Phone · Apple · iPhone 12 Pro Max
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Face ID Repair
Face ID Repair guide for the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
Before you begin
Tools
- P2 Pentalobe screwdriver
- Y000 Tri-point screwdriver
- Phillips #000 screwdriver
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic prying tools
- Spudger tool
- Tweezers
- Heat gun or hair dryer
Parts / materials
- Replacement Face ID sensor flex cable
- Display perimeter adhesive strip
- Isopropyl alcohol (99%)
Safety
- Always disconnect the battery before handling internal display connectors to prevent electrical short circuits.
- Handle the TrueDepth camera and flood illuminator modules with extreme care, as physical damage will permanently disable Face ID function.
- Wear safety glasses while working near heating tools and glass panels.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the iPhone
1 minPress and hold the side button and volume down button until the power slider appears. Drag the slider to power down the device completely.
- 2
Remove bottom Pentalobe screws
2 minUse a P2 Pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 6.7 mm screws on either side of the Lightning charging port.
- 3
Heat the display edge
2 minApply a heat gun or hair dryer on low setting to the lower edge of the iPhone screen for two minutes to soften the display adhesive.
- 4
Attach suction cup
1 minPlace a suction cup on the lower third of the glass panel, just above the bottom edge.
- 5
Slice display adhesive
4 minPull up on the suction cup to create a small gap, then insert an opening pick and slice through the adhesive around the edges.
- 6
Open display panel
2 minSwing the screen open gently from the right side like a book cover, taking care not to pull on internal flex cables.
- 7
Unscrew battery bracket
2 minUse a Y000 tri-point screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the lower battery connector cover plate.
- 8
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minUse the flat end of a spudger to pop the battery connector straight up from its socket on the logic board.
- 9
Unscrew display connector cover
2 minRemove the four Y000 screws holding down the upper logic board cover bracket.
- 10
Disconnect display cables
2 minUse a spudger to disconnect the OLED screen cable and touch digitizer cable from the logic board.
- 11
Disconnect sensor assembly cable
2 minUnplug the front sensor assembly flex cable from the logic board to fully detach the screen assembly.
- 12
Unscrew earpiece speaker module
3 minRemove the four Phillips and Tri-point screws securing the earpiece speaker assembly to the top of the display.
- 13
Flip upper speaker assembly
1 minGently fold the earpiece speaker module down and away from the top edge of the display frame.
- 14
Heat sensor array flex
2 minWarm the top front glass area with a heat gun for 30 seconds to loosen the glue holding the sensor components.
- 15
Pry flood illuminator
3 minSlide a plastic opening pick under the flood illuminator module to lift it out of its plastic bezel notch.
- 16
Pry ambient light sensor
3 minCarefully pry the ambient light sensor and microphone out of their recessed housings using fine tweezers.
- 17
Align replacement sensor flex
4 minTransfer the original Face ID sensors into the alignment pins of the new sensor flex assembly.
- 18
Secure front speaker module
3 minFold the earpiece speaker back over the new sensor module and reinstall the retaining screws.
After your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max face id repair
Power the iPhone 12 Pro Max back on and test the face id repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
