iPhone 16 Screen Replacement

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.

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.

Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.

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.

Apple sells an ***Adhesive Cutter*** tool for cutting the display adhesive safely in their [link|https://selfservicerepair.com|Self Repair Store|new_window=true].

Use a [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true] or [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true] to heat the bottom edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

You can also use an [product|IF145-198-4|iOpener|new_window=true] to heat the back glass. Follow [guide|11677|these instructions|new_window=true] to heat and apply the iOpener properly.

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen.

While supporting the frame with one hand, pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and the frame.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

As you slice the adhesive securing the screen in the following steps, don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the following areas:

Two delicate cables connecting the screen to the phone—one just above the Action button and the other about halfway between the volume down button and the bottom of the phone.

Multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone.

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the right edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.

Slide your opening pick around the bottom right corner and up the right edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.

You'll hear and feel the metal clip release as you pass it.

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the top edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.

Continue sliding your pick around the top right corner and across the top edge to separate the adhesive and release the two metal clips.

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the left edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the screen cables and the spring contacts.

Slide the opening pick down the left edge of the screen to separate the remaining adhesive and release the last two metal clips.

At this point, the screen should be free from the frame. If the screen feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.

Swing open the screen over the left edge of the phone and support it with a clean, sturdy object.

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 0.9 mm‑long screws securing the front sensor and screen connector covers.

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to lift the front sensor cover to a 90-degree angle and unhook it from its slot in the logic board.

Lift the cover out of its slot and remove it.

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to lift the screen connector cover at a slight angle to unhook it from its slot in the logic board.

Lift the cover out of its slot and remove it.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen [guide|25629|press connector|stepid=70308|new_window=true].

Repeat for the front sensor press connector.

Lift the screen off the frame and remove it.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 1.3 mm‑long screw securing the ambient light sensor bracket.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to lift and remove the ambient light sensor bracket.

Use a [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true], [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true], or [guide|25705|heated iOpener|new_window=true] to soften the adhesive under the ambient light sensor and ambient light sensor cable.

Use an opening pick to pry up the ambient light sensor.

Use your finger to push the ambient light sensor away from its recess.

Gently slide an opening pick under the ambient light sensor cable, starting near the sensor and moving towards to the opposite corner.

If the adhesive doesn't peel up easily, apply more heat.

Continue slowly sliding the opening pick under the ambient light sensor cable until the cable is free from the screen.

Use a pair of tweezers to lift the ambient light sensor off of the screen.

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show you how to reassemble your device.

When reconnecting press connectors, align the connector carefully over its socket and press down with your fingertip or 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.

Without letting the ambient light sensor adhesive touch the screen, use a pair of tweezers to hold the sensor above the back of the new screen.

Align the ambient light sensor with its recess in the back of the screen.

Use a spudger or your finger to press the ambient light sensor into its recess.

Lay the ambient light sensor cable down on the back of the screen.

If the ambient light sensor cable isn't sticking, apply a few small pieces of double‑sided tape, like [product|IF317-072-6|Tesa tape|new_window=true], to the back of the sensor cable.

Use your finger to press down the ambient light sensor cable.

Use tweezers or your fingers to place the ambient light sensor bracket over the back of the sensor.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the 1.3 mm‑long screw securing the ambient light sensor bracket.

Be careful not to damage any of the [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/iDbDxdvYPgYRhqPQ.full|spring contacts|new_window=true] as you clean the frame.

This is a good point to test your repair before sealing up the phone. Connect the screen, power on the phone, and make sure it works as expected. Power it back down, disconnect the screen, and continue reassembly.

The adhesive remaining on the phone's frame can be difficult to remove and leaves residue. If you have trouble removing the adhesive, apply some heat using a [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true] or [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true].

Use a spudger to push the screen adhesive up until you can grab it with a pair of tweezers.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the adhesive around the entire perimeter of the phone.

Any leftover residue will compromise your iPhone's seal. Be sure to clean the frame thoroughly.

Wrap a microfiber or lint-free cloth around the pointed end of a spudger and apply a few drops of high-concentration (greater than 90%) isopropyl alcohol to the cloth.

Wipe in one direction along the perimeter of the frame to clean the adhesive residue.

Wait a few minutes before proceeding to make sure any excess alcohol has evaporated.

Lay the adhesive next to the phone and use features like cutouts for spring contacts and the front‑facing camera to make sure the adhesive is oriented correctly.

Your adhesive may look slightly different.

Use the pull tab to begin peeling the back liner off of the adhesive starting from the bottom, but do not remove the liner all the way.

Once the adhesive is pressed into place, you can't reposition it—you'll have to remove it and start over with new adhesive.

While holding the back liner out of the way, carefully align the exposed edge of the adhesive to the bottom edge of the iPhone's frame.

When the adhesive is aligned, use your finger to press it down firmly along the bottom edge.

Continue peeling the back liner off of the adhesive while pressing the adhesive into place along the edges of the iPhone's frame.

If you correctly aligned the lower edge of the adhesive, the side and top edges will fall perfectly into place. If the adhesive is misaligned, remove it and start over with new adhesive.

If your adhesive is misaligned and you don't have another set handy, it's okay to temporarily put your iPhone back together and use it normally without any adhesive, but keep in mind that ***your iPhone's water resistance will be compromised until you install new adhesive***.

Make sure the liner is aligned properly by checking that all spring contacts and the front-facing camera are in their cutouts. If they aren't, remove the adhesive and start over with a new sheet.

Use the flat end of a spudger to press the adhesive firmly into place all around the iPhone.

Be careful not to press on the camera, spring contacts, or other internal components.

Use the point of a spudger to lift the pull tab in the top‑right corner of the frame until you can grab it with your fingers.

Your pull tab may be in a different location. Make sure you're pulling the full-size top liner, ***not*** the thin liners under it.

Peel back the top liner and remove it.

Once the top liner is removed, there should be three narrow liners on top of the adhesive with pull tabs near the bottom edge.

Your pull tabs may be in different positions.

If you don't see these pull tabs, you may have accidentally removed the thin liners in the previous step. If the adhesive is clean and properly aligned, you may proceed, just be careful not to touch anything to the exposed adhesive until you are ready to install the screen.

Prop the screen up along the left edge of the iPhone frame, using a box or similar sturdy object to support the screen.

Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to connect the screen and front sensor press connectors.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to place the screen connector cover over the screen connector by inserting it at a slight downward angle to engage the hook, then laying the cover flat over the connector.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to place the front sensor connector cover over the front sensor connector by inserting it at a 90‑degree angle to engage the hook, then laying the cover flat over the connector.

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the two 0.9 mm‑long screws securing the front sensor connector and screen connector covers.

As you remove the liners in this step, the adhesive will be fully exposed. Make sure nothing touches the exposed adhesive.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the two narrow liners covering the adhesive along the right, top, and bottom edges of the iPhone.

Without letting the screen touch the adhesive, hold the screen over the phone so you can access the final liner along the left edge of the phone.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the final liner along the left edge of the phone.

Align the screen over the frame, then lower it into place.

Firmly press the top edge of the screen into the adhesive, then the bottom edge, until the screen is fully seated in the frame.

To help the adhesive bond, apply heat to the edges of the screen using an [guide|11677|iOpener|new_window=true], [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true], or [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true] until it's hot to the touch.

Firmly press around the perimeter of the screen.

If you have [guide|142291|screen vise clamps|new_window=true], use them to strengthen the bond of your new adhesive. If not, keep reading for more ways to secure the screen.

To evenly compress your iPhone and strengthen the bond of the screen to the frame, you need to account for the camera bump.

If you have the box your iPhone came in, take the lid and place it on a flat surface.

If you don't have your original box, ***skip this step for an alternate method***.

Place your iPhone screen-side-up in the lid of your box with the camera bump in its recess.

Find something close to the size of your iPhone, but taller than the sides of the box. Stack it on top of the iPhone, followed by a few heavy objects.

Leave the objects in place for at least thirty minutes. The lighter the objects, the longer they should be left. Ideally, leave them stacked overnight.

If you don't have the original box for your iPhone, follow the next three steps for another method to evenly compress the screen.

Place the iPhone screen-side-down on a soft, flat surface.

Apply tape to the back glass to protect its finish.

Place two layers of coins or similarly thick objects on the tape along the edges of the back glass.

Evenly distribute the coins and make sure they are at least as thick as the camera bump.

Stack multiple books or other heavy objects on your iPhone.

The coins may leave an impression on the bottom object, so don't use anything valuable.

Leave the objects in place for at least thirty minutes. The lighter the objects, the longer they should be left. Ideally, leave them stacked overnight.

Use a P2 pentalobe driver to install the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.