iPhone 5s back cover repair guide

1. You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open the iPhone 5s.
2. Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. They are located to the right and left of the Lightning connector. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
   2 x 4.0 mm pentalobe screws

1. Put your iPhone 5s on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.
2. To lift the front panel, you need a suction cup and the hard plastic pick. If the screen is severely cracked, cover all of it with packing tape.
3. Place the suction cup over the Home button (if possible) or next to it (see figure 1).While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the aluminum frame and the display frame and press down the aluminum frame. Also use the hard plastic pick to raise the screen (see figure 2). This usually takes several attempts.
Do not lift the display more than two centimeters to avoid tearing the Home button cable below it.
4. As soon as you can lift the screen a few millimeters (see figure 3), you have to carefully work your way around the outside until it’s loosened on both sides (see figure 4).

If the display is disconnected, only lift it a little bit. The Home button cable connects the display to the Lightning connector. This cable can tear if you lift the display too much.

1. Remove the silver cover over the Home button connector by placing the pointed tip of the spudger slightly below the cover and lifting it out (see figure 1).
2. Now you have to disconnect the contact from the connector.Carefully pull it off using the laboratory spatula or spudger.
3. Once the cable is disconnected, you can lift the display at the Home button. Note that the LCD/touchscreen cables are still connected to the logic board (see next step).

1. First remove the four Phillips screws from the silver cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. Then lift the cover to remove it.
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screws (not magnetic)
   2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
2. Disconnect the following three connectors (see figure 2). Be very careful. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up.
   Touchscreen
   LCD
   Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone

1. The camera is attached with a rubber strap to stabilize it. Insert the laboratory spatula or a pair of tweezers below the rubber strap and uncover the camera (see figure 1).
2. Now disconnect the connector. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up (see figure 2).
3. Now lift the camera out of the phone (see figure 3).

1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the Phillips screws on the battery connector (see figure 1). Then lift the cover using the spudger (see figure 2). Put all the parts in the same compartment of the organizer tray.
   2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
2. Now carefully lift the battery connector by inserting the pointed tip of a spudger slightly below the connector (see figure 3). If you don’t have a spudger, you can also try using your fingernail.

1. Now remove the following seven Phillips screws. Put the screws in different compartments of your organizer tray so you can easily identify them later.
   1 x 3.0 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
   2 x 3.5 mm Phillips screws
   2 x 1.3 mm Phillips screws
   2 x 2.9 mm Phillips screws

1. Now lift the speaker as shown in figure 1.
2. A little bit of the speaker is under the logic board. Turn the speaker to one side to remove it (see figure 2).
3. Take it out by hand.

1. Insert the laboratory spatula below the ribbon cable and carefully detach it from the base. The cable is only glued in place at the point where the speaker was.
2. Use the spatula or spudger to loosen the headphone jack (see figure 2), the microphone (see figure 3) and the Lightning connector (see figure 4).
3. Now carefully remove the ribbon cable using your fingers (see figure 5).

1. First remove the sticker next to the camera. There’s a screw below it (see figure 1).
2. Then lift the standby/volume cable set connector to remove it (see figure 2). Carefully place the pointed tip of the spudger or spatula below the contact and lift it up.
3. Disconnect the connector of the Lightning connector’s ribbon cable (see figure 3) by placing the flat end of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lifting it up. Then carefully fold the cable over.
4. Carefully lift off the antenna connector using the laboratory spatula (see figure 4).

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.

1. Now unscrew all six screws that hold the logic board in place.
2. Four of the screws have an internal thread. The one next to the rear camera isn’t magnetic. You can remove this screw with a flathead screwdriver or the spatula. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
   3 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screws
   1 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screw (not magnetic)
   2 x 2.3 mm Phillips screws

1. Remove both Phillips screws (see figure 1) and the bracket below them (see figure 2) that connects the antenna to the frame. Put the parts in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
   1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
   1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw

1. Slightly raise the logic board using the spudger (see figure 1) and turn it around the longitudinal axis by the plastic tab (see figure 2).
2. On the other side, disconnect the antenna connector by carefully pulling it off the plug head using the spudger (see figure 3).
3. Carefully remove the logic board.

1. Carefully lift up the black end of the sticker and then use a pair of scissors to cut it through the middle (see figures 1 to 3).
2. Now you have to pull half of the adhesive strip to one side very slowly. Hold the adhesive strips as flat as possible at the level of the iPhone (see figure 4). Repeat this process for the other half and then remove the battery (see figure 5).

1. Remove the three screws that hold the vibration motor and its support frame in place (see figure 1).
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
   1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
2. Now remove the vibration motor (see figure 2) and detach it from the support frame glued to it.

1. Remove the three Phillips screws in the volume and mute button bracket. This bracket is glued to the cable set. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (funnel head)
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw

1. The cable set is lightly glued in place. Carefully detach it using the laboratory spatula.

1. Now remove the two Phillips screws that hold the cover over the flash in place (see figure 1).
   2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
2. Remove the cover (see figure 2) and lift the flash (see figure 3). Put the screws and cover in the same compartment of your organizer tray.

1. First remove the elastic cover (see figure 1) and the foam sticker (see figure 2).
2. Now remove the Phillips screw (see figure 3).
   1 x 1.9 mm Phillips screw
3. Detach the little antenna cable that’s glued on from the standby switch (see figure 4). Put everything in the same container.

1. Turn the metal switch to the side to remove it. The standby button is glued to it. This part is a bit tricky.
2. Now you can remove the cable set.

1. Remove the buttons and the Phillips screw, and then remove the ejector lever. Put everything in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
   1 x 2.0 mm Phillips screw

1. Insert the spudger (prevents scratches on the inside of the glass) below the antenna ribbon cable and disconnect it from the back cover.

1. Each of the four retaining brackets is secured with two Phillips screws. Remove them. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
   8 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
2. Now take all of the small adhesive parts and transfer them to the new back cover.

1. Attach the four brackets using the Phillips screws.
   8 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws

1. Stick the antenna cable to the new back cover.

1. Attach the ejector lever using the Phillips screw. The higher part of the ejector lever is to the left of the SIM card slot.
   1 x 2.0 mm Phillips screw
2. Check whether you can push the SIM card tray in and out.
3. Now insert the buttons.

1. Attach the switch’s hook to the metal bar and move the switch to the frame (see figures 1 and 2).
2. Put the little antenna cable back in its original location (see figure 3) and screw the switch in place (see figure 4). Check whether you can press the standby button as usual.
   1 x 1.9 mm Phillips screw
3. Now put on the soft black sticker and the elastic cover (see figures 5 and 6).

1. Put the flash into the recess and fasten the cover over it. The cover has to be wedged into the recess (see figure 1). Fasten the two Phillips screws (see figure 2).
   2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws

1. Connect the vibration switch and volume controller at their original location.
2. When you install the vibration rocker switch, make sure the vibration switch is facing downward (you can see the orange stripe outside along the frame). This makes it easier to connect the switch to the rocker switch the right way.
3. Then screw in the volume and mute button bracket.
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (funnel head)
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw

1. Put in the vibration motor and fasten the three Phillips screws that attach the support frame and the vibration motor.
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
   1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

1. Attach the new adhesive strips. Press the adhesive strips firmly onto the back cover before you pull off the film (see figures 1 and 2).
2. Now put the battery back in the iPhone (see figure 3).
3. Fold over the black tear-off strip in the middle.

1. Reconnect the antenna connector to the logic board (see figure 1) and put it back in its original position (see figure 2). Use figure 3 to check whether your logic board is in the right place.

1. Install the bracket that connects the antenna to the frame (see figure 1), and screw it in place (see figure 2).
   1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
   1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw

1. Now screw in all six screws that hold the logic board in place (see figure 1).
   3 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screws
   1 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screw (not magnetic)
   2 x 2.3 mm Phillips screws

1. Now reconnect the following connectors:
   Antenna connector
   Battery connector
   Dock connector plug
   Standby/volume cable set connector
   When you connect the thin antenna connector, make sure it’s fitted properly. Press it carefully onto the slot.

1. Now put in the Lightning connector (see figure 1).
2. Push the nipple of the microphone’s rubber seal into the little black groove and make sure that the Lightning connector and audio jack are fitted properly against the frame (see figure 2). Now connect the ribbon cable again.

1. Turn the speaker to one side to put it back where it was originally. Make sure it’s inserted properly (figure 1).
2. Now you can fasten the Philipps screws again (figure 2).
   1 x 3.0 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
   2 x 3.5 mm Phillips screws
   2 x 1.3 mm Phillips screws
   2 x 2.9 mm Phillips screws
3. Connect the antenna cable (figure 3) and the ribbon cable again.

1. Then put the cover on and screw it in place.
   2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws

1. Reconnect the camera (see figure 1) and attach the rubber strap again. The strap has to be on the side below the clip (see figure 2).

1. Reattach the connectors (see figure 1). The touchscreen connector sometimes comes undone when you connect the LCD connector.
   Touchscreen
   LCD
   Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone
2. Start your iPhone as soon as the connectors are securely attached. Check the function of the LCD, touchscreen, proximity sensor, front camera and earpiece.
   If the connectors aren’t connected properly, stripes will appear on the display or parts of the touchscreen won’t work.
   
3. Now attach the cover and screw it in place (see figure 2).
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)
   2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
   1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw (magnetic)
Make sure you don’t screw the big 1.7 mm screw into a different thread because that could damage conductive paths on the logic board and cause a bluescreen.

1. This step is pretty tough. Use tweezers or the spudger to position the cable set’s connector and then use the spudger to carefully press the connector onto the connection (see figure 1).
2. If the connector is fitted correctly, put the silver cover over the connector. It’s easiest to position the cover using tweezers (see figure 2). Using the spudger, carefully press the cover on until it gently clicks into place (see figure 3).

1. Then carefully fold down the screen. Make sure that the edge on the upper part of the screen where the cables are clicks into place properly. Now carefully push the screen on toward the Home button until it is properly installed in the frame.

1. Now screw in the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
   2 x 4.0 mm pentalobe screws

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.