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Repair information, troubleshooting tips, and guides for the sixth iteration of Apple iPhone, announced on September 12, 2012. Model: A1428, A1429

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iPhone 5 Black screen after screen replacement

I replaced a iPhone 5 screen for a customer the other day. It worked fine when it was picked up, but a day later they returned it with a black screen. The phone seems to start up when plugged in to charge and vibrates when muted/unmuted, but the screen stays black. Whats puzzling is that it doesn't seems to start when I only use the power button. I can turn it off by holding power button and slide the bar, so the touch seems to work.

Heres what I've tried so far...

Replaced it with the original broken screen.

Replaced it with several new screens.

Disassemble and assemble the phone.

Replaced the power button flex.

Put the motherboard in a new iPhone 5.

Nothing helps. Hopefully someone can enlighten me. :)

Answer this question I have this problem too

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Hi Tommy,

Did find what was wrong with the iPhone 5 screen?

I have had the same problem.

I too have tried the same screen in a different iPhone 5 and it works perfectly.

The connector contacts are all fine. The phone is working but the screen is black.

I'm thinking there is a problem with the logic board.

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I had the same problem with my customer... There is a capacitor on the left side of the power flex cable... Mine was missing... removed one from an water damaged board and placed it and BOOOM... It worked.

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no you didn't

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If you replaced it with multiple screens and it did not fix it, turn it off and go in a ver dark room where you can't see your hands, turn the unit on and if you see any kind of light apple has got you. Many items can kill the video driver, connecting screen with power on, moisture, misaligned connector. Your logic board is bad. Specifically the video driver.

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I've seen this with several different iphone 5's (plural not 5s), I Think it's something on the logic board that is easily broken/dislodged. I think this because the original screen that worked prior now doesn't work. Once in a blue moon I try the same part I've been trying and it miraculously works, otherwise, a concrete solution is still a mystery. Sorry all. Hope some wizard descends from the phone heavens so save us all.....

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This is a problem with some of the cheaper replacement screens, if you attach the screen only to the chassis (without the fixing plate, and all the other gubbins) it works, as soon as i place the metal mounting plate tot he screen assembly it shorts itself out and the screen fails to work, but the backlight will function and you can hear the phone working. This is an issue with nearly all the replacement IPHONE5 screens i have tried from Flea-bay Buy your cheap chinese electronics with caution.

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I've worked on a few iphone screens myself, and I learned from experience that the metal plate that goes over the flex connectors can short out the screen if there is nothing to keep it from pressing against the bear connection of the digitizer. If you notice, the screen fails to turn on sometimes depending on the pressure of the screen against the board. I buy many chinese imported screens from eBay so I've been there, done that. If you look closely at the oem screen, there is a plastic sticker on the digitizer flex cable in the back to prevent a screen short-out. All it takes is for the screen to be short-out once, and weeks later, it won't turn on at all. Honestly2k is absolutely correct. This also occurs with the Iphone 4 replacements as well

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honestly2k, how did you fix it? This same thing just happened to me.

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Are you using anti static precautions? (You can buy a cheap wrist strap crock clip setup from eBay for a couple of quid) I also disconnect the battery as a precaution so I know I have not caused any damage to the logic pcb and other components. A magnifying glass helps but where you have the two flat screen interconnect strips where they exit from the display assembly, they are brown plastic then they have the black metal coating starting mine was shorting there. I used an epoxy non conductive resin to stop the short. If your old screen bad cracked but still works use that to verify you have not caused damage to the logic pcb.

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the electrical tape over the metal terminals of the screen cables worked for me

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Before putting the metal plate over the flex connectors, a piece of "3M" electrical tape over the ribbon connections will resolve the shorting issue. Williammedic is exactly right here. This seems to fix the issue 100% of the time. Make sure that the inner core of the electrical tape says "3M" on it. This tape doesn't leave sticky residue behind if you need to remove it later.

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Hi

Happened to me the same problem, what I did was to inspect well near the connectors and set me well that a connector had broken and what I did was I made a bridge with a silver writer. and it worked but I had to connect a new screen for it to work and then place the iphone screen.

And iphone is working properly

Bad Part

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99104195@N0...

Fixed with Silver Writer

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99104195@N0...

i use a Macro Lens for iphone 5

Link Silver Writer

http://www.amazon.com/CIRCUIT-WRITER-SIL...

never use it direct the writer, put some on a sheet with something that has the fine point you can do it without touching other connectors or you can make a short circuit.

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hi Augusto Moreta, I can not see the photos of the damaged part, please let you can place them in the order that I see them.

Thanks

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hey Augosto why even bothering with opsting the links that don't work. Can you fix that please?

== Update ==

From what I research it's the backlight coil IC and backlight fiters on the motherboard that went bad. You need to have good soldering skills to fix it.

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I have an IPhone and it is cracked up but I am going to buy a Screen-replacement & a LCD but,with all that being said when I get all of that will my same information that I had on my phone still be there?

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Yes and for like 8 bucks u can get a larger capricious new battery and it literally takes another 30 sec to change while you're in there so your phone now will have great battery reserve

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if the screen is not working, then check the cables that connect the screen to the phone. Is one of them broken or not on the circuit? your screen could be permanently broken. Try to see if you did something wrong

Good Luck :)

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Thanks for reply Ashton.

I have tried several different screens, but all turn out black. I have also tested the screen on a different iPhone 5 and it worked fine. Im worried there is a damage on the logic board but where to look?

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its the battery mine is doing that now. the same thing happened to my uncle, when he went to apple they told him it was a faulty battery and they gave him a new phone. Just get a new battery and replace it. that is what i am about to do

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This Problem was nagging me for weeks.. Finally figured it out.. When I connected the screen it worked until I pushed it all the way into frame...

Solution: On some replacement screens there is some exposed metal coming from the flex cable that needs to be covered up.. Scotch tape will do..

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The same thing happened to me - the screen was working perfectly fine until I pushed it all the way into the frame. When I did that, the screen was very dim and the battery got really hot and then the screen just died. I'm assuming that i have some metal that needs to be covered up. I looked and I thought I found some metal that was uncovered, I covered it with electrical tape but still black screen. Do you have any other suggestions? Also do you have any picture of what you're talking about?

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I had this same issue while repairing an iPhone 5C screen. Screen worked great when tested but when I put the plate on to cover the connections and put it back together, it would not respond to touch. After a little trouble shooting I put the phone back together and just left the connector cover off and it worked.

Seems to be an issue with the connector plate contacting the connections and shorting them out. I solved the issue by transferring the black foam connector pads from the broken screen to the new one; wa-la.

Hope this helps someone.

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I just replaced my iPhone 5c screen and now like every 5 minutes the screen will fade out and the phone restarts do you know what could be causing that to happen

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Man i just replaced my screen on the iPhone 5c and it, now keeps restarting. The guy that "so called" fixed it said,It will take like 30 minutes to an hour!So I left to grab something to eat and came back shortly. First off,he mentioned something about my phone not charging, saying he thinks it's my battery, then he shows me my phone, the part he replaced and a battery he was using to make my phone work. So i'm thinking something is strange here, because my phone charges without any problems, So i just said to myself I'll trust him but the because i was in desperate need to get it repaired. So to the point, i called the guy and he say's some bullshit about my firmware or updating or restoring it blah blahblah... So you get the point?? But I'm !@#$%^ as !@#$! I called Apple and a representative told he basically scammed me lol. I feel you all pain!!!

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Poor quality power button flex cable, after a reair iv dont useing same china part my customers power button works 100% can turn on and off hahaha so heres the prob you cant lock the screen with a quick touch of the power button.

others have said check setting as theres had changed during a repair and also reset device. NONE OF THOSE WORKED FOR ME i replaced with oem part from apple NOW ALL GOOD.

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Mandeep,

Open the phone up and take the plate off over the lcd-digitizer/front camera flex cables. Do not disconnect the cables. Take the right screw out of the battery connector cover and loosen the left one so you can get a tool in to disconnect the battery. Reconnect the battery and try turn your phone back on and test the screen without reseating it or putting the lcd/digi cover back on.

If that works, make sure you have transferred the foam pads from the back of the connectors off the old screen to the new one and try re-assemble. It's possible that the plate is causing something to short out.

I've had this issue and ended up leaving the plate off so it would work as it was my personal phone and I didn't care.

If you do not have the foam pads use some electrical tape.

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OMG I solved it! Don't tighten too much the screws on the metal plate on the connectors and of course transfer the other 2 foams from the broken one and that solves it. Forget about not putting the plate on. I'm no tech but it worked after going trough the process 3 times and my screen didn't work.

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The blue screen is usually your front facing camera. It probably shorted out. Try unplugging the front facing camera from the logic board. But keep the lcd and digitizer cable plugged in. Turn on the phone and see if it boots. If it does replace the front facing camera.

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the phone need new motherboard try to sell it in ebay for parts you could sell it between $100 to $140 just post it in ebay belive me unleash that is your challenge to fix that phone

in this case buy motherboard and replace it

it showing at same website

ifix

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I had the same problem and noticed that on the connection there was a couple of pins bent down on the logic board I bent them back up and WaaLaa Problem solved Hop this helps

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Exacty, the main issue is in main mother board, first you change lcd backlight fuse , quil and diode then check 100% solve, if same issue then change lcd board connector.

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Here is a solution for iphone 5,5s, 5c backlight issue or black screen only not blue screen .

Lcd board connector's 3rd pin is directly goes to backlight fuse and backlight fuse goes to diode and quil. First change the fuse , if this doesn't work then change diode and L quil. Diode and quil are located next to the big Apple power ic. If that does not resolve the problem then you guys must have used LONG SCREW after replacing the lcd. So in cases where long screw has been used ,the phone will show BLUE SCREEN, and Error 09 or 14 when restoring on itunes.

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Can you show me how to do this ?

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I don't do these kinds of detailed repairs but would definitely like to learn/see!

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Replaced screen, could hear notifications but screen was black ( no kind of backlight either) Disconnecting the battery and reattaching screen before reconnecting battery worked. The software needs to register the new hardware. Works best if device is powered off first

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Jos, my friend, thank you for this tip. It helped perfectly. I had the same problem, had no idea what was wrong. Found your advice, tried it, worked and I was happy again :) Thank you big time :)

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This worked for me a few times. Black screen with new part = that is a bad part. Replace the original cracked screen if possible and perform a soft reset until the apple appears. Once the phone boots up shut it back down and try another replacement part. If it fails again repeat the process. NOTE: When replacing the original screen and cannot get the apple logo to appear with a soft reset the logic board may be damaged. A good idication of this is if you get the repeating charge sounds/vibration when plugging in the phone = red ring/blue screen of death! Good luck!

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Use a flashlight! shine the light at an angle onto the screen and you can see your apps! The Iphone was dropped into a toilet and after a few weeks of drying, it still works. Replaced the screen and still black. Connecting to the charger and powering it on I can hear the SIRI voice over. That is when I tried using a flashlight.

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I had the same issue when I replaced my screen, I couldn't switch off the handset and thought the battery was soldered to the board.

The screen stayed black but you could see the lad was lit at the side.

I disconnected the battery then the screen, then reconnect the screen, reconnect the battery and it's now workin fine.

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Put the I phone 5 in a very deep rubbishy bin,and set light to it,that's the most use you will get from it,a bit of useful heat.PS. Do it in the winter for max effect and erpfficency,

Martin. Hope this helps

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I used to think my I phone 5's were great but you can't fix them ecomically because every time you disconnect a connector it,s nearly impossible to re-connect without damaging something NEEDS CONNECTORS TO BE EASY AND STRONG FIXING then it would be a first class phone

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My phone was working until I put in a new battery and replaced the front screen complete with front camera and home button,is it me at fault

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Ok guys, this just happen to me today!!! Same issues, the only thing I noticed was that on the wires from the screen there is a thin wire that it doesn't connect to anything as the others but I didn't see when I opened the new one that at the tip , it didn't have tape/or protection, basically it was naked!!! With 3 pin that was making contact to the metal with a screw on the button of it, so I just looked at the old one then I pulled the same tape from the tip and put it on the new one,,,

Even though I said yes!!"" That's gonna be the problem still nothing worked until,,,

Here is the trick. Press the power button with the main button at the same time until it powers off,,,,

Then repeat the two buttons secuence again for 5 seconds,, and bualaaaaa!!!! It works like a champ!!!

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Something similar happened to me. I replaced a broken screen with a new one from iFixit.com and it didn't turn on. I put the old screen back and tried to turn it on, and that didn't work either.

Also, connected to laptop to see if I could see it getting charged. iTunes showed a message that the screen was locked. It made me think that perhaps the phone is on (which it wasn't before replacing the screen--I had turned it off), but there was nothing on the screen.

Then I thought of reseting the phone using the new screen (press and hold power and home button together for approximately 10 seconds). Then I turned it back on and it worked! That's all!

I hope no other part is malfunctioning in your case.

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Me too inevert screen or battery I have replaced but one

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Tommy Vika will be eternally grateful.
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