iPhone 16 Plus Taptic Engine Removal

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the Taptic Engine in your iPhone 16 Plus.

If the vibrations coming from your phone feel rattly or are intermittent, you might need to replace the Taptic Engine.

You'll need replacement back glass adhesive to complete this repair.

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, above the USB-C port.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
There's a delicate cable connecting the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume up button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in each step to avoid bending these contacts.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm on the bottom edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back glass for two minutes.
When using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the right edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts and ribbon cable.
Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and slide it halfway up the right edge, or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
Don't slice near the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging/flash cable.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the left edge to avoid damaging the spring contact.
Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the back glass, angled to include the volume buttons, for two minutes.
When using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
You should hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.

Don't try to fully remove the back glass just yet—it's still attached with a delicate ribbon cable. Follow the next few steps to remove it safely.
If the back glass doesn't swing open easily, don't force it—go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
You may need to lift the back glass up slightly before swinging it open to fully disengage the clips.
Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons.
Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.
Remove the opening picks.

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1.3 mm-long screws securing the middle connector cover.

Be careful not to dent or puncture the battery during this step.
Use blunt-nose tweezers or your fingers to slide the cover towards the left edge of the phone and release its hook from its slot on the logic board.
Remove the cover.