Your iPhone won’t charge, or the microphone isn’t working.

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 4’s defective dock connector. You need this repair if your computer doesn’t recognize your iPhone, or you can’t charge your iPhone. You also need to replace the dock connector if people can’t understand you on the phone because your microphone isn’t working.

Required tools

  • For storing screws

    For storing screws

    We recommend storing your screws so you don’t mix up the various screws and small parts.

    €10.00 at the iDoc store
  • Menda ESD Spudger

    Menda ESD Spudger

    You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.

    €7.00 at the iDoc store
  • Steel Laboratory Spatula

    Steel Laboratory Spatula

    You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.

    €4.00 at the iDoc store
  • Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing pentalobe PL1 screws.

    €12.00 at the iDoc store
  • Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing PH00 screws.

    €12.00 at the iDoc store

Required replacement part

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 4 

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Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 4

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

19 steps
  1. Removing the enclosure screws

    iPhone 4 - Removing the enclosure screws 01
    1. Depending on when your iPhone was manufactured, you’ll need either a Phillips screwdriver or a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone.
    2. Depending on when your iPhone was manufactured, you’ll need either a Phillips screwdriver or a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone. They are located to the right and left of the dock connector. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
      2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe/Phillips screws
  2. Removing the back cover

    iPhone 4 - Removing the back cover 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the back cover 02
    1. Use your thumbs or the palm of your hand to push the back cover of your iPhone about 4 mm away from the bottom of the phone where the dock connector is (see figure 1).
    2. Then you can lift the back cover at the end that’s sticking out past the phone (see figure 2).
  3. Disconnecting the battery connector

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the battery connector 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the battery connector 02
    1. If your iPhone’s still on, turn it off now by holding down the standby button for about five seconds and following the prompt on the display.
    2. Remove the screw on the battery connector using a Phillips screwdriver (see figure 1). Put the screw in a separate compartment of your organizer tray.
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      The battery contact point on the logic board could come off. If the contact point breaks off but the soldering points are still intact, you can solder the contact point back on.
    3. Now carefully lift off the battery connector by inserting the pointed ESD spudger slightly below the silver cover plate (see figure 2). If you don’t have a spudger, you can also try using your fingernail.
    4. For the rest of the repair, you can also use the metal laboratory spatula instead of the spudger. This may make some steps easier for you. However, we explicitly recommend using the ESD spudger produced specifically for precision electronics.
  4. Removing the battery

    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 02
    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 03
    1. The antenna cover is under the battery connector. NRemove the cover and put it in the same compartment of your organizer tray as the Phillips screw you removed before. (See figure 1).
    2. Now remove the battery. It’s sometimes glued firmly in place. Insert the flat end of the spudger into the space (about 1 cm to the left of the volume down button) between the battery and the outer frame, and slowly lift the battery (see figure 2). If the battery’s really stuck on, use other leverage points to the right and left of the original spot to pry it off. If you still can’t detach the battery, you can use a heat gun to warm it slightly from the outside and soften the glue.
    3. Now you can also disconnect the antenna connector by carefully pulling it off the plug head using the spudger (see figure 3).
  5. Plastic tab

    iPhone 4 - Plastic tab 01
    iPhone 4 - Plastic tab 02
    1. Fold the plastic tab with the warning over and press it firmly onto the lower adhesive strip. This way, it won’t get in the way during your repair.
    2. Of course, you can also remove the plastic tab.
  6. Disconnecting the dock connector cable

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 02
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 03
    1. Remove the two Phillips screws from the dock connection cable and remove the black (silver for newer models) cover (see figure 1).
      1 x 1.6 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw
    2. Put the screws and cover in the same compartment of your organizer tray. It’s easy to tell them apart.
    3. Now you can carefully detach the connector by using the flat end of the spudger to lift the connector again. Alternatively, you can also use your fingernail again (see figure 2).
    4. Pull the flat cable that’s lightly glued in place off of the logic board and bend it carefully over the frame (see figure 3).
  7. Removing the speaker

    iPhone 4 - Removing the speaker 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the speaker 02
    1. Unscrew the remaining Phillips screw on the speaker (see figure 1) and use the spudger to remove it (see figure 2). Put the screw in a separate compartment of your organizer tray.
    2. 1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
  8. Removing the dock connector screws

    iPhone 4 - Removing the dock connector screws 01
    1. Remove the two Phillips screws on the dock connector cable set. You have to remove the orange sticker from the upper screw first. Put the screws in a separate compartment of your organizer tray.
      2 x 1.3 mm Phillips screws
  9. Disconnecting the Home button cable

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the Home button cable 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the Home button cable 02
    1. Carefully flip over the little black rocker switch on the dock connector cable set using the spudger or laboratory spatula (see figure 1).
    2. Then carefully pull off the Home button cable’s connector using tweezers or your fingers (see figure 2).
  10. The right tools for your repair

    With the right tools, you will succeed in any repair. In our store you will find a large selection of professional quality tools.
    VIEW NOW
  11. Removing the dock connector

    iPhone 4 - Removing the dock connector 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the dock connector 02
    iPhone 4 - Removing the dock connector 03
    1. Carefully insert the laboratory spatula below the cable set to detach the parts that are glued on (see figure 1).
    2. Push the nipple of the microphone’s rubber seal out of the little black groove (see figure 2).
    3. Carefully pull out the entire cable set with your fingers (see figure 3).
  12. Preparing the new dock connector

    iPhone 4 - Preparing the new dock connector 01
    iPhone 4 - Preparing the new dock connector 02
    1. Remove the microphone’s rubber seal from the old cable set using the spatula (see figure 1). It’s lightly glued in place.
    2. Put the seal on the new dock connector (see figure 2).
  13. Inserting the dock connector

    iPhone 4 - Inserting the dock connector 01
    iPhone 4 - Inserting the dock connector 02
    iPhone 4 - Inserting the dock connector 03
    iPhone 4 - Inserting the dock connector 04
    1. Now put in the dock connector (see figure 1). Make sure the screw openings on the dock connector cable set are over the corresponding threads.
    2. Now push the nipple of the microphone’s rubber seal into the little black groove.
    3. Reconnect the Home button cable using a pair of tweezers (see figure 2) and flip the little rocker switch over again (see figure 3).
    4. Fasten the dock connector with the two Phillips screws. You have to put the orange sticker back on the upper screw.
      2 x 1.3 mm Phillips screws
  14. Installing the speaker

    iPhone 4 - Installing the speaker 01
    iPhone 4 - Installing the speaker 02
    1. At first, only tighten the Phillips screw on the speaker a little bit (see figure 1).
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
    2. The speaker’s clips have to be against the speaker behind the higher level of the middle cover (see figure 2). This is easiest if you only slightly screw in the speaker at first so it can still move around a little.
    3. Once the clips are fitted properly, you can tighten the screw.
  15. Attaching the dock connector cable

    iPhone 4 - Attaching the dock connector cable 01
    1. Connect the dock connection cable again and put the black/silver cover on it.
    2. Fasten the two Phillips screws again.
      1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.6 mm Phillips screw
  16. Aligning the plastic tab

    iPhone 4 - Aligning the plastic tab 01
    1. Detach the plastic tab with the warning or stick it back in if you took it out.
  17. Installing the battery

    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 01
    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 02
    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 03
    1. First you have to attach the antenna connector again (see figure 1).
    2. Now put the battery back in the iPhone.
    3. Then install the antenna cover (see figure 2).
    4. Now click the battery connector back into place and screw it in (see figure 3).
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
  18. Attaching the back cover

    iPhone 4 - Attaching the back cover 01
    1. Put the back cover back on and carefully push it the last few millimeters toward the dock connector.
  19. Fastening the enclosure screws

    iPhone 4 - Fastening the enclosure screws 01
    1. Now screw in the two screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
      2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe/Phillips screws
    2. Then all you have to do is push in the SIM card tray.
  20. Setting the time

    iPhone 4 - Setting the time 01

    When the battery is removed from the device, the iPhone loses the time and sets itself to 1:00 a.m. on 1/1/1970. You could have trouble connecting to the cellular network if the time isn’t set.

    After a repair, complete the following steps:

    1. Synchronize your iPhone with iTunes or connect to a WLAN network and wait until the time is set.
    2. Remove the SIM tray with the SIM card and reinsert it.
    3. Activate airplane mode on the device and then deactivate airplane mode.
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