iPhone 12 mini Bottom Speaker Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 27 Steps
Ready to swap out the bottom speaker on your iPhone 12 mini? This guide walks you through each step to remove and replace it. Just a heads-up: you'll want some replacement adhesive handy to stick everything back together nice and snug.
Step 1
Hey there! Before diving in, make sure to drain your iPhone battery to below 25%. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit of a drama queen and might catch fire or explode if it gets a little too poked. Stay safe and let's get to it!
- First things first, power down your iPhone before diving into the disassembly. Safety first, right?
- Now, grab your screwdriver and carefully remove the two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe screws located at the bottom edge of your iPhone. Easy does it!
Step 2
If you push the pick in too deep, you could accidentally harm your device. Mark the pick first to avoid any mishaps.
You can also make small marks on the other corners of the pick with different measurements to be extra careful.
Alternatively, attach a coin to a pick about 3mm from the tip using tape for a handy guide.
- Grab your trusty permanent marker and measure out a cool 3 mm from the tip. Mark that spot on your opening pick like a pro!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any sneaky glass bits that might pop loose during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? No worries! Just tape over that glass to keep the shards in check and avoid any accidental pokes while you tackle the repair.
If you're really in a jam, a little superglue can work wonders—just attach the suction cup to the screen and you'll be good to go!
- Cover your iPhone's screen with overlapping strips of clear packing tape until the entire face is nicely wrapped up. It's like giving your phone a cozy blanket!
- If the suction cup isn't feeling sticky enough in the next steps, no worries! Just grab a sturdy piece of tape (like duct tape) and fold it into a handy handle to lift the screen instead. You've got this!
Step 4
Ready for some Anti-Clamp action? The next three steps show off this handy tool that makes opening your device way smoother. If you're skipping the Anti-Clamp, just jump ahead three steps for another way to get the job done.
Want a crash course in Anti-Clamp magic? Check out the guide for all the details.
If your iPhone feels slicker than a watermelon at a summer picnic, slap on some tape for extra grip and let the Anti-Clamp do its thing.
- Give that blue handle a little tug towards you to set those Anti-Clamp arms free!
- Gently slide those arms over the left or right side of your iPhone—whichever feels right!
- Place the suction cups close to the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front and one on the back, like they’re best buddies.
- Squeeze the cups together to create a snug grip on that spot you're targeting.
Step 5
- Pull that snazzy blue handle forward to lock those arms in place!
- Now, give the handle a fun twist—turn it clockwise a full 360 degrees or until those cups start to stretch like they're getting ready for a workout.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups; they should be nice and aligned. If they start to wander off, just loosen them a tad and guide those arms back into harmony.
Step 6
Make sure the opening pick is snugly placed between the plastic bezel and the frame, so you don’t accidentally hurt your screen.
Take it slow with those turns—no more than a quarter turn at a time, and give it a minute to breathe between each one. Let the Anti-Clamp and patience do the heavy lifting for you.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't quite giving you the gap you need, no worries! Just apply a bit more heat to that area and give the handle a cheeky quarter turn.
- Give your iPhone a cozy spot on a sturdy surface like a hardcover book, so it can chill hands-free and lie flat. This makes it a breeze to tackle the upcoming steps!
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone. It should feel a tad too hot to touch, so keep an eye on it.
- Take a breather for a minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a little gap for you.
- When the Anti-Clamp opens up a nice enough space, slide an opening pick under the screen's plastic bezel.
- Feel free to skip the next three steps.
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep your hair dryer moving—don’t let it chill in one spot too long!
Opening up your iPhone's display? Just a heads up—those waterproof seals are going to get a little sad. Make sure you've got some replacement seals on standby before you dive in, or be super careful to keep it away from any liquids if you're putting it back together sans new seals.
A little warmth goes a long way! Give the bottom edge of your iPhone a gentle heat-up to soften that adhesive holding the display in place. It’ll make your opening adventure a breeze!
If you're finding it tricky to get that display open, the adhesive might have decided to play hard to get. Just apply a bit more heat to coax it back into submission!
- Grab your trusty hair dryer or a heat gun and give the bottom edge of your iPhone a warm hug for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a smidge too hot to touch.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Rock that single suction handle by sticking it right onto the bottom edge of your phone—get it as close to the edge as you can for max grip.
- If your screen is looking like a spider web, slap some clear packing tape over it to help the suction cup stick. Or just grab some super strong tape and use that instead. No luck? Go wild and glue the suction cup to the cracked glass. Desperate times, creative measures!
Tools Used
Step 9
Be sure to slide the opening pick carefully under the thick plastic bezel—this will keep your screen safe from damage. You should spot a visible gap, and the pick shouldn’t get stuck on anything. If the gap is hard to see, try lifting the screen up a bit more.
The adhesive keeping that screen in place is no joke—it's really holding on tight. To get started, you'll need to apply some force to create a small gap. If it's giving you trouble, just add some more heat, and gently wiggle the screen up and down to loosen the glue a bit. Once you've got a gap big enough, pop your tool in there and you're good to go!
There’s a plastic bezel stuck to the bottom of the display, and it wants to come up with the screen. Be careful, though! If you try to insert a pick between the bezel and display, you might damage the panel. Go slow, and keep the bezel intact as you lift the screen.
- Gently pull on the suction cup with consistent pressure to create a small gap between the screen and the metal frame. Don't rush—slow and steady wins the race!
- Slide an opening pick into the gap between the screen and the plastic bezel (not on the screen itself). Take it easy, let the pick do the work!
Step 10
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the right side of your iPhone (the one with the power button) for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too hot to handle.
Tools Used
Step 11
Be careful not to insert your pick more than 3 mm – you wouldn’t want to accidentally nudge anything important inside!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner and up the right edge of the iPhone, carefully cutting through the adhesive that’s keeping the display stuck in place.
Step 12
- Grab your hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels a little too warm for comfort.
Tools Used
Step 13
Be careful not to insert your pick deeper than 3 mm—going too far could damage the front panel sensor array.
The top edge of the display is held in place by a combo of glue and clips.
Easing the front panel assembly down toward the bottom edge of the phone makes this part a bit smoother.
- Gently slip your pick under the top-right corner of the display panel.
- Now, slide the pick around that top-right corner. You might hit a little resistance from the clips, but no worries, just keep going!
- Run the pick along the top edge and cut through any leftover adhesive holding the display in place.
Step 14
- Grab that trusty hair dryer and give the left edge of your iPhone a warm hug for about 90 seconds, or until it gets just a tad too toasty for your fingertips.
Tools Used
Step 15
Heads up! There are two sensitive cables running along your iPhone's left edge—one near the top and another just below the middle. Avoid sliding your pick in these spots to keep those cables safe and sound.
Step 16
Give it a gentle twist—no need to rush.
Still stuck on that adhesive? Hit the left edge with some heat and try again.
- Pop a second opening pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Give both picks a little twist at the same time until that left edge clip lets go.
Step 17
Hold up on pulling the display all the way off just yet—there are still some delicate ribbon cables hooking it up to the iPhone’s logic board that need some TLC.
- Turn your iPhone so the right side is facing you—like showing your best side.
- Gently swing the screen open from the right, just like cracking open a new book.
- Find something sturdy to lean the display against while you work your magic inside.
- When putting everything back together, lay the display in place, line up the top edge clips, and press the top edge in first. Only snap down the rest once the top clips are good. If it’s not clicking together easily, check all those clips around the edge to make sure none are bent or out of place.
Step 18
As you dive into this repair adventure, make sure to keep an eye on each screw and put it back in its original spot. This way, your iPhone stays safe and sound, just like it deserves!
- Take out the tiny 1.25 mm Y000 screw holding down the battery & display connector cover bracket—small but important!
- When putting everything back together, it’s the perfect moment to power on your iPhone and give all the functions a quick test before sealing the display. Just remember to shut it down completely again before moving on.
Step 19
- Grab your tweezers and carefully lift out the battery and display connector bracket—precision is your friend here.
- On the right edge of the bracket, you'll spot two tiny hinges. When putting things back together, line those up with their matching slots for a smooth fit.
Tools Used
Step 20
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other board connectors. These little guys are the unsung heroes, keeping water and dust out like champs.
- Grab a spudger or your trusty clean fingernail and gently lift that battery connector right out of its cozy little socket on the logic board.
- Now, give the connector a little bend away from the logic board to make sure it doesn’t accidentally reconnect and power up your phone while you’re working your magic.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Gently use a spudger or even a clean fingernail to lift the OLED panel cable connector straight up from its socket on the logic board—easy does it!
- When snapping connectors like this back in, line one side up carefully and press down until you hear a click, then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle; misalignment can bend pins and cause permanent damage.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Take out the five tiny 1 mm Y000 screws that are holding down the front sensor assembly cover bracket.
Step 23
- Grab your tweezers and carefully lift off the front sensor assembly bracket like a pro.
Tools Used
Step 24
- Gently pry open the front sensor assembly cable connector using a spudger or your clean fingernail. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 25
- Pop off that display assembly and set it aside like a pro.
- If you want to give your device some extra splash protection, now’s the moment to swap out that waterproof adhesive around the edges.
Step 26
- Unscrew the four tiny 1.5 mm Phillips #000 screws holding the speaker in place. They’re small but not too tricky—just keep an eye on them!
Step 27
- Give your new replacement part a quick comparison with the original—make sure to transfer any leftover components or peel off the adhesive backing if needed before getting started with the install.
- Time to put everything back together! Just follow these steps in reverse. Don’t forget to apply fresh adhesive where needed after giving those areas a good clean with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).
- Got some e-waste? Take it to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler and let them handle the rest.
- Things not going as smoothly as expected? No worries—try some simple troubleshooting or, if you're still stuck, schedule a repair with us for more expert help.
