Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

7

Time Required

                          40 minutes            

Sections

1

  • iPhone 12 Back Glass Replacement
  • 7 steps

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Introduction

  • Disassemble the phone and remove the wireless charging coil.After that, scan the back glass with laser except for the camera area.Then we remove the magnet array and the back glass.Put on the new back glass with enlarged camera holes.Stick the magnet array and shield to the new back glass.

The foregoing guide gives you a clear and correct guide about how to replace the iPhone 12 back glass.

However, the journey to search the right way was not easy. We made the first attempt and almost failed. Scroll down and you will see what challenges we have come across.

Video Overview

Step 1

              Laser Marking               
  • Put the back glass of iPhone 12 under the focus positioning probe of the laser marking machine. After positioning, mark the back glass area except for the camera and wireless charging area. We haven’t marked the wireless charging area to avoid damage.

Put the back glass of iPhone 12 under the focus positioning probe of the laser marking machine. After positioning, mark the back glass area except for the camera and wireless charging area. We haven’t marked the wireless charging area to avoid damage.

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Step 2

              Back Glass Separation               
  • A new member, Glass Breaking Pen, is coming to our back glass refurbishing tools family. Break the back glass with Glass Breaking Pen and remove the shards with Pry Bar.
  • When breaking the wireless charging area, you can see that the magnets are glued to the glass. Hence the back glass fix solution of iPhone 11 is not suitable for iPhone 12.
  • If we stick to our old method, all magnets will fall off and become separate. The subsequent recovering process will be harder. In addition, we can’t mark the wireless charging area directly with a laser to avoid damage.

A new member, Glass Breaking Pen, is coming to our back glass refurbishing tools family. Break the back glass with Glass Breaking Pen and remove the shards with Pry Bar.

When breaking the wireless charging area, you can see that the magnets are glued to the glass. Hence the back glass fix solution of iPhone 11 is not suitable for iPhone 12.

If we stick to our old method, all magnets will fall off and become separate. The subsequent recovering process will be harder. In addition, we can’t mark the wireless charging area directly with a laser to avoid damage.

Step 3

              Back Glass Separation               
  • We should remove the wireless charging coil and then mark. The magnet array and shield can be easily removed after marking.

We should remove the wireless charging coil and then mark. The magnet array and shield can be easily removed after marking.

Step 4

              Back Glass Separation               
  • Then we remove the glass around the camera. Please do not touch the camera lens.
  • After the glass is completely removed, mark the back again to remove residual adhesive.

Then we remove the glass around the camera. Please do not touch the camera lens.

After the glass is completely removed, mark the back again to remove residual adhesive.

Step 5

              Back Glass Gluing               
  • Clamp a new back glass with enlarged camera holes down to the middle frame first to see if it fits.
  • Apply some adhesive evenly on the middle frame. Put the back glass in position and press it gently against the middle frame.

Clamp a new back glass with enlarged camera holes down to the middle frame first to see if it fits.

Apply some adhesive evenly on the middle frame. Put the back glass in position and press it gently against the middle frame.

Step 6

              Back Glass Gluing               
  • Press the back glass further against the middle frame with Press Clamp.
  • The adhesive has set after 10 minutes. Take the back cover out. Check if the gap is too large, if there is adhesive overflow, and if the fit is smooth.

Press the back glass further against the middle frame with Press Clamp.

The adhesive has set after 10 minutes. Take the back cover out. Check if the gap is too large, if there is adhesive overflow, and if the fit is smooth.

Step 7

              Back Glass Gluing               
  • After the back glass gluing is finished, we install the magnet array and shield. Apply some B-7000 Adhesive on the magnet circle to adhere the magnet array to the back.
  • Please make sure that the opening of the magnet array is placed in the right position as in the picture.
  • Stick the magnet that we accidentally cut out back on and glue the alignment magnet.
  • Last but not least, assemble the phone and test the MagSafe function. The MagSafe function is normal.

After the back glass gluing is finished, we install the magnet array and shield. Apply some B-7000 Adhesive on the magnet circle to adhere the magnet array to the back.

Please make sure that the opening of the magnet array is placed in the right position as in the picture.

Stick the magnet that we accidentally cut out back on and glue the alignment magnet.

Last but not least, assemble the phone and test the MagSafe function. The MagSafe function is normal.

In conclusion, MagSafe is added to the iPhone 12 series, which makes it harder to refurbish the back glass. Since the magnets are glued to the back glass, we need to detach the magnets before removing the back glass. Therefore, the iPhone 12 series currently don’t support the back glass separating without disassembling. The wireless charging coil needs to be removed first. Then we can separate the back glass by marking the back glass except for the camera area. The success rate of the foregoing method is higher. But the method can be not only demanding but also has a high requirement for the technician. We will continuously make a painstaking effort to seek the best iPhone 12 back glass refurbishing solution and even the back glass separating without disassembling. Please stay tuned.

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                    REWA                     

Member since: 11/24/2020

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Curtis Davis - Jul 21, 2021

Reply

I have a small 3 in 1 CNC printer laser machine. How can I set the laser portion up so that I can use it to repair back glass via “marking”?

Josh Kirtland - Apr 11, 2022

Reply

Jesus Christ this is getting into early days irl cyberpunk levels of tools and know how just to repair the part of your telephone covered by every case ever. Who has a laser position sensor laying around the apartment? Where do you even get one? Lol

I actually just looked and the author of this post is a VERY well stocked and knowledgeable repair business supply shop that does actually sell the laser position machine used in the tutorial.

At just shy of $1700.00 I’m curious about its sale numbers though. I suppose with magsafe being the new standard buying one of these makes sense for an established shop but it’s definitely now the financial fork in the road for us casual fixes.

The tools are now so expensive that filing a insurance claim or flat out buying a whole new device is the more financially responsible path.

…that being said HOLY DIVER would I love to have my own personal crazy laser tool! I haven’t gotten to play with lasers since I did Lidar scans way back when the LS880 from Faro was cutting edge.

Stefini H. - Nov 2, 2022

Reply

Unless this person is working for Apple directly, any repair done with a back glass that has a logo is considered counterfeit.

Jeffrey Miller - Dec 21, 2022

Reply

I don’t know if I can post a question here but I’m gonna try. I have used your guides quite a bit and they are always spot on. Just a thank you to all the people that post these guides I would be lost without them. My question is “Can I remove a back glass from an iPhone 12 without breaking it? I have an I12 an extra one for parts thought I might use the back glass instead of buying one. Please let me know if this is possible…Thank You