Phone · Apple · iPhone XS Max
Apple iPhone XS Max Battery Replacement
Battery Replacement guide for the Apple iPhone XS Max
Before you begin
Tools
- P2 Pentalobe screwdriver
- Y000 Tri-point screwdriver
- Phillips #000 screwdriver
- Spudger
- Suction handle
- Opening picks
- Tweezers
- iOpener or heat gun
Parts / materials
- Replacement iPhone XS Max battery
- New battery adhesive strips
- Display edge water-resistance seal
- Isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher)
Safety
- Discharge the phone battery below 25% before disassembly to reduce fire risk.
- Wear eye protection to safeguard against glass fragments or accidental puncture.
- Always disconnect the battery before touching other internal components to prevent short circuits.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power down the iPhone
1 minPress and hold the side button and either volume button, then slide the screen slider to turn off the device.
- 2
Remove the pentalobe screws
2 minUse a P2 Pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 6.9 mm screws located on the bottom edge of the iPhone.
- 3
Heat the lower edge
2 minApply a heated iOpener or hair dryer to the bottom edge of the phone for two minutes to soften the display adhesive.
- 4
Attach a suction cup
1 minPlace a suction cup on the lower half of the front glass, just above the home indicator area.
- 5
Pry open the bottom seal
3 minPull up firmly on the suction cup to create a small gap between the screen and frame, then insert an opening pick.
- 6
Slice the left edge adhesive
2 minSlide the opening pick up the left edge of the phone from the bottom corner to cut through the display adhesive.
- 7
Slice the right edge adhesive
2 minReinsert the pick at the bottom edge and slide it up the right side to release the remaining side adhesive.
- 8
Open the display
1 minSwing the display open from the left side toward the right, like opening the cover of a book.
- 9
Unscrew the lower connector bracket
2 minRemove the three Y000 screws securing the lower display bracket to the logic board.
- 10
Remove the lower bracket
1 minUse tweezers to lift the metal lower display bracket off the logic board and set it aside.
- 11
Disconnect the battery
1 minUse the pointed end of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up from its socket on the logic board.
- 12
Disconnect the OLED panel cable
1 minUse a spudger to gently pop the OLED display cable connector off its logic board socket.
- 13
Disconnect the digitizer cable
1 minPry the digitizer cable connector straight up from its logic board socket with the spudger.
- 14
Unscrew the sensor assembly bracket
2 minRemove the two Y000 screws securing the bracket over the front sensor assembly connector.
- 15
Disconnect the front sensor assembly
1 minDisconnect the front panel sensor assembly cable from the logic board using a spudger.
- 16
Separate the display assembly
1 minLift the entire display assembly away from the rear enclosure and place it in a safe area.
- 17
Remove the Taptic Engine screws
3 minUnscrew the Phillips #000 and Y000 screws securing the speaker and Taptic Engine housing.
- 18
Remove the Taptic Engine
2 minDisconnect the Taptic Engine flex cable and lift the unit out of the lower chassis.
- 19
Locate adhesive pull-tabs
2 minPeel back the black adhesive pull-tabs located on the top and bottom edges of the battery.
- 20
Remove the bottom adhesive strips
4 minSlowly pull each bottom adhesive tab outward at a low angle until the strip glides out completely.
- 21
Remove the top adhesive strips
4 minGently pull the remaining top adhesive tabs outward parallel to the phone until fully released.
- 22
Lift out the old battery
2 minGently lift the battery out from the rear case using a plastic opening tool if any adhesive remains.
- 23
Apply new adhesive to replacement battery
3 minAffix new double-sided battery adhesive strips to the underside of the replacement battery.
- 24
Install the new battery
2 minAlign the replacement battery into the frame and press firmly to secure the adhesive.
- 25
Reinstall the Taptic Engine
3 minLower the Taptic Engine back into place, reconnect its cable, and secure the bracket screws.
- 26
Reconnect display and battery cables
4 minAttach the sensor cable, digitizer cable, OLED cable, and battery cable to their respective logic board sockets.
- 27
Reattach brackets and bottom screws
4 minReinstall the metal brackets with their screws, close the display, and replace the two P2 pentalobe screws.
After your Apple iPhone XS Max battery replacement
Power the iPhone XS Max back on and test the battery replacement 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 XS 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 XS Max repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
