iPhone XR Logic Board Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 34 Steps
Step 1
Before diving in, make sure your iPhone battery is below 25% charged. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit of a firecracker if poked the wrong way!
Opening up your iPhone? Just a heads-up—those waterproof seals? They might not survive the journey. If you’re planning on putting it all back together, make sure you’ve got replacement seals on hand. Otherwise, keep it away from any liquid, or take extra care when sealing it up again!
- First, power off your iPhone. You don't want any surprises while you're getting into the nitty-gritty.
- Next, grab your tool and remove the two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe screws at the bottom edge of your iPhone. Don't lose them!
- You’ll notice a black rubber gasket under the head of each screw. This is there to keep dust and liquid at bay. Check the gaskets' condition, and if they look worn out, consider swapping the screws when you put everything back together.
Step 2
Put on those safety glasses to keep your peepers safe from any sneaky shards that might decide to take a little hop during the repair!
This will help keep those pesky glass shards in check while giving your display the support it needs as you gently pry and lift it up.
- Got a cracked iPhone screen? No worries! Let's keep things safe and sound while you tackle this repair. Start by taping over the glass to avoid any further mishaps or potential ouchies.
- Grab some packing tape and lay down those strips, overlapping them until the entire display is nicely covered. You're doing great!
- If the shattered glass is playing hard to get and making it tricky for a suction cup to stick, no problem! Just fold a strong piece of tape (like duct tape) into a handy handle and lift that display with style instead.
Step 3
Make sure to rock some safety glasses! They'll keep your eyes safe from any stray glass bits that might come loose during the repair. Better safe than sorry.
Got a cracked screen on your iPhone? No worries! Just put some tape over that glass to keep it from shattering further and protect yourself while you work your magic.
If you're really in a pinch, a little superglue on the suction cup can do the trick to keep it attached to the screen.
- Start by laying down some strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone’s screen. Overlap them just enough to cover the entire front face. You want to make sure it's sealed nice and tight.
- If the suction cup won’t cooperate and stick, no worries! Take a sturdy piece of tape (like duct tape), fold it into a handle, and use that to lift the screen instead.
Step 4
The next three steps show how to use the Anti-Clamp, a handy tool we created to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, just skip ahead three steps for another way to open it.
For full details on using the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
If your iPhone’s surface is feeling too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, try adding some tape to give it a better hold.
- Pull the blue handle back to release the Anti-Clamp’s arms—it’s like giving them a little freedom!
- Slide those arms gently over either the left or right side of your iPhone.
- Place the suction cups near the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front and the other on the back for a perfect grip.
- Press the cups together to create the suction needed to hold everything steady.
Step 5
- Pull the blue handle forward to secure the arms in place.
- Twist the handle 360 degrees clockwise, or until you feel the cups stretching out—this is your cue that it’s working!
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to ensure they're staying perfectly aligned. If they start slipping out of line, gently loosen them, realign the arms, and tighten back up.
Step 6
Take it easy! Just give it a gentle twist of no more than a quarter turn at a time, and then chill for a minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and some good old-fashioned patience do their magic for you.
Got a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate handy? You can use those, but be careful—too much heat might mess with your display or internal battery, so go easy on it.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t creating enough of a gap, no worries! Just add a bit more heat to the area and give the handle a quarter turn to get things moving.
- Warm up your iOpener and slip it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp—like threading a needle, but way cooler.
- Bend that iOpener so it’s chilling along the bottom edge of your iPhone.
- Kick back for a minute and let the adhesive loosen up. Soon, you'll spot a gap just waiting for action.
- Take an opening pick and slide it between the screen and the plastic bezel (not the screen itself—let’s keep it classy).
- Jump ahead and skip the next three steps. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 7
Warming up the bottom edge of your iPhone loosens up the sticky stuff holding the screen in place, so popping it open gets a whole lot easier.
- Grab your trusty hairdryer or heat gun, or whip up an iOpener! Now, let’s warm up that lower edge of your iPhone for about a minute to make the adhesive feel a bit more friendly. It's like giving your phone a cozy little spa treatment!
Tools Used
Step 8
- Place your suction cup on the bottom edge of your phone, but keep clear of the curved glass corners. A little space is all you need to get this started right.
Tools Used
Step 9
The adhesive keeping the display in place is tough – it’s going to take some muscle to create that first gap. If you’re struggling, don’t sweat it! Just apply a bit more heat and gently rock the screen back and forth to loosen up that sticky bond. Once you’ve worked it enough, you should be able to create a gap wide enough to insert your tool. If it’s still giving you trouble, feel free to schedule a repair.
- Gently tug on that suction cup with steady pressure to create a little space between the front panel and the back case. You got this!
- Slide an opening pick right beneath the screen and the plastic bezel, but steer clear of the screen itself. Easy does it!
Step 10
Keep your pick to a maximum of 3 mm to avoid any accidental run-ins with delicate internal parts!
- Gently glide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of your iPhone, carefully slicing through the adhesive that’s keeping the display snug and secure.
Step 11
Heads up! There are some sensitive cables running along the right edge of your iPhone. Avoid sliding your pick in at the spots we've marked to keep those cables safe and sound.
Step 12
Keep your pick at a cool 3 mm or less to avoid tangling with those delicate display cables. Trust us, they’re not fans of surprises!
- Slide your trusty pick back in at the bottom edge of the iPhone and gently glide it up the right side to keep that adhesive separating like a pro!
Step 13
The clips are a bit delicate—go slow and steady to keep them happy.
Keep your pick insertion under 3 mm to avoid messing with the front panel sensor array.
The top edge of the display is held in place with a combo of glue and clips, so get ready to gently work it free!
- Gently slide that opening pick around the top corner of the display while giving it a little wiggle to coax the display down toward the Lightning port. You've got this!
- Now, slide that pick over to the opposite corner and slice through any leftover adhesive holding the display in place. Keep it smooth!
Step 14
- Give that little nub on the suction cup a gentle pull and watch it come off the front panel. Simple, right?
Step 15
Hold up! The display's still tethered by some delicate ribbon cables, so don’t try to pull it all the way off just yet.
- Pop open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left, like you’re opening a book cover.
- Prop the display against something sturdy to keep it out of your way while you work your magic.
- When you’re putting it all back together, lay the display in place, line up those clips along the top, and gently press the top edge in first. The rest should snap down smoothly. If it’s not clicking, double-check the clips around the edge—make sure none are bent or out of shape.
Step 16
As you work through this repair, keep a close eye on every screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from—this little habit will save your iPhone from any unwanted mishaps.
- Unscrew the three 1.2 mm Y000 screws holding down the battery connector cover bracket.
- Take off the bracket carefully.
- Before sealing the display back on, it’s a smart move to power up your iPhone and give all the functions a quick test. Once you’re done, make sure to power it down completely before moving on.
Step 17
Be careful not to mess up the black silicone seal around this and other board connections. These little guys are your best friends when it comes to keeping water and dust out, so treat them with care!
- Grab a spudger and gently pop the battery connector straight up out of its socket—think of it like unplugging your phone from its power nap.
- Tilt the connector a little away from the logic board, just to make sure it doesn’t sneak back and power up the phone while you’re working your repair magic.
Tools Used
Step 18
- First things first, let's get those two tiny 1.2 mm Y000 screws out of the way that are holding down the display connector bracket. Grab your trusty screwdriver and let's do this!
- Now that the screws are gone, gently lift off the bracket. You’re making great progress!
Step 19
- Gently use the tip of a spudger to lift and unplug the digitizer cable. Take it easy—no need to rush!
- When reconnecting press-fit connectors like this one, line up one side carefully and press down until you hear that satisfying click. Then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle to keep those pins safe and sound.
- If your screen isn’t responding to touch after the repair, try disconnecting the battery and then reseating this connector. Make sure it clicks fully into place and that the socket is free of dust or debris.
Tools Used
Step 20
- Gently grab your spudger and use the tip to carefully disconnect the display cable connector. A little finesse here goes a long way!
Tools Used
Step 21
Watch out for that little bracket on the edge—it’s easy to knock off! It's clipped on with a tiny clip, so keep an eye on it to avoid losing it.
- Let's get those screws out! Start by taking out the five screws that hold the logic board connector bracket snug to the rear case:
- Now, gently remove the bracket.
- You'll need one 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screw,
- one 1.5 mm Phillips #000 screw, and
- three 1.2 mm Y000 screws. You're doing great!
Step 22
The shield has two parts, and the smaller one is super delicate—handle it with care! If it cracks, the phone’s NFC won’t work. Check out the tips below to keep it safe while you work.
Step 23
- Gently wedge the tip of a spudger under the front sensor assembly connector to pop it up from its socket.
Tools Used
Step 24
- Gently take off the display assembly. Don't rush it—this step requires a bit of finesse.
- If you're looking to replace the waterproof adhesive around the display edges during reassembly, this is the perfect moment to do it. Take your time here!
Step 25
In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver can get the job done—but handle it with care! You don’t want it slipping and causing a little more drama than necessary.
To tackle those standoff screws like a pro, grab an iPhone standoff bit along with a trusty driver handle. You've got this!
- Take out the two screws holding down the rear camera cover:
- A quick 1.6 mm Phillips screw
- And a slightly beefier 2.4 mm standoff screw
Step 26
- Gently lift the camera cover straight up and off the camera, like you're peeling back a layer of magic. No need to rush, just take your time.
Step 27
- Grab an opening tool or your trusty fingernail and gently pop the camera cable connector straight up out of its socket. Easy does it!
Step 28
- Slide the tip of a spudger into the top left corner of the camera, right between the camera assembly and the iPhone's frame.
- Carefully lift up to pop the camera out of the iPhone. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 29
- Take out the rear camera and set it aside. It's time to free that little guy from its place, so you can move on to the next step. If things get tricky, don't hesitate to schedule a repair. We're here to help!
Step 30
- Grab your trusty SIM tool and gently pop out that SIM tray!
Step 31
Take it easy when disconnecting the FPC – no need to force it! A gentle touch will keep that logic board in one piece.
- Time to unplug those front panel connectors! You'll find 5 FPCs hanging out near the iSight camera. Gently disconnect them.
- And there are 4 more FPCs around the SIM reader—don't forget to disconnect those as well!
Step 32
- Let's kick things off by removing these screws:
- Say goodbye to the grounding bracket!
- Gently pull out the SIM reader.
- Oh, and don't forget to push that little black SIM push rod back into the rear housing before you try to take out the SIM reader.
- Grab that 2.9mm standoff screw.
- Now, reach for the 1.5mm Phillips #000.
- Finally, let's not forget the 1.6mm Phillips #000.
Step 33
- Time to tackle those screws! Grab your screwdriver and remove the following:
- 2.9mm standoff screw
- 2.8mm standoff screw
- 1.8mm Phillips #000 screw
Step 34
- Gently slide the logic board out from the back housing.
