hug for about 90 seconds. You want it to be nice and toasty, but not so hot that you can't touch it. Let's get that screen warmed up!
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick to a max of 3 mm—going deeper might lead to some unwanted damage to those delicate internal parts.
- Carefully slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner and up the right edge of the iPhone, gently cutting through the adhesive holding the display in place.
Step 12
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to handle.
Tools Used
Step 13
Be careful not to push your pick more than 3 mm in, or you might end up tweaking the front panel sensor array. Keep it gentle!
The top edge of the display is held in place with a mix of glue and clips.
Easing the front panel assembly down towards the bottom edge of the phone makes this part a bit easier.
- Slide your pick under the top-right corner of the display panel like a pro.
- Gently wiggle the pick around the top right corner. The clips might throw a little resistance your way, but you’ve got this.
- Carefully glide the pick along the top edge, slicing through any stubborn adhesive still holding the display in place.
Step 14
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and aim it at the left edge of the iPhone. Give it a solid blast of warm air for about 90 seconds or until that screen is feeling a tad too hot to handle.
Tools Used
Step 15
There are two fragile cables running along the left edge of your iPhone: one near the top and another just below the middle. Be careful not to insert your pick here, as it could cause damage to these cables.
Step 16
Gently twist to work your magic—take it slow and steady.
If the adhesive is being stubborn, give the left edge a little heat boost and try again.
- Slide a second opening pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time to pop the left edge clips free.
Step 17
Hold off on popping the display all the way off—there are still some delicate ribbon cables hooking it up to the iPhone's logic board.
- Turn your iPhone so the right side is facing you—like you're about to read a cool comic.
- Lift the screen up from the right edge, just like opening a book cover. No plot twists here, just gentle swinging.
- Prop the display against something sturdy so it stays put while you get to work. Nobody likes a flopping screen.
- When putting things back together, set the display in place, line up those top edge clips, and press the top part in first. If it’s not snapping in easily, double-check the clips around the edges and make sure they’re not bent out of shape.
Step 18
Keep a sharp eye on every screw during this repair and make sure each one returns to its original home—this little habit helps keep your iPhone safe and sound.
- First up, let's tackle that pesky 1.25 mm-long Y000 screw that's holding the battery and display connector cover bracket in place. It’s like the gatekeeper to your phone’s inner workings!
- Now, here’s a pro tip for you: while you're putting things back together, this is the perfect moment to power up your iPhone and give all the functions a little test run before sealing the display. Just remember to completely power it down again before diving back into the repair!
Step 19
- Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently lift out that battery & display connector bracket. You're doing great!
- Notice those two tiny hinges on the right side of the connector bracket? Make sure to line them up with their buddies during reassembly. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 20
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other board connectors—it's your device's little shield against water and dust!
- Grab a spudger or your trusty clean fingernail and gently lift the battery connector out of its cozy little home on the logic board.
- Give that connector a little bend away from the logic board to keep it from accidentally reconnecting and powering up the phone while you're in the middle of your repair mission.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Grab a spudger or even a clean fingernail to gently lift the OLED panel cable connector out of its socket on the logic board—easy does it!
- When snapping connectors like this back in, line up one side carefully and press down until you hear a click, then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle to keep those pins happy and straight—misalignment can cause permanent damage.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Take out the five tiny 1 mm Y000 screws holding the front sensor assembly cover bracket in place.
Step 23
- Grab your trusty tweezers and carefully lift out the front sensor assembly bracket.
Tools Used
Step 24
- Gently pop off the front sensor assembly cable connector using a spudger or your clean fingernail—think of it like opening a stubborn pickle jar, but for electronics.
Tools Used
Step 25
- Take off the display assembly carefully.
- When putting it back together, feel free to pause here if you want to swap out the waterproof adhesive around the edges of the display.
Step 26
Hold up! Don’t rush to remove the front sensor and speaker assembly just yet. It's still hanging on to the back of the display panel with some stubborn glue.
- Unscrew the tiny 1.1 mm tri-point Y000 screw like a pro.
- Next, take out the 1.8 mm tri-point Y000 screw—small but mighty.
- Finally, remove the two 1.6 mm Phillips #00 screws to keep things moving.
Step 27
- Gently slide the flat end of your spudger under the top right corner of the earpiece speaker and carefully fold it backwards.
Tools Used
Step 29
- Gently use the sharp end of a spudger to nudge the proximity sensor out of its cozy little home.
Tools Used
Step 30
Keep those sensor flex cables nice and relaxed—no tug-of-war moves needed here!
- Gently slide your spudger under the wide sensor assembly flex cable to carefully pop it away from the screen.
Tools Used
Step 32
- Line up your shiny new part next to the old one—if something looks missing, transfer it over! Peel off any sticky backings if needed, and you’re good to go.
- Putting everything back together? Just reverse your steps. Clean up any old sticky stuff with some isopropyl alcohol (the strong kind), slap on fresh adhesive, and keep it neat.
- Some replacement parts can be calibrated with Apple’s Repair Assistant (iOS 18 and up). Update your device, head to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the prompts. Easy as pie.
- Done? Don’t toss those old parts in the trash—take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler and keep things green.
- If your repair didn’t go as planned, check out the iPhone 12 mini Answers community for some solid troubleshooting tips. And if you’re stuck, you can always schedule a repair.
