iPhone Xr – Replacing the lightning connector
Duration: 60 min.
Steps: 29 Steps
Is your iPhone Xr feeling a bit moody and refusing to charge? Or perhaps your buddy can't hear you on the phone? It might just be that the Lightning connector is acting up! This nifty little connector is responsible for charging and houses several microphones essential for your voice recordings. Before you rush to swap it out, take a moment to check if it’s just a bit dirty, which could be causing the charging cable to not fit snugly. Each step of this repair comes with a handy video guide that shows you exactly what to do. You can easily kick off the videos by hitting the play button in the corner of the first picture at each step. Let's get your iPhone Xr back in action!
Step 1
- First things first, let’s turn off your iPhone completely to keep it safe during this repair adventure! Just press and hold the Standby button along with one of the volume buttons for about three seconds until you see that "Power off" slider pop up.
- Now, give that slider a swipe from left to right. Your iPhone will gracefully shut down completely, which might take around ten seconds. Hang tight!
Step 2
2 × 6,8 mm Pentalobe
Opening up your iPhone Xr means saying goodbye to its dust and water protection (IP 67 rating). So, let’s tread carefully and keep that in mind while we work our magic!
- Unscrew those two pentalobe screws hanging out at the bottom edge of the back cover—one’s to the right and the other to the left of the Lightning connector. Keep them cozy in the same spot on your magnetic pad, so they don’t wander off!
Step 3
Keep your tool on a short leash—no more than 5 mm into the gap! We want to avoid any accidental run-ins with the delicate parts hiding inside your iPhone.
If you're rocking an iFlex, it's time to switch to a plastic pick pronto! This little change will keep your frame looking sharp and scratch-free.
- Gently set your iPhone Xr on a soft, clean surface to keep that lovely back from getting scratched.
- To lift the front panel, grab a suction cup, a hard plastic pick, and a heat gun. If your screen is looking a bit worse for wear with cracks, cover it with packing tape before you dive in.
- The screen is glued to the frame, so warm up those outer edges with your heat gun until they reach about 60°C (140°F).
- Stick the suction cup at the bottom of the display. While you're lifting the screen with the suction cup, slide the hard plastic pick between the frame and the display, and gently press down on the frame.
Step 4
- Grab your trusty Y-Type screwdriver (Y000) and carefully unscrew those Y-Type screws. Once they're out, gently lift off the bracket plate. Keep all the parts organized on your magnetic pad so they don't go on an adventure of their own!
- Next, with a steady hand, use a spudger to delicately pry off the battery contact by sliding it under the connector. Take your time—you're doing great!
3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
Battery connector
Before you dive into this repair adventure, make sure to disconnect the battery contact. This little step is your best buddy in preventing short circuits and keeps your device from accidentally powering up while you're working your magic!
Apple rolled out Y-Type screws starting with the iPhone 7, but don’t get it twisted—some folks mistakenly call them Tri-Point or Tri-Wing. Grab the right Y-Type screwdriver to keep those screw heads in tip-top shape and avoid any stripping mishaps!
Step 5
- The display unit has three connectors, all tucked away beneath two sneaky cover plates.
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry apart the connectors for the display and earpiece, one at a time. You've got this!
2 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
Display connector
3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
Earpiece connector
When you're prying off those connectors with the spudger, channel your inner gentle giant! Keep a steady hand and hold the display in place to prevent any slips or mishaps. You've got this!
Once you've unplugged those two lower connectors, feel free to lay the display flat beside the device since the earpiece cable is long enough to accommodate this little dance!
Step 6
1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
1 × 1,4 mm Phillips
2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
3 × 1,2 mm Phillips
- Unscrew the Phillips screws of various lengths from the cover plate that protects the speaker and the Taptic Engine. Make sure to place those little screws on your magnet mat so they don’t go wandering off—trust me, they have a knack for disappearing!
Step 7
1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
1 × 2,4 mm Standoff
1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
1 × 1,8 mm Phillips
The loudspeaker is firmly glued to the frame, but don't sweat it! A little hot air can work wonders here—just warm up the foam frame to help it loosen up nicely.
- First, let's gently peel off that black rubber cover—it's time for it to take a break!
- Next up, loosen the screw on the metal cover plate and all the other screws securing the speaker. You're doing awesome!
Step 8
2 × 1,4 mm Phillips
Taptic Engine Connector
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently wiggle it to disconnect the Taptic Engine’s connector. You're doing great!
- Next up, unscrew those Phillips screws that are keeping the Taptic Engine snug and secure. You’ve got this!
- Now, with a gentle nudge, lift out the Taptic Engine and give it a little wave goodbye!
Step 9
In the upcoming steps, the battery will be taking a little break. But no worries! You won't need to remove it to swap out that Lightning Connector.
Step 10
1 × 2,2 mm Standoff
1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
Camera connector
To tackle that Standoff screw, you’ve got some nifty screwdrivers designed just for the job! If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, a regular, thin slotted screwdriver can do the trick too—just be gentle!
- Unscrew those two little screws and gently lift off the camera's bracket plate. You're doing great!
- Carefully disconnect the camera's connector using your trusty spudger—no rush, take your time!
- With a little finesse, pry out the camera using the spudger and set it aside. You're almost there!
Step 11
1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
1 × 3,0 mm Standoff
SIM reader connector
- First, let's pop out that SIM card holder from your device like a pro!
- Next, with a gentle touch, use your spudger to disconnect the contact—easy does it!
- Now, it's time to loosen those screws that are keeping the card reader snug as a bug.
- And just like that, you can lift out the SIM card reader. You're on a roll!
Step 12
- First, let's disconnect all those pesky connectors from the logic board! These little guys are responsible for connecting the charging socket, flash, front camera, and volume keys. So, let’s give them a break!
- One of the connectors is hiding under a front camera cable. Gently bend that cable to the side and pop off the connector with care. You got this!
- Now, it’s time to loosen the screws on the motherboard. A little twist here and there, and we’re golden!
- Finally, carefully bend all the flex cables aside and lift out the logic board. Easy peasy!
Lightning Connector
Wireless charging connector
Antenna connector
Front camera & FaceID connectors
Standby & flashlight connector
Mute & volume button connector
2 × 2,9 mm Standoff
1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
2 × 2,8 mm Standoff
Just to the side of the camera opening, there's a handy little plastic screw holder (check out the top left of the picture!). You'll want to make sure to pop that back over the logic board when you're all done. It’s like a little hat for your screw!
Step 13
1 × 2,7 mm Standoff
1 × 3,0 mm Standoff
There are special screwdrivers for removing the internal thread screw, but you can also use a regular, thin slotted screwdriver.
- Loosen those screws and gently take out the part. You got this!
Step 14
2 × 3,0 mm Phillips
Fire up that heat gun and give the entire flex cable a warm hug! This will help loosen up the glue, making it way easier to work with. You've got this!
- Give those two screws at the bottom of the frame a little twist to loosen them up—these guys are keeping the charging port in place!
Step 15
Step 16
2 × 3,0 mm Phillips
- Slide the Lightning Connector into the iPhone, making sure it fits snugly into its home at the bottom.
- Carefully place the tiny golden microphones onto the back cover, ensuring those little metal pins fit perfectly into the cut-outs on the frame.
- Guide the flexible cable along the edge with a gentle touch.
- Secure the Lightning Connector in place with a few screws to keep everything nice and tidy.
Step 17
1 × 2,7 mm Standoff
1 × 3,0 mm Standoff
- Place the barometric cover back where it belongs and give it a gentle push while securing it with screws. You've got this!
Step 18
- First, make sure all those flex cables are lying flat and cozy in the back cover before you slide in the logic board. Give those cables a little bend to the side to avoid trapping any of them underneath. You're doing great!
Lightning Connector
Wireless charging connector
Antenna connector
Front camera & FaceID connectors
Standby & flashlight connector
Mute & volume button connector
2 × 2,9 mm Standoff
1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
2 × 2,8 mm Standoff
Just a friendly reminder: the black plastic holder beneath the camera needs to sit snugly above the logic board's screw opening. It’s like giving your device a little hug—let's keep it cozy!
Step 19
1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
1 × 3,0 mm Phillips
SIM reader connector
- Pop that SIM card reader back in and give it a little twist to secure it in place!
- Ensure that the tiny metal clip is facing the right way—it's all about that perfect fit!
- Plug in the connector of the card reader and make sure it's snug.
- Now, slide in the SIM card holder. If it goes in smoothly without any fuss, you're golden! If you feel any resistance, it means the card reader might still be a bit off.
Step 20
1 × 2,2 mm Standoff
1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
Camera connector
Before you pop that camera in, give the lens and the inside of the unit a quick check-up! Make sure there’s no dust or fingerprints hanging around. A clean lens is a happy lens!
- Pop the camera back into its cozy spot and give it a gentle press down to settle it in.
- Plug in the camera's connector and make sure it's snug.
- Place the bracket plate back where it belongs and secure it with the various screws to keep everything in place.
Step 21
2 × 1,4 mm Phillips
Taptic Engine Connector
- Nestle the Taptic Engine right back between the battery and the Lightning connector, ensuring those screw holes are perfectly aligned. It's all about that snug fit!
- Now, let's connect the Taptic Engine’s connector with a gentle touch.
- Secure the Taptic Engine in place using those Phillips screws. You've got this!
Step 22
1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
1 × 2,4 mm Standoff
1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
1 × 1,8 mm Phillips
Keep that speaker opening squeaky clean! No foam or glue allowed in there, please. Let's keep the sound crisp and clear!
- First, let's pop that speaker back into its cozy spot and give it a gentle press to secure it in place.
- Next, position the bracket plate over the connector and tighten it down with some screws.
- Don't forget to fasten the metal bracket at the top of the speaker—it's important for keeping everything snug.
- And to wrap it up, add a bit of glue to the rubber cover to keep it all sealed up nicely.
Step 23
1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
1 × 1,4 mm Phillips
2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
3 × 1,2 mm Phillips
- First, connect the square connector of the bracket plate like a pro!
- Next, fold down that bracket plate so the screw holes align perfectly with the threads below. You've got this!
- Finally, secure the bracket plate in place using the various screws. Tighten them up and feel that sense of accomplishment!
Step 24
Getting your iPhone back in shape with a frame sticker means it's ready to fend off dust and splashes, but let's be real—it won't make your phone a fish! So keep it dry, and you're good to go!
Check out the iPhone X in the photos! The iPhone Xr is pretty much its twin and follows the same re-gluing process.
- To ensure that your new frame sticker sticks like a champ, start by cleaning off any leftover glue and dirt from the metal frame. We want a clean slate!
- Peel off the first layer of protective film from the frame sticker. It's like unwrapping a gift—exciting, right?
- Carefully align the frame sticker with one edge of the frame and attach it slowly. Make sure it’s straight and press it down firmly. A plastic spudger can help you press the adhesive down if you need a little extra oomph!
- Next, it's time to remove the big protective film. Bye-bye, film!
- Feel free to leave the small protective films on for now. You can take them off once you've connected the display and put the bracket plates back on. This way, nothing sticks to your frame sticker prematurely. But if you're eager, you can remove them right away!
Step 25
- Gently place the display next to your device, making sure it fits just right!
Earpiece connector
3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
Display connector
2 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
When you're plugging in those connectors, make sure they're snug as a bug in a rug! Avoid sliding them over the logic board sockets—let's keep those contacts safe and sound!
To connect the other connectors, prop the display against something sturdy. This way, you’ll avoid putting too much strain on those delicate flex cables. Easy peasy!
Step 26
Battery connector
3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
- Now, it's time to connect that battery connector like a champ!
- Next, slide in the bracket plate and secure it with those Y-Type screws. You've got this!
Step 27
- Let's kick things off by checking out the brightness of that display! Give it a whirl and see how it shines.
- Now, let’s put that touchscreen to the test! Pick an app, and let your fingers dance all over the screen. If the app follows your every move, then we’re in business—your touchscreen is working like a champ!
- Want to check if your microphone, speakers, earpiece, and proximity sensor are all in tip-top shape? Fire up the voice memo app and give it a go! You’ll be the star of your own audio show.
Step 28
Check it out! The iPhone X is featured in the images, but don’t worry, the steps for the iPhone Xr are just as awesome and follow the same groove!
- With a gentle touch, grab that display with both hands and ease it down into place. You're doing great!
- Ensure it fits snugly all around the frame, then gradually press it down everywhere to secure it.
Step 29
2 × 6,8 mm Pentalobe
- Time to fasten those two pentalobe screws snugly into place, one on the left and one on the right of the Lightning connector. Let's make sure everything is secure in its cozy little home!
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