iPhone 15 Plus Back Glass Replacement
Complete guide to iPhone 15 Plus back glass replacement. Cost estimates, difficulty level, time required, and environmental impact.
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💰 Cost Breakdown
💡 Tip: Costs vary by location and repair shop. Authorized service centers typically charge more than independent repair shops.
🔧 Repair Overview
Back Glass Replacement is one of the most common repairs for iPhone 15 Plus. This repair involves replacing the damaged housing component with a new or refurbished part. The process typically takes 1-3 hours and requires difficult skill level.
What You'll Need
- Replacement housing part (OEM or aftermarket)
- Precision screwdriver set (Phillips #000 or pentalobe)
- Opening tools (plastic spudger, suction cup)
- Adhesive strips or glue
- Clean workspace with good lighting
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Prepare your phone for disassembly
Allow your phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
Unplug any cables from your phone.
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off your phone.
Step 2: Tape over any cracks
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.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the bottom edge that's big enough for a suction cup to stick to.
Step 3: Mark your opening picks
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.
Step 4: Remove the pentalobe screws
Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.
Step 5: Heat the bottom edge
Use a [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true] or [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true] to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.
Step 6: Insert an opening pick
Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.
Step 7: Back glass information
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. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in each step to avoid bending these contacts.
Step 8: Separate the bottom edge adhesive
Don't insert your opening pick deeper than ***5 mm*** along the bottom edge.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.
Step 9: Heat the right edge
Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 10: Separate the bottom right corner adhesive
Don't insert your pick deeper than ***7 mm*** along the right edge.
Rotate your pick around the bottom right corner and slide it halfway up the right edge or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
Don't slice near the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging cable.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 11: Heat the left edge
Heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 12: Separate the left edge adhesive
Don't insert your pick deeper than ***5 mm*** along the left edge.
Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
Rotate the second pick around the bottom left corner.
Slide this pick up to the top left corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 13: Heat the top edge
Heat the top edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 14: Separate the top edge adhesive
Don't insert your pick deeper than ***3 mm*** along the top edge.
Rotate your second opening pick around the top left corner and slide it to the top right corner to separate the adhesive.
You might hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.
Leave this pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 15: Heat the top right corner
Heat the top right corner of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Step 16: Separate the top right corner adhesive
Don't insert your pick deeper than ***4 mm*** along the right edge.
Rotate the second opening pick around the top right corner and slide it to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
Step 17: Swing open the back glass
Gently swing open the back glass to the right of the phone.
If the back glass feels stuck, go back around the perimeter to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
Rest the back glass against a raised surface so it doesn't strain the cable.
Step 18: Unfasten the lower connector cover
Throughout this repair, [product|IF145-491|keep track of each screw|new_window=true] and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1.3 mm-long screws securing the lower connector cover.
Step 19: Remove the lower connector cover
Use [product|IF145-020|tweezers] to slide the cover toward the top of the phone to unlatch it from the logic board.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, latch the top edge of the cover onto its slot on the logic board before securing it with its screw.
Step 20:
Hold the back glass upright with one hand and rotate the bottom edge to the left to reveal the [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/JTgBIs4pnklXuCQn.huge|battery press connector|new_window=true] just below the volume buttons.
Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector from the logic board.
A plus and minus sign is printed on the head of this connector.
To reconnect a [guide|25629|press connector|stepid=70308|new_window=true], align it over its socket and gently press down on one side until it clicks into place, then press down on the other side. Make sure it sits flat, as the insulating rubber around the sockets might prevent it from connecting fully.
Step 21: Unfasten the middle connector cover
Use your tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 0.9 mm-long screw securing the middle connector cover.
Step 22: Remove the cover
Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to push the cover toward the bottom of the phone and unclip its top edge.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, place the cover so its tab is just behind the [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/J1ZxsIErWymM2OwF.huge|clip on the logic board|new_window=true]. Press down with one finger and slide the cover forward to engage the clip.
Step 23: Disconnect the wireless charging coil
Use an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil and NFC connector.
Step 24:
Remove the back glass.
During reassembly:
This is a good point to test your repair before sealing up your phone. Temporarily reconnect the battery and back glass, power on your phone, and make sure it works as expected. Power it back down and continue reassembly.
📖 Repair guide provided by iFixit - The free repair manual. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.
iFixit Difficulty: Moderate | Time: NaNh NaNm
DIY vs Professional Repair
✋ DIY Repair
- ✅ Lower cost (parts only: $42-$108)
- ✅ Learn new skills
- ❌ Risk of further damage
- ❌ No warranty
- ❌ Requires tools and time
🔧 Professional Repair
- ✅ Expert installation
- ✅ Warranty included
- ✅ Faster turnaround
- ❌ Higher cost ($70-$180)
- ❌ Need to find reputable shop
Environmental Impact
By choosing to repair your iPhone 15 Plus instead of replacing it, you're preventing approximately 64 kg of CO₂ emissions. Manufacturing a new iPhone 15 Plus generates 70 kg of CO₂, while this repair only produces about 6 kg of CO₂. That's a 91% reduction in carbon emissions!
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