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Motherboard Removal

Prerequisite Only
This is a prerequisite-only guide! This guide is part of another procedure and isn’t meant to be used alone.

Introduction

This is a prerequisite-only guide! This guide is part of another procedure and isn't meant to be used alone.

What you need

  1. Motherboard Removal, Heat the left edge: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Completely power off your phone before you begin.

    • Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's left edge for two minutes.

    • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the back cover and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

    Edit

  2. Motherboard Removal, Separate the left adhesive: step 2, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Removal, Separate the left adhesive: step 2, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Removal, Separate the left adhesive: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the bottom left corner as possible.

    • Pull up on the suction cup with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the midframe on the left edge.

    • Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you're having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

    • Insert an opening pick into the gap.

    Edit

  3. Motherboard Removal, Slice the left adhesive: step 3, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Slice the left adhesive: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the pick along the left edge of the phone to slice the adhesive securing the back cover to the frame.

    • Leave the pick inserted in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

    Edit

  4. Motherboard Removal, Heat the top edge: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's top edge for two minutes.

    Edit

  5. Motherboard Removal: step 5, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Rotate the pick around the top left corner to slice the adhesive.

    Edit

  6. Motherboard Removal: step 6, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.

    • Leave the opening pick inserted in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

    Edit

  7. Motherboard Removal: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's right edge for two minutes.

    Edit

  8. Motherboard Removal: step 8, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Rotate the pick around the top right corner to slice the adhesive.

    Edit

  9. Motherboard Removal: step 9, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the pick along the right edge to slice the adhesive.

    • Leave the pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

    Edit

  10. Motherboard Removal: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's bottom edge for two minutes.

    Edit

  12. Motherboard Removal: step 11, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Rotate the pick around the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.

    Edit

  13. Motherboard Removal: step 12, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the pick along the bottom edge to slice the adhesive.

    Edit

  14. Motherboard Removal, Heat the camera adhesive: step 13, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Heat the camera adhesive: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • There's a significant amount of adhesive to the right of the cameras that secures the back cover to the motherboard cover.

    • Apply a heated iOpener to the right of the cameras for two minutes.

    Edit

  15. Motherboard Removal, Slice the adhesive around the camera: step 14, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Slice the adhesive around the camera: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Insert an opening pick between the back cover and motherboard cover on the top right edge.

    • Gently pull up on the back cover while sliding the opening pick back and forth along the right side of the cameras to slice the adhesive.

    • The back cover should detach from the phone at this point.

    Edit

  16. Motherboard Removal, Remove the back cover: step 15, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Remove the back cover: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the back cover from the phone and remove it.

    • If the back cover is still stuck to the midframe, slide an opening pick around the edges of the phone until the cover separates completely.

    • During reassembly:

    • This is a good point to test your phone's functionality before sealing it up. Use this guide to run a hardware test. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

    • Follow this guide to replace the back cover adhesive.

    Edit

  17. Motherboard Removal, Unfasten the motherboard cover: step 16, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Unfasten the motherboard cover: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 13 4 mm screws securing the motherboard cover.

    Edit

  18. Motherboard Removal, Release the motherboard cover clips: step 17, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Release the motherboard cover clips: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Insert a spudger between the motherboard cover and midframe on the top right edge of the phone.

    • Pry up with the spudger to release the clips securing the motherboard cover.

    • During reassembly, press down around the perimeter of the motherboard cover to engage the clips.

    Edit

  19. Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: step 18, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: step 18, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • Gently pull the motherboard cover up and away from the phone and remove it.

    • Don't pull quickly or forcefully, as the heat spreader very loosely secures the motherboard cover to the battery.

    Edit

  20. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 19, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery's press connector.

    • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

    Edit

  21. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the display cable: step 20, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the display cable: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display's press connector.

    Edit

  22. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna cable: step 21, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna cable: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna's press connector.

    Edit

  23. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 22, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the interconnect cable's press connector from the motherboard.

    Edit

  24. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the button assembly cable: step 23, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the button assembly cable: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the button assembly cable's press connector.

    Edit

  25. Motherboard Removal: step 24, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 24, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Take care not to puncture the battery with your tweezers—a punctured battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

    • Use tweezers to grip the top and bottom of the blue antenna's coaxial connector, as close to the connector head as possible.

    • Lift straight up to disconnect the cable.

    • Be gentle when disconnecting the cable, as it's very easy to tear the socket from the motherboard.

    • During reassembly, make sure to put the cable back in its clip on the motherboard.

    • To re-attach coaxial connectors like this one hold the connectors in place and gently press them straight down with your finger or the pointed end of a spudger.

    Edit

  26. Motherboard Removal: step 25, image 1 of 3 Motherboard Removal: step 25, image 2 of 3 Motherboard Removal: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • Use the same method from the previous antenna cable to disconnect the white and black antenna cables.

    • During reassembly, make sure to put the cables back in their clips on the motherboard.

    Edit

  27. Motherboard Removal: step 26, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 26, image 2 of 2

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to bend the 5G mmWave antenna cable out of the way to access the screw securing the motherboard.

    Edit

  28. Motherboard Removal: step 27, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 3 mm screw securing the motherboard.

    Edit

  29. Motherboard Removal: step 28, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 28, image 2 of 2

    • Insert the pointed end of a spudger between the midframe and motherboard in the opening near the coaxial connectors.

    • Gently pry up with the spudger to release the motherboard from the midframe.

    Edit

  30. Motherboard Removal: step 29, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal: step 29, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the motherboard from the phone.

    • During reassembly, make sure that all of the cables that connect to the motherboard (interconnect, battery, antennas, display, and button assembly) are out of they way so they don't get stuck under the motherboard when it's reinserted.

    Edit

  31. Motherboard Removal, Reassembly note: step 30, image 1 of 2 Motherboard Removal, Reassembly note: step 30, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
    $3.99
    Buy
    Edit
Conclusion

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

Author

with 3 other contributors

Spencer Day

Member since: 09/14/22

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