iPhone 13 mini Screen Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 33 Steps
Got a cracked iPhone 13 mini screen that’s not responding to touch or isn’t showing anything when powered on? This guide will help you swap in a fresh display assembly and get your phone back in action. Heads up: on iOS 17.6 and earlier, True Tone and auto brightness won’t work after replacing the screen—even with an original Apple part. Face ID will also be disabled unless your iPhone is running iOS 15.2 or newer. If you’re on iOS 18 or later, you can use Apple’s Repair Assistant to calibrate your new screen and bring back True Tone on genuine Apple displays. Don’t forget, you’ll need replacement adhesive to secure everything when putting your phone back together.
Step 1
To keep things safe and chill, make sure your battery is below 25% charge before you start taking your phone apart. This helps avoid any fiery surprises if the battery gets nicked during the repair. And hey, if your battery looks swollen, handle it with extra care!
Opening up your iPhone's display means you'll be waving goodbye to its waterproof seals. Make sure you've got some replacement seals on hand before you dive into this step, or be super careful to keep it away from any liquids if you decide to reassemble your iPhone without swapping them out.
- Alright, first things first, power down your iPhone. Let's make sure it's completely off before we dive into the repair.
- Now, grab your pentalobe P2 screwdriver and take out the two 6.8mm screws at the bottom of your iPhone. They're the key to unlocking the next step!
Step 2
Be careful not to push that opening pick in too deep – we don't want any unintentional damage to your device! To keep things safe, mark your pick so you know just how far to go.
Feel free to add some flair by marking the other corners of the pick with different measurements – it's like giving your pick a personality!
If you're feeling a bit crafty, try taping a coin to the pick about 3 mm from the tip. It's a nifty hack to help guide your way!
- Grab your opening pick and put a mark 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker—think of it as your own little repair milestone!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses to keep your eyes safe from any rogue glass shards that might come loose during the repair.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? No worries! Just grab some tape and cover that glass to keep it from getting worse and to protect your fingers while you work your magic.
If you're really in a bind, try supergluing that suction cup to the screen for a little extra grip. You've got this!
- Start by layering strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen until it’s fully covered. You want the whole face protected, so make sure the tape overlaps a bit.
- If the suction cup isn’t sticking in the next steps, don’t panic. Just grab a strong piece of tape (duct tape works great!) and fold it into a handle. Then, use that to lift the screen instead. It’ll do the job!
Step 4
The next three steps show off the Anti-Clamp, a nifty tool we've created to make opening your device a breeze. If you're not using the Anti-Clamp, no worries! Just hop down three steps for a different method.
Want the full scoop on using the Anti-Clamp? Check out this guide.
If your iPhone's surface feels a bit too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to grip, a little tape can work wonders to give it a better hold.
- Gently pull the blue handle back to release the Anti-Clamp's arms. Easy does it!
- Slide those arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone—choose your side!
- Place the suction cups near the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front, one on the back. Precision is key.
- Press the cups together firmly to create a solid suction grip. You've got this!
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug forward to lock those arms in place!
- Now, twist that handle a full 360 degrees or until you see those cups stretching out like they’re ready for a workout.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to make sure they’re staying aligned. If they start to wander, just loosen them up a bit and guide the arms back into harmony.
Step 6
Twist just a quarter turn each time, then give it a minute to chill. The Anti-Clamp’s got your back—patience makes progress!
For all the nitty-gritty on how to wield a hair dryer like a pro, take a peek at this guide.
If the Anti-Clamp isn't making enough space, just add a bit more heat and give the handle a little twist—about a quarter turn should do the trick!
- Place your iPhone on something solid like a hardcover book so it sits hands-free and flat, making the next steps much easier.
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone until it feels just a bit too hot to touch—this helps loosen the adhesive.
- Give it a minute to let the heat work its magic and create a small gap for you to start with.
- Slide an opening pick under the screen’s plastic bezel once the Anti-Clamp has made a big enough gap to get in there.
- Skip the next three steps.
Tools Used
Step 7
Keep your hair dryer moving—don’t let it chill in one spot too long!
- Grab a hair dryer or heat gun and warm up the bottom edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds—just until it’s a bit too toasty to touch. That’s your cue that you’re ready for the next step!
Tools Used
Step 8
- Grab that trusty suction handle and stick it right on the bottom edge of your phone, as close to the edge as you can get. Let's get this repair party started!
Tools Used
Step 9
Be sure to slide that pick right between the plastic bezel and the metal frame. If you accidentally slip it between the glass screen and the plastic bezel, you might end up with a cracked screen – and nobody wants that!
The screen is glued down with some seriously tough adhesive, so getting that first little gap open takes a bit of muscle. If it’s being stubborn, try heating it up a bit more and gently rocking the screen back and forth to soften the glue until you can slip your tool in comfortably.
- Give that suction cup a good, steady pull—just enough to open up a tiny space between the screen and the frame.
- Slip an opening pick into the newly created gap, sliding it under the screen's plastic edge.
Step 10
- Grab a hair dryer and warm up the right edge of your iPhone (yep, the side with the power button) for about 90 seconds or until it feels almost too toasty to touch. The heat helps loosen things up for the next step.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm and be gentle—don't push it through the unheated adhesive sections, or it might slip and accidentally give your internal components a little bump. Let's keep everything safe and sound!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner and up along the right side of the iPhone, carefully slicing through the adhesive that’s keeping the display stuck in place.
- Keep the pick resting in the top right corner before moving on to the next step.
Step 12
- Grab your trusty hair dryer and warm up the top edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until the screen feels just a bit too toasty to touch. You're aiming for 'warm cookie' temperature—not 'lava'. This helps loosen things up for the next step!
Tools Used
Step 13
Be careful not to shove your pick in more than 3 mm – you don't want to accidentally mess with the top sensors!
- Gently slide the opening pick around the top right corner of the iPhone to carefully lift the top adhesive off.
- Keep the pick in place at the top left corner to maintain separation before moving on.
Step 14
- Grab a hair dryer and heat up the left edge of your iPhone for about 90 seconds, or until it gets just warm enough to make you think, 'Yep, that’s good!'
Tools Used
Step 15
Watch out for the delicate cables snuggled along the left edge of your iPhone! It's best to steer clear of inserting your pick there, or you might accidentally give those cables a bad day.
Step 16
Twist it gently and steadily.
If the adhesive is being stubborn, warm up the left edge again to help loosen it.
- Place a second opening pick in the bottom left corner of the iPhone.
- Gently twist both picks at the same time until the left edge clips pop free.
Step 17
- Give that little nub on the suction cup a gentle tug to pop it off the front panel.
Step 18
Hold up! Don't rush to fully detach the display just yet. It's still connected to the logic board by some delicate ribbon cables that need some care.
- Turn your iPhone so its right edge is facing you, ready for action!
- Gently lift the display up from the right side, just like flipping open a book – easy peasy!
- Prop that 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, lay the display down in its spot, line up those clips along the top edge, and gently press the top edge into place. Give the rest of the display a little snap to secure it. If it doesn't click in smoothly, take a peek at the clips around the edge – make sure they're not bent and ready to do their job!
Step 19
- Unscrew the 1.2 mm Y000 screw hanging out with the battery and display connector cover. It’s ready to take a break.
- On your way back, this is a prime moment to fire up your iPhone and confirm all features are working before you close things up. Don’t forget to completely shut it down again before you keep tinkering.
- While you’re playing screw detective, make sure each one finds its way home. Mixing them up is a one-way ticket to iPhone drama.
Step 20
- Grab your trusty tweezers and gently lift off the battery and display connector cover.
Step 21
Be gentle with the black silicone seal around this and other board connections—it’s the unsung hero keeping water and dust out, so treat it with care!
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry those battery and OLED panel cable connectors up from their cozy little homes on the logic board.
- Give the connector a slight nudge away from the logic board to keep it from accidentally reconnecting and powering up your device while you're busy working your magic.
- When it's time to reconnect, align the connectors just right and press down on one side until you hear that satisfying click, then do the same on the other side. Remember, no pressing down in the middle! If things get misaligned, those little pins could bend and cause some serious heartbreak. So, take your time!
Tools Used
Step 22
- Let's get to it! Start by removing the three screws that hold the front sensor assembly cover in place:
- One PH000 screw that's about 1.4 mm long
- One Y000 screw that's 1.8 mm long
- And another Y000 screw, this one is 1.2 mm long
Step 23
- Grab your trusty tweezers and gently lift off the cover protecting the front sensor assembly connector. You've got this!
Step 24
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry away the connection for the front sensor assembly cable. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 25
- Lift off the display assembly with care—think gentle ninja moves, not wrestling.
- When putting things back together, this is your chance to swap in fresh waterproof adhesive around the edges if you want your device to keep out the splashy stuff.
Step 26
- Take out those three 1.4 mm-long tri-point Y000 screws holding the sensor assembly cover in place. You’ve got this!
Step 27
- Grab a pair of blunt-nosed tweezers and gently lift off the metal cover. A little patience goes a long way here!
Step 29
Be super careful not to mess up those light sensor ribbon cables while you're prying them. They’re a bit delicate, so handle with care!
- Grab the pointed end of your spudger and gently pop out the ambient light sensor from its cozy little spot.
Tools Used
Step 30
- Grab the spudger and use the pointed end to gently pry out the proximity sensor and microphone from their cozy spots. They’ll pop right out, no worries!
Tools Used
Step 32
- Gently slide an opening pick under the front sensor assembly cable to break up that stubborn adhesive.
Step 33
- Give your new part a quick once-over compared to the original — sometimes you’ll need to move a few bits over or peel off adhesive liners before popping it in place.
- When putting your device back together, just retrace the steps above in reverse. Remember to slap on some fresh adhesive where needed, but first, clean the surfaces with isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) for a nice, solid stick.
- Once your repair’s done, some parts might ask for a quick calibration using Apple’s Repair Assistant (starting with iOS 18). Just update your device, head to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the prompts.
- Don’t forget — responsibly recycle your old electronics by taking them to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
- If things didn’t quite go as planned, no worries! Swing by our iPhone 13 mini Answers community for some helpful troubleshooting tips, or if you want a hand, you can always schedule a repair with us.
