iPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 27 Steps

This guide walks you through swapping out the 5G mmWave antenna in your iPhone 16 Pro. Keep in mind, this antenna is only in U.S. and Puerto Rico models (A3083). If your phone has trouble connecting to cellular networks but still works fine over Wi-Fi, a new 5G mmWave antenna might do the trick. You’ll need a replacement back glass and some 5G mmWave antenna adhesive to get everything secured. For the antenna, you can use some thin, double-sided tape instead of the official adhesive—it's a handy shortcut that works well. If you need a hand with this, you can always schedule a repair.

Step 1

- Disconnect any cables plugged into your phone.

- Press and hold the power button along with either volume button, then slide to turn your phone off.

Step 2

- If the glass is badly cracked on the screen or back, apply overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to keep shards in place and protect yourself during disassembly. This helps prevent cuts and makes the process smoother. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

Tools Used
  1. Packing TapeiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 3

- Grab your marker and mark about 3 mm from the tip to set your opening point. Easy does it—just a quick line to guide your next move. If you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.

Step 4

- Grab your trusty P2 pentalobe screwdriver and let's make some magic happen! Carefully twist out the two 7.4 mm-long screws that are hanging out on either side of the USB-C port. You've got this!

Step 5

- Warm up an iOpener and gently apply it to the bottom edge of the back glass for about two minutes. This helps soften things up for the next steps, making them a bit easier.

Step 6

- Stick the suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, just above the USB-C port.

- Gently pull up on the handle with steady force to create a small gap between the back glass and the frame.

- Slip the tip of your opening pick into that gap and get ready to move forward.

Tools Used
  1. Suction HandleiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 7

- There's a fragile cable running from the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume up button. Be careful not to insert your pick here, or you might slice the cable. Take your time and stay gentle.

- Around the edges of the phone, you'll find several spring contacts. Make sure not to insert your pick deeper than recommended in each step to avoid bending those contacts. Patience and a light touch are your friends here.

Tools Used
  1. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 8

- Gently wiggle your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to loosen up that sticky adhesive.

- Keep your pick wedged in the bottom right corner so the adhesive doesn’t sneak back together.

Step 9

- Warm up the right edge of the back glass until it feels cozy and toasty to the touch.

Step 10

- Gently slide your pick around the bottom right corner and halfway up the right edge—just enough to feel a firm stop at the clip holding the back glass in place.

- Keep that pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from sealing back up—no need to rush this step!

Step 11

- Warm up the left side of the back glass until it’s comfortably hot to the touch. You want it just right, not too hot to handle but enough to get the job done.

Step 12

- Pop in a second opening pick right at the bottom edge.

- Gently slide that pick around the bottom left corner and up along the left side of the screen to loosen the adhesive and free those sneaky metal clips.

- Keep this pick wedged at the top left corner so the adhesive doesn’t sneak back together on you.

Step 13

- Warm up the top edge of the back glass, including around the volume buttons, until it feels hot to the touch. This helps loosen things up for the next steps.

Step 14

- Gently slide your opening pick along the top edge and around the top right corner to loosen the adhesive near the volume up button. Take your time and keep the pick moving steadily to avoid any damage. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

Step 15

- Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons, taking care not to crack it.

- Support the back glass with something sturdy like a small box to keep it steady and avoid putting stress on the cable.

- Carefully remove the opening picks to lift the glass away.

Tools Used
  1. Polyimide TapeiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 16

- Grab your tri-point Y000 screwdriver and gently unscrew the three screws holding down the lower connector cover: two are 1.2 mm long, and one is 1.0 mm. Keep them safe—you'll need them later. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

Step 17

- Grab some tweezers or just your fingers to gently lift and take off the lower connector cover.

Tools Used
  1. TweezersiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 18

- Grab a spudger and gently pry up to disconnect the battery press connector—think of it as lifting a tiny latch. When it’s time to put it all back together, carefully line up the connector over its socket. Use your fingertip or the flat end of a spudger to press it down—start on one side, then the other—until you hear that satisfying click. No need to force it; if it doesn’t seat right away, just reposition and try again. Remember, patience is key. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

Tools Used
  1. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 19

- Grab your tri-point Y000 screwdriver and get ready to unscrew the four screws holding that upper connector cover in place:

- Two screws, each 1.0 mm long

- One screw, 1.2 mm long

- One screw, 1.6 mm long

Step 20

- Grab some tweezers or just use your fingers to gently lift off the top connector cover. Easy does it—you're almost there!

Tools Used
  1. TweezersiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 21

- Grab a spudger and gently pry up to disconnect the back glass press connector. Keep it careful and steady—you're almost there! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.

Tools Used
  1. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 22

- Gently lift off the back glass from the frame and set it aside.

- Now, let's talk reassembly:

- Here's a clever idea: why not test your handiwork before sealing everything up? Just temporarily reconnect the battery and back glass (before slapping on the adhesive), power that baby on, and see if it’s running smoothly. Once you’re satisfied, power it down, disconnect the battery again, and let’s keep the reassembly rolling.

- Check out this guide to reapply that adhesive and snugly fit the back glass back in place.

Step 23

- Grab your spudger and gently pry up to disconnect the earpiece speaker and 5G mmWave antenna press connectors, which are tucked in at the top right corner of the logic board. Take your time—patience is key! If you need a hand, you can always schedule a repair.

Tools Used
  1. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 24

- Grab your Phillips screwdriver and remove the six screws holding down the earpiece speaker: three 1.2 mm‑long screws, two 1.8 mm‑long screws, and one 1.7 mm‑long screw. If you need help along the way, you can always schedule a repair.

Step 25

- Gently slide the tip of a spudger under the bottom-right corner of the earpiece speaker and lift it up to pop it out.

- When putting it back, angle the top edge of the earpiece speaker down into its slot, then press it down flat against the frame to secure it.

Tools Used
  1. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 26

- Grab the stretch release adhesive pull tab on the edge of the 5G mmWave antenna using your tweezers.

- Slowly and steadily pull the adhesive strip out at a low angle with your tweezers. Take your time and let it stretch and release from under the antenna.

- If the adhesive strip snaps, no worries—use your tweezers to fish it out and keep pulling.

Tools Used
  1. TweezersiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Step 27

- Put your iPhone back together by retracing these steps in reverse.

- Remember to drop off your electronic waste at an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

- If things didn’t go quite as planned, try some basic troubleshooting or swing by our iPhone 16 Pro Answers Community for advice.

- And if you hit a wall, you can always schedule a repair with us!

Tools Used
  1. TweezersiPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement
  2. SpudgeriPhone 16 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement
Success!
Put your iPhone back together by retracing these steps in reverse.
Remember to drop off your electronic waste at an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
If things didn’t quite work out, try some basic troubleshooting or reach out to our iPhone 16 Pro Answers Community for a hand.

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