How to Replace iPhone 16 Pro Max LiDAR Sensor – DIY Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 29 Steps
Ready to dive into some DIY? This guide will walk you through the process of swapping out the LiDAR sensor on your iPhone 16 Pro Max. Just a heads up, you’ll want to grab some replacement back glass adhesive to wrap up this repair like a pro. 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 disconnect any cables from your iPhone. Give it some space!
– Now, press and hold the power button along with either of the volume buttons. Once you see the option, slide to power off your iPhone like a pro!
Step 2
Ensure there’s a nice, smooth patch near the bottom edge that’s spacious enough for a suction cup to grab onto.
– If your screen or back glass is looking a bit worse for wear, go ahead and lay down some overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass. This will keep you safe and make the disassembly process a breeze!
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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
Don’t go too deep! Over-inserting a pick can harm your device. Mark your pick like a pro to avoid damage.
Mark each corner of the pick with various measurements for accuracy.
Or, tape a coin 3 mm from the tip of a pick for a quick and easy guide.
– Grab your trusty opening pick and measure about 3 mm from the tip—now, give it a little mark with a permanent marker. You’re on your way to a smooth repair journey!
Step 5
Here’s how to use the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make opening your device a breeze. If you aren’t using the Anti-Clamp, feel free to jump ahead four steps for an alternate method.
The Anti-Clamp creates suction on both the screen and back glass. If you only want to open the back glass, secure the screen with tape. You can find the full tape instructions in our guide.
For full details on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Make sure the tape is only securing the screen, not the back glass.
– Snip two strips of tape, run them along the iPhone’s long edges, and fold them over the screen to keep it nice and secure.
Step 6
If you find that your iPhone’s surface is a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grab onto, just slap some tape on there to give it a little more grip.
– First things first, give that Anti-Clamp’s blue handle a gentle tug backward to let those arms loose.
– With the back glass facing up, slide those arms over the right edge of your iPhone. Make sure one suction cup is cozy on the back glass and the other is hanging out on the screen. Aim to center those cups near the bottom edge.
– Now, give your iPhone some support so it stays nice and level between the Anti-Clamp’s arms—using a small box works like a charm.
– Time to squeeze those cups together and create some suction magic!
Step 7
No tape? No problem! Warm up those suction cups and they’ll stick like magic!
– Give that blue handle a gentle tug forward to secure those arms in place.
– Now, twist the handle a full circle (360 degrees) or keep going until those cups start to stretch out.
– As those cups stretch, keep an eye on their alignment; they should be standing tall next to each other. If they start to slip and slide, no worries! Just pop off the Anti-Clamp and stick on some tape to keep those cups in check.
Step 8
Watch out! Don’t let that iPhone get too hot—its battery isn’t a fan of the heat and could end up damaged.
If you don’t see a gap forming after a minute, go ahead and add a little more heat and give that handle a quarter twist. Let the Anti-Clamp and a bit of patience do their magic!
– Warm up the bottom edge of the back glass with a hair dryer or heat gun until it’s nice and toasty.
– Give it a minute for the adhesive to loosen up and create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
– Slide an opening pick into the gap.
– Take off the Anti-Clamp by pulling on the tabs of the suction cups.
– Skip the next two steps.
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Step 9
Next up, we’ll show you how to create an awesome little gap with a suction handle—easy peasy! Don’t worry, it’s simpler than it sounds.
If you’re feeling a bit chilly, grab an iOpener to warm up that back glass. Just follow these handy instructions to heat it up and use the iOpener like a pro!
– 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 to the touch.
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Step 10
If you don’t see a gap popping up, just crank up the heat a little more on the edge and give it another go!
– Grab a suction handle and stick it to the bottom edge of that back glass like a pro.
– Give the handle a good, steady pull to open up a little space between the back glass and the frame.
– Slide the tip of an opening pick into that gap and get ready to keep going.
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Step 11
As you carefully cut through the adhesive holding the back glass, remember to keep your pick no deeper than 3 mm. We wouldn’t want you to accidentally poke into any sensitive areas below!
– A delicate cable connects the back glass to the iPhone, right next to the volume up button. Be careful not to insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
– Multiple spring contacts are around the perimeter of the iPhone.
Step 12
If the adhesive is putting up a fight, give that edge a little heat for about a minute and then take another stab at it!
– Gently glide the opening pick along the bottom edge to break through that sticky adhesive.
– Keep the opening pick tucked in the bottom-left corner to stop that adhesive from sealing up again.
Step 13
– Grab your trusty hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the left edge of that back glass until it’s comfortably toasty!
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Step 14
Keep your pick no deeper than 3 mm to steer clear of any spring contact mishaps.
You’re going to hear and feel those metal clips pop free as you go along.
– Pop that second opening pick into the bottom-left corner, right next to the first one.
– Glide your pick along the left edge to break up the adhesive and pop those metal clips.
– Keep that pick in the top-left corner so the adhesive doesn’t stick back together.
Step 15
– Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the top edge and top-right corner of that back glass until it feels nice and toasty to the touch!
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Step 16
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm deep to steer clear of any spring contact damage. You’ve got this!
– Pop a third opening pick into that top-left corner like a pro!
– Gently glide the pick along the top edge and smoothly around the top-right corner, making a stop just above the volume up button.
– Keep this pick in place to keep that pesky adhesive from sticking back together.
Step 17
– Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the right edge of the back glass until it feels nice and toasty to your fingers.
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Step 18
Keep it cool and steady – don’t go deeper than 3 mm with your pick, or those spring contacts might not be happy!
– Pop a fourth opening pick into the bottom-right corner like a pro.
– Gently slide that opening pick around the corner and up the right edge, stopping just below the volume down button. You got this!
– Keep that pick in place to stop the adhesive from sealing back up. Nice job!
Step 19
Alright, by now the back glass should be loose from the frame. If it’s still hanging on for dear life, take another lap around the edge with your pick to catch any stubborn adhesive or sneaky clips. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Flip the back glass open to the right of the iPhone to free the remaining adhesive.
– Prop up the back glass with a clean, sturdy object.
Step 20
– Grab your trusty tri-point Y000 driver and let’s get those three screws outta there to free the battery connector cover:
– Two 1.3 mm-long screws
– One 1.0 mm-long screw
– If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 21
– Go ahead and gently lift off the battery connector cover. You’ve got this!
Step 22
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry up that battery press connector to disconnect it. You’ve got this!
– To reconnect press connectors like the one you’re working on, just align it carefully and press down on one side until you hear a satisfying click. Then, do the same on the other side. Easy peasy!
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Step 23
– Grab that tri-point Y000 driver and unscrew the four little fellas holding the back glass connector cover in place:
– Two 1.3 mm-long screws
– Two 1.0 mm-long screws
Step 24
– Gently lift the back glass connector cover straight up and take it off.
Step 25
– Gently slide the point of your trusty spudger in there and pop up that back glass connector like a pro!
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Step 26
Now’s the perfect time to give your iPhone a little test run before you seal it all up. Go ahead and reconnect the battery and back glass temporarily, power it on, and check that everything’s working as it should. Once you’re satisfied, power it down again and let’s keep the reassembly rolling!
– Time to pop off that back glass! You’ve got this.
– As you put everything back together:
– Follow this guide to stick on some fresh adhesive and get your back glass back in place. You’re doing great!
Step 27
– Grab your trusty spudger and carefully pop off the LiDAR sensor connector. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 28
– Grab your Phillips screwdriver and get ready to tackle those two screws holding the LiDAR sensor in place:
– One 1.6 mm-long screw
– One 2.9 mm-long screw
Step 29
– Grab your fingers or some trusty tweezers to carefully lift and remove the LiDAR sensor. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
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