Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

                          5 minutes

Sections

1

  • iPhone 5s/5c/SE Battery Adhesive Strips
  • 11 steps

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Introduction

Before you begin, you should have removed the battery by following a guide like the ones linked below. Note: iPhone 5 and earlier models do not use any adhesive strips.

  • iPhone 5s Battery ReplacementiPhone 5c Battery ReplacementiPhone SE Battery Replacement

If you need to replace the battery adhesive strips in a different model iPhone, use one of the following guides:

  • iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, and 7 Plus Battery Adhesive Strips ReplacementiPhone 8, 8 Plus, and XR Battery Adhesive Strips ReplacementiPhone X, XS, and XS Max Battery Adhesive Strips Replacement

What you need

Step 1

              iPhone 5s/5c/SE Battery Adhesive Strips
  • Before installing new adhesive strips, temporarily connect your new battery and check its alignment in the iPhone.
  • If everything looks good, disconnect the battery and remove it.

Before installing new adhesive strips, temporarily connect your new battery and check its alignment in the iPhone.

If everything looks good, disconnect the battery and remove it.

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Step 2

  • Peel off the large blue film liner and remove it from the adhesive strips completely.
  • Take care not to accidentally touch the adhesive strips after this step. The adhesive is good for one use. If it sticks to your finger or another surface accidentally, it must be discarded and replaced.
  • The blue film sometimes has a defect that prevents it from peeling off, and the strips have to be discarded and replaced.
  • If this happens to you and you got your strips from iFixit, contact us here and we’ll send you a replacement on the double.
  • In the meantime, you can temporarily reassemble your iPhone with a bit of double-sided tape to hold the battery.

Peel off the large blue film liner and remove it from the adhesive strips completely.

Take care not to accidentally touch the adhesive strips after this step. The adhesive is good for one use. If it sticks to your finger or another surface accidentally, it must be discarded and replaced.

The blue film sometimes has a defect that prevents it from peeling off, and the strips have to be discarded and replaced.

If this happens to you and you got your strips from iFixit, contact us here and we’ll send you a replacement on the double.

In the meantime, you can temporarily reassemble your iPhone with a bit of double-sided tape to hold the battery.

Step 3

  • With the exposed adhesive facing down, fold the black tab up at a 90° angle.

With the exposed adhesive facing down, fold the black tab up at a 90° angle.

Step 4

  • With the exposed adhesive facing down, carefully align the strips into your iPhone’s rear case.
  • Position the black tab very close to, but not quite touching, the black plastic speaker housing on the bottom right.
  • Set the adhesive strips into the rear case and allow them to stick.

With the exposed adhesive facing down, carefully align the strips into your iPhone’s rear case.

Position the black tab very close to, but not quite touching, the black plastic speaker housing on the bottom right.

Set the adhesive strips into the rear case and allow them to stick.

Step 5

  • Press down on each strip to fully adhere it to the rear case, starting from the middle and working outward towards each end.

Press down on each strip to fully adhere it to the rear case, starting from the middle and working outward towards each end.

Step 6

  • Peel away the large pink film liner and remove it completely.

Peel away the large pink film liner and remove it completely.

Step 7

  • Without sticking the battery down, lower its connector into the iPhone and align it to its socket on the logic board.
  • Connect the battery.

Without sticking the battery down, lower its connector into the iPhone and align it to its socket on the logic board.

Connect the battery.

Step 8

  • Once the battery sticks, you can’t reposition or remove it without destroying the adhesive strips and starting over.
  • Carefully position the battery and set it into the iPhone.
  • Leave a small gap (about 2 mm) between the lower edge of the battery and the speaker. This will make it easier to fold down the black tab in a later step.

Once the battery sticks, you can’t reposition or remove it without destroying the adhesive strips and starting over.

Carefully position the battery and set it into the iPhone.

Leave a small gap (about 2 mm) between the lower edge of the battery and the speaker. This will make it easier to fold down the black tab in a later step.

Step 9

  • Press the battery firmly into place.

Press the battery firmly into place.

Step 10

  • Use the flat end of your spudger or blunt tweezers to fold the black tab downward, tucking it between the lower edge of the battery and the components lining the bottom edge of the iPhone.
  • Be extremely careful not to poke the battery with any sharp tools during this step. Accidentally puncturing a lithium-ion battery can cause a dangerous fire.

Use the flat end of your spudger or blunt tweezers to fold the black tab downward, tucking it between the lower edge of the battery and the components lining the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Be extremely careful not to poke the battery with any sharp tools during this step. Accidentally puncturing a lithium-ion battery can cause a dangerous fire.

Step 11

  • Be sure to disconnect the battery again before reassembling your iPhone.
  • Working on your phone with the battery connected can destroy sensitive components.

Be sure to disconnect the battery again before reassembling your iPhone.

Working on your phone with the battery connected can destroy sensitive components.

To reassemble your iPhone, return to the guide you used to remove the battery and follow the steps in reverse order.

Remember to take your old battery to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

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                    Jeff Suovanen

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domarius - Jun 6, 2018

Reply

Call me crazy, but can’t I just use a thin strip of blu-tack?

Jeff Suovanen - Jun 11, 2018

Maybe, but the adhesive strips are designed to be very strong and very thin, and reasonably heat-resistant. This keeps the battery secure even if you shake the phone (or take it jogging), and it won’t come loose if the phone gets hot. The thin profile also means the battery has room to expand slightly without contacting or putting pressure on the display. Considering how cheap the strips are vs. the cost of the expensive phone you are repairing, I tend to err in favor of putting it back together the way it’s designed. But, your phone, your choice!

Curtis Potter - Jul 3, 2018

Reply

All worked well except removing one of the adhesive strips. I used a “Bed Buddy” microwavable heat pack to warm the phone as directed and it worked fine. So far I’m pleased. Now comes the re-assembly challenge.

Ze Bra - Mar 18, 2019

Reply

Use this iFixit video guide for applying the adhesive instead IMO—many people will tell you to apply it to the battery itself instead of the bottom of the case:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xthi6DOx…

At least you have options now. :)