Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

28

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

6

  • Pentalobe Screws
  • 1 step
  • iPhone 7 Opening Procedure
  • 10 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 3 steps
  • Display Assembly
  • 4 steps
  • Earpiece Speaker
  • 5 steps
  • Front Camera and Sensor Cable
  • 5 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              Pentalobe Screws
  • Before you begin, 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 3.4 mm pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone.
  • Opening the iPhone’s display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Before you begin, 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 3.4 mm pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Opening the iPhone’s display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

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Step 2

              iPhone 7 Opening Procedure
  • Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
  • Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 3

  • Attach a suction cup to the lower half of the display assembly, just above the home button.
  • Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.
  • 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.

Attach a suction cup to the lower half of the display assembly, just above the home button.

Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.

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 to create a small gap between the display assembly and the rear case.
  • Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap.
  • The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong, and creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you can fit a spudger inside.

Pull up on the suction cup to create a small gap between the display assembly and the rear case.

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap.

The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong, and creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you can fit a spudger inside.

Step 5

  • Slide the spudger to the left along the lower edge of the iPhone.
  • Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the display and rear case.

Slide the spudger to the left along the lower edge of the iPhone.

Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the display and rear case.

Step 6

  • Slide the spudger up the left side of the iPhone, starting at the lower edge and moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch.
  • Do not pry along the top edge of the phone, you risk damaging the plastic clips securing the display.

Slide the spudger up the left side of the iPhone, starting at the lower edge and moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch.

Do not pry along the top edge of the phone, you risk damaging the plastic clips securing the display.

Step 7

  • Insert the flat edge of a spudger into the bottom right corner of the device.
  • Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the display assembly and the rear case.
  • Slide the flat end of the spudger up the right side of the phone to break up the adhesive holding the display in place.
  • Do not insert the spudger further than the adhesive to avoid damaging delicate ribbon cables along the right edge.

Insert the flat edge of a spudger into the bottom right corner of the device.

Twist the spudger to widen the gap between the display assembly and the rear case.

Slide the flat end of the spudger up the right side of the phone to break up the adhesive holding the display in place.

Do not insert the spudger further than the adhesive to avoid damaging delicate ribbon cables along the right edge.

Step 8

  • Pull up on the suction cup to lift up the display and open the iPhone.
  • Do not raise the display more than 10º as there are ribbon cables along the right edge of the device connecting the display to the logic board.

Pull up on the suction cup to lift up the display and open the iPhone.

Do not raise the display more than 10º as there are ribbon cables along the right edge of the device connecting the display to the logic board.

Step 9

  • Pull up on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Pull up on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Step 10

  • Slide an opening pick along the top edge of the iPhone, between the rear case and front panel, to break up the remaining adhesive holding the screen in place.
  • Be careful not to damage the plastic clips on the top edge of the phone.

Slide an opening pick along the top edge of the iPhone, between the rear case and front panel, to break up the remaining adhesive holding the screen in place.

Be careful not to damage the plastic clips on the top edge of the phone.

Step 11

  • Pull the display assembly slightly away from the top edge of the phone to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.
  • Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.
  • Don’t try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone’s logic board.

Pull the display assembly slightly away from the top edge of the phone to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

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

Step 12

              Battery Disconnection
  • Remove four tri-point Y000 screws securing the lower connector bracket, of the following lengths:
  • Three 1.2 mm screws
  • One 2.4 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 four tri-point Y000 screws securing the lower connector bracket, of the following lengths:

Three 1.2 mm screws

One 2.4 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 13

  • Remove the lower connector bracket.

Remove the lower connector bracket.

Step 14

  • Use the point of a spudger to lift the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.
  • Bend the connector cable up slightly to prevent it from making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone.

Use the point of a spudger to lift the battery connector out of its socket on the logic board.

Bend the connector cable up slightly to prevent it from making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone.

Step 15

              Display Assembly
  • Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cables in this step.
  • Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the two lower display connectors by prying them straight up from their sockets on the logic board.
  • To reconnect these cables, press down on one end until it clicks into place, then repeat on the opposite end. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.
  • If you have a blank screen, white lines on the display, or partial or complete lack of touch response after reassembling your phone, try disconnecting and carefully reconnecting both of these cables and make sure they are fully seated.

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

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the two lower display connectors by prying them straight up from their sockets on the logic board.

To reconnect these cables, press down on one end until it clicks into place, then repeat on the opposite end. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.

If you have a blank screen, white lines on the display, or partial or complete lack of touch response after reassembling your phone, try disconnecting and carefully reconnecting both of these cables and make sure they are fully seated.

Step 16

  • Remove the two 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector.
  • Some phones could be Y000. Apple started using Y000 for these at some point in the middle of the product’s lifecycle.

Remove the two 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector.

Some phones could be Y000. Apple started using Y000 for these at some point in the middle of the product’s lifecycle.

Step 17

  • Disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector from its socket on the logic board.
  • This press connector should also be reconnected one end at a time to minimize the risk of bending.

Disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector from its socket on the logic board.

This press connector should also be reconnected one end at a time to minimize the risk of bending.

Step 18

  • 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 19

              Earpiece Speaker
  • Remove the three Phillips screws securing the earpiece bracket to the front panel:
  • Two 2.6 mm screws
  • One 1.7 mm screw

Remove the three Phillips screws securing the earpiece bracket to the front panel:

Two 2.6 mm screws

One 1.7 mm screw

Step 20

  • Remove the earpiece speaker bracket.

Remove the earpiece speaker bracket.

Step 21

  • Lift the front facing camera out of the way to access the earpiece speaker.

Lift the front facing camera out of the way to access the earpiece speaker.

Step 22

  • Remove the two Phillips screws securing the earpiece speaker to the front panel:
  • One 1.9 mm screw
  • One 2.5 mm screw

Remove the two Phillips screws securing the earpiece speaker to the front panel:

One 1.9 mm screw

One 2.5 mm screw

Step 23

  • Remove the earpiece speaker.

Remove the earpiece speaker.

Step 24

              Front Camera and Sensor Cable
  • Reheat your iOpener and apply it to the upper edge of the display assembly to soften the adhesive holding the front camera and sensor assembly in place.
  • Wait about two minutes before moving on to the next step to adequately soften the adhesive.

Reheat your iOpener and apply it to the upper edge of the display assembly to soften the adhesive holding the front camera and sensor assembly in place.

Wait about two minutes before moving on to the next step to adequately soften the adhesive.

Step 25

  • Use a spudger to gently pry the ambient light sensor out of its recess on the front panel.
  • Try to get your tool all the way under the sensor to pry it away from the clear plastic beneath. If you pry only against the cable, the sensor may separate from the cable assembly and will need replacement. If you’re replacing the sensor/cable assembly anyway, then it doesn’t matter.

Use a spudger to gently pry the ambient light sensor out of its recess on the front panel.

Try to get your tool all the way under the sensor to pry it away from the clear plastic beneath. If you pry only against the cable, the sensor may separate from the cable assembly and will need replacement. If you’re replacing the sensor/cable assembly anyway, then it doesn’t matter.

Step 26

  • Slide the pick towards the front facing camera housing, separating the adhesive holding the cable to the front panel. Stop just before the screw posts.

Slide the pick towards the front facing camera housing, separating the adhesive holding the cable to the front panel. Stop just before the screw posts.

Step 27

  • Use the pick to lift the camera cable up off of the two plastic posts on the front panel and separate it from the last of the adhesive.

Use the pick to lift the camera cable up off of the two plastic posts on the front panel and separate it from the last of the adhesive.

Step 28

  • Remove the front camera and sensor cable.

Remove the front camera and sensor cable.

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

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                    Evan Noronha

Member since: 02/05/2015

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Mike McCleery - Jun 21, 2017

Reply

Question ….. I have a clear square plastic piece (open in the center) with a tab on one side. What is that for?

Edward L Johnson III - Jun 26, 2017

Holds the lens in place.

Brandon Neves - Sep 13, 2017

No that is for the ambient light sensor. LCD replacements come with it already installed on em’, so you can toss it if you see it on the replacement already. The larger, circular plastic piece is for the lens.

Saleka Chang - Jan 31, 2018

Reply

Does the iPhone 7 plus Front Camera and Sensor Cable Replacement has to do anything with the earpieces speaker? i have replace my iphone 7 plus screen and front camera and sensor cable replacement and speaker and it still doesn’t work. what could really be wrong with my iphone 7 plus?

Cynthia Hollingsworth - Mar 4, 2018

Reply

Awesome tutorial, thank you! I couldn’t have replaced my camera without this! Well I could have but not the right way!!