iPhone 12 Rear-Facing Cameras Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 31 Steps
Follow this guide to take out and swap the rear cameras on your iPhone 12. All the camera modules come out as one complete set. Heads up: if you're rocking iOS 18 or later, you can fine-tune new, genuine camera modules using Apple's Repair Assistant.
Step 1
Heads up! Make sure your iPhone battery is under 25% before you start. Poking a charged lithium-ion battery is a fast track to fireworks—and not the fun kind.
Opening up your iPhone's display will break those nifty waterproof seals. Make sure you've got some replacement seals handy before you dive deeper into this step, or be extra cautious about avoiding any liquid exposure if you put your iPhone back together without swapping out the seals.
- Shut down your iPhone before you start—it’s not just good manners, it’s smart.
- Flip it over and remove the two 6.75 mm pentalobe P2 screws from the bottom edge. Don’t lose them; they love to hide!
Step 2
Be careful not to shove that opening pick in too deep, or it might just give your device a little love tap in the wrong way! Use this step to mark your pick and keep everything safe and sound.
Feel free to mark the other corners of your pick with different measurements for added precision—it's like giving your pick a stylish makeover!
If you'd prefer a different approach, you can stick a coin to a pick about 3 mm from the tip. It's a clever little hack!
- Mark the opening pick 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker. Easy peasy!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any glass that might decide to take a little leap during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? No worries! Keep things in check by taping over the glass to prevent any further cracks or sharp edges during your repair.
If you're really stuck, a little superglue on the suction cup might just do the trick to help you get a solid grip on the screen.
- Cover the iPhone’s screen with overlapping strips of clear packing tape until the entire front is sealed up like a pro.
- If the suction cup refuses to stick in the next steps, no worries! Fold a sturdy piece of tape (think duct tape) into a little handle and use that to lift the screen instead.
Step 4
The next three steps show off the Anti-Clamp – our custom tool designed to make opening your device a breeze. Not using the Anti-Clamp? No worries! Just skip ahead three steps for an alternate method.
Need a little more detail on how to use the Anti-Clamp? Check out this handy guide for all the info you need.
If your iPhone's surface is a little too smooth for the Anti-Clamp to get a grip, grab some tape to give it a better hold. It’s a simple trick that works wonders.
- Give that blue handle a gentle pull back to set the Anti-Clamp’s arms free.
- Slip the arms over the left or right side of your iPhone—whatever feels right for you.
- Line up the suction cups near the bottom edge: one goes on the front, one on the back.
- Press the cups together until they stick, locking in some solid suction right where you want it.
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug forward to lock those arms in place.
- Now, spin that handle a full 360 degrees or until you see those suction cups start to stretch a bit.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to make sure they're staying in line with each other. If they start to go rogue, just loosen them up a tad and realign those arms.
Step 6
Turn no more than a quarter turn at a time, then chill for a minute. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do their magic!
Need help using a hair dryer? We've got you covered! Check out this guide for all the details.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't making enough space, don't stress—just add a little more heat and give the handle a quick quarter turn to loosen things up.
- Prop your iPhone up on something solid, like a hardcover book, so it sits hands-free and level—makes your life so much easier for what’s next.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of the iPhone until the screen feels a bit too hot for comfort—think warm toast, not molten lava.
- Give it a minute. This lets the adhesive loosen up and an opening gap should start to show.
- Slide an opening pick under the screen’s plastic edge once the Anti-Clamp has made enough space.
- Go ahead and skip the next three steps.
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep that hair dryer moving! Staying in one spot for too long can lead to trouble.
- Grab a hair dryer or a heat gun and give the bottom edge of your iPhone a warm hug for about 90 seconds, or until it’s just a smidge too hot to handle.
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab that trusty suction handle and place it right on the bottom edge of your phone. Just make sure to steer clear of the very edge of the glass. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 9
Slide your opening pick gently under the plastic bezel—aim to avoid any screen damage here. You should spot a small gap, and the pick should glide smoothly without catching on anything. If you're not seeing that gap, just lift the screen a bit more and try again.
Getting through the stubborn waterproof glue can take some serious oomph—don’t be shy! If it’s not budging, warm things up a bit more and gently wiggle the screen to loosen things up until you’ve got enough space to sneak your tool in.
- Grab the suction cup and pull upward with steady, confident pressure to gently create a small gap between the screen and the frame.
- Slide an opening pick into the gap between the screen and the plastic bezel—make sure to avoid prying on the screen itself.
Step 10
- Grab a hair dryer and give the right edge of your iPhone (where the power button is) a little heat for about 90 seconds. You want it warm enough that it feels just a little too hot to touch. This helps soften things up for the next steps!
Tools Used
Step 11
Be careful not to insert your pick more than 3 mm—going too deep could mess with the internal parts.
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of your iPhone to start loosening that sticky adhesive.
- Keep sliding the pick up along the right edge until you reach the top right corner.
- Pause and leave the pick in place at the top right corner before moving on.
Step 12
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and gently warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it feels just a little too warm to handle comfortably.
Tools Used
Step 13
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm in depth to avoid bumping into the top sensors—let's keep those safe and sound!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the top right corner of your iPhone to loosen up that top adhesive.
- Keep the pick resting in the top left corner while you get ready for the next move.
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's just a tad too toasty for your fingers. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 15
Heads up! There are some sensitive cables hanging out along the left edge of your iPhone. Avoid sliding your pick in there to keep everything safe and sound.
Step 16
Gently work the twisting motion—no need to rush it!
If the adhesive is being stubborn, warm up the left edge a bit and try again.
- Pop a second opening pick into the bottom left corner of your iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time until the clips along the left edge let go.
Step 17
Hold up—don’t yank the display off just yet! There are some delicate ribbon cables still tethering it to the iPhone’s logic board.
- Turn your iPhone around so the right edge is facing you. You're doing great!
- Open up your iPhone by lifting the display from the right side, just like flipping the front cover of a book. Easy peasy!
- Prop the display up against something sturdy to keep it steady while you work your magic on the phone.
- When it's time to put everything back together, gently lay the display in place, making sure the clips along the top edge are aligned. Give that top edge a careful press to snap it into position. If it resists a bit, take a moment to check the clips around the display's perimeter—make sure they aren't bent out of shape. You got this!
Step 18
Keep a close eye on every screw during this repair and make sure each one goes back exactly where it started—your iPhone will thank you!
- Unscrew the two tiny 1.1 mm Y000 screws holding down the battery and display connector cover. They’re small, but mighty!
- Once you’re putting things back together, this is your moment to switch on your iPhone and make sure everything’s working—before you lock the display in place. When you’re done testing, shut it down completely before moving on.
Step 19
- Pop off the cover like a pro!
Step 20
Be careful around the black silicone seals when working on this and other board connections. These little guys are there to help protect your device from water and dust, so give them some love and keep them intact.
- Grab a spudger or even your clean fingernail and gently lift the battery connector out of its home on the logic board.
- Give the connector a little bend away from the logic board so it doesn’t accidentally reconnect and power up the phone while you’re working your magic.
Tools Used
Step 21
- Pop off the display cable connector with a spudger or your trusty fingernail—easy does it.
- When it’s time to reconnect, line up the press connector, gently snap one side in, then the other. Skip pressing the middle! If it’s off-center, you might bend the pins, and that’s a headache nobody wants.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Gently disconnect the digitizer cable connector using a spudger or your fingernail—think of it as unplugging your phone from a digital handshake.
- If your screen acts like it’s ignoring you after the repair, try disconnecting the battery and giving the connector another go. Make sure it clicks in snuggly and there’s no dust hanging out in the socket.
Tools Used
Step 23
- Grab your trusty Y000 driver and unscrew the four screws holding down the front sensor connector cover. Nice and easy!
- Take out the three 1.1 mm screws. These little guys are small, but you'll get them out in no time!
- Now, for the final screw – a 1.4 mm one. This one's a little longer, but still, it's no challenge for you!
Step 24
- Flip the cover up from the left side—like opening a secret trapdoor—until that sneaky clip on the right pops free.
- Lift off the cover and set it aside like the pro you are.
- When putting it back together, start by hooking the right-edge clip into its slot, then swing the rest of the cover down into place. Easy does it!
Step 25
- Gently pry the front sensor assembly cable connector loose using a spudger or your trusty fingernail. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 26
- Gently detach the display assembly, taking care not to rush the process.
- If you're feeling adventurous during reassembly, this is a great moment to swap out that waterproof adhesive around the display edges!
Step 27
- Let's start by loosening the five screws holding down the rear-facing camera sensor.
- One PH00 screw, 1.7 mm long
- Four Y000 screws, 1.6 mm each
Step 28
- Gently lift the camera cover from the side closest to the logic board and set it aside like you’re flipping the page of a good book.
- When you’re ready to put the cover back, slide the tab on the far edge into its slot on the frame, then swing the cover closed like you’re sealing a secret.
Step 29
- Grab a spudger or use your trusty fingernail to gently lift the first camera cable connector right out of its socket. No need to rush, just pop it up with a bit of care.
Tools Used
Step 30
- Grab your trusty spudger or your nail, and gently pry that second camera cable connector straight up from its socket. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 31
- Check out your new replacement part next to the original—sometimes you’ll need to move over a few bits or peel off some sticky stuff before popping it in.
- To put your device back together, just run through the steps backwards.
- If your replacement part needs a little digital handshake, fire up Apple’s Repair Assistant (on iOS 18 and up). Head to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the prompts.
- Got old parts? Drop them off at an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to keep things green.
- If your repair threw you a curveball, try a bit of troubleshooting, or hit up our iPhone 12 Answers community. And if you ever get stuck, you can always schedule a repair with Salvation Repair.
