iPhone XR Heat Shield Removal

Although there are subtle external differences in the iPhone Xx phones, the model number is the best way to positively identify which one you have. Obviously you can't look it up, but you can find it stamped in the SIM tray opening. Here's what Apple has to say about it.

To find the model number on an iPhone 8 or later model that has a SIM tray, remove the SIM tray and look in the slot. Make sure that you're in a place with bright light overhead. The model number is on the upper side — the side with the display.

Once you've found the model number, come on back and tell us what you found and we'll go from there with trying to help you.

That is indeed an iPhone XR. Again, straight from Apple:

== iPhone XR ==

Year introduced: 2018
Capacity: 64, 128, 256 GB
Colors: Black, white, blue, yellow, coral, (PRODUCT)RED
Model numbers: A1984, A2105, A2106 (Japan), A2107, A2108 (China mainland)

Details: iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch¹ Liquid Retina display. The back is glass, and there's an anodized aluminum band around the frame. The side button is on the right side of the device. There is a 12 MP wide-angle camera on the back. There's a Quad-LED True Tone flash on the back and a SIM tray on the right side that holds a "fourth form factor" (4FF) nano-SIM card. The IMEI is etched on the SIM tray.

Ah, okay with the picture it's become clear now. What's happened is that you didn't get the screen off correctly. By any chance did you fail to take out the pentalobe screws on either side of the charging port before you started removing the screen?

What's happened is that the metal shield you're looking at is supposed to have been mounted on the LCD, but somehow instead of separating the complete display assembly from the phone, you've managed to separate the shield from the LCD and leave the shield on the phone.

Really all you have to do is repeat the screen removal procedure, only this time make sure you get under the shield this time. The only thing holding that shield in are the clips on the sides, so it will come out simply by prying on it. Oh, and double-check that the pentalobe screws have been removed or it won't come out from the bottom.

With water damage the main thing you want to do is start out by cleaning everything with isopropyl alcohol. Replacing the screen and battery are frequently required as those two parts are the most susceptible to immediate failure due to liquid exposure. With the problem you had in removing the screen, I wouldn't make any bets on whether the screen will still work; at the very least you'll have to get some good adhesive to glue that shield back onto the LCD as it's supposed to be.

Once you get that shield off, you should be good; everything else will go according to the guides.