iPhone 12 Earpiece Speaker and Front Sensor Assembly Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 33 Steps
Heads up! This part is specially matched to your unique iPhone right from the factory.
Get ready to tackle the earpiece speaker and front sensor assembly on your iPhone 12! This little assembly is stuck to the back of the display and has some important buddies onboard, including a microphone, ambient light sensor, flood illuminator, and proximity sensor. Since this assembly is uniquely paired with your iPhone right from the factory, it’s essential to move it from your old display to the new one during a display swap. Oh, and that flood illuminator? It's a key player in the Face ID security game! If it gets damaged or isn’t installed just right, Face ID will throw a fit. Replacing it with a new part? That’ll also lead to Face ID issues, so be super careful with those components while you work your magic. If things go awry, remember that only Apple or an authorized technician can bring back that Face ID function. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
- Make sure to power off your iPhone before you start taking it apart.
- Next, remove the two 6.75 mm long pentalobe P2 screws located at the bottom edge of your iPhone.
Heads up! Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is under 25%. Lithium-ion batteries are a little temperamental and could get fiery or even explode if they get punctured when fully charged. Better safe than sorry!
Opening up your iPhone's display means you'll be breaking those waterproof seals. Make sure you've got replacements ready to go, or take extra care to keep your phone away from water if you're reassembling it without fresh seals.
Step 2
Watch out! If you push that opening pick in too deep, it might give your device a little love tap that it doesn't need. So, take a moment to mark your pick and keep everything safe.
Feel free to add some flair by marking the other corners of the pick with different measurements. Who said repairs can't be stylish?
Or, if you're feeling crafty, tape a coin about 3 mm from the tip of your pick. It's a nifty little trick!
- Mark the opening pick 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker—precision is key, but no pressure!
Step 3
Safety first! Pop on those safety glasses to shield your eyes from any glass that might try to make a surprise exit during the repair. Better safe than sorry!
Got a cracked screen on your iPhone? No worries! Just throw some tape over the glass to keep everything together and protect yourself while you're getting your repair on.
And if you're really in a bind, you can always superglue that suction cup to the screen for a little extra grip!
- Start by placing some overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen, making sure to cover the entire face like a protective blanket.
- If the suction cup isn't cooperating in the next steps, don't sweat it! Just grab a sturdy piece of tape (like duct tape) and fold it into a handy handle to lift the screen instead.
Step 4
Next up, we've got the Anti-Clamp! This nifty tool is here to make opening your device a breeze. Not using the Anti-Clamp? No worries, just skip ahead three steps for another method.
Want to know how to use the Anti-Clamp? We’ve got you covered, check out this guide for all the details.
If your iPhone feels like it's got a slippery surface and the Anti-Clamp is having trouble gripping, just slap some tape on it to add a bit of friction. Easy fix!
- Grab the blue handle and pull it back to free the Anti-Clamp's arms. Nice and easy!
- Slide those arms right over the left or right edge of your iPhone like a pro.
- Place the suction cups at the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front and one on the back. Get them aligned just right.
- Give those cups a good squeeze to make sure they're holding on tight and ready to lift!
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a gentle pull forward to lock the arms in place. It’s like a little handshake with your tool!
- Now, twist that handle a full 360 degrees (or until the cups start stretching), and feel the power as everything locks into position.
- Double-check that the suction cups are staying in sync with each other. If they start to wander off track, just loosen them up a tad and get them back in line. Smooth sailing from here!
Step 6
Turn no more than a quarter at a time, then take a breather for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do the heavy lifting!
For all the nitty-gritty on using a hair dryer, dive into this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't making enough space, crank up the heat a bit more and give that handle a little twist—just a quarter turn should do the trick!
- Place your iPhone on something sturdy, like a hardcover book, so it rests hands-free and stays flat. This will make the next steps much easier!
- Grab a hair dryer and gently heat the bottom edge of the iPhone. The screen should feel a little too warm to the touch—nothing too intense, just enough to loosen things up.
- Take a minute to let the adhesive relax and open up a gap for you. Patience is key here!
- Once there’s enough space, carefully slide an opening pick under the screen’s plastic bezel. The Anti-Clamp will do its job and make that gap nice and roomy.
- Skip ahead three steps—you got this!
Tools Used
Step 7
Avoid keeping your hair dryer in one place for too long; give it some love and movement for the best results!
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Got a single suction handle? Stick it to the bottom edge of your phone, but steer clear of the actual edge of the glass—give it a little space to work its magic.
Tools Used
Step 9
Pop that opening pick under the plastic bezel—go slow to avoid messing with the screen. You should see a nice little gap forming, and the pick should glide right in. If it’s not happening, give the screen a little more lift until you get that sweet spot.
The adhesive keeping that screen in place is pretty tough, so it’ll take some serious muscle to get the gap started. If you're struggling to pop it open, just add a bit more heat and gently wiggle the screen up and down to loosen that sticky stuff. Once you've got a little gap, you’re all set to slide your tool in and keep moving forward.
- With a steady grip, gently pull up on the suction cup to create a tiny gap between the screen and the frame. You're doing great!
- Next, slide an opening pick into that little gap between the screen and the plastic bezel—just make sure to avoid poking the screen itself!
Step 10
- Grab your hair dryer and aim it at the right edge of your iPhone (where the power button hangs out). Give it about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a tad too toasty for comfort.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick shallow—just slide it in up to 3 mm, or you might poke something you don’t want to!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPhone to break that sticky adhesive seal.
- Keep gliding it up along the right edge until you hit the top right corner.
- Once you reach that corner, just leave the pick in place for now while you continue your journey.
Step 12
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds—or just until it feels a little too warm to the touch. Just the right amount of heat will do the trick to get things moving.
Tools Used
Step 13
Be careful not to push your pick more than 3mm in—it’s easy to go too far and accidentally mess with those top sensors!
- Gently glide your trusty opening pick around the top right corner of the iPhone to break free that stubborn top adhesive.
- Keep that pick cozy in the top left corner while you gear up for the next step.
Step 14
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the left side of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a tad too hot to touch. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 15
Heads up! There are some delicate cables chilling along the left edge of your iPhone—keep your pick away from this area to avoid any cable casualties.
Step 16
Gently twist that force like you're opening a stubborn jar of pickles!
If the adhesive is playing hard to get, give that left edge a little warmth and try again.
- Slip a second pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone and get ready for action.
- Give both picks a gentle twist at the same time—watch the left edge clips pop free like magic.
Step 17
Hold off on fully pulling the display away—there are a few delicate ribbon cables still clinging to the iPhone’s logic board. Take it slow!
- Turn your iPhone so the right side is facing you.
- Gently swing the display open from the right edge, just like opening a book cover.
- Prop up the display against something sturdy to keep it out of your way while you work.
- When putting everything back together, set the display in place, line up the clips along the top, and press the top edge in first—then snap the rest down. If it’s not clicking in smoothly, double-check that the clips around the edge aren’t bent or out of shape.
Step 18
During this repair, remember to keep an eye on each screw and place it back in its original spot. It will help you avoid any mishaps with your iPhone.
- First up, grab your trusty Y000 screwdriver and remove those two 1.1 mm long screws that are keeping the battery and display connector cover snug as a bug.
- Now, before you seal everything back up, it's a brilliant idea to power on your iPhone and give it a quick test run to make sure all the features are working like a charm. Just remember to power it down completely before diving back into your repair!
Step 19
- Pop off the cover gently to get started.
Step 20
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other connections on the board. These seals are your defense against water and dust sneaking in, so let's keep them intact for the best protection.
- Gently use a spudger or a clean fingernail to lift the battery connector from its cozy home on the logic board.
- Give the connector a slight nudge away from the logic board so it doesn't accidentally touch the socket and power up the phone while you're still working your magic.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Gently use a spudger or your fingernail to unplug the display cable connector—easy does it!
- When reconnecting, line up one side of the connector 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 safe and sound. Misalignment could bend pins and cause serious trouble.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Grab your trusty spudger or just your fingernail and gently disconnect that digitizer cable connector. It's like a little dance, just be smooth about it!
- If your screen starts acting like a diva and refuses to respond to your touch after your repair, don't panic! Simply disconnect the battery, then give that connector another snug fit, ensuring it clicks in and is free from any dust bunnies or obstructions. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 23
- Grab your trusty Y000 driver and let's get those four screws outta the way that are holding down the front sensor connector cover. Easy peasy!
- You'll be tackling three screws that are 1.1 mm long.
- And don't forget that one little 1.4 mm long screw—it's important too!
Step 24
- Flip the cover up from the left side, and watch for the little clip on the right to pop free.
- Lift off the cover and set it aside—no sweat.
- When you're putting it back together, hook that right-side clip in first, then swing the rest of the cover down. Easy does it!
Step 25
- Grab your trusty spudger or a fingernail, and gently unplug the front sensor assembly cable connector. You're doing great—keep it up!
Tools Used
Step 26
- Gently lift off the display assembly. Take your time—no need to rush this part!
- When putting things back together, this is your moment to swap out the waterproof adhesive around the display edges if you want your device to stay splash-proof.
Step 27
- Let's start by unscrewing the four screws that are holding the speaker/sensor assembly in place on the back of the display. Simple, right?
- Grab a 1.4 mm Phillips screw for two of these screws. They're not too long, so keep them handy.
- Next up, find a 1.7 mm Y000 screw with a shoulder to take care of one of the remaining screws. Not too tricky, just a little twist.
- For the last one, it's a 1.2 mm Y000 screw. It's a bit smaller, but still manageable.
Step 28
Heads up! The speaker's connected with a super slim ribbon cable, so go easy on it—no tug-of-war here.
The earpiece speaker has a gentle stickiness holding it in place—kind of like a polite handshake.
- Carefully use the pointy end of a spudger to lift the top edge of the speaker with a gentle nudge.
- Flip the speaker assembly over, moving it down and away from the top edge of the display like a smooth operator.
Tools Used
Step 29
- Grab your hair dryer, heat gun, or an iOpener and warm up the top front of the display for 1-2 minutes. This helps loosen up that stubborn adhesive holding the sensors in place.
Tools Used
Step 30
Watch out for those light sensor ribbon cables—they’re a bit delicate and don’t appreciate being pried on too hard!
- Gently use the tip of a spudger to pry up and free the ambient light sensor from its slot in the front panel.
- Keep sliding the spudger under the ambient light sensor and along its cable to carefully loosen the adhesive holding the cable down.
Tools Used
Step 31
- Gently pop the microphone out of its cozy notch in the front panel using the pointy end of your spudger. Take your time and show that mic some love!
Tools Used
Step 32
- Gently use the tip of a spudger to lift the proximity sensor and flood illuminator module out of its cozy little home in the front panel.
Tools Used
Step 33
- First things first, take a good look at your shiny new replacement part compared to the original—if there's any leftover bits or sticky stuff, you might need to transfer those or peel off the adhesive from the new part before diving in.
- Now, to put your device back together, just retrace your steps in reverse—easy peasy!
- When it's time to part ways with your e-waste, make sure to send it off to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler. They’ll take good care of it!
- If things didn’t quite go according to plan, don’t sweat it! Give some basic troubleshooting a shot, or if you're still stuck, feel free to schedule a repair and let the pros handle it!
