Introduction
Use this guide to replace the Taptic Engine in your iPhone 16.
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.
What you need
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Unplug any cables from your phone.
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Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off your phone.
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If your screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
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Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.
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Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
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Tool used on this step:iOpener$14.99
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Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass.
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While supporting the frame with one hand, pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
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Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.
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A delicate cable connecting the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume down button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
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Multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone.
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Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and to the volume down button to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.
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Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
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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.
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Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the top edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Slide your second opening pick around the top left corner and along the top edge to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
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Continue sliding your pick around the top right corner until you reach the Action button.
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Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Swing open the back glass to the right of the phone to separate the remaining adhesive.
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Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object.
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Remove the opening picks before continuing.
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Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1 mm‑long screws securing the middle connector cover.
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Insert the point of a spudger in either cutout on the middle connector cover.
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Slide the cover towards the left edge of the phone and release its hook from its slot on the logic board.
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Remove the cover.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil press connector.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 1.8 mm‑long screws securing the Taptic Engine bracket.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the Taptic Engine press connector.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the Taptic Engine:
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One 2.2 mm‑long screw
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One 1.7 mm‑long screw
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Use the point of a spudger to lift the Taptic Engine out of the frame.
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Remove the Taptic Engine.
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Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show you how to reassemble your device.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the two screws securing the Taptic Engine:
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One 2.2 mm‑long screw
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One 1.7 mm‑long screw
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Use the flat end of a spudger to connect the Taptic Engine press connector.
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Use tweezers or your fingers to place the bracket over the Taptic Engine press connector.
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Use the pointed end of a spudger to press and roll the adhesive until you can grip it with a pair of tweezers.
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Tool used on this step:Microfiber Cleaning Cloths$3.99
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Wrap a microfiber or lint-free cloth over the point of a spudger and apply a few drops of high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to the cloth.
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Wipe in one direction along the perimeter of the frame to clean the adhesive residue.
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Wait a few minutes before proceeding to make sure any excess alcohol has evaporated.
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Apply a few drops of high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to a microfiber or lint-free cloth and wipe around the perimeter of the back glass to prepare the surface for new adhesive.
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If any clips on the back glass are bent, gently straighten them with your fingers.
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Orient your replacement adhesive over the frame with the larger blue liner on the underside and its pull tab in the bottom-right corner.
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Use features such as the camera cutout and notches along the edges to ensure the adhesive is oriented correctly.
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Use the pull tab to begin peeling the back liner off of the adhesive starting from the bottom, but do not remove the liner all the way.
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Hold the blue liner out of the way and align the adhesive with the bottom edge of the iPhone.
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Lay the bottom edge of the adhesive into its recess in the frame, making sure the iPhone's spring contacts are aligned with their cutouts in the liner.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to press the adhesive into place around the perimeter of the frame.
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Be careful not to touch the spring contacts sticking through the pink liner.
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Use the small pull tab in the top-right corner to remove the pink adhesive liner.
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Once the top liner is removed, there should be three narrow liners on top of the adhesive with pull tabs near the bottom edge.
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If you don't see these pull tabs, you may have accidentally removed the thin liners in the previous step. If the adhesive is clean and properly aligned, you may proceed, just be careful not to touch anything to the exposed adhesive until you are ready to install the back glass.
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Prop up the back glass along the right edge of your iPhone, using a box or similar sturdy object to support the screen.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to connect the charging coil press connector.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to connect the battery.
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Lay the connector cover on the phone so the hooks are slightly to the left of their slots in the logic board.
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Use your finger to press the connector cover down and to the right until both hooks slide into their slots.
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Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the two 1 mm‑long screws securing the middle connector cover.
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Use the blue tabs to remove the liners from the bottom, left, and top edges of your iPhone. Wait to remove the liner along the right edge.
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Hold the back glass above the phone and align it with the frame.
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Lay the glass straight down onto the frame and press until the clips engage.
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Press around the perimeter of the back glass to engage all clips.
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To help the adhesive bond, apply heat to the edges of the back glass using an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun until it's hot to the touch.
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Firmly press around the perimeter of the back glass.
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If you have screen vise clamps, use them to strengthen the bond of your new adhesive. If not, keep reading for more ways to secure the back glass.
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If you have the box your iPhone came in, take the lid and place it on a flat surface.
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Place your iPhone screen-side-up in the lid of your box with the camera bump in its recess.
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Find something close to the size of your iPhone, but taller than the sides of the box. Stack it on top of the iPhone, followed by a few heavy objects.
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Leave the objects in place for at least thirty minutes. The lighter the objects, the longer they should be left. Ideally, leave them stacked overnight.
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Use a P2 pentalobe driver to install the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.
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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 Answers Community for help.
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 Answers Community for help.
