iPhone 12 - Replacing the Lightning connector

Before repairing, we recommend that you use our checklist to test the basic functions of your iPhone 12. This way you can check afterwards if your repair was successful.

Switch off your iPhone 12 after testing to avoid a potential short circuit.

1. Press and hold the side and volume down key simultaneously for a few seconds.
2. Wipe the displayed slider "Switch off" from left to right.
3. Your phone will now shut down completely within a few seconds.

• 2 × 6.8 mm Pentalobe

As soon as you open your device, the warranty for protection against dust and splash water (IP68 classification) expires.

The iPhone 12 is opened via the display, which is glued and additionally fixed with two pentalobe screws. The screws are located on the left and right of the Lightning connector.

1. Unscrew the two pentalobe screws with a pentalobe screwdriver.
2. Then put them into a screw storage.

We recommend using a screw storage for your repair (e.g. an old sewing box). That way you can store all removed parts and screws safely and keep the overview. On our high-quality magnetic pad nothing slips and you can arrange everything in an organized way.

In order to be able to remove the glued screen more easily after loosening the screws, first heat it up with hot air. Therefore, use a hot air device, such as a heat gun or a regular hair dryer.

1. First place your iPhone on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratches on the case.
2. Then heat the edge of the screen by running the heat gun evenly over it.

When the glue of the screen is sufficiently warmed up, you can start to carefully detach it from the rest of the case.

1. Start by placing a suction cup on the bottom edge of the screen. Pull it slowly upwards to create a narrow gap between screen and case.

You can use the iSclack as an alternative to the suction cup. In comparison you have to use much less force to create a gap.

1. Insert a flat stable tool into the gap to enlarge it. We recommend a hard plastic plectrumfor this purpose.

Once a gap is created, you can detach the screen from the rear case piece by piece.

1. Move the hard plastic plectrum once completely around the edge of the screen. Press it upwards at the same time to release the hooked lugs of the display from the rear case.

You can reheat the glue with hot air at regular intervals to make it easier to remove.

1. When the screen is completely detached, you can carefully unfold it towards the volume buttons. Lean it against a stable object to avoid overstretching the flex cables.

• 6 × 1.0 mm Y-Type

To remove the screen completely, you have to detach the battery connector, the two screen connectors and the one from the earpiece which sits on the display unit. These are located under two cover plates.

1. Unscrew the six Y-type screws from the two cover plates with a Y-type screwdriver and put them in your screw storage.
2. Then carefully remove the two cover plates from your device with a pair of tweezers.

The larger of the two cover plates is hooked in additionally.

• Connector

After removal of the cover plates, all four connectors are exposed. To avoid a potential short circuit during the repair, you should always detach the battery connector first.

When separating connectors, always start from the side where there are no small components on the logicboard. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Then use a plastic lever tool to move under the connector and carefully separate it from the board. We use a plastic spudger for this.

• Connector

To remove the screen completely, you still have to detach the screen connectors. The iPhone 12 has two screen connectors. A third connector connects the earpiece to the logicboard.

1. Use a spudger to go under the three connectors one after the other and carefully pry them off the logicboard.

Two of the connectors are on top of each other.

1. Then put the detached screen aside.

• 4 × 1.5 mm Phillips

Next, remove the speaker that is screwed into the lower part of the case. You don't have to loosen any connector.

1. Loosen the four Phillips screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
2. Then take the speaker out of your device.

Before you can remove the SIM module, you have to remove the SIM tray.

1. Use a thin, pointed object to press into the small hole next to the SIM tray. We use a SIM tool for this.
2. Then pull it out and put it aside.

• 4 × 1.4 mm Y-Type
• Connector
• 1 × 1.1 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 2.8 mm Standoff

The SIM module is fixed in the iPhone 12 rear case with several screws and two cover plates.

1. First, unscrew the two cover plates by removing the two Y-type screws.

1. Put the plates aside and use a spudger to carefully separate the connector of the SIM module from the logicboard.
2. Unscrew another Y-type and Standoff screw to be able to remove the module completely.

• Connector
• 2 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.8 mm Phillips

Once the speaker and SIM module are removed, you can start removing the Taptic Engine.

When separating the connector of the Taptic Engine, be especially carefull not to damage the sensitive cable set of the Lightning connector.

1. First detach the connector, which in this case is attached to the cable set of the Lightning connector.
2. Loosen the three screws and remove the Taptic Engine from your device with tweezers.

The iPhone 12 has a total of four adhesive battery strips. These can be pulled out by their tabs, which are each attached to the top side of the battery.

Since the tabs of the adhesive strips are attached very flatly, you should be careful not to confuse them with another protective film of the battery.

1. Use tweezers to carefully detach the black tabs from the edge.
2. Slowly pull the adhesive strips out from under the battery one by one with your fingers or tweezers. Pull them out as flat as possible so that they do not tear.

If one of the adhesive strips tears, you have to carefully lever the battery out of the case with a flat, sturdy tool, such as the battery spudger. Then peel off the adhesive tape remains from the bottom of the case.

Lever only on the short sides of the battery to avoid damaging the flex cable and NFC antenna underneath. Be especially careful not to bend the battery.

1. You can remove the battery once all adhesive strips are removed.

• 4 × 1.5 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips
• Connector

In our instructions we always show the safest way. If you already feel confident and experienced with smartphone repairs, you can skip the next two steps.

1. First, loosen the five screws from the cover plate of the dual camera.

When separating connectors, always start from the side where there are no small components on the logicboard. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Put the cover plate aside and separate the connectors of the camera from the logicboard.

The two connectors lie on top of each other.

1. Now you can remove the camera module from its guide. Use a pair of tweezers or just your fingers.

• Connector
• 3 × 1.3 mm Y-Type

Before removing the logicboard, you should remove the Bluetooth cable attached to it to avoid damaging it during the next steps.

When separating connectors, always start from the side where there are no small components on the logicboard. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. First, detach the cable's connector from the logicboard.
2. Loosen the three Y-type screws that secure the cable to the edge of the case.
3. Take the cable out of your device and put it aside.

• Connector
• 2 × 3.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.7 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips

Once the Bluetooth cable is detached you can start removing the logicboard.

1. First separate all connectors that are attached to the logicboard.

Some of the connectors are on top of each other.

1. Remove the black protective film from the upper side of the board, where the connector of the NFC antenna is integrated. Use a flat tool, such as a steel spatula, to drive underneath the film.
2. Loosen the four screws that secure the logicboard and take it out of the device.

• 2 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 2 × 1.3 mm Y-Type

The barometric valve on the lower edge of the rear case must also be removed. It is intended to compensate for both internal and atmospheric pressure.

Be careful not to bend the contact points on the cover plate when loosening the screws.

1. First loosen the two Y-type screws from the cover plate above the barometric valve.
2. Remove the cover plate and loosen the two standoff screws that secure the valve in the case.
3. Use a pair of tweezers or a spatula to carefully lever the valve and the small golden microphone out of their guides - these are integrated into the Lightning connector cable.
4. Then, use tweezers to carefully remove the heavily glued plastic guide of the valve from the edge of the case.

• 2 × 1.6 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.2 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 2 × 3.2 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.3 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 2.4 mm Standoff

Now you can remove the Lightning connector itself or the cable set of the Lightning connector respectively.

Make sure to apply the screwdriver correctly to the side screws and to exert enough pressure on the screw head, otherwise they can easily be turned round.

1. Loosen the nine screws that fix the cable set in the case.
2. Heat the heavily stuck cable set with hot air.
3. Run a steel spatula flat under the cable and detach it piece by piece from the case bottom.
4. Also carefully remove the small golden microphone as well as the charging port from its guides in the edge of the case.

• 2 × 1.6 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.2 mm Y-Type
• 2 × 3.2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 2 × 1.3 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 2.4 mm Standoff

At this point, you can place the new Lightning connector in its original position.

1. Press the cable set flat against the bottom of the case, the charging port and microphone back into their guides in the case frame.
2. Fix everything with the nine screws.

• 2 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 2 × 1.3 mm Y-Type

Once the Lightning connector is attached, you can reinsert the barometric valve.

1. Put the valve's plastic guide back in its original position and screw it in place.
2. Press the valve and the small, golden microphone back into their guides.
3. Reposition the cover plate and fix it with the two Y-type screws.

• 2 × 3.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.7 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips
• Connector

Now you can put the logicboard back in place.

1. Position the logicboard and fix it with the four screws.
2. Press the black protective film back onto the upper side of the logicboard.

Never use force when attaching connectors. Damage to a connector or slot can cause a whole component to fail.

1. Then reconnect all connectors.

• 3 × 1.3 mm Y-Type
• Connector

You can reattach the Bluetooth cable at this point.

1. Position the cable and screw it to the edge of the case with the three Y-type screws.

Never use force when attaching connectors. Damage to a connector or slot can cause a whole component to fail.

1. Then press the connector back onto the logicboard.

• Connector
• 4 × 1.5 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips

Now reinstall the dual camera as well.

1. Put the camera module back into its guide.
2. Attach the connectors back on the logicboard.

The two camera connectors lie on top of each other.

1. Then put the cover plate back on and screw it tight.

Before you can put the battery back in place, you have to apply new adhesive strips on the back.

1. Align the new adhesive strips for a test first.

The position of the NFC antenna helps you with the alignment.

1. Remove the blue protective film and press the adhesive strips onto the battery's back.
2. Press the black adhesive tabs tightly on the top of the battery.
3. Then remove the pink protective film as well.
4. Test align the battery before pressing it into the case.

The battery connector helps you with the correct alignment.

1. Then press it firmly so that the glue bonds properly.

• 2 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.8 mm Phillips
• Connector

Now put the Taptic Engine back to its original position.

1. Attach the Taptic Engine with the three screws.

1. Attach your connector by gently pressing it onto its slot on the Lightning connector cable set. You should hear and feel it click into place.

• 1 × 1.1 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 2.8 mm Standoff
• Connector
• 4 × 1.4 mm Y-Type

Once the Taptic Engine is back in place, the SIM module can be inserted.

1. Place the SIM module back in place and screw it tight. USe the smallest Y-Type screw and the standoff screw.

Never use force when attaching connectors. Damage to a connector or slot can cause a whole component to fail.

1. Carefully press the connector onto the logicboard, so that you can hear and feel it click into place.
2. Put the two cover plates back on and screw them tight, with two Y-type screws each.

Once the SIM module is fixed, the SIM tray can be inserted again.

1. Slide the SIM tray back into the SIM module. Make sure that the holder is aligned correctly.

• 4 × 1.5 mm Phillips

Now you can reinstall the speaker.

1. Screw it in place with the four Phillips screws.

If you attach a new adhesive frame to close your iPhone, you can already do so at this point. Note here:
Only remove the outermost protective film of the adhesive frame when you intend to ultimately close your phone.

• Connector

Reconnect the screen to the rest of the case.

1. Lean the screen back against a stable object to avoid overstretching the flex cables when connecting them.

Never attach connectors by force. Damage to a connector or the slot can lead to the failure of an entire component.

1. Attach the three connectors by carefully pressing them one after the other on the logicboard. You should feel and hear them click into place.

• Connector

After the display connectors, the battery connector can now be attached. You should always attach it last to avoid short circuits during the repair.

Never use force when attaching connectors. Damage to a connector or slot can cause a whole component to fail.

1. Carefully press the connector onto the logicboard, so that you can hear and feel it click into place.

Before you close your iPhone 12 for good, we recommend testing the replacement part and other basic functions. This way, you can make sure that your repair was successful. Again, use our checklist for this.

1. Carefully fold the display around and press it firmly into the case.
2. Switch on your device.
3. Connect it to a computer to see if your iPhone 12 is recognized and charging.
4. After that, you can check other components for their functionality. For example display, Face-ID and the speakers.

If something does not work properly after the repair, check again if everything is installed and attached correctly.

• 2 × 1.0 mm Phillips
• 4 × 1.0 mm Phillips

If everything works properly, you can reinstall the cover plates.

1. Position the two cover plates over the connectors. The screw holes help you with the alignment.

Remember to hook in the larger of the two cover plates before screwing it tight.

1. Screw the cover plates together with the Y-type screws.

Close your iPhone 12 again.

1. Carefully fold it over and press it evenly into the rear case, so that it clicks into place.

• 2 × 6.8 mm Pentalobe

At the end of the repair, you still have to fix the display.

1. Connect the display to the rear case by screwing tight a pentalobe screw to the left and right of the Lightning connector.