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iPhone 4S Battery Replacement

What you need

Video Overview

  1. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement, Rear Panel: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

    • Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

    • Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe P2 screws next to the dock connector.

    • Be sure the driver is well-seated when removing Pentalobe screws—they are easy to strip.

  2. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • Push the rear panel toward the top edge of the iPhone.

    • The panel will move about 2 mm.

  3. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

  4. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 1 of 2 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the following screws securing the battery connector to the logic board:

    • One 1.7 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

  5. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • Carefully push the pressure contact away from the battery connector until it slides free from its position.

    • Remove the pressure contact.

  6. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Use a plastic opening tool to gently pry up the battery connector from its socket on the logic board.

    • Place the tip of the tool between the loudspeaker enclosure and the metal cover of the connector, and lift the bottom edge of the connector first.

    • The battery connector comes off vertically from the logic board. Do not apply force sideways.

    • Be careful not to pry at the battery connector socket itself, or it may detach from the logic board. There are four very small solder points awaiting this mistake!

  7. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement, Reassembly tip: step 7, image 1 of 2 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement, Reassembly tip: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • During reassembly, be sure to carefully position the pressure contact back in place. It should rest on top of the Philips screw post shown, and the gold contact should point towards the battery connector.

    • Be sure to clean the pressure contact with a degreaser such as windex or isopropyl alcohol. The oils on your fingers have the potential to create wireless interference.

  8. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Insert the edge of a plastic opening tool between the battery and the outer case near the bottom of the iPhone.

    • Run the plastic opening tool along the right edge of the battery and pry up at several points to completely separate it from the adhesive securing it to the outer case.

    • If the adhesive is too strong, apply a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol under the edge of the battery.

    • Wait about one minute for the alcohol solution to weaken the adhesive.

    • Use the flat end of a plastic opening tool to gently lift the battery.

    • Don't try to forcefully lever the battery out. If needed, apply a few more drops of alcohol to further weaken the adhesive. Never deform or puncture the battery with your pry tool.

    • If there's any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off or allow it to air dry before installing your new battery.

  9. iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 iPhone 4S Battery Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Use the exposed clear plastic pull tab to peel the battery off the adhesive securing it to the iPhone.

    • Be careful not to pull the plastic pull tab too hard as it can be ripped off very easily.

    • Remove the battery.

    • If your replacement battery came in a plastic sleeve, remove it before installation by pulling it away from the ribbon cable.

    • If your replacement battery came with an uncreased cable, carefully crease the cable into the proper shape before installing the battery into the phone.

    • While installing the replacement battery, temporarily connect the battery connector to the phone to ensure proper alignment. Once the battery is glued in place, disconnect the battery connector.

    • Perform a hard reset after reassembly. This can prevent several issues and simplify troubleshooting.

Conclusion

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

If your iPhone reboots constantly after the replacement, you need to do a "Hard Reset" by holding down the Home- and Sleep-Button for about 10 seconds (until the device restarts).

If you have WiFi and/or Cellular connection problems with the new battery, try restoring the device using iTunes.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

4059 other people completed this guide.

254 Comments

When I removed the battery the glue was holding it in. I used the screw driver to pry it out. It sparked and I'm sure shorted the logic board. VERY IMPORTANT ONLY USE PLASTIC TOOL WHEN REMOVING BATTERY! Now I have no service. I swapped a different logic board into same phone and works fine. Any suggestions on how to fix the old logic board are appreciated.

Eric - Reply

Used a screw driver once to lift up battery, shorted the board. No display. Had to give another iPhone 4 to customer.

I now on always use my nail to lift up the battery. Never had issues since doing that.

Ben -

Well, the phillips screwdriver was a bit awkward. Had to hold screwdriver top down with one hand and turn driver with other hand. All else was as stated. Never had to touch any internal parts with my bare hands just used tools. That saves the worries about static or corrosion. One part that I failed to see in write up is the small case ground. Don't loose it it will come loose once screw is out.

brriverrat - Reply

A couple of suggestions.

1). If you are over about 40, some sort of hands free magnifier helps a lot - I used a headband mounted jewelers magifier called an Optivisor.

2). A pair of fine tipped tweezers and a gentle touch will let you grab the pressure contact in step 5 without getting skin oil on it.

3). Work over some sort of tray to stop small parts from rolling away.

4). If you don't have a spudger or a set of plastic case opening tools (or you know you have them, but can't recall their exact location at this moment...*cough*), the corner of an an expired credit card, or a stiff guitar pick will work to pry the battery loose. It will likely bend the card though, so do use an expired one. I used an empty Starbucks gift card I found in a junk drawer...

npkeith - Reply

I'm over 40, I wish I read your tips first! both a magnifier and tweezers would have helped, and possiby prevented the spark... It's charging, fingers crossed that the tiny spark wasn't enough to fry anything!

ashleedawg -

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