Step-by-step

1. 1

   Power off the phone

   1 min

   Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons, then tap Power Off. Ensure the device is completely powered down before proceeding.

2. 2

   Heat the back cover

   2 min

   Apply a heat gun or heated iOpener along the edges of the rear plastic panel for two minutes to soften the adhesive.

3. 3

   Slice the rear adhesive

   3 min

   Press a suction cup onto the lower back cover and pull upward to create a small gap. Insert an opening pick and slide it along the perimeter to cut the adhesive.

4. 4

   Lift off the back cover

   1 min

   Gently lift the back panel away from the frame and remove any remaining adhesive residue along the frame edges.

5. 5

   Unscrew the midframe

   3 min

   Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 15 screws securing the upper motherboard bracket and lower speaker enclosure.

6. 6

   Remove the wireless charging coil

   2 min

   Pry up the midframe cover using a plastic spudger and peel the wireless charging assembly off the battery.

7. 7

   Disconnect the battery

   1 min

   Use a plastic spudger to pop the battery flex connector straight up from the motherboard to stop all current flow.

8. 8

   Disconnect the interconnect cables

   2 min

   Disconnect the main extension flex cable and display cable connecting the motherboard to the lower daughterboard.

9. 9

   Remove the motherboard

   3 min

   Remove the single Phillips screw securing the motherboard, disconnect the front camera, and carefully lift the mainboard out of the chassis.

10. 10

    Remove the daughterboard

    2 min

    Unscrew the lower daughterboard fastener and lift the charging port board out of the lower recessed housing.

11. 11

    Inspect for corrosion

    3 min

    Examine both circuit boards under a magnifying light to locate white or green oxidation around connectors and surface components.

12. 12

    Soak and scrub the motherboard

    5 min

    Submerge the motherboard in 99% isopropyl alcohol and scrub away corrosion gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush.

13. 13

    Clean the daughterboard

    3 min

    Immerse the daughterboard in alcohol and scrub residue from the USB-C port, mic opening, and flex board connectors.

14. 14

    Dry circuit board components

    10 min

    Blow low-pressure compressed air over the components and allow both boards to air-dry thoroughly for 15 minutes.

15. 15

    Reseat the boards

    3 min

    Lower the dry motherboard and daughterboard back into the phone frame and reinstall their mounting screws.

16. 16

    Reconnect internal cables

    2 min

    Snap the main interconnect flex cables back onto their board connectors, then reattach the battery flex cable.

17. 17

    Reinstall the midframe cover

    3 min

    Position the wireless charging midframe assembly over the board and tighten the 15 Phillips screws securely.

18. 18

    Reseal the rear panel

    3 min

    Apply fresh pre-cut adhesive to the phone frame, press the back cover into position, and hold uniform pressure for one minute.