iPhone 7 - Replacing the back cover

1. In order to protect your device from short circuits during repair, you should switch it off completely beforehand.
2. Press the sleep/wake button until the "Switch off" slider appears on the display.
3. Wipe the slider from left to right.
4. Your iPhone will shut down completely in about ten seconds.

• 2 × 3,3 mm Pentalobe

1. Use a Pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two Pentalobe screws located to the left and right of the Lightning connector.
2. Place the loosened screws in a screw storage.

To avoid losing any of the disassembled parts or screws, we recommend that you use a screw store. You can use an old sewing box for this purpose. We at iDoc use a high-quality magnetic mat for our repairs, on which the removed parts can be arranged in the same way as they were installed in the phone.

iPhone 7 opens from the display. This is strongly glued to the rest of the case and must be warmed up before opening.

1. First place your iPhone 7 on a clean, soft surface to protect the back cover from scratches.
2. Using a hot air tool, such as a heat gun or a regular hairdryer, run it over the edge of the screen from the outside to heat the adhesive.

As a rule of thumb, heat your device only enough to make it comfortable to touch without burning your fingers.

Once the iPhone 7 is opened, the warranty for dust and splash protection as well as waterproofness is void.

1. Once the display edge is well heated, you can place a suction cup on the display at the height of the home button.
2. Pull the suction cup upwards to create a narrow gap between the aluminium frame and the display.
3. At the same time, insert a flat, stable tool into the resulting gap. We use a hard plastic plectrum for this purpose.
4. Try to enlarge the gap by pushing the aluminium frame down with the tool.

Be careful not to insert the picks too far on the side of the sleep/wake button, to avoid damaging the flex cable of the display.

1. Now move the pick once around the display and slightly lift the display up so that the noses come off the aluminium frame.

Keep heating the edge of the display and leave individual flat picks in the frame, so that the glue doesn't rebond in the already loosened areas.

Avoid laying the display flat, otherwise the sensitive flex cables can easily be overstretched. We therefore recommend leaning the display against a stable object.

1. Once the display is completely detached, you can carefully flip it open towards the sleep/wake button.

• 1 × 2,4 mm Y-Type
• 3 × 1,0 mm Y-Type
• Battery connector

Loosen the battery connector at the beginning of the repair. This will help prevent a possible short circuit and ensure that you don't accidentally turn on your iPhone 7 while you're working.

1. Use a Y-type screwdriver to loosen the four Y-type screws and then remove the bracket plate over the battery connector.

1. Now move a plastic lever tool under the exposed battery connector and carefully lift it off. We use a plastic spudger for this purpose.

• Display connector
• Home button connector

When detaching the display connectors lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Now separate the two display connectors (display and home button) in the same way - also with the plastic spudger.

• 2 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• FaceTime connector

1. In the first step, remove the two Phillips screws fixing the bracket plate over the FaceTime connector and take it out.

When detaching the FaceTime connector start from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Now carefully separate the FaceTime connector from the logicboard with a plastic spudger.
2. At this point you can completely remove the display and put it aside.

• 2 × 1,9 mm Phillips
• Taptic Engine connector
• 3 × 1,5 mm Phillips

1. Unscrew the two Phillips screws from the plastic cover and remove it.

When detaching connectors lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Then carefully lever off the Taptic Engine connector with a spudger.
2. Now remove the three Phillips screws that secure the Taptic Engine in the back cover of your iPhone 7 and take it out.

The battery of iPhone 7 is secured in the back cover with two adhesive strips. The white adhesive areas of the tapes are located under black tabs that are glued to the bottom edge of the battery.

1. Use tweezers to remove the black tabs from the edge of the battery.

Hold the adhesive strips as flat as possible when pulling them out to prevent them from tearing. Also hold the battery and iPhone firmly when pulling the last piece of tape to prevent the battery from falling out of the device.

1. Slowly pull the tapes out from under the battery.

If one of the tapes tears, you'll need to gently lever the battery out with a wide battery spudger. Try to bend the battery as little as possible.

1. When all the adhesive strips are released, you can remove the battery.

• 2 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3,2 mm Phillips
• Antenna connectors

When detaching the antenna connectors always lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Carefully separate the connectors of both antenna cables from the logicboard with a spudger or tweezers.
2. Then unscrew the four Phillips screws that hold the speaker in place.
3. Now you can lift out the speaker and the antenna cable.

• Camera connector
• 1 × 2,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips

When detaching the camera connector lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Detach the connector of the iSight camera by gently levering it off with the spudger.
2. Unscrew the two Phillips screws of the cover plate above the camera and take it out of the case.
3. Then use tweezers to remove the camera from its lead in the rear case.

• 2 × 1,1 mm Y-Type
• Volume control cable connector

1. First loosen the two Y-type screws of the silver cover plate.

When detaching the connector of the volume control cable always lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. Put the released cover plate aside and carefully separate the connector with a spudger.

• 1 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1,1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips

1. First unscrew the four Phillips screws of the antenna cover and remove the cover.

Note that one of the screws is screwed into the side of the back cover.

1. Now loosen the small connecting plate under the antenna cover by removing the two Phillips screws that fix it to the logicboard.
2. Take the detached connection plate out of the iPhone case.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• Wi-Fi antenna connector

When detaching the connector of the Wi-Fi connector always lever from the side where there are no small components on the board. This way you avoid potential damage.

1. First, use a spudger to detach the connector of the Wi-Fi antenna from the logicboard.
2. Then remove the two Phillips screws that secure the flex cable.

One of the two screws is attached to the side of the housing.

1. Loosen the slightly stuck flex cable of the antenna by carefully sliding underneath it with a steel spatula.

Use hot air to facilitate the removal of the flex cable.

1. Take the detached antenna out of the rear case.

1. Take the SIM tray out of the rear case by pressing with a SIM tool or paper clip into the small hole next to the SIM tray.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
• 4 × 2,0 mm Standoff
• Lightning connector

1. First unscrew the six screws that fix the logicboard.

There is a special screwdriver for the stand-off screws, but the screws can also be loosened with a slotted screwdriver.

1. Then detach the Lightning connector.
2. Take the loosened logicboard as well as the cover plate of the flashlight underneath, out of the back cover.

• 2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,6 mm Phillips

1. Start by unscrewing the five Phillips screws that attach the Lightning Connector to the back cover.

Two of the screws are screwed into the frame of the backcover and are each hidden under a black sticker.

1. Heat the glued flex cable with hot air and carefully loosen it from the bottom of the back cover with the flat side of the spatula.
2. Use the steel spatula to loosen both the Lightning connector and the two gold microphones connected to the same cable set.
3. Carefully pull the Lightning connector and microphones out of their leads in the rear case frame and remove the entire cable unit.

• 5 × 2,9 mm Phillips

1. Remove the five Phillips screws securing the flex cable of the standby and volume buttons.
2. Briefly heat the cable set with hot air and then carefully loosen it from the bottom of the back cover with a steel spatula.
3. Loosen the small gold ambient microphone from its lead and remove the entire cable set.

• 1 × 1,4 mm Phillips

1. Remove the guide rail from the edge of the back cover by unscrewing the Phillips screw.

• 6 × 1,5 mm Phillips

1. Loosen the three fixing clamps from the edge of the back cover by unscrewing the two Phillips screws.
2. Also remove the small plastic pin next to the SIM tray opening.

The plastic pin must be transferred to the new back cover.

1. Using tweezers, carefully pull the clamps of the sleep/wake button out of the back cover frame.
2. Press the bracket vertically upwards from one side and then carefully pull it off the back cover frame as well.
3. Now you can press out the button from inside the frame.
4. Proceed the same way for the volume buttons.

Check and compare the new back cover to the old one. You might need to transfer some small plastic holders or foam rubber spacers.

1. Attach all required parts (stickers or plastic holders) to the new back cover.

1. Re-insert the sleep/wake button by pressing it from the outside into the back cover frame.
2. Insert the bracket on the inside of the back cover frame, first vertically and then rotate it horizontally.
3. Now use the tweezers to hook the clamps of the sleep/wake button into the key holder. You'll need a little skill to do this.
4. Do the same for the volume keys.

• 6 × 1,5 mm Phillips

1. Insert the small plastic pin next to the SIM tray opening on the edge of the back cover.
2. Position also the three mounting clamps on the edge of the back cover and fix them with two Phillips screws each.

• 1 × 1,4 mm Phillips

1. Install the rail in its original position and fasten it with the Phillips screw.

• 5 × 2,9 mm Phillips

Make sure the cable is lying flat and not bent. Make sure the microphone and flash are fitted correctly.

1. Install the volume control cable and press it onto the back cover bottom.
2. Attach it to the back cover with the five Phillips screws.

After tightening the screws, check the button sensitivity and adjust the screws if necessary.

• 2 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,6 mm Phillips

Make sure to align the flex cable of the Lightning connector correctly, otherwise the connector cannot be attached correctly to the logicboard. The two small white dots on the bottom of the back cover must be visible through the cut-outs in the flex cable (see Figure 4).

1. Put the flex cable of the Lightning connector back in its original position and press it flat on the bottom of the back cover.
2. Push the socket and the two golden microphones back into their leads on the edge of the rear case.
3. Fasten the whole unit with five screws and the small silver bracket.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
• 4 × 2,0 mm Standoff

1. Put the cover for the flash light on.
2. Place the logicboard back where it was originally. The camera lead should be seated above the board.
3. Fasten it with the screws again.

1. Now slide the SIM tray back into the appropriate opening.

If you’re having trouble sliding it in, check the position of the logicboard.

• Lightning connector
• Volume control cable connector

Never connect the sensitive connectors with force.

1. Reattach the Lightning connector and the connector of the volume control cable, so that they click into place audibly and noticeably.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• Antenna connector

1. Put the Wi-Fi antenna back into its original position in the iPhone rear case and screw it tight.
2. Press it lightly to restore the bond.
3. Finally, reconnect the antenna connector, so that it clicks into place.

• 1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1,1 mm Phillips

1. Put the small connecting plate back to its original position and screw it together with the two Phillips screws.
2. Then put the antenna cover back on and screw it with Phillips screws as well.

• 2 × 1,1 mm Y-Type

1. Replace the silver cover over the the volume control cable connector.
2. Screw it in with the two Y-type screws.

• Camera Connector
• 1 × 2,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips

1. Put the iSight camera back into its lead in the back cover and attach its connector.
2. Place the cover plate over the camera and screw it in place.

• 2 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3,2 mm Phillips
• Antenna connectors

When inserting the speaker, be careful not to pinch the antenna cables.

1. Put the speaker back in its original place at the bottom of the back cover.
2. Secure it with the four Phillips screws.
3. Position the antenna cables, slide them into the lead and connect them to the board.

The adhesive strips must be correctly aligned. Check the alignment by placing the adhesive strips in your iPhone beforehand.

1. Remove the large blue protective film from the adhesive strips and place them centred on the bottom of the new battery, with the adhesive side facing down, .
2. Turn the battery over and remove the small blue protective film from the adhesive tabs.
3. Press the tabs firmly on the edge of the battery and turn the battery over again.
4. Now pull the remaining pink protective film from the adhesive strips.

1. Insert the battery back into the rear case of your iPhone 7. Use the battery connector to replace the battery.

Position the battery, so that it is slightly off the frame on all sides.

• 3 × 1,5 mm Phillips
• Taptic Engine Connector
• 2 × 1,9 mm Phillips

1. Put the Taptic Engine back to its original position between the battery and the Lightning connector.
2. Fix the Taptic Engine with the three Phillips screws.
3. Then attach the Taptic Engine connector.
4. Finally, place the plastic cover back over the connector and secure it with the two Phillips screws.

Despite the attachment of a new adhesive frame, your iPhone 7 is no longer 100% waterproof after repair.

We will show how to attach the adhesive frame using iPhone 8 as an example. The process is the same for iPhone 7.

1. To make sure the new adhesive frame fits properly, you must first remove all old adhesive residue from the back cover and display frame.
2. Try placing the adhesive frame on the back cover to align it correctly.

The corners of the glue frame differ and help to align it correctly.

1. Remove the first large protective film from the bottom of the adhesive frame.
2. Then place it on one side of the back cover frame and press it down firmly one by one.
3. Finally, remove the remaining protective film from the adhesive frame, leaving only a thin, transparent adhesive film on the edge of the back cover.

• FaceTime connector
• 2 × 1,2 mm Phillips

1. To reconnect the display unit to the logicboard, first place it upright at the top of the back cover.
2. Reattach the connector of the FaceTime camera by gently pressing it with your finger until it clicks into place.
3. Once the connector is attached, you can place the display on the side of the back cover.

Just as with detaching the FaceTime connector, it is recommended to lean the display against a stable object to prevent the flex cables from overstretching.

1. Finally, put the bracket plate back on the FaceTime connector and fix it with the two Phillips screws.