Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

28

Time Required

                          25 - 40 minutes

Sections

5

  • Pentalobe Screws
  • 1 step
  • Opening Procedure
  • 11 steps
  • Battery Connector
  • 4 steps
  • Front Panel Assembly
  • 6 steps
  • Home Button Assembly
  • 6 steps

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Introduction

Please note that only the phone’s original home button assembly will be capable of using the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Installing a new home button will only restore ordinary home button functions, not the Touch ID features.

You can also use this guide to replace the home button bracket.

What you need

Step 1

              Pentalobe Screws
  • Before disassembling your iPhone, discharge the 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 3.4 mm P2 Pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone, next to the Lightning connector.

Before disassembling your iPhone, discharge the 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 3.4 mm P2 Pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone, next to the Lightning connector.

1024

Step 2

              Opening Procedure
  • Optionally, apply mild heat to the lower edge of the iPhone using an iOpener or hair dryer for about a minute.
  • Heat softens the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

Optionally, apply mild heat to the lower edge of the iPhone using an iOpener or hair dryer for about a minute.

Heat softens the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

Step 3

  • Opening the display on the 6s separates a thin strip of adhesive around the perimeter of the display. If you prefer to replace the adhesive, have a set of new adhesive strips ready before you continue. It’s possible to complete the repair without replacing the adhesive, and you probably won’t notice any difference in functionality.
  • Apply a suction cup to the lower left corner of the display assembly.
  • Take care not to place the suction cup over the home button.
  • If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Opening the display on the 6s separates a thin strip of adhesive around the perimeter of the display. If you prefer to replace the adhesive, have a set of new adhesive strips ready before you continue. It’s possible to complete the repair without replacing the adhesive, and you probably won’t notice any difference in functionality.

Apply a suction cup to the lower left corner of the display assembly.

Take care not to place the suction cup over the home button.

If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 4

  • Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
  • Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The display assembly is a much tighter fit than most devices and is held down with adhesive.
  • Pulling too hard may damage the display assembly. Apply just enough pressure to create a small gap between the display assembly and the rear case.
  • If you have any trouble, heat the front of the iPhone using an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun until it’s slightly too hot to touch. This will help soften the adhesive securing the edges of the display.

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

Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The display assembly is a much tighter fit than most devices and is held down with adhesive.

Pulling too hard may damage the display assembly. Apply just enough pressure to create a small gap between the display assembly and the rear case.

If you have any trouble, heat the front of the iPhone using an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun until it’s slightly too hot to touch. This will help soften the adhesive securing the edges of the display.

Step 5

  • There is a notch on the underside of the display, just above the headphone jack. This is the safest place to begin prying the phone open.
  • Place the flat edge of a spudger into the gap between the screen and rear case, directly above the headphone jack.

There is a notch on the underside of the display, just above the headphone jack. This is the safest place to begin prying the phone open.

Place the flat edge of a spudger into the gap between the screen and rear case, directly above the headphone jack.

Step 6

  • Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the front panel assembly and the rest of the phone.

Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the front panel assembly and the rest of the phone.

Step 7

  • Insert the flat end of the spudger on the left side of the phone, between the display assembly and rear case.
  • Slide the spudger up the side of the phone to separate the adhesive and pop the clips free.

Insert the flat end of the spudger on the left side of the phone, between the display assembly and rear case.

Slide the spudger up the side of the phone to separate the adhesive and pop the clips free.

Step 8

  • Remove the spudger and reinsert it on the bottom edge, where you pried the phone open.
  • Slide the spudger to the right, along the bottom edge of the phone.

Remove the spudger and reinsert it on the bottom edge, where you pried the phone open.

Slide the spudger to the right, along the bottom edge of the phone.

Step 9

  • Slide the spudger up the right side to continue separating the adhesive and popping the display clips free from the iPhone.

Slide the spudger up the right side to continue separating the adhesive and popping the display clips free from the iPhone.

Step 10

  • Use the suction cup to open the display, breaking the last of the adhesive.
  • Don’t open the display more than 90º, as it is still connected at the top by three cables that may break if stretched.

Use the suction cup to open the display, breaking the last of the adhesive.

Don’t open the display more than 90º, as it is still connected at the top by three cables that may break if stretched.

Step 11

  • Pull up on the nub on the top side of the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Pull up on the nub on the top side of the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Step 12

  • Gently grasp the display assembly and lift it up to open the phone, using the clips at the top of the front panel as a hinge.
  • 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.
  • In a pinch, you can use an unopened canned beverage to hold the display.

Gently grasp the display assembly and lift it up to open the phone, using the clips at the top of the front panel as a hinge.

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.

In a pinch, you can use an unopened canned beverage to hold the display.

Step 13

              Battery Connector
  • Remove two Phillips screws securing the battery connector bracket, of the following lengths:
  • One 2.9 mm screw
  • One 2.2 mm 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.

Remove two Phillips screws securing the battery connector bracket, of the following lengths:

One 2.9 mm screw

One 2.2 mm 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.

Step 14

  • Remove the battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

Remove the battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

Step 15

  • Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the battery connector by prying it straight up from the logic board.

Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the battery connector by prying it straight up from the logic board.

Step 16

  • Push the battery connector away from the logic board until it stays separated from its socket, so as to avoid any accidental connection to the battery while you work.

Push the battery connector away from the logic board until it stays separated from its socket, so as to avoid any accidental connection to the battery while you work.

Step 17

              Front Panel Assembly
  • Remove the following four Phillips screws securing the display cable bracket:
  • Three 1.2 mm screws
  • One 2.8 mm screw

Remove the following four Phillips screws securing the display cable bracket:

Three 1.2 mm screws

One 2.8 mm screw

Step 18

  • Remove the display cable bracket.

Remove the display cable bracket.

Step 19

  • Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to disconnect the front camera flex cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.

Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to disconnect the front camera flex cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.

Step 20

  • Disconnect the digitizer cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.
  • When reconnecting the digitizer cable, do not press the center of the connector. Press one end of the connector, then press the opposite end. Pressing in the center of the connector can bend the component and cause digitizer damage.

Disconnect the digitizer cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.

When reconnecting the digitizer cable, do not press the center of the connector. Press one end of the connector, then press the opposite end. Pressing in the center of the connector can bend the component and cause digitizer damage.

Step 21

  • Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cable in this step.
  • Disconnect the display cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.

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

Disconnect the display cable by prying it straight up from its socket on the logic board.

Step 22

  • Remove the display assembly.
  • During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Remove the display assembly.

During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Step 23

              Home Button Assembly
  • Remove the three 1.7 mm Phillips screws securing the home button bracket.
  • Do not over-tighten these screws as these can damage the front of the display.

Remove the three 1.7 mm Phillips screws securing the home button bracket.

Do not over-tighten these screws as these can damage the front of the display.

Step 24

  • Lift the lower edge of the home button bracket until it clears the small peg on the right side.
  • Slide the bracket out from under the EMI shield to remove it.

Lift the lower edge of the home button bracket until it clears the small peg on the right side.

Slide the bracket out from under the EMI shield to remove it.

Step 25

  • Use a spudger to disconnect the home button connector by popping it out of its socket on the back of the display panel.

Use a spudger to disconnect the home button connector by popping it out of its socket on the back of the display panel.

Step 26

  • The rubber gasket surrounding the home button is very thin and tears easily.
  • Apply mild heat (with an iOpener, heat gun, or hair dryer) to soften the adhesive securing the home button gasket.
  • Using your fingertip, gently press up on the home button from the front side of the display assembly. Use firm, constant pressure to slowly separate the home button’s rubber gasket from the front panel.

The rubber gasket surrounding the home button is very thin and tears easily.

Apply mild heat (with an iOpener, heat gun, or hair dryer) to soften the adhesive securing the home button gasket.

Using your fingertip, gently press up on the home button from the front side of the display assembly. Use firm, constant pressure to slowly separate the home button’s rubber gasket from the front panel.

Step 27

  • Use the pointed tip of a spudger to carefully separate the home button flex cable from the back of the display panel.

Use the pointed tip of a spudger to carefully separate the home button flex cable from the back of the display panel.

Step 28

  • Remove the home button assembly.

Remove the home button assembly.

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

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                    Evan Noronha

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calvingeishirt - Jul 19, 2016

Reply

So… how does this work as far as error 53 goes? I’m currently on ios 9.2, and cracked my home button. It still works, but it bothers me that it’s cracked, however I don’t really want to brick my phone in the process. Do I need to be on 9.3 before I replace the home button? Or does it not matter anymore? I’m kinda lost as far as that goes. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

-Calvin

Tyler Fish - Sep 1, 2016

Reply

So my home button no longer works at all. I’m thinking the problem could be that I replaced my white screen (and home button) with a black screen from ifixit. Everything worked but the home button. Looks silly having a white home button on a black screen but its whatever. It no longer works though. The piece that was glued to the screen that the home button snaps into came unglued too? If that would do anything.. idk.. Any help would be appreciated. I assembled it back the way it was supposed to.

Pedro Rivera - Sep 17, 2016

I have same issue. Replace screen from ifixit. And of course swap my home button and now unable to activate touch id. There is something fishy going on here

Michael Jakuszewski - Aug 29, 2020

Where you able to figure out how to fix that issue? I just did it and not longer works.

stolijm - Nov 10, 2016

Reply

so I broke my home button when replacing a cracked glass. installed a new button now the ID touch dont work,. what is the fix?