DIY Guide to Replace iPhone 16 Pro Max Back Glass
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 26 Steps
Ready to tackle that cracked or broken back glass on your iPhone 16 Pro Max? You’ve come to the right place! Grab some replacement back glass adhesive, and let’s get this repair rolling. And remember, once you’re done, give those authentic Apple replacement components a little love by calibrating them with Repair Assistant. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Let your iPhone’s battery dip below 25%. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit of a drama queen when it comes to safety.
– Disconnect any cables from your iPhone.
– Press and hold the power button and either volume button, then swipe to turn off your iPhone.
Step 2
Find a nice, flat spot near the bottom edge that’s spacious enough for a suction cup to grab onto. You’ve got this!
– If your screen or back glass is looking a bit worse for wear, grab some packing tape and lay down overlapping strips over the glass. This will keep you safe and make it a breeze to take things apart!
Tools Used
Step 3
– Grab your trusty P2 pentalobe driver and pop out those two 7.4 mm screws on either side of the charging port. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 4
Be careful not to push your opening pick in too deep, or it might cause some unwanted damage to your device. A little tip: mark your pick to keep things safe and sound!
Feel free to add some flair by marking the other corners of the pick with different measurements. It’s like a little art project for your repair!
Another fun idea is to tape a coin to your pick about 3 mm from the tip. It’s a nifty trick to help you out!
– Take your trusty permanent marker and measure 3 mm from the tip of the opening pick. Give it a little mark to guide your way!
Step 5
In the next four steps, we’ll be introducing the Anti-Clamp, a handy tool we’ve created to make your opening process smoother than ever. If you prefer a different route, feel free to skip ahead four steps for an alternative method.
The Anti-Clamp works its magic by applying suction to both the screen and the back glass. If you’re looking to only open the back glass, just use some tape to secure the screen. For detailed instructions on how to work with that tape, check out our guide!
For a complete rundown on how to use the Anti-Clamp like a pro, check out this guide.
Remember, the tape should only hold down the screen, not the back glass. Keep it neat!
– Snip off two strips of tape, stick them along the long edges of your iPhone, and then fold them over the screen to keep everything nice and secure.
Step 6
If your iPhone’s surface feels a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to get a good grip, just grab some tape and give it a little roughing up! A grippier surface will make your repair journey smoother.
– Give that blue handle of the Anti-Clamp a little tug backward to unlock those arms.
– With the back glass looking up at you, gently slide the arms over the right edge of your iPhone, placing one suction cup on the back glass and the other on the screen. Aim to center those cups near the bottom edge.
– Support your iPhone so it stays nice and level between the Anti-Clamp’s arms—a small box can be your best buddy here.
– Squeeze those cups together and let them create some mighty suction!
Step 7
If you find yourself without tape, try warming up those suction cups a bit to give them a better grip!
– Slide the blue handle forward to lock those arms in place.
– Give the handle a full 360-degree turn or until the cups start stretching.
– As the cups stretch, make sure they stay aligned vertically. If they keep slipping, take off the Anti-Clamp and use tape to keep the cups stuck.
Step 8
Watch out! Don’t let your iPhone get too hot—those batteries aren’t fans of excessive heat and can get damaged. Keep it cool, and you’ll be golden!
If a gap doesn’t show up after a minute, add more heat and give the handle a quarter turn. Just let the Anti‑Clamp and time do their magic. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and give the bottom edge of that back glass a warm hug until it’s nice and toasty.
– Chill for about a minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a little gap between the back glass and the frame.
– Slide an opening pick into that gap like a pro.
– Pop off the Anti-Clamp by tugging on those pull tabs from the suction cups.
– Feel free to skip the next two steps.
Tools Used
Step 9
Let’s kick things off by creating a little gap with a trusty suction handle. It’s your new best friend for this step!
Feeling the heat? You can also use an iOpener to warm up that back glass. Just follow these simple steps to heat it up and apply the iOpener like a pro!
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of that back glass until it feels nice and toasty!
Tools Used
Step 10
If you don’t see a gap forming, just crank up the heat a little more on that edge and give it another shot!
– Grab a suction handle and stick it on the bottom edge of that back glass like a champ!
– Give that handle a solid pull with some good, consistent strength to wiggle things loose and make a little gap between the back glass and the frame.
– Slide the tip of an opening pick into that gap you’ve created. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 11
As you carefully cut through the adhesive holding the back glass in place, remember to keep your pick no deeper than 3 mm. We want to avoid any accidental mishaps with the sensitive areas below!
– There’s a delicate cable right near the volume up button that connects the back glass to your iPhone. Don’t stick your pick here or you’ll slice the cable.
– You’ll find multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the iPhone.
Step 12
If slicing through the adhesive is giving you a workout, just heat that edge up for a minute and give it another go!
– Gently glide the opening pick along the bottom edge to cut through that pesky adhesive.
– Keep the opening pick tucked in the bottom-left corner to stop the adhesive from sticking back together.
Step 13
– Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and apply some heat to the left edge of the back glass until it’s nice and toasty. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Tools Used
Step 14
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm deep to steer clear of any spring contact mishaps!
As you go along, you’ll hear and feel those metal clips pop free.
– Pop in another opening pick at the bottom-left corner, right next to your first one.
– Glide your pick up along the left edge to peel away the adhesive and snap those metal clips.
– Keep this pick in the top-left corner to stop the adhesive from sticking back.
Step 15
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the top edge and top-right corner of the back glass until it’s nice and toasty to the touch. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 16
Keep your pick to a max of 3 mm deep to steer clear of those pesky spring contacts!
– Pop that third opening pick into the top-left corner.
– Glide the pick along the top edge and around the top-right corner, pausing right above the volume up button.
– Keep this pick parked to stop the adhesive from sticking back.
Step 17
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and give the right edge of that back glass a warm hug until it’s toasty enough for you to feel the heat!
Tools Used
Step 18
Keep it cool and don’t dig deeper than 3 mm to save those spring contacts from any damage. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Pop a fourth opening pick into that bottom-right corner like a pro!
– Gently slide the pick around the corner and up the right edge, stopping just below the volume down button—easy peasy!
– Keep that pick in place to stop the adhesive from getting all clingy again. You’ve got this!
Step 19
Now that you’re here, the back glass should be ready to pop off the frame! If it feels like it’s playing hard to get, just stroll around the edges with your pick to see if there’s any leftover adhesive or sneaky clips holding it back.
– Flip open the back glass to the right side of the iPhone to loosen up the remaining adhesive.
– Prop up the back glass with something clean and sturdy for support.
Step 20
– Grab your trusty tri-point Y000 driver and let’s get those screws out! Start by removing the three screws that are holding the battery connector cover in place:
– Two screws that are 1.3 mm long
– One screw that’s 1.0 mm long
Step 21
– Gently lift off the battery connector cover and set it aside.
Step 22
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently lift up to disconnect that battery press connector. You’ve got this!
– When it’s time to reconnect those press connectors, just take your time. Start by aligning one side and press down until you hear that satisfying click. Then, do the same on the other side, and you’re all set!
Tools Used
Step 23
– Grab your trusty tri-point Y000 driver and let’s tackle those four screws holding the back glass connector cover in place:
– Two screws that are 1.3 mm long
– Two screws that are 1.0 mm long
Step 24
– Gently lift the back glass connector cover straight up and set it aside.
Step 25
– Gently use the tip of a spudger to lift and disconnect the back glass connector. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 26
Now’s a great time to make sure everything’s working smoothly before you seal up your iPhone! Just temporarily hook up the battery and back glass, power it on, and check that it’s all functioning as it should. Once you’re satisfied, power it down and let’s get back to reassembling.
– Pop off the back glass.
– When you’re putting it all back together:
– Use this handy guide to stick your back glass back on.
