Skip to main content

Free Shipping on Domestic Orders $75+

iPhone Air Back Glass Removal

Prerequisite Only
This is a prerequisite-only guide! This guide is part of another procedure and isn’t meant to be used alone.

What you need

    1. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Cracked glass preparation: step 1, image 1 of 1
      • Glass shards can complicate disassembly—or worse, cause injury. If your phone's back glass is cracked, follow this step.

      • Apply packing tape to the cracked glass until it's completely covered—this will help keep the glass contained and allow the suction cup to stick.

      • Make sure there's a single strip (not overlapping) of tape on the bottom edge, big enough for a suction cup to fit on.

      • Only cover the glass itself—don't stick any tape to the frame.

      • Consider wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    2. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the pentalobe screws: step 2, image 1 of 1
      • Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 4.9 mm-long screws on either side of the USB-C port.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    3. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Heat the bottom edge: step 3, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Heat the bottom edge: step 3, image 2 of 2
      • 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 slightly too hot to touch.

      • Improper use of a heat gun can destroy the display and/or battery—follow the linked instructions carefully.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    4. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Insert an opening pick: step 4, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Insert an opening pick: step 4, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Insert an opening pick: step 4, image 3 of 3
      • Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, as close to the edge as possible.

      • Pull up on the handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.

      • If the back glass doesn't budge, reheat it and try again.

      • Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    5. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Back glass information: step 5, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Back glass information: step 5, image 2 of 2
      • 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.

      • There are multiple spring contacts along the top edge of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than instructed in each step to avoid bending these contacts.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    6. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the bottom edge adhesive: step 6, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the bottom edge adhesive: step 6, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the bottom edge adhesive: step 6, image 3 of 3
      • Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.

      • Leave your pick inserted in the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    7. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Heat the left edge: step 7, image 1 of 1
      • Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the back glass for two minutes.

      • When using a hair dryer or heat gun, only heat the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    8. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the left edge adhesive: step 8, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the left edge adhesive: step 8, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the left edge adhesive: step 8, image 3 of 3
      • Insert a second opening pick to the left of the original.

      • Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the back glass to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.

      • Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    9. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Heat the right edge: step 9, image 1 of 1
      • Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back glass for two minutes.

      • When using a hair dryer or heat gun, only heat the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    10. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the right edge adhesive: step 10, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the right edge adhesive: step 10, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the right edge adhesive: step 10, image 3 of 3
      • Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the right edge to avoid damaging the ribbon cable.

      • Insert a third opening pick to the right of the original at the bottom edge.

      • Slide this pick around the bottom right corner and along the right edge of the back glass to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.

      • Leave this pick inserted at the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    11. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the top edge adhesive: step 11, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the top edge adhesive: step 11, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Separate the top edge adhesive: step 11, image 3 of 3
      • Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.

      • Repeat the heating and sliding process along the top edge of the back glass to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    12. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Swing open the back glass: step 12, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Swing open the back glass: step 12, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Swing open the back glass: step 12, image 3 of 3
      • Don't try to fully remove the back glass just yet—it's still attached with a delicate ribbon cable.

      • If the back glass doesn't swing open easily, don't force it—go back around the perimeter with your pick to separate missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.

      • Gently lift the back glass and swing it open towards the volume buttons.

      • Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    13. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Protect the rear camera: step 13, image 1 of 1
      • We recommend using polyimide (aka kapton) tape to keep the camera lens clean. If you don't have any, you may skip this step, but be extra careful not to touch the camera.

      • Set a piece of polyimide tape over the rear camera lens.

      • Don't press down on the rear camera.

      • During reassembly, carefully remove the tape without jostling the rear camera—its stabilizing mechanism is extremely fragile.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    14. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the left connector cover: step 14, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the left connector cover: step 14, image 2 of 2
      • Remove the three screws securing the left connector cover, located below the rear camera:

      • One 1.1 mm-long tri-point Y000 screw

      • One 1.0 mm-long tri-point Y000 screw

      • One 3.2 mm-long JIS 00 screw

      • Small iFixit Phillips bits are designed to work with JIS screws, so you can use an iFixit PH 00 driver. You can try Phillips drivers from other manufacturers, but you risk stripping the screw.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    15. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 15, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 15, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 15, image 3 of 3
      • Use tweezers or your fingers to lift the cover to release its hook and remove it.

      • During reassembly, insert the cover's hook into its slot on the logic board at an angle, then lay the cover flat.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    16. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 16, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 16, image 2 of 2
      • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.

      • During reassembly, align the connector carefully over its socket and press down with your fingertip or the flat end of a spudger—first on one side, then the other—until it clicks into place. Don't try to force the connector into place. If you're having trouble, reposition it and try again.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    17. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the right connector cover: step 17, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the right connector cover: step 17, image 2 of 2
      • Remove the three screws securing the right connector cover:

      • Two 1.1 mm-long tri-point Y000 screws

      • One 2.8 mm-long JIS 00 screw

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    18. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 18, image 1 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 18, image 2 of 3 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal: step 18, image 3 of 3
      • Use tweezers or your fingers to lift the cover to release its hook and remove it.

      • During reassembly, insert the cover's hook into its slot on the logic board at an angle, then lay the cover flat.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    19. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Disconnect the back glass: step 19, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Disconnect the back glass: step 19, image 2 of 2
      • Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the flash and wireless charging coil press connector.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

    20. iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the back glass: step 20, image 1 of 2 iPhone Air Back Glass Removal, Remove the back glass: step 20, image 2 of 2
      • Remove the back glass.

      • Follow this guide to replace the adhesive and install the back glass.

      Ask FixBot

      Add Comment

Conclusion

To reassemble your phone, follow this guide to apply new adhesive and install the back glass.

After your repair, calibrate a genuine replacement screen 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 Air Answers Community for help.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

Nick Schultz

Member since: 03/24/24

65,793 Reputation

343 Guides authored

0 Guide Comments

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 4

Past 30 Days: 10

All Time: 228