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iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a cracked or broken screen in an iPhone 5.

This guide includes removing the front-facing camera, LCD shield plate, earpiece speaker, and home button assembly—all of which should be transferred to your new display. If your replacement part contains all those components, follow this much shorter guide.

You can also use this guide to replace the front panel assembly cable bracket.

Need a guide for the [invalid guide link] instead? We got you covered!

What you need

Video Overview

  1. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, Front Panel: step 1, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, Front Panel: step 1, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, Front Panel: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

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  2. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

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  3. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

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  4. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, iSclack Opening Procedure: step 4, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, iSclack Opening Procedure: step 4, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement, iSclack Opening Procedure: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • The next two steps demonstrate using the , 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 [invalid guide link].

    • 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.

    Edit

  5. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • 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 [invalid guide link].

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  6. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

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  7. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • 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 display assembly is a much tighter fit than most devices.

    • With a plastic opening tool, begin to gently pry the rear case down, away from the display assembly, 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.

    Edit

  8. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 1

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

    Edit

  9. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

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  10. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • 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

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  12. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

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  13. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

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

    • Be very careful to only pry up on the battery connector and not the socket on the logic board. If you pry up on the logic board socket, you may break the connector entirely.

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  14. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • 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.

    Edit

  15. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  16. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Use a plastic opening tool 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 [invalid guide link].

    Edit

  17. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

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  18. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Remove two screws securing the front-facing camera bracket to the display assembly.

    • One 4.1 mm Phillips screw

    • One 2.2 mm Phillips screw

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  19. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the earpiece speaker bracket from the display assembly.

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  20. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the earpiece speaker from the iPhone.

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  21. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • There is a small, black plastic spacer underneath the metal bracket at the upper screw. The upper screw goes through the metal bracket then through this plastic spacer.

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  22. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Starting under the earpiece speaker contacts, use a plastic opening tool or the tip of a spudger to pry the front facing camera cable out of the display assembly.

    • Caution: Removing the earpiece speaker contacts can cause them to tear. Use extreme caution when peeling the contacts up.

    Edit

  23. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the front-facing camera and rear microphone assembly.

    • If you are installing a new part, your new part may have two tabs with holes in it used for manufacturing purposes. These tabs can be cut off with scissors.

    • There is a small, square plastic and metal holder for the proximity sensor. This holder is essential for the proximity sensor to function correctly.

    • If replacing the proximity sensor or camera make sure that the holder remains adhered to the back of the display. If it comes off with the old proximity sensor, remove it from the old sensor and use a tiny bit of adhesive to re-attach it to the back of the display.

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  24. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the home button bracket to the display assembly.

    • NOTE: When reinstalling the two 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screws, take care not to over tighten them as they can penetrate the other side of the display.

    Edit

  25. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the edge of the home button ribbon cable up from the display assembly.

    • Start on the right, at the area of the ribbon cable between the gold contact points, and work to the left.

    • Going left to right may rip your ribbon cable as the contacts are well adhered to the front panel.

    • Prying directly at one gold contact point or the other may break its soldering and pop it off the ribbon cable.

    • If you have trouble sliding the plastic opening tool under the contact points, flip the tool over and gently push against the right side of the contacts to loosen the adhesive, then try again.

    Edit

  26. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 2

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the home button up from the display assembly.

    Edit

  27. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the home button from the display assembly.

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  28. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Remove two 1.2 mm Phillips screws from each side of the LCD frame (four total).

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  29. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two screws securing the LCD shield plate to the display assembly:

    • One 1.4 mm Phillips screw

    • One 2.6 mm Phillips screw

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  30. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 29, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 29, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the LCD shield plate from the display assembly.

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  31. iPhone 5 Front Panel Replacement: step 30, image 1 of 1

    • The bare display assembly remains.

    • For reassembly, make sure to transfer over the LCD shield, home button, front facing camera assembly, front facing camera lens bezel and earpiece speaker to your new part.

    • If the replacement screen seems to not fit in the original frame, do not put too much force on the screen, or the glass might crack. Instead, try inserting the screen at a 30° angle, starting at the top. The aim here is to get the three plastic brackets under the metal frame of the phone and move with slight pressure from the sides to the bottom.

    • Make sure to remove the protective cover from your new display assembly as well as the protective cover on the back of the LCD.

    • Note: When reassembled, the screen may not turn on. Try fixing this by plugging your phone in, and holding down the power and home buttons at the same time for 20 seconds.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

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Member since: 09/24/09

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