Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

19

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

2

  • Opening Procedure
  • 14 steps
  • Battery
  • 5 steps

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0

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Introduction

For your safety, discharge your existing battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair.

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

What you need

Step 1

              Opening Procedure
  • Apply a heated iOpener to the lower glass panel on the back of the phone for five minutes.
  • The panel is extremely stubborn, and you may need to reheat and reapply the iOpener several times to get the panel warm enough. Follow the iOpener instructions to avoid overheating.
  • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

Apply a heated iOpener to the lower glass panel on the back of the phone for five minutes.

The panel is extremely stubborn, and you may need to reheat and reapply the iOpener several times to get the panel warm enough. Follow the iOpener instructions to avoid overheating.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

1024

Step 2

  • Insert an opening pick into the small gap between the rear case and the glass panel.
  • The gap between the panel and the frame is very tight, so it may help to rock or slide the pick back and forth as you push it down into the gap. Alternatively, you can use a thin blade or metal pry tool to lift the panel before prying the rest of the way with a pick, but work slowly and gently to avoid damaging the glass.
  • If you’re having trouble inserting your pick, go back a step and heat the panel further. Loosening the panel requires significant heat, but avoid heating the middle of the phone where the battery is.
  • A few drops of high-concentration (at least 90%) isopropyl alcohol applied to the edges of the panel may help to loosen the adhesive as well.
  • Do not pry over the charging port. It is framed with plastic that can be damaged when prying.
  • With tip of the pick under the glass panel, carefully pry upward to slightly separate the rear case and the panel.

Insert an opening pick into the small gap between the rear case and the glass panel.

The gap between the panel and the frame is very tight, so it may help to rock or slide the pick back and forth as you push it down into the gap. Alternatively, you can use a thin blade or metal pry tool to lift the panel before prying the rest of the way with a pick, but work slowly and gently to avoid damaging the glass.

If you’re having trouble inserting your pick, go back a step and heat the panel further. Loosening the panel requires significant heat, but avoid heating the middle of the phone where the battery is.

A few drops of high-concentration (at least 90%) isopropyl alcohol applied to the edges of the panel may help to loosen the adhesive as well.

Do not pry over the charging port. It is framed with plastic that can be damaged when prying.

With tip of the pick under the glass panel, carefully pry upward to slightly separate the rear case and the panel.

Step 3

  • Slide the pick in between the panel and the rear case.
  • Slide the pick across the length of the panel to slice the adhesive holding it to the rear case.

Slide the pick in between the panel and the rear case.

Slide the pick across the length of the panel to slice the adhesive holding it to the rear case.

Step 4

  • Use the opening pick to carefully pry up the glass panel.
  • Remove the glass panel.

Use the opening pick to carefully pry up the glass panel.

Remove the glass panel.

Step 5

  • Repeat the previous four heating and removal steps for the upper glass panel.
  • During reassembly, remove leftover adhesive from the panels and the rear case. Then clean those areas with high concentration isopropyl alcohol (greater than 90%) and a lint-free cloth. This will ensure proper adhesion of the panels.
  • Reinstall the panels using a pre-cut adhesive strip or double-sided tape.

Repeat the previous four heating and removal steps for the upper glass panel.

During reassembly, remove leftover adhesive from the panels and the rear case. Then clean those areas with high concentration isopropyl alcohol (greater than 90%) and a lint-free cloth. This will ensure proper adhesion of the panels.

Reinstall the panels using a pre-cut adhesive strip or double-sided tape.

Step 6

  • Remove the six 4 mm T3 Torx screws securing the display assembly.

Remove the six 4 mm T3 Torx screws securing the display assembly.

Step 7

  • Insert the point of a spudger into the hole in the bottom right corner of the rear case.
  • Press the spudger into the hole to separate the display from the rear case.

Insert the point of a spudger into the hole in the bottom right corner of the rear case.

Press the spudger into the hole to separate the display from the rear case.

Step 8

  • Use a finger to maintain separation between the display assembly and the rear case while you remove the spudger.
  • Reinsert the flat end of the spudger in the gap between the display assembly and the rear case.

Use a finger to maintain separation between the display assembly and the rear case while you remove the spudger.

Reinsert the flat end of the spudger in the gap between the display assembly and the rear case.

Step 9

  • Slide the spudger along the side of the phone until you get to the clip securing the display to the rear case.
  • With the spudger right next to the clip, carefully twist the spudger to pry the display away from the rear case and release the clip.

Slide the spudger along the side of the phone until you get to the clip securing the display to the rear case.

With the spudger right next to the clip, carefully twist the spudger to pry the display away from the rear case and release the clip.

Step 10

  • Repeat the separation and prying process for the other side of the phone.
  • There is one clip on each side of the phone—make sure both are free before you continue.
  • Be careful not to separate the bottom edge of the display more than 0.5 inches (13 mm) from the rear case. The display cable is still connected and can be damaged if the bottom of the phone is opened too far.

Repeat the separation and prying process for the other side of the phone.

There is one clip on each side of the phone—make sure both are free before you continue.

Be careful not to separate the bottom edge of the display more than 0.5 inches (13 mm) from the rear case. The display cable is still connected and can be damaged if the bottom of the phone is opened too far.

Step 11

  • Tilt the top right corner of the display down to disengage one of the tabs that secure the top of the display.
  • Tilt the other corner down next, to disengage the other tab.
  • The display cable is still connected and can be damaged by too much display movement. Tilt the display carefully and stop if you encounter significant resistance.

Tilt the top right corner of the display down to disengage one of the tabs that secure the top of the display.

Tilt the other corner down next, to disengage the other tab.

The display cable is still connected and can be damaged by too much display movement. Tilt the display carefully and stop if you encounter significant resistance.

Step 12

  • Lift the right edge of the display to hinge the phone open like a book, no more than 45°.
  • Gently lift the display enough to clear the clip from the edge of the rear case, maintaining the 45º angle.
  • Rest the display on the table behind the phone and open to 90º to allow access to the display cable.

Lift the right edge of the display to hinge the phone open like a book, no more than 45°.

Gently lift the display enough to clear the clip from the edge of the rear case, maintaining the 45º angle.

Rest the display on the table behind the phone and open to 90º to allow access to the display cable.

Step 13

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the display cable connector up out of its socket.
  • Only pry up on the display connector itself and not the socket on the motherboard.
  • At this point during reassembly after the display is connected, turn the phone on and verify that the display functions correctly. If it does, turn the phone off and proceed with reassembly.
  • If it does not work, check that everything is assembled correctly and the connectors are clean. For further troubleshooting, visit our Answers Forum.

Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the display cable connector up out of its socket.

Only pry up on the display connector itself and not the socket on the motherboard.

At this point during reassembly after the display is connected, turn the phone on and verify that the display functions correctly. If it does, turn the phone off and proceed with reassembly.

If it does not work, check that everything is assembled correctly and the connectors are clean. For further troubleshooting, visit our Answers Forum.

Step 14

  • Remove the display.
  • During reassembly, if you wish to replace the display adhesive strips, first use a spudger to scrape away all the old adhesive, and clean the adhesion area with some high-concentration (at least 90%) isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth.
  • Apply a thin, high-bond tape, like 1 mm Tesa 61395, or a strip from a precut adhesive card, where the old adhesive was.
  • If you’re installing a new display assembly, note where the adhesive is on the original assembly and apply adhesive in the same places on the new assembly.

Remove the display.

During reassembly, if you wish to replace the display adhesive strips, first use a spudger to scrape away all the old adhesive, and clean the adhesion area with some high-concentration (at least 90%) isopropyl alcohol on a lint-free cloth.

Apply a thin, high-bond tape, like 1 mm Tesa 61395, or a strip from a precut adhesive card, where the old adhesive was.

If you’re installing a new display assembly, note where the adhesive is on the original assembly and apply adhesive in the same places on the new assembly.

Step 15

              Battery
  • Use tweezers to peel the black tape on the top of the battery up from the motherboard EMI shielding.
  • Applying a little heat to the tape before lifting it can help loosen its adhesive.
  • If your replacement battery does not come with this tape, note its position and transfer it to the replacement.

Use tweezers to peel the black tape on the top of the battery up from the motherboard EMI shielding.

Applying a little heat to the tape before lifting it can help loosen its adhesive.

If your replacement battery does not come with this tape, note its position and transfer it to the replacement.

Step 16

  • In the following steps you will only lift the battery, do not completely remove it—it’s still connected to the motherboard.
  • Use tweezers to gently peel the battery pull tab up enough to grab.
  • Use your fingers to grip the battery pull tab and lift the battery up from the phone.
  • If the battery is hard to remove, applying a small amount of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol or adhesive remover under the battery may help.
  • If the pull tab breaks, use the flat end of a spudger or an old credit card to pry up carefully on the edges of the battery until it comes loose.
  • The battery can catch fire and/or explode if damaged so be extremely careful.
  • Never reinstall a damaged or deformed battery. Replace the battery.

In the following steps you will only lift the battery, do not completely remove it—it’s still connected to the motherboard.

Use tweezers to gently peel the battery pull tab up enough to grab.

Use your fingers to grip the battery pull tab and lift the battery up from the phone.

If the battery is hard to remove, applying a small amount of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol or adhesive remover under the battery may help.

If the pull tab breaks, use the flat end of a spudger or an old credit card to pry up carefully on the edges of the battery until it comes loose.

The battery can catch fire and/or explode if damaged so be extremely careful.

Never reinstall a damaged or deformed battery. Replace the battery.

Step 17

  • Fold the battery up to reveal the battery connector cover.
  • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and remove the plastic cover from the battery connector.

Fold the battery up to reveal the battery connector cover.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and remove the plastic cover from the battery connector.

Step 18

  • Use the tip of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the motherboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to lift the battery connector up out of its socket on the motherboard.

Step 19

  • Remove the battery.
  • Before installing your replacement, remove any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the glued areas with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
  • Use a few strips of precut adhesive, or other thin double-sided adhesive tape to secure the new battery.

Remove the battery.

Before installing your replacement, remove any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the glued areas with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

Use a few strips of precut adhesive, or other thin double-sided adhesive tape to secure the new battery.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

After completing this guide, calibrate your newly-installed battery.

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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                                                                                      40 other people completed this guide.

Author

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                    Adam O'Camb

Member since: 04/11/2015

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bennettr8 - Oct 14, 2018

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greg samerson - Oct 31, 2018

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You mention discharging the battery below 25%, but my battery is at the point where it shuts off within 30 seconds if it isn’t plugged into a power source. The charge percentage on my phone always hovers just below 100% if plugged in, but if I unplug it and try to turn it on several times without an adequate power source that percentage can vary wildly. Should I just assume at this point that if it isn’t plugged in and has shut off on its own, it’s discharged?

Adam O’Camb - Nov 1, 2018

Hi Greg, if the phone shuts off on its own, it’s usually safe to assume the battery is drained below 25%. It sounds like there’s a problem with the control board on your battery causing a faulty capacity reading. As always, be careful not to bend or puncture the battery. Discharging the battery is a precaution to prevent a thermal event if the battery is punctured, but the best safety measure you can take is to just handle the battery carefully. Good luck on your repair!

Ian Unger - Nov 12, 2018

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Only issue I ran into, and no fault of the author, was the little glass top panel. Cracked it to oblivion with one slip. But ebay has replacements for $9 for the set, so can’t complain. The rest of the description was FANTASTIC and got me through the installation with no problem. Took and hour total. Thank you!

LARRY FLETCHER - Jan 13, 2019

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