Introduction
Weak signal? Having trouble connecting to devices? You may need to replace the wi-fi/bluetooth antenna in your iPhone 5s.
What you need
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Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
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Remove the two 3.9 mm Pentalobe screws from either side of Lightning connector.
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If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
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Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.
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Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.
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If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.
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Tool used on this step:Anti-Clamp$24.95
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Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
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Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.
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Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone just above the home button—one on the front, and one on the back.
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Squeeze the cups together to apply suction to the desired area.
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Pull the blue handle forwards to lock the arms.
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Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.
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Insert an opening pick under the screen when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
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Skip the next two steps.
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If you don't have an Anti-Clamp, use a single suction cup to lift the front panel:
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Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.
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While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the home button end of the front panel from the rear case.
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With a plastic opening tool, gently pry the edges of the rear case down, away from the front panel assembly, while you pull up with the suction cup.
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Pull the plastic nub to release the vacuum seal on the suction cup.
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Remove the suction cup from the screen.
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Open the phone just enough to reveal the metal bracket covering the home button cable.
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Only the phone's original home button assembly will be capable of using the Touch ID functionality. If you rip the cable, installing a new home button will only restore ordinary home button functions, not the Touch ID features.
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Use the tip of a spudger to push the bracket free and remove it with tweezers.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pry the home button cable connector up out of its socket.
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Once the connector has been released, pull the home button end of the assembly away from the rear case, using the top of the phone as a hinge.
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Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.
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Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.
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Remove the two 1.6 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.
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Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:
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One 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw
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One 1.2 mm Phillips #000 screw
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One 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screw
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One more 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw
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Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the SIM card tray.
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Press to eject the tray. This may require a significant amount of force.
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Use a spudger to gently pry the button assembly cable up from its socket on the logic board.
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Use a spudger to pry the Lightning connector cable up from its socket on the logic board.
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Fold the Lightning connector cable out of the way of the logic board.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the rear-facing camera cable from its socket on the logic board.
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Pull the logic board slightly away from the rear facing camera.
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Flip the logic board toward the battery, as if you are turning the page in a book.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable on the back of the logic board.
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Remove the logic board from the iPhone.
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At this point, a small metal plate near the rear facing camera is loose and may come free from its recess.
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Use tweezers to remove the plate from beneath the bracket to the left of the rear-facing camera.
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Using a pair of tweezers, flip the rubber camera cover out of its clip and toward the outside of the rear case.
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Remove the two 1.6 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the rear-facing camera bracket.
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Insert the tip of a spudger into the hole in the battery adhesive tab near the headphone jack.
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Lift the tab up slightly and use the spudger to unfold the tab from its recess.
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Pull the battery adhesive tab straight up from the phone.
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Cut the black battery adhesive tab between the two white adhesive strips, separating them.
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Slowly pull one of the battery adhesive strips away from the battery, toward the bottom of the iPhone.
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Pull steadily, maintaining constant tension on the strip as it slips out from between the battery and the rear case. For best results, pull the strip at a 60º angle or less.
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Repeat to remove the second adhesive strip.
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If you removed both strips successfully, skip the next two steps.
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If any of the adhesive strips broke off and the battery remains stuck to the rear case, prepare an iOpener or use a hair dryer to heat the rear case directly behind the battery.
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Tool used on this step:Plastic Cards$2.99
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Flip the iPhone back over and insert a plastic card between the case side of the battery and the rear case.
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Press the card in farther to break up the adhesive behind the battery.
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Remove the following Phillips #000 screws from the vibrator bracket:
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One 1.7 mm screw
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One 2.5 mm screw
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Gently peel the vibrator contact pad portion of the upper cable assembly off of the bluetooth and wi-fi antenna.
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Carefully pry the bluetooth and wi-fi antenna up off of the adhesive holding it to the rear case.
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