iPhone 12 Home Button Repair

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the SIM card tray, located on the volume button edge of the iPhone.

Press firmly to eject the tray.

Remove the SIM card tray from the iPhone.

The SIM card will fall out of the tray easily.

When reinserting the SIM card, make sure it's in the proper orientation inside the tray.

A thin rubber gasket around the SIM tray provides water and dust protection. If this gasket is damaged or missing, replace the gasket or the entire SIM tray to protect your iPhone's internal components.

'''Caution:''' 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 6.75 mm long pentalobe P2 screws at 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.

If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.

Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.

You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.

Alternatively, [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/pQGATIGUbViSB4gB.full|tape a coin to a pick|new_window=true] 3 mm from the tip.

If your iPhone has a cracked screen, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping over the glass.

Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen until the whole face is covered.

Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

If you can't get the suction cup to stick in the next few steps, fold a strong piece of tape (such as duct tape) into a handle and lift the screen with that instead.

If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the screen.

The next three steps demonstrate the [product|IF145-513|Anti-Clamp], a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. ***If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.***

For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, [guide|152309|check out this guide|new_window=true].

Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.

Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.

Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone—one on the front, and one on the back.

Squeeze the cups together to apply suction to the desired area.

If you find that the surface of your iPhone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can [guide|159595|use tape|new_window=true] to create a grippier surface.

Pull the blue handle forwards to lock the arms.

Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.

Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

Support your iPhone on something sturdy such as a hardcover book so it rests hands-free and parallel to the ground; this makes it easier to work with in the following steps.

Use a hair dryer to heat along the bottom edge of the iPhone. The screen should feel slightly too hot to touch.

For complete instructions on how to use a hair dryer, [link|https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Use+a+Hair+Dryer+to+Soften+Adhesive/157348|new_window=true|check out this guide].

Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.

Insert an opening pick under the screen's plastic bezel when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.

If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle a quarter turn.

Don't crank more than a quarter turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.

***Skip the next three steps.***

Use a [link|https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Use+a+Hair+Dryer+to+Soften+Adhesive/157348|new_window=true|hair dryer] or a [link|https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Use+a+Heat+Gun+to+Soften+Adhesive/151116|new_window=true|heat gun] to heat the bottom edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen is slightly too hot to touch.

Never leave your hair dryer in one spot for an extended period of time.

If you're using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the very edge of the glass.

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the screen and the frame.

Insert an opening pick into the gap under the screen and the plastic bezel, ***not the screen itself***.

Make sure to insert the opening pick ***[https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/FL4pIZcVVsmS6Jnq.full|under the thick plastic bezel|new_window=true]*** to avoid damaging your screen. You should see a visual gap, and the pick shouldn't catch on anything. If you can't see the gap, you'll need to pull the screen up more.

The watertight adhesive holding the screen 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.

Use a hair dryer to heat the right edge of the iPhone (the edge with the power button) for 90 seconds or until the screen is slightly too hot to touch.

Slide the opening pick around the bottom right corner of the iPhone to separate its adhesive.

Continue sliding up the right edge of the iPhone until you reach the top right corner.

Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage internal components.

Leave the pick in the top right corner before continuing.

Use a hair dryer to heat the top edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen is slightly too hot to touch.

Slide the opening pick around the top right corner of the iPhone to separate the top adhesive.

Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the top sensors.

Leave the pick in the top left corner before continuing.

Use a hair dryer to heat the left edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen is slightly too hot to touch.

There are delicate cables along the left edge of your iPhone. ***Don't insert your pick here***, as you may damage the cables.

Insert a second opening pick in the bottom left corner of the iPhone.

Twist both picks simultaneously until the left edge clips release.

Apply the twisting force gradually.

If you're having trouble separating the adhesive, reheat the left edge.

Rotate your iPhone so the right edge faces you.

Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the right side, like the front 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.

During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

Remove two 1.1 mm long Y000 screws securing the battery and display connector cover.

Throughout this repair, [https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Magnetic-Project-Mat/IF145-167-4|keep track of each screw|new_window=true] and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your iPhone.

During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the display in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

Remove the cover.

Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.

Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the display cable connector.

To re-attach [https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Recognizing+%26+Disconnecting+Cable+Connectors/25629#s70308|press connectors|new_window=true] like this one, carefully align and 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 misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the digitizer cable connector.

If any part of your screen doesn't respond to touch after your repair, disconnect the battery and then re-seat this connector, making sure it clicks fully into place and that there's no dust or other obstruction in the socket.

Use a Y000 driver to remove four screws securing the front sensor connector cover.

Three 1.1 mm long screws

One 1.4 mm long screw

Swing the cover up from the left until the small clip on the right unhooks.

Remove the cover.

During reassembly, insert the clip on the right edge into its slot first, then hinge the rest of the cover into place.

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front sensor assembly cable connector.

Remove the display assembly.

During reassembly, pause here if you wish to [https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+Display+Adhesive+Replacement/93983|replace the waterproof adhesive around the edges of the display|new_window=true].

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 1.6 mm screws securing the loudspeaker.

Remove the loudspeaker.

Use a Y000 driver to remove the two 1.4 mm long screws securing the SIM card reader connector cover.

Remove the SIM card reader cable connector cover.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the SIM card reader cable connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Use a Y000 driver to remove the three screws securing the SIM card reader.

Two 1.4 mm screws

One 1.1 mm screw

Remove the Taptic Engine cable connector bracket.

Use a standoff or a small flathead driver to remove the 2.82 mm long standoff screw securing the SIM card reader.

Standoff screws are best removed using a [https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Standoff-Screwdriver-for-iPhones/IF145-388?o=4|standoff screwdriver|new_window=true] or bit.

In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn't slip and damage surrounding components.

Remove the SIM card reader.

Before reinstallation, make sure the SIM eject plunger is pushed into the edge of the phone.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the Taptic Engine cable connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Remove the three screws securing the Taptic Engine.

Two 2.8 mm long standoff screws

One 1.8 mm Phillips screw

Remove the Taptic Engine.

The battery is secured to the rear case with four pieces of stretch-release adhesive—two on the bottom edge of the battery, and two on the top edge.

Each piece of adhesive has a black pull-tab at the end, which is lightly adhered to the edge of the battery.

In the following steps, you'll pull each tab to slowly stretch out the adhesive underneath the battery. These "command-strip" style adhesives lose their stick when stretched, so you can remove the battery with ease.

If the strips break, don't panic! They don't always work as intended. Keep reading for tips on removing broken strips.

Peel down the first battery adhesive pull-tab to un-stick it from the bottom edge of the battery.

'''Caution:''' Don't jab the battery with any sharp tools. A punctured battery may leak dangerous chemicals or catch fire.

Peel down the second battery adhesive pull-tab to un-stick it from the bottom edge of the battery.

Grab the first pull-tab with your fingers and ''slowly'' pull it away from the battery, toward the bottom of the iPhone.

Pull hard enough to maintain tension on the strip, but don't force it. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.

Don't press down on the battery. Hold the iPhone firmly by its sides.

Keep the strip flat and unwrinkled. Try to pull evenly on the whole strip, rather than pulling mainly in the middle or on one side.

Pull at a low angle so the strip doesn't snag on the edge of the battery.

If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers or [product|IF145-020-4|blunt tweezers], and continue pulling—but ***do not*** pry under the battery.

If any of the adhesive strips break off underneath the battery and can't be retrieved, try to remove the other strips, and then proceed as instructed below.

Grab the second pull-tab with your fingers and pull it away from the battery, toward the bottom of the iPhone.

Follow the same procedure as with the previous strip: don't press down on the battery, keep the strip flat and unwrinkled, and pull at a low angle.

If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it using your fingers or blunt tweezers, and continue pulling—but '''do not''' pry under the battery.

If the adhesive breaks off underneath the battery and can't be retrieved, continue with the next step.

Peel up the two remaining battery adhesive pull-tabs to un-stick them from the top edge of the battery.

Using the same procedure as before, pull the remaining two tabs, one at a time, to stretch and remove the remaining adhesive strip holding the battery in place. Try not to snag the adhesive on anything.

Be careful not to fling the battery from the iPhone as the final adhesive strip comes out.

'''If you removed all the adhesive strips successfully, skip the next step.'''

Otherwise, '''continue with the next step below.'''

If you're still having trouble removing the battery, apply a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol under the edge of the battery in the area of the broken adhesive strip(s).

Wait about one minute for the alcohol solution to weaken the adhesive.

Use an opening pick or the flat end of a spudger to gently lift the battery.

Don't try to forcefully lever the battery out. If needed, apply a few more drops of alcohol to further weaken the adhesive. Never deform or puncture the battery with your pry tool.

Remove the battery.

If there's any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off or allow it to air dry before installing your new battery.

If your new battery didn't come with adhesive preinstalled, refer to [https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Battery+Adhesive+Strips+Replacement+for+iPhone+8+8+Plus+XR+SE+2020/103936|this guide|new_window=true] for help replacing the adhesive strips.

Perform a [https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Force+Restart+the+iPhone+12/137573|force restart|new_window=true] after reassembly. This can prevent several issues and simplify troubleshooting.