Installing iPhone 4 Verizon Display Assembly

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Replace a cracked front panel or a broken display on your Verizon iPhone 4.

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Use this guide to replace a cracked front panel or a broken LCD.

After successfully replacing the display assembly, protect your new display from scratches by installing a screen protector.

Sections
Tools
Tools (continued)
Relevant parts
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Add Note Edit Step 1 — Rear Panel  ¶ 

  • Before disassembling your iPhone, be sure it is powered off.

  • Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the dock connector.

  • During reassembly, we recommend you replace the 5-point screws with equivalent Phillips screws. Our Liberation Kit provides the tools and screws needed to replace the Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws.

  • The 5-Point Screwdriver should only be used once, as it has the potential to strip the screws.

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Add Note Edit Step 2  ¶ 

  • Push the rear panel toward the top edge of the iPhone.

  • The panel will move about 2 mm.

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Add Note Edit Step 3  ¶ 

  • Pull the rear panel away from the back of the iPhone, being careful not to damage the plastic clips attached to the rear panel.

  • Remove the rear panel from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Battery  ¶ 

  • Remove the single 1.5 mm Phillips screw securing the battery connector to the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 6  ¶ 

  • Use the exposed clear plastic pull tab to peel the battery off the adhesive securing it to the iPhone.

  • Remove the battery.

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Add Note Edit Step 7 — Dock Connector Cable  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 1.8 mm Phillips screws securing the dock connector cable to the logic board.

  • Remove the thin metal dock connector cable cover.

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Add Note Edit Step 8  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the dock cable up from its socket on the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 9  ¶ 

  • Peel the dock connector cable off the adhesive securing it to the logic board and the side of the speaker enclosure.

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Add Note Edit Step 10  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw securing the pressure contact to the logic board near the vibrator.

  • Remove the pressure contact.

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Add Note Edit Step 11  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the cellular antenna cable up from its socket on the logic board.

  • De-route the cellular antenna cable out from under the metal fingers attached to the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 12 — Rear Camera  ¶ 

  • Remove the following five screws:

    • Three 1.3 mm Phillips screws

    • One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

    • One 2.4 mm Phillips screw

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Add Note Edit Step 13  ¶ 

  • Lift the cable cover from its edge nearest the top of the iPhone.

  • Pull the cable cover tabs out of their slots cut into the EMI shield on the logic board and remove it from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 14  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the rear camera connector up from its socket on the logic board.

  • Be careful not to break any components off the surrounding area on the logic board as you pry upwards.

  • Remove the rear camera from the iPhone.

  • Be careful not to scratch the back of the display assembly after the removal of the rear facing camera.

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Add Note Edit Step 15 — Logic Board  ¶ 

  • Remove the five cables near the top of the logic board in the following order:

    • Headphone jack/volume button cable

    • Power button cable

    • Front facing camera cable

    • Digitizer cable

    • Display data cable

  • To disconnect the cables, use the edge of a plastic opening tool to gently lift their connectors up and out of the sockets on the logic board.

  • Be careful not to break any of the small and delicate surface mount components as you disconnect the cables.

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Add Note Edit Step 16  ¶ 

  • Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the 4.8 mm standoff near the headphone jack.

  • There may be a 1.3mm phillips screw and a small clip which will need to be removed first.

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Add Note Edit Step 17  ¶ 

  • Lift the small grounding clip up off the logic board and remove it from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 18  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to disconnect the wi-fi antenna from the logic board.

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Add Note Edit Step 19  ¶ 

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  • If necessary, remove the piece of tape covering the hidden Phillips screw near the power button.

  • Remove the 2.5 mm Phillips screw securing the logic board near the power button.

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Add Note Edit Step 20  ¶ 

  • Remove the 3.4 mm Phillips screw near the vibrator motor.

  • Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the two 3.6 mm standoffs along the side of the logic board nearest the battery opening.

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Add Note Edit Step 21  ¶ 

  • Carefully lift the logic board from the end closest to the speaker enclosure and slide it away from the top edge of the iPhone.

  • Remove the logic board.

  • Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the logic board (not the mating halves of connectors) with a de-greaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause grounding issues.

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Add Note Edit Step 22  ¶ 

  • Be sure not to lose the small grounding finger for the rear facing camera near the power button.

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Add Note Edit Step 23 — Vibrator  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to pry the vibrator off the adhesive securing it to the frame of the iPhone.

  • Remove the vibrator.

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Add Note Edit Step 24 — Display Assembly  ¶ 

  • Remove the two 2.4 mm Phillips screws from the sides of the speaker enclosure assembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 25  ¶ 

  • Remove the small plastic bracket that was installed under the screw closest to the dock connector cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 26  ¶ 

  • Remove the speaker enclosure assembly from the iPhone.

  • Before reinstalling the speaker enclosure assembly's screws, be sure the Wi-Fi grounding fingers are installed below the lip in the iPhone's metal case as seen in the second picture.

  • Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points between the grounding fingers of the Wi-Fi antenna and the case of the iPhone with a de-greaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.

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Add Note Edit Step 27  ¶ 

  • Remove the small pieces of black tape covering the display mounting tabs.

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Add Note Edit Step 28  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw securing the display assembly near the power button.

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Add Note Edit Step 29  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw near the headphone jack.

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Add Note Edit Step 30  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw near the lower microphone.

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Add Note Edit Step 31  ¶ 

  • Remove the 1.6 mm Phillips screw near the dock connector cable.

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Add Note Edit Step 32  ¶ 

  • Loosen the three large-headed Phillips screws along the volume button side of the iPhone about one half turn.

  • It is not necessary to completely remove these screws. When reinstalling the display assembly, be sure the washers are closest to the screw head (as seen in the second picture).

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Add Note Edit Step 33  ¶ 

  • Loosen the three large-headed Phillips screws along the other side of the iPhone about one half turn.

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Add Note Edit Step 34  ¶ 

  • Use the edge of a plastic opening tool to gently pry up the display assembly around its perimeter.

  • Remove the display assembly from the iPhone.

  • When reinstalling the display assembly, be sure the digitizer and display data cables are completely pulled through the slot cut into the outer case before pressing the display assembly down into the outer case. Failure to do so will cause the digitizer cable to not reach its socket on the logic board.

  • After reassembly, protect your new display from any scratches by installing a new screen protector.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

For more information, check out the iPhone 4 Verizon device page.

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