How to Replace iPhone 16 Pro Max 5G mmWave Antenna – DIY Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 30 Steps
Time to get your iPhone 16 Pro Max back in action! This guide walks you through removing and replacing the 5G mmWave antenna. If your phone has Wi-Fi but struggles with other connectivity, it’s time for a fix. Grab some replacement back glass and antenna adhesive (or double-sided tape like Tesa tape) to complete the job. Note: Some images might show minor inconsistencies, but they won’t throw off your groove. 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.
– First things first, let’s unplug any cables from your iPhone. Give it some breathing room!
– Now, hold down the power button along with either the volume button, and slide that little power icon to turn off your iPhone. Easy peasy!
Step 2
Find a nice, smooth spot near the bottom edge that’s spacious enough for your trusty suction cup to grab on tight.
– 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!
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Step 3
– Grab your trusty P2 pentalobe driver and let’s tackle those two 7.4 mm-long screws flanking the charging port. You’ve got this!
Step 4
Be careful not to insert the opening pick too deeply—doing so could cause some unintended damage to your device. Let’s keep things safe by marking your pick to avoid any mishaps!
Feel free to add some flair by marking the other corners of your pick with different measurements. It’s all about precision!
Another fun option is to tape a coin 3 mm from the tip of your pick. Who knew measuring could be this interesting?
– Measure 3mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
Step 5
In the next four steps, we’ll show you how to use the Anti-Clamp, our specially designed tool to make opening your device a breeze. If the Anti-Clamp isn’t your buddy today, just skip down four steps for another method!
The Anti-Clamp creates a snug grip on both the screen and the back glass. If you’re aiming to open just the back glass, don’t forget to tape down the screen first. Need details on how to use that tape? We’ve got you covered!
For a full rundown on mastering the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Just a friendly reminder: make sure the tape is only holding the screen in place and not getting cozy with the back glass.
– Snip two strips of tape, lay them along the iPhone’s long edges, and fold them over the screen to keep it 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 texture boost!
– Pull back the Anti-Clamp’s blue handle to free the arms.
– With the back glass facing up, position the arms over the right edge of your iPhone, one suction cup on the back glass and the other on the screen. Place the suction cups near the bottom edge.
– Make sure your iPhone is level while resting between the Anti-Clamp’s arms—a small box works great.
– Squeeze the cups together to create suction.
Step 7
If tape is playing hard to get, try warming up those suction cups a bit to give them a better grip!
– Give that blue handle a good pull forward to lock those arms in place!
– Now, give the handle a complete turn (360 degrees) or until you see those cups start to stretch out. You’ve got this!
– As those cups stretch, keep an eye on their alignment—make sure they stay vertically stacked. If they decide to slip around, no worries! Just remove the Anti-Clamp and stick some tape on there to help those cups stay put.
Step 8
Watch out for the heat! Keep that iPhone nice and cozy, but not too toasty—the battery can get a little grumpy with high temperatures.
If a gap hasn’t shown up after a minute, try a bit more heat and give the handle a quarter turn. Let the Anti-Clamp and time handle it for you.
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of that back glass until it feels nice and toasty.
– Take a breather for about a minute while the adhesive gets cozy and a little gap starts to appear between the back glass and the frame.
– Slide an opening pick into that newly formed gap.
– Gently pull off the Anti-Clamp using the handy pull tabs on the suction cups.
– Feel free to skip the next two steps.
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Step 9
The next couple of steps are all about making that first little opening with a trusty suction handle. You’ve got this!
If you’re feeling fancy, grab an iOpener to warm up the back glass. Just follow these simple steps to heat it up and apply the iOpener like a pro.
– Warm up the bottom edge of the back glass with a hair dryer or heat gun until it feels nice and toasty to the touch.
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Step 10
If a gap isn’t appearing, give that edge a bit more heat and try again. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
– Stick a suction handle on the bottom edge of the back glass.
– Yank up on the handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
– Slip the tip of an opening pick into the gap.
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Step 11
As you carefully slice through the adhesive holding the back glass in place, remember to keep your pick no deeper than 3 mm. We want to keep everything safe and sound, so steer clear of those sensitive areas!
– Be careful with that delicate cable connecting the back glass to your iPhone, right next to the volume up button. It’s a bit shy, so avoid inserting your pick here to keep it safe and sound.
– Look out for those multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of your iPhone. They’re just hanging out, waiting for you to give them some attention!
Step 12
If slicing through the adhesive gets tough, give it a little more heat for about a minute and try again.
– Gently glide the opening pick along the bottom edge to cut through that adhesive like a pro.
– Keep the opening pick snug in the bottom-left corner to stop that adhesive from making a comeback.
Step 13
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and give that left edge of the back glass a warm hug until it’s nice and toasty!
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Step 14
Keep your pick shallow, no deeper than 3 mm, to keep those spring contacts happy.
As you glide through, you’ll notice that delightful click as the metal clips let go. It’s like they’re saying, ‘Catch you later!’
– Slide a second opening pick into the bottom-left corner, right next to your first pick. You’re doing great!
– Gently glide your pick along the left edge to break that adhesive seal and pop those metal clips free. Almost there!
– Keep that pick snugly in the top-left corner to stop the adhesive from sticking again. You’ve got this!
Step 15
– Grab a 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!
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Step 16
Keep your pick shallow, no more than 3 mm, to protect those spring contacts. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Pop in a third opening pick at the top-left corner to get things rolling.
– Gently glide that opening pick along the top edge, wrapping it around the top-right corner until you reach just above the volume up button.
– Keep that pick in place to ensure the adhesive doesn’t go all clingy on you again.
Step 17
– Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and gently warm up the right edge of that back glass until it feels nice and toasty. You’re doing great!
Tools Used
Step 18
Keep your pick no deeper than 3 mm to steer clear of those delicate spring contacts. We don’t want any unexpected surprises!
– Slide in a fourth opening pick right into that bottom-right corner like a pro!
– Gently glide the pick around the corner and up the right edge, making sure to pause just below that volume down button.
– Keep that pick in place to ensure the adhesive doesn’t try to seal things up again.
Step 19
Alright, at this stage, the back glass should be happily detached from the frame. If it seems a bit stubborn, take a moment to revisit the edges with your pick and see if there are any sneaky bits of adhesive or clips that need a little extra attention.
– Gently swing the back glass to the right of your iPhone to break free from the stubborn adhesive sticking around.
– Hold the back glass steady with a clean, strong object to keep things in place.
Step 20
– Grab your tri-point Y000 driver and remove the three screws holding down the battery connector cover:
– Two 1.3 mm screws
– One 1.0 mm screw
– If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 21
– Gently lift off the cover that protects the battery connector and set it aside.
Step 22
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry up to disconnect the battery press connector. You’ve got this!
– To snap those press connectors back into place, start by aligning one side, then press down until you hear that satisfying click. Repeat on the other side, and voilà!
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Step 23
– Grab your trusty tri-point Y000 driver and let’s get to work removing those four screws holding down the back glass connector cover:
– Two screws that are 1.3 mm long—easy peasy!
– And two more that are 1.0 mm long—you’re almost there!
Step 24
– Lift the back glass connector cover straight up and take it off.
Step 25
– Gently use a spudger’s tip to pop and disconnect the back glass connector. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
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Step 26
Now’s the perfect time to give your iPhone a little test run before sealing it up! Just reconnect the battery and back glass temporarily, power it on, and check that everything’s working like a charm. Once you’re satisfied, power it down and let’s keep going with the reassembly!
– Gently take off the back glass. You’ve got this!
– When putting everything back together:
– Follow this guide to stick on that adhesive and snugly fit your back glass back in place.
Step 27
– Grab your trusty spudger and use its pointy end to gently lift and disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna connector. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 28
The 5G mmWave antenna is secured with a little bit of stretch-release adhesive. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Grab those tweezers and gently lift the black adhesive pull tab on the antenna. You’ve got this!
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Step 29
If the adhesive decides to go on a little vacation, grab some tweezers and give that stubborn end a gentle tug to keep things moving.
If the adhesive is playing hard to get and won’t come out in one piece, just drop a bit of high concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol right under the antenna and let’s keep this repair train rolling to the next step.
– Grab that adhesive pull tab with your tweezers and give it a gentle tug at a nice, easy angle. You’ve got this!
Tools Used
Step 30
– Grab that spudger and gently lift off the 5G mmWave antenna. You’re doing great!
– When you’re putting it all back together:
– Use tweezers or a spudger to clean off any sticky residue from the top of the earpiece speaker and the back of the antenna.
– If your new part doesn’t come with adhesive, a small strip of double-sided tape will do the trick to attach the antenna to the earpiece speaker.
– Press the antenna firmly onto the earpiece speaker to secure it.
