Iphone 5 Lightning Connector And Headphone Jack Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Screen
16 steps
Speaker Enclosure
5 steps
Lightning Connector and Headphone Jack
7 steps

Flags

BackiPhone 5
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

You can also use this guide to replace the microphone gasket.

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Taping the display glass

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone’s display until the whole face is covered.
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone’s display until the whole face is covered.

This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

1024

Step 2

              Remove the Pentalobe screws

Before you proceed, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.
Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the Lightning connector.

Before you proceed, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the Lightning connector.

Step 3

              How to prevent display separation

In the following steps you will be pulling the display up out of the phone body. The display is composed of a glass screen and a plastic bezel with metal clips.
Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.
If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.
If you are reassembling a phone with a separated display bezel, you may want to place a thin strip of adhesive between the plastic bezel and the glass to keep the phone closed.

In the following steps you will be pulling the display up out of the phone body. The display is composed of a glass screen and a plastic bezel with metal clips.

Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.

If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.

If you are reassembling a phone with a separated display bezel, you may want to place a thin strip of adhesive between the plastic bezel and the glass to keep the phone closed.

Step 4

              Starting the iSclack Opening Procedure

The next two steps demonstrate using the iSclack, a great tool for safely opening the iPhone 5 that we recommend for anyone doing more than one repair. If you aren’t using the iSclack, skip to Step 6.
Close the handle on the iSclack, opening the suction-cup jaws.
Place the bottom of your iPhone in between the suction cups, against the plastic depth gauge.
The top suction cup should rest just above the home button.
Open the handles to close the jaws of the iSclack. Center the suction cups and press them firmly onto the top and bottom of the iPhone.

The next two steps demonstrate using the iSclack, a great tool for safely opening the iPhone 5 that we recommend for anyone doing more than one repair. If you aren’t using the iSclack, skip to Step 6.

Close the handle on the iSclack, opening the suction-cup jaws.

Place the bottom of your iPhone in between the suction cups, against the plastic depth gauge.

The top suction cup should rest just above the home button.

Open the handles to close the jaws of the iSclack. Center the suction cups and press them firmly onto the top and bottom of the iPhone.

Step 5

              Finishing the iSclack Opening Procedure

Hold onto your iPhone securely and close the handle of the iSclack to separate the suction cups, pulling the front panel up from the rear case.
The iSclack is designed to safely open your iPhone just enough to separate the pieces, but not enough to damage any cables.
Peel the two suction cups off your iPhone.
Skip the next three steps and continue on Step 9.

Hold onto your iPhone securely and close the handle of the iSclack to separate the suction cups, pulling the front panel up from the rear case.

The iSclack is designed to safely open your iPhone just enough to separate the pieces, but not enough to damage any cables.

Peel the two suction cups off your iPhone.

Skip the next three steps and continue on Step 9.

Step 6

              Manual Opening Procedure

Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.
Be sure the cup is completely on the screen to get a tight seal.
If you’re opening an iPhone with cracked glass, neatly lay a couple strips of packing tape across the front and squeeze out as many bubbles as you can. This will give the suction cup a surface to grab, and minimize the spread of broken glass.

Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.

Be sure the cup is completely on the screen to get a tight seal.

If you’re opening an iPhone with cracked glass, neatly lay a couple strips of packing tape across the front and squeeze out as many bubbles as you can. This will give the suction cup a surface to grab, and minimize the spread of broken glass.

Step 7

              Start lifting the front panel assembly

Make sure the suction cup is firmly attached to the front panel assembly.
While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the front panel assembly from the rear case.
Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The screen is a much tighter fit than most devices.
With a plastic opening tool, begin to gently pry the rear case down, away from the screen, while you pull up with the suction cup.
There are several clips attaching the front panel assembly to the rear case, so you may need to use a combination of the suction cup and plastic opening tool to free the front panel assembly.

Make sure the suction cup is firmly attached to the front panel assembly.

While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the front panel assembly from the rear case.

Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The screen is a much tighter fit than most devices.

With a plastic opening tool, begin to gently pry the rear case down, away from the screen, while you pull up with the suction cup.

There are several clips attaching the front panel assembly to the rear case, so you may need to use a combination of the suction cup and plastic opening tool to free the front panel assembly.

Step 8

              Detaching the front panel side clips

Continue to pry up around the sides of the front panel assembly, detaching the clips along the left and right side.

Continue to pry up around the sides of the front panel assembly, detaching the clips along the left and right side.

Step 9

              Opening up the phone

Do not try to completely remove the front panel assembly from the rear case, as there are several ribbon cables still attached at the top of the iPhone.
Once the clips have been released on the bottom and sides of the front panel assembly, pull the bottom of the assembly away from the rear case.
Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.
Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.

Do not try to completely remove the front panel assembly from the rear case, as there are several ribbon cables still attached at the top of the iPhone.

Once the clips have been released on the bottom and sides of the front panel assembly, pull the bottom of the assembly away from the rear case.

Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.

Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.

Step 10

              Removing the battery connector bracket screws

Remove the following two screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board:
One 1.8 mm Phillips screw
One 1.6 mm Phillips screw

Remove the following two screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board:

One 1.8 mm Phillips screw

One 1.6 mm Phillips screw

Step 11

              Removing the battery connector bracket

Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

Step 12

              Disconnecting the battery connector

Use a plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.
Be very careful to only pry up on the battery connector itself and not the socket on the logic board. If you pry up on the logic board socket or the board itself, you may destroy the socket or damage nearby components on the board.

Use a plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

Be very careful to only pry up on the battery connector itself and not the socket on the logic board. If you pry up on the logic board socket or the board itself, you may destroy the socket or damage nearby components on the board.

Step 13

              Removing the front panel assembly cable bracket screws

Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:
Two 1.2 mm Phillips screws
One 1.6 mm Phillips screw
This screw tends to not be attracted to a magnetized screwdriver. Take care not to lose it when removing, and make sure it gets back into the right place—a magnetized screw may interfere with the compass.

Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:

Two 1.2 mm Phillips screws

This screw tends to not be attracted to a magnetized screwdriver. Take care not to lose it when removing, and make sure it gets back into the right place—a magnetized screw may interfere with the compass.

Step 14

              Removing the front panel assembly cable bracket

Lift the display cable bracket toward the battery to unhook it, and remove it from the iPhone.
During reassembly, clip the left-hand hooks under the logic board and lower the bracket towards the outside of the phone.

Lift the display cable bracket toward the battery to unhook it, and remove it from the iPhone.

During reassembly, clip the left-hand hooks under the logic board and lower the bracket towards the outside of the phone.

Step 15

              Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables

Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cables in this step.
Use a plastic opening tool or a fingernail to disconnect the three front panel assembly cables:
Front-facing camera and sensor cable
LCD cable
Digitizer cable
When reassembling your phone, the LCD cable may pop off the connector. This can cause white lines, or nothing at all to appear when powering your phone back on. If that happens, simply reconnect the cable and power cycle your phone. The best way to power cycle your phone is to disconnect and reconnect the battery.

Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cables in this step.

Use a plastic opening tool or a fingernail to disconnect the three front panel assembly cables:

Front-facing camera and sensor cable

LCD cable

Digitizer cable

When reassembling your phone, the LCD cable may pop off the connector. This can cause white lines, or nothing at all to appear when powering your phone back on. If that happens, simply reconnect the cable and power cycle your phone. The best way to power cycle your phone is to disconnect and reconnect the battery.

Step 16

              Separating front panel assembly and rear case

Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

Step 17

              Speaker Enclosure

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the antenna cable from the logic board.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the antenna cable from the logic board.

Step 18

Remove the following screws securing the speaker enclosure to the rear case:
One 2.5 mm Phillips screw
One 1.5 mm Phillips screw
One 2.5 mm Phillips screw
One 2.7 mm standoff screw
Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff screwdriver or 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.

Remove the following screws securing the speaker enclosure to the rear case:

One 2.5 mm Phillips screw

One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

One 2.7 mm standoff screw

Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff screwdriver or 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 19

Slide the point of a spudger underneath the spring contact flex cable below the battery and gently loosen it from the speaker enclosure.

Slide the point of a spudger underneath the spring contact flex cable below the battery and gently loosen it from the speaker enclosure.

Step 20

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and loosen the speaker enclosure from the rear case.
Pull the speaker enclosure out of its recess.
During reinstallation, be sure to slide the speaker enclosure underneath this metal washer.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and loosen the speaker enclosure from the rear case.

Pull the speaker enclosure out of its recess.

During reinstallation, be sure to slide the speaker enclosure underneath this metal washer.

Step 21

Remove the small double-sided metal washer on the speaker enclosure and transfer it to the replacement part.

Remove the small double-sided metal washer on the speaker enclosure and transfer it to the replacement part.

Step 22

              Lightning Connector and Headphone Jack

Remove the following screws securing the Lightning connector assembly to the rear case:
One 2.9 mm Phillips screw
During re-installation, make sure that the headphone jack’s plastic protrusion lies above the metal washer.
One 1.5 mm Phillips screw
Two 3.3 mm Phillips screws

Remove the following screws securing the Lightning connector assembly to the rear case:

One 2.9 mm Phillips screw

During re-installation, make sure that the headphone jack’s plastic protrusion lies above the metal washer.

Two 3.3 mm Phillips screws

Step 23

Use the opening tool to pry up and disconnect the Lightning connector cable connector from its socket on the logic board.

Use the opening tool to pry up and disconnect the Lightning connector cable connector from its socket on the logic board.

Step 24

Flip the phone face up, heat an iOpener, and apply it to the right edge of the phone for a minute.

Flip the phone face up, heat an iOpener, and apply it to the right edge of the phone for a minute.

Step 25

Slide an opening pick underneath the Lightning connector flex cable to loosen it from the logic board and the rear case.

Slide an opening pick underneath the Lightning connector flex cable to loosen it from the logic board and the rear case.

Step 26

Use the flat end of a spudger to loosen the rest of the Lightning connector assembly from the rear case.

Use the flat end of a spudger to loosen the rest of the Lightning connector assembly from the rear case.

Step 27

Angle the Lightning connector assembly and pull it out of its recess.
Remove the four metal washers and set them aside for reassembly.
Before reassembly, use the opening tool or the flat end of a spudger to remove all adhesive residue from the rear case. You can use high-concentration isopropyl alcohol to help with the stubborn spots.

Angle the Lightning connector assembly and pull it out of its recess.

Remove the four metal washers and set them aside for reassembly.

Before reassembly, use the opening tool or the flat end of a spudger to remove all adhesive residue from the rear case. You can use high-concentration isopropyl alcohol to help with the stubborn spots.

Step 28

Use tweezers to gently pull and remove the rubber microphone sleeve off of the microphone. Transfer the sleeve onto the replacement part.

Use tweezers to gently pull and remove the rubber microphone sleeve off of the microphone. Transfer the sleeve onto the replacement part.

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? Check out our iPhone 5 Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      509 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 15 other contributors

                    Arthur Shi

Member since: 01/03/2018

211,862 Reputation

                                      442 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       46







                                                        +43 more badges

Team

                       iFixit                        

                                                  Member of iFixit 



                    Community                     


                                            141 Members                     


                                            15,767 Guides authored

Adam Engst - Jan 3, 2014

Just a quick note that if you’re doing this teardown because your iPhone 5 isn’t charging unless you apply some force to the Lightning cable, the problem may simply be some lint or other crud in the Lightning port. Blow some compressed air in there before you disassemble your iPhone and see if it solves the problem - it did for me.

Abdul Ali - Jun 23, 2014

ifixed my i5 by cleaning the port too (was just about to buy the kit!). I found a paper clip done the job perfectly.

Cheers, Adam Engst.

Gary - Nov 5, 2014

Also found dirt was the only fault with a number of 5’s.

esleep - Jan 13, 2015

Well I bought the replacement first and then realized about the dirt. I removed the dirt and it is now working again. I guess after 2 years the thing accumulates quite a bit of dust.

Erin S - Jan 27, 2015

Introduction#

What you need#

Video Overview#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Team