Introduction
Follow this guide to remove or replace a cracked or broken back glass, aka back cover, on your iPhone 16 Pro.
This assembly includes the flash and wireless charging coil. These parts come as one unit, which is uniquely paired to your logic board.
After you complete this guide, calibrate authentic Apple replacement components using Repair Assistant.
You'll need replacement back glass adhesive to complete this repair.
What you need
-
-
Unplug any cables from the phone.
-
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off the phone.
-
-
-
If the screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
-
-
-
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
-
-
-
Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.
-
-
-
Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
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.
-
-
-
Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and halfway up the right edge, or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
-
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
-
-
-
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.
-
Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
-
-
-
Heat the top edge of the back glass, including the area around the volume buttons, until it's hot to the touch.
-
-
-
Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
-
-
-
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 screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the lower connector cover:
-
Two 1.2 mm‑long screws
-
One 1.0 mm‑long screw
-
-
-
-
Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the upper connector cover:
-
Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
-
One 1.2 mm‑long screw
-
One 1.6 mm‑long screw
-
-
Tool used on this step:Tweezers$4.99
-
Use blunt nose tweezers or your fingers to remove large pieces of adhesive from the frame perimeter.
-
Use a spudger to scrape the adhesive residue off of the frame.
-
If the adhesive feels stubborn, apply some heat using a hair dryer or heat gun and try again.
-
-
Tool used on this step:Microfiber Cleaning Cloths$3.99
-
If you're reusing your back glass, apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to a microfiber or lint-free cloth and wipe around the perimeter to prepare the surface for new adhesive.
-
-
-
Wrap a lint-free cloth or a coffee filter over the point of a spudger and apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to it.
-
Wipe in one direction along the perimeter of the frame to clean the adhesive residue.
-
-
-
Lay the adhesive sheet over the frame to determine its proper orientation.
-
-
-
Use your finger or a spudger to press and connect the battery press connector onto the logic board.
-
-
-
Align the back glass connector cover by its screw holes and lay it in place.
-
-
-
Use your fingers or a spudger to peel away all perimeter liners, exposing the adhesive.
-
Check the frame and back glass for any stray liners and remove them. There should be no liners remaining.
-
-
-
Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or an iOpener to heat the back glass perimeter until it's slightly too hot to touch.
-
-
-
Use your fingers to firmly squeeze around the perimeter of the iPhone.
-
-
-
Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to install the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.
-
After your repair, calibrate a genuine replacement back glass using Apple's Repair Assistant. Navigate to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the onscreen prompts.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 16 Pro Answers Community for help.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
4 other people completed this guide.
