Installing iPhone 4 Wi-Fi Antenna

This guide will show you how to replace the wi-fi antenna which sits over the display connectors near the top of the phone.

  • Author: Scott Head
  • Time required: 15 Minutes
  • Difficulty: Moderate
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This guide will show you how to replace the wi-fi antenna which sits over the display connectors near the top of the phone.

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

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

  • Apple has recently substituted the two Phillips screws with 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws. If your iPhone 4 has 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws instead of Phillips, please refer to the second picture.

  • 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  ¶ 

  • Lift the rear panel away from the iPhone.

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Add Note Edit Step 4 — Wi-Fi Antenna  ¶ 

  • Remove the following five screws securing the wi-fi antenna to to the logic board:

    • One 2.3 mm Phillips

    • Two 1.6 mm Phillips

    • One 1.4 mm Phillips

    • One 4.8 mm Phillips

  • When re-assembling, start off with replacing the 4.8 mm Philips screw first, then the 2.3 mm. This is to ensure there is no mix-up, and avoid rendering the LCD and digitizer useless.

  • Also make to to put the long 4.8 mm Philips back in correctly when reassembling. This is the ground for the wi-fi antenna and is often the culprit of you are having bad wi-fi reception after reassembly.

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Add Note Edit Step 5  ¶ 

  • Use an iPod opening tool to slightly lift the top edge of the wi-fi antenna away from the logic board.

  • Use the tip of a spudger to pull the wi-fi retaining clips away from the inner frame.

  • Remove the wi-fi antenna from the iPhone. Make sure you don't lose the metal clips on the top of the cover where the 4.8mm screw attaches or the 4.8mm screw. That's the primary reason for abnormal Wi-Fi performance after the reassembly.

  • Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the connector cover with a de-greaser such as Windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues. Do not clean the connectors themselves with Windex.

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

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

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