Phone · Apple · iPhone 7 Plus
Apple iPhone 7 Plus Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Before you begin
Tools
- P2 Pentalobe Screwdriver
- Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver
- Phillips #000 Screwdriver
- Suction Cup
- Plastic Opening Pick
- Spudger
- Soft ESD Brush
- Heat Gun
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Microfiber Cloth
- Lint-free Wipes
Safety
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap connected to a grounded surface to prevent ESD damage.
- Perform isopropyl alcohol cleaning in a well-ventilated area away from open flames.
- Do not bend or puncture the battery during teardown, as damaged batteries present a fire hazard.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the iPhone
1 minPress and hold the sleep/wake button until the power slider appears, then slide to turn off the device completely.
- 2
Remove pentalobe screws
2 minUse a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 3.4 mm screws located on either side of the Lightning port.
- 3
Heat display perimeter
2 minApply a heat gun on low power along the bottom and sides of the screen for 1-2 minutes to soften the water-resistant adhesive.
- 4
Attach suction cup
1 minPlace a suction cup on the lower half of the display screen, just above the Home button.
- 5
Slice perimeter display seal
3 minPull up firmly on the suction cup to create a gap, then slide an opening pick around the lower edges to break the adhesive.
- 6
Open display sideways
1 minSwing the screen open from the left side like a book cover, taking care not to strain the ribbon cables on the right side.
- 7
Remove lower connector bracket
3 minUnscrew the four Tri-point Y000 screws securing the lower display cable bracket to the logic board.
- 8
Disconnect battery connector
2 minUse the flat end of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up from its logic board socket.
- 9
Disconnect lower display cables
2 minDisconnect the display cable and touch digitizer cable from the logic board using a spudger.
- 10
Remove upper bracket and sensor cable
3 minUnscrew the three Phillips #000 screws holding the upper bracket, then disconnect the front camera and sensor cable.
- 11
Eject SIM card tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool or paperclip into the SIM tray hole to push out and remove the tray.
- 12
Unscrew logic board fasteners
4 minRemove all Phillips and standoff screws securing the logic board assembly to the rear housing.
- 13
Remove logic board
3 minCarefully lift the logic board out of the housing, ensuring no underlying ribbon cables hook onto the board.
- 14
Bathe logic board in isopropyl alcohol
5 minSubmerge the logic board in a container filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol to displace trapped water.
- 15
Scrub corrosion from logic board
5 minGently clean corrosion off components and board connectors using a soft ESD-safe brush soaked in alcohol.
- 16
Dry logic board with compressed air
10 minBlow compressed air across the logic board to remove remaining alcohol and debris, then allow it to air-dry thoroughly.
- 17
Clean screen connectors
3 minDip a soft brush in 99% isopropyl alcohol and gently scrub liquid residue off the screen cable connectors.
- 18
Reinstall logic board and reassemble
10 minPlace the dried logic board back into the chassis, reconnect all internal cables, and secure all brackets with screws.
After your Apple iPhone 7 Plus water damage repair
Power the iPhone 7 Plus back on and test the water damage 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 7 Plus 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 7 Plus repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
