Home Button Replacement for iPhone 4
Step 1 — Rear Panel
Before disassembling your iPhone, be sure it is powered off.
Remove the two 3.6 mm Phillips screws next to the dock connector.
Apple has recently substituted the two Phillips screws with 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws. If your phone for iPhone 4 has 5-Point "Pentalobe" screws instead of Phillips, please refer to the second picture.
Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the dock connector.
During reassembly, we recommend you replace the 5-point screws with equivalent Phillips screws. Our Liberation Kitprovides the tools and screws needed to replace the Pentalobe screws with Phillips screws.
The 5-Point Screwdriver should only be used once, as it has the potential to strip the screws.
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Step 3 ¶
Step 4 — Battery ¶
Step 5 ¶
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Use an iPod opening tool to carefully pry the battery connector up from the ends closest to the top and bottom edges of the iPhone.
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Do not pry against the pressure contact.
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Remove the pressure contact from the iPhone.
Step 6 ¶
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Use the clear plastic pull tab to gently lift the battery out of the iPhone.
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Be careful when removing the battery with the plastic pull tab. On some units, Apple uses an excessive amount of glue, making it virtually impossible to remove the battery in this fashion (with the tab possibly tearing due to excessive force).
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For batteries that "stick", you could use the iPod opening tool to assist (take extra care whilst doing so).
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Remove the battery.
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Before reconnecting the battery connector, be sure the pressure contact (shown in red) is properly positioned next to the battery connector.
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Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the pressure contact as well as its contact point on the rear panel with a de-greaser such as windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.
Step 7 — Logic Board ¶
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Use a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip to eject the SIM card and its holder.
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This may require a significant amount of force.
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Remove the SIM card and its holder.
Step 8 ¶
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Remove the following two screws:
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One 1.2 mm Phillips
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One 1.6 mm Phillips
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Remove the thin steel dock connector cable cover from the iPhone.
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Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the dock connector cable cover with a de-greaser such as windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.
Step 9 ¶
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Step 12 ¶
Step 13 ¶
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Remove the following five screws securing the connector cover to to the logic board:
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One 2.3 mm Phillips
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Two 1.6 mm Phillips
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One 1.4 mm Phillips
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One 4.8 mm Phillips
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When re-assembling, start off with replacing the 4.8 mm Philips screw first, then the 2.3 mm. This is to ensure there is no mix-up, and avoid rendering the LCD and digitizer useless.
Step 14 ¶
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Use an iPod opening tool to slightly lift the top edge of the connector cover away from the logic board.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pull the connector cover retaining clips away from the inner frame.
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Remove the connector cover from the iPhone.
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Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points on the connector cover with a de-greaser such as Windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues. Do not clean the connectors themselves with Windex.
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Step 20 — Speaker Enclosure Assembly ¶
Step 21 ¶
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Remove the speaker enclosure from the iPhone.
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Before re-fastening the speaker enclosure to the inner frame, be sure the four small EMI fingers rest below the lip of the LCD frame.
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Before reassembly, be sure to clean all metal-to-metal contact points between the EMI fingers and the internal frame as well as the brass screw mounting point with a de-greaser such as Windex. The oils on your fingers have the potential to cause wireless interference issues.
Step 22 — Display Assembly ¶
Step 23 ¶
Step 24 ¶
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Remove the three large-headed 1.5 mm Phillips screws along the volume button side of the iPhone.
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Keep track of the washers under each of the screws.
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Tip: It can be tricky, but it is also possible to just loosen the large-headed 1.5 mm Phillips screws slightly, without having to remove and replace the screw-and-washer set.
Step 25 ¶
Step 26 ¶
Step 27 ¶
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Remove the three large-headed 1.5 mm Phillips screws along the SIM card side of the iPhone.
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Keep track of the washers under each of the screws.
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Tip: It can be tricky, but it is also possible to just loosen the large-headed 1.5 mm Phillips screws slightly, without having to remove and replace the screw-and-washer set.
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Remove the small-headed 1.5 mm Phillips screw near the sleep button.
Step 28 ¶
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Carefully insert the edge of an iPod opening tool between the rubber bezel around the front glass panel and the steel inner frame.
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Do not attempt to insert the tool between the glass and the rubber bezel.
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Carefully pry the upper edge of the front panel assembly away from the steel inner frame.
Step 29 ¶ -
Slowly and gently lift the top edge of the front panel assembly away from the steel inner frame.
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Continue to rotate the front panel assembly away from the steel inner frame until it slowly begins to peel off the adhesive applied below the home button area.
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Carefully pull the lower edge of the front panel assembly away from the steel inner frame.
Step 30 ¶
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De-route the digitizer and LCD cables through the steel inner frame.
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Before re-fastening the front panel to the steel inner frame, be sure both the LCD and digitizer cables are not folded or pinched between the inner frame and the front panel assembly. This will result in possibly damaging the cables and not having enough slack when reconnecting the them to the logic board.
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When the front panel has been correctly installed, both the LCD and digitizer cables should be immediately next to one another, and the connectors should be just hanging over the steel frame.
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When replacing the front panel assembly you must remember that you might have to reuse the earpiece grille and the clear plastic ring around the front facing camera from the old/damaged assembly. This will depend on where you buy the replacement part.
Step 31 — Home Button ¶
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Use the edge of an iPod opening tool or your fingernail to lift the home button ribbon cable retainer.
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Be sure you are prying up on the cable retainer, not the socket itself.
Step 32
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Use a pair of tweezers to pull the home button ribbon cable out of its socket.
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Do not excessively strain the home button ribbon cable, as it is very thin and delicate.
Step 33