Iphone 14 Pro Max Taptic Engine Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Pentalobe Screw
1 step
Screen
16 steps
Loudspeaker
3 steps
Taptic Engine
4 steps

Flags

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Introduction

This guide was created using the A2894 (international) model. If you’re fixing a different iPhone 14 Pro Max model, there may be some visual discrepancies, but the procedure should be the same.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your device. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach the screen when reassembling the device. Your device will function normally, but will most likely lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the pentalobe screws

Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
Remove the two 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

Remove the two 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.

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Step 2

              Heat the bottom edge of the iPhone

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the screen, making it easier to open.
Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device. The edge should feel slightly too hot to the touch.

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the screen, making it easier to open.

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device. The edge should feel slightly too hot to the touch.

Step 3

              Insert an opening pick

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen, while avoiding the very edge of the glass.
Pull up on the suction handle with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
The adhesive holding the screen in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your opening pick.

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen, while avoiding the very edge of the glass.

Pull up on the suction handle with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

The adhesive holding the screen in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your opening pick.

Step 4

              Heat and separate the screen adhesive

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Step 5

              Slice the left edge adhesive

Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the screen in place.
Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm inside your phone, or you may damage the display cables.

Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the screen in place.

Don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm inside your phone, or you may damage the display cables.

Step 6

              Heat and separate the screen adhesive

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Step 7

              Slice the right edge adhesive

Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.
Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm into the iPhone, or you may cause damage to internal components.

Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.

Don’t insert the opening pick more than 3 mm into the iPhone, or you may cause damage to internal components.

Step 8

              Heat the top edge of the iPhone

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 2 minutes.

Step 9

              Slice the top edge adhesive

Insert your pick underneath the top right edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-right corner and half way across the top edge stopping right before the earpiece speaker cut-out.
Don’t insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.

Insert your pick underneath the top right edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-right corner and half way across the top edge stopping right before the earpiece speaker cut-out.

Don’t insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.

Step 10

Insert your pick underneath the top-left edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-left corner and half way across the top edge stopping right before the earpiece speaker cut-out.
Again, don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.
Don’t try to fully separate the screen yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone’s logic board.

Insert your pick underneath the top-left edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-left corner and half way across the top edge stopping right before the earpiece speaker cut-out.

Again, don’t insert the pick more than 3 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.

Don’t try to fully separate the screen yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone’s logic board.

Step 11

              Open the iPhone

Open your iPhone by swinging the screen up from the right side, like the front cover of a book.
Lean the screen against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.
If you don’t have anything at hand to lean the screen against, your suction handle can do the trick.
During reassembly, lay the screen in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the screen down. If it doesn’t click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the screen and make sure they aren’t bent.

Open your iPhone by swinging the screen up from the right side, like the front cover of a book.

Lean the screen against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.

If you don’t have anything at hand to lean the screen against, your suction handle can do the trick.

During reassembly, lay the screen in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the screen down. If it doesn’t click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the screen and make sure they aren’t bent.

Step 12

              Unfasten the battery connector cover screws

Use a Y000 screwdriver to remove the eight screws securing the battery connector cover:
Six 1.3 mm-long screws
One 1.6 mm-long screw
One 1.9 mm-long screw
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your iPhone.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the screen in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

Use a Y000 screwdriver to remove the eight screws securing the battery connector cover:

Six 1.3 mm-long screws

One 1.6 mm-long screw

One 1.9 mm-long screw

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your iPhone.

During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the screen in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

Step 13

              Remove the battery connector cover

Grasp the connector cover with a pair of tweezers and slide it downwards to clear the flex cables.
Remove the connector cover.

Grasp the connector cover with a pair of tweezers and slide it downwards to clear the flex cables.

Remove the connector cover.

Step 14

              Disconnect the battery

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.
Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.

Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Step 15

              Disconnect the display cables

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the first display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the first display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 16

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the second display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the second display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 17

              Remove the screen

Remove the screen.
Apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).
During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the screen adhesives.

Remove the screen.

Apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the screen adhesives.

Step 18

              Unfasten the loudspeaker screws

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 1.5 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker:
Three smaller-headed screws
One larger-headed screw

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 1.5 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker:

Three smaller-headed screws

One larger-headed screw

Step 19

              Loosen the loudspeaker

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and loosen the loudspeaker from the bottom right corner of the phone.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and loosen the loudspeaker from the bottom right corner of the phone.

Step 20

              Remove the loudspeaker

Use a pair of tweezers to grab the loudspeaker.
Tilt the loudspeaker to separate it from the adhesive-backed strip that leads to the Taptic Engine.
Remove the loudspeaker.
When reinstalling the loudspeaker, place it in its recess battery-side first to align it with the adhesive-backed strip.

Use a pair of tweezers to grab the loudspeaker.

Tilt the loudspeaker to separate it from the adhesive-backed strip that leads to the Taptic Engine.

Remove the loudspeaker.

When reinstalling the loudspeaker, place it in its recess battery-side first to align it with the adhesive-backed strip.

Step 21

              Disconnect the Taptic Engine

Use a spudger to disconnect the Taptic Engine by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the Taptic Engine by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 22

              Unfasten the Taptic Engine screws

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove two screws securing the Taptic Engine:
One 1.8 mm-long screw
One 2.3 mm-long screw
Use a standoff screwdriver to remove the 2.9 mm-long standoff screw securing the Taptic Engine.
Standoff screws are best removed using a dedicated standoff driver or driver bit. In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove two screws securing the Taptic Engine:

One 1.8 mm-long screw

One 2.3 mm-long screw

Use a standoff screwdriver to remove the 2.9 mm-long standoff screw securing the Taptic Engine.

Standoff screws are best removed using a dedicated standoff driver or driver bit. In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.

Step 23

              Remove the Taptic Engine

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the Taptic Engine.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the Taptic Engine.

Step 24

              Transfer the adhesive-backed strip

If your replacement part didn’t come with the plastic strip along the top of the Taptic Engine, you’ll need to transfer it to your replacement part.
Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to gently peel the adhesive-backed strip off of the Taptic Engine.

If your replacement part didn’t come with the plastic strip along the top of the Taptic Engine, you’ll need to transfer it to your replacement part.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to gently peel the adhesive-backed strip off of the Taptic Engine.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

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                    Dominik Schnabelrauch

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