The audio port or volume control isn’t working.

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 4s’ defective audio port/volume control cable. You need this repair if the headphone output has a loose connection, or remote control of the headset isn’t working. You also need it if the mute button or the volume up/down buttons aren’t working. Also replace the cable if your microphone no longer works for videos or FaceTime.

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.

    from €10.99 on Amazon
  • Menda ESD Spudger

    Menda ESD Spudger

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

    from €26.38 on Amazon
  • Tweezers

    Tweezers

    We recommend using tweezers to remove screws and various small parts from your device.

    on Amazon
  • Steel Laboratory Spatula

    Steel Laboratory Spatula

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

    on Amazon
  • Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing pentalobe PL1 screws.

    on Amazon
  • Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing PH00 screws.

    from €10.84 on Amazon

Required replacement part

  • iPhone 4s Audio Port/Volume Control Cable

    iPhone 4s Audio Port/Volume Control Cable

    on Amazon
Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 4s 

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 4s

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

30 steps
  1. Removing the enclosure screws

    iPhone 4s - Removing the enclosure screws 01
    1. You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone.
    2. Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. 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 screws
  2. Removing the back cover

    iPhone 4s - Removing the back cover 01
    iPhone 4s - 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 4s - Disconnecting the battery connector 01
    iPhone 4s - 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 two Phillips screws on the battery connector using a Phillips screwdriver (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
      1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
      The 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 4s - Removing the battery 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the battery 02
    iPhone 4s - Removing the battery 03
    1. The antenna cover is under the battery connector. Remove the cover and put it in the same compartment of your organizer tray as the Phillips screws 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 4s - Plastic tab 01
    iPhone 4s - 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 4s - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 01
    iPhone 4s - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 02
    iPhone 4s - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 03

    1. Remove the two Phillips screws from the dock connection cable and remove the silver cover (see figure 1).
      1 x 1.1 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.4 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 pointed tip of the spudger to lift the connector. 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 cover

    iPhone 4s - Removing the cover 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the cover 02
    iPhone 4s - Removing the cover 03
    1. Remove the four Phillips screws from the cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. It’s easy to tell them apart.
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 2.7 mm Phillips screw (thin thread)
    2. The cover is slightly clamped in place on the midframe (see figure 2). In order to remove the cover, use the spudger to push it slightly to the left, toward the dock connector (see figure 3).
  8. Removing the rear camera

    iPhone 4s - Removing the rear camera 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the rear camera 02
    iPhone 4s - Removing the rear camera 03
    iPhone 4s - Removing the rear camera 04
    1. Use the spudger to lift off the camera connector and remove the camera (see figure 1).
    2. Use a pair of tweezers or the laboratory spatula to remove the black sticker below the flash (see figure 2).
    3. There’s a Phillips screw below that. Remove it (see figure 3).
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
    4. Now remove the copper contact (see figure 4).
    5. Put all the parts in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
  9. Disconnecting the connectors

    iPhone 4s - Disconnecting the connectors 01
    1. Now you can disconnect the following five connectors. Be very careful.
    2. LCD
      Touchscreen
      Front camera
      Headphone output/volume controller
      Standby/proximity sensorMake sure you don’t break off the resistors that are soldered onto the logic board.
    3. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up.
    4. Start with the connector. There’s a second connector below it.
    5. Test the new audio cable set.
      • Temporarily connect the new audio cable set.
      • Connect the dock connector and then the battery.
      • Start your iPhone and check whether the volume up/down buttons, the mute button and the headphone jack (including remote control on the headphones) work.
      • Record a video and see whether the ambient microphone recorded the sound.
  10. Removing the antenna connector

    iPhone 4s - Removing the antenna connector 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the antenna connector 02
    iPhone 4s - Removing the antenna connector 03
    1. Remove the Phillips screw on the antenna cover (see figure 1). Put the screw in a separate compartment of your organizer tray.
      1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
    2. Now you can remove the cover of the antenna cable (see figure 2). Put it with the screw you removed before.
    3. Disconnect the antenna connector below it using the spudger (see figure 3).
  11. SIM card tray

    iPhone 4s - SIM card tray 01
    1. You can use the SIM Tool or a paperclip to remove the SIM card tray. Press the SIM Tool into the small hole in the SIM card tray to remove it.
  12. Removing the logic board

    iPhone 4s - Removing the logic board 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the logic board 02
    iPhone 4s - Removing the logic board 03
    iPhone 4s - Removing the logic board 04
    1. Now unscrew all four screws that hold the logic board in place (see figure 1) and sort them as follows.
      / and / in two different compartments of your organizer tray.
    2. You’ll need both the Phillips screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver or the laboratory spatula.
      1 x 4.9 mm Phillips/flathead screw
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 3.7 mm Phillips/flathead screw
    3. Now you can carefully lift the logic board below the battery connection using the spudger (see figure 2) and remove it by hand (see figure 3).
    4. There’s a little black rubber protector on the upper end of the logic board (see figure 4). It comes off easily. Put it with the screws from this step so it doesn’t get lost.
  13. Removing the Wi-Fi antenna

    iPhone 4s - Removing the Wi-Fi antenna 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the Wi-Fi antenna 02
    1. Remove the Phillips screw holding the Wi-Fi antenna in place (see figure 1).
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
    2. Now lift the antenna to remove it (see figure 2). It’s connected above the headphone input.
  14. Detaching the headphone output

    iPhone 4s - Detaching the headphone output 01
    iPhone 4s - Detaching the headphone output 02
    iPhone 4s - Detaching the headphone output 03
    1. Carefully detach the ambient microphone, which is glued in place, from the frame (see figure 1).
    2. Then lift the headphone output to remove it (see figures 2 and 3). Be careful: It’s very easy to tear the ambient microphone.
  15. Removing the screws

    iPhone 4s - Removing the screws 01

    1. Now remove the following Phillips screws (see figure 2). Put the screws in different compartments of your organizer tray.
      4 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (large head)
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  17. Removing the cable set

    iPhone 4s - Removing the cable set 01
    iPhone 4s - Removing the cable set 02
    1. Carefully push the vibration switch’s support frame forward (see figure 1).
    2. Grasp the connector and slowly pull off the cable set. It’s still lightly glued in place (see figure 2).
  18. Preparing the new cable set

    iPhone 4s - Preparing the new cable set 01
    iPhone 4s - Preparing the new cable set 02
    iPhone 4s - Preparing the new cable set 03
    1. Take the following parts from the old cable set and add them to the new one (see figure 1):
      • Metal rail for the volume controller
      • Vibration switch socket
      • Soft sticker for the connector
    2. You should solder the new cable set to the socket of the vibration switch. If you just glue it, the switch could come off of the socket.
    3. You have to put the two plastic rods through the openings in the socket. Afterwards, you have to solder them as shown in figure 3 to form a little plate you can use to attach the socket firmly to the cable set.
  19. Installing the cable set

    iPhone 4s - Installing the cable set 01
    iPhone 4s - Installing the cable set 02
    iPhone 4s - Installing the cable set 03
    iPhone 4s - Installing the cable set 04
    1. Connect the vibration switch and volume controller at their original location (see figure 1).
    2. When you install the vibration rocker switch, make sure the vibration switch is facing downward (see figure 2). This makes it easier to connect the button to the rocker switch the right way.
    3. Once the vibration switch’s cover is installed, you can fasten the four Phillips screws again (see figure 3).
      4 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (large head)
    4. Put the headphone output and the ambient microphone back in their original location (see figure 4).
  20. Installing the Wi-Fi antenna

    iPhone 4s - Installing the Wi-Fi antenna 01
    1. Install the Wi-Fi antenna and screw it in place.
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
  21. Installing the logic board

    iPhone 4s - Installing the logic board 01
    iPhone 4s - Installing the logic board 02
    iPhone 4s - Installing the logic board 03
    1. Put the rubber protector back on the sharp edge of the logic board. The thicker part should be facing down (see figure 1).
    2. Put the logic board back in carefully as shown in the picture (see figure 2). The logic board will click gently into place when it’s in the right position. This may take several attempts. Use figure 3 to check whether your logic board is in the right place.
      Make sure the antenna cable attached to the speaker isn’t under the logic board.
    3. Now screw in all four Phillips screws that hold the logic board in place (see figure 3).
      1 x 4.9 mm Phillips/flathead screw
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 3.7 mm Phillips/flathead screw
  22. Connecting the antenna connector

    iPhone 4s - Connecting the antenna connector 01
    iPhone 4s - Connecting the antenna connector 02
    iPhone 4s - Connecting the antenna connector 03
    1. Connect the antenna connector (see figure 1).
    2. Put on the cover for the antenna cable (see figure 2).
    3. Fasten the Phillips screw on the antenna cover (see figure 3).
      1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
  23. Connecting the connections

    iPhone 4s - Connecting the connections 01
    1. Reconnect all five contacts. Use your finger to carefully press them in. Only use as much pressure as you need for the contacts to gently click into place.
    2. If the LCD cable is too short, you forgot to pull it tightly through the slot in the midframe.
  24. Installing the rear camera

    iPhone 4s - Installing the rear camera 01
    iPhone 4s - Installing the rear camera 02
    iPhone 4s - Installing the rear camera 03
    1. Put the copper contact back in as shown in the picture (see figure 1).
    2. Then tighten the Phillips screw in the thread again (see figure 2).
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
    3. Use tweezers or the laboratory spatula to put on the black sticker (see figure 3).
    4. Connect the camera connector.
  25. Installing the cover

    iPhone 4s - Installing the cover 01
    iPhone 4s - Installing the cover 02
    1. Carefully put on the cover. It will be slightly clamped in place (see figure 1).
    2. Fasten all the Phillips screws on the connector cover (see figure 2):
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 2.7 mm Phillips screw (thin thread)
  26. Attaching the dock connector cable

    iPhone 4s - Attaching the dock connector cable 01
    1. Connect the dock connection cable again and put the silver cover on it.
    2. Fasten the two Phillips screws for the dock connection cable.
      1 x 1.1 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.4 mm Phillips screw
  27. Aligning the plastic tab

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

    iPhone 4s - Installing the battery 01
    iPhone 4s - Installing the battery 02
    iPhone 4s - Installing the battery 03
    1. Now put the battery back in the iPhone.
    2. First you have to attach the antenna connector again (see figure 1).
    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 1.5 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
  29. Attaching the back cover

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

    iPhone 4s - Fastening the enclosure screws 01

    1. Now screw in the two screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
      2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe screws
    2. Then all you have to do is push in the SIM card tray.
  31. Setting the time

    iPhone 4s - 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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