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Installing iPhone 3GS Display
Replace a broken display on your iPhone 3GS.
- Author: Ben Eisenman
- Time required: 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Difficult
Cracked or faulty display? Replacing the glass is somewhat involved but very doable.
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Edit Step 2 ¶
Remove the metal handle from the suction cup. It's easier and safer to grip the suction cup's base instead of the metal handle.
Be very careful when opening the iPhone so that the cables under the display are not severed.
There is a rubber gasket between the silver front bezel and black display assembly. A bit of force is required in this step to separate the iPhone's display assembly.
Use a small suction cup near the Home button to gently pull up the lower portion of the iPhone's display assembly.
If the display assembly is too damaged to allow the suction cup to adhere, tape with a strong adhesive such as duct tape may be used.

Edit Step 4 ¶
Continue to hold the display assembly with one hand, and use your other hand and a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled "1."
Ribbon cable "1" is connected with a plug style connector. The block at the end of the cable is the plug which is simply pushed into a socket on the circuit board. No other locking mechanism is used.

Edit Step 6 ¶
Ribbon cable "3" is held in place by a FPC style connector. You must unlock this connector before sliding the ribbon cable out. The locking mechanism is on the opposite side of where the cable is inserted - it swivels upwards 90 degrees. Use a plastic spudger to lift the locking mechanism.
The FPC locking latch is very delicate and is typically a different color than the body of the connector. (see the detail image of FPC connector open and closed)
Slide the ribbon cable out of the connector, and remove the display assembly from the iPhone.
It's impossible to properly reinsert a ribbon into an FPC connector unless the lock is disengaged. Make sure the locking latch is open when attaching/detaching the cable.
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