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iPhone 8 Plus Front Camera and Sensor Cable Replacement

Written By: Jeff Suovanen (and one other contributor)
  • Comments: 28
  • Favorites: 2
  • Completions: 15

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

31

Time Required

40 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

6

Flags

0

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a faulty front camera on your iPhone 8 Plus. This camera is part of a larger assembly containing a microphone and proximity/ambient light sensors, all of which are replaced as a single unit.

  1. Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

    • Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

    • Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

    • Remove the two 3.5 mm pentalobe screws from the bottom edge of the iPhone.

    • Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

    Edit

  2. Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

    • Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

    • Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about 90 seconds in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

    Edit

  3. Apply a suction cup to the lower half of the front panel, just above the home button. Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.

    • Apply a suction cup to the lower half of the front panel, just above the home button.

    • Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.

    • If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

    Edit

  4. Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case. Insert an opening pick or other thin pry tool a few millimeters into the gap. The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

    • Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

    • Insert an opening pick or other thin pry tool a few millimeters into the gap.

    • The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

    Edit

  5. Slide your pick around the corner and up the left edge of the phone, moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch, breaking up the adhesive holding the display in place. Stop near the top left corner of the display. Stop near the top left corner of the display.

    • Slide your pick around the corner and up the left edge of the phone, moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch, breaking up the adhesive holding the display in place.

    • Stop near the top left corner of the display.

    Edit

  6. Re-insert your tool at the lower right corner of the iPhone, and slide it around the corner and up the right side of the phone to separate the adhesive. Don't insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel. Don't insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel.

    • Re-insert your tool at the lower right corner of the iPhone, and slide it around the corner and up the right side of the phone to separate the adhesive.

    • Don't insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel.

    Edit

  7. Gently pull up on the suction cup to lift up the bottom edge of the display.

    • Gently pull up on the suction cup to lift up the bottom edge of the display.

    • Do not raise the display more than 15º or you'll risk straining or tearing the ribbon cables connecting the display.

    Edit

  8. Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

    • Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

    Edit

  9. Slide an opening pick underneath the display along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive. Slide an opening pick underneath the display along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive. Slide an opening pick underneath the display along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive.

    • Slide an opening pick underneath the display along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive.

    Edit

  10. Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case. Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

    • Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

    Edit

  11. Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book. Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board. Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

    • Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

    • Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.

    • Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

    Edit

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  13. Remove four Phillips (JIS) screws securing the lower display cable bracket to the logic board, of the following lengths: Two 1.3 mm screws
    Tool used on this step:
    Magnetic Project Mat
    $19.99

    • Remove four Phillips (JIS) screws securing the lower display cable bracket to the logic board, of the following lengths:

    • Two 1.3 mm screws

    • One 1.4 mm screw

    • One 2.7 mm screw

    • Throughout this guide, keep careful track of your screws so that each one goes back where it came from during reassembly. Installing a screw in the wrong place can cause permanent damage.

    Edit

  14. Remove the lower display cable bracket.

    • Remove the lower display cable bracket.

    Edit

  15. Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board. Bend the connector cable up slightly to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

    • Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    • Bend the connector cable up slightly to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

    Edit

  16. Use the tip of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the large lower display connector by prying it straight up from its socket. To re-attach press connectors like this one, press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.

    • Use the tip of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the large lower display connector by prying it straight up from its socket.

    • To re-attach press connectors like this one, press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.

    Edit

  17. Disconnect the second lower display cable connector, directly behind the one you disconnected in the previous step. Disconnect the second lower display cable connector, directly behind the one you disconnected in the previous step.

    • Disconnect the second lower display cable connector, directly behind the one you disconnected in the previous step.

    Edit

  18. Remove the two tri-point Y000 screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector: One 1.0 mm screw

    • Remove the two tri-point Y000 screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector:

    • One 1.0 mm screw

    • One 1.2 mm screw

    Edit

  19. Remove the bracket covering the front panel sensor assembly connector.

    • Remove the bracket covering the front panel sensor assembly connector.

    Edit

  20. Use the tip of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector from its socket. Use the tip of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector from its socket.

    • Use the tip of a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector from its socket.

    Edit

  21. Remove the display assembly.
    Edit

  22. Remove the five Phillips screws securing the earpiece speaker bracket:

    • Remove the five Phillips screws securing the earpiece speaker bracket:

    • Two 1.8 mm screws

    • One 2.3 mm screw

    • One 2.4 mm screw

    • One 2.8 mm screw

    Edit

  23. Remove the earpiece speaker bracket.

    • Remove the earpiece speaker bracket.

    Edit

  24. Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the front-facing camera from its housing. Gently bend the camera ribbon cable to the side to clear the way to the earpiece speaker underneath. Gently bend the camera ribbon cable to the side to clear the way to the earpiece speaker underneath.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to lift the front-facing camera from its housing.

    • Gently bend the camera ribbon cable to the side to clear the way to the earpiece speaker underneath.

    Edit

  25. Remove the earpiece speaker.

    • Remove the earpiece speaker.

    Edit

  26. Gently fold the camera and attached ribbon cable toward the bottom of the iPhone to allow access to the components underneath. Gently fold the camera and attached ribbon cable toward the bottom of the iPhone to allow access to the components underneath.

    • Gently fold the camera and attached ribbon cable toward the bottom of the iPhone to allow access to the components underneath.

    Edit

  27. Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the top front of the display for about a minute, in order to soften the adhesive securing the sensors.

    • Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the top front of the display for about a minute, in order to soften the adhesive securing the sensors.

    • The sensors in the following steps are fragile. To increase your chances of removing them without damage, repeatedly add more heat as needed. Alternatively, add a drop or two of isopropyl alcohol and let it penetrate under the sensors before you pry them up.

    Edit

  28. Slide a spudger under the ambient light sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing. Slide a spudger under the ambient light sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing.

    • Slide a spudger under the ambient light sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing.

    Edit

  29. Slide the tip of a spudger underneath the proximity sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing. Slide the tip of a spudger underneath the proximity sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing. Slide the tip of a spudger underneath the proximity sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing.

    • Slide the tip of a spudger underneath the proximity sensor flex cable, and lift the sensor out of its housing.

    Edit

  30. Insert the sharp edge of an iFixit opening tool underneath the camera assembly's flex cable, on the opposite side from the front-facing camera. Use an iOpener or hair dryer as needed to heat the top portion of the display and soften the adhesive securing the flex cable. Pry up to separate the edge of the flex cable from the back of the display.

    • Insert the sharp edge of an iFixit opening tool underneath the camera assembly's flex cable, on the opposite side from the front-facing camera.

    • Use an iOpener or hair dryer as needed to heat the top portion of the display and soften the adhesive securing the flex cable.

    • Pry up to separate the edge of the flex cable from the back of the display.

    Edit

  31. Insert the point of a spudger underneath the same portion of the flex cable that you separated in the previous step. Continue separating the remainder of the flex cable, pushing the spudger underneath the row of circular gold earpiece speaker contacts. Continue separating the remainder of the flex cable, pushing the spudger underneath the row of circular gold earpiece speaker contacts.

    • Insert the point of a spudger underneath the same portion of the flex cable that you separated in the previous step.

    • Continue separating the remainder of the flex cable, pushing the spudger underneath the row of circular gold earpiece speaker contacts.

    Edit

  32. Remove the front camera and sensor cable assembly. A piece of black double-sided insulating tape lies between the display and three rows of copper contacts on the back of the camera/sensor cable. It may remain stuck to the display, or it may come off with the cable. When reassembling, verify the tape is in place, or else cover the contacts on the back of the cable with an appropriate tape, such as Kapton tape.

    • Remove the front camera and sensor cable assembly.

    • A piece of black double-sided insulating tape lies between the display and three rows of copper contacts on the back of the camera/sensor cable. It may remain stuck to the display, or it may come off with the cable.

    • When reassembling, verify the tape is in place, or else cover the contacts on the back of the cable with an appropriate tape, such as Kapton tape.

    Edit
Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

15 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 1 other contributor

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 08/06/2013

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6 Comments

Add a comment

What happens if the camera/ sensor cables come apart but dont tear if ya know what i mean? theres 2 cables and theyre like taped on top of one another and they connect eachother… well, in my case they just came apart..

Devayn “LiveLoveDMND” Diamond - Reply

Just had the same problem. I placed a new flexcable, they're not very expensive.

Davy Thoelen -

what is the tape, or the gold connectors that the tape covers for?

lewis - Reply

Salve,

Ho proceduto alla sostituzione della camera frontale ma, quando accendo il tel il sistema si avvia in modalità loop senza mai avviare il sistema operativo.

Ovviamente se non collego il flat della camera frontale il telefono si avvia regolarmente. Ho anche provato con una camera frontale nuova senza risultato.

Potreste aiutarmi?

maurizio.r - Reply

I removed one of the 2 small circular stickers (one is white, one green) from where the sensor gets placed. Is it a problem?

alberto pias - Reply

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