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Motherboard Removal

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  1. Motherboard Removal, Heat the right edge: crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Completely power off your phone before you begin.

    • Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's right edge for two minutes.

    • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

  2. Motherboard Removal, Separate the right adhesive: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Separate the right adhesive: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Separate the right adhesive: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the middle of the right edge as possible.

    • Pull up on the suction cup with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

    • Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you're having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

    • Insert an opening pick into the gap.

  3. Motherboard Removal, Slice the right adhesive: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Slice the right adhesive: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Slide the pick along the right edge to slice the adhesive.

    • Leave the pick in the bottom right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

  4. Motherboard Removal, Heat the bottom edge: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's bottom edge for two minutes.

  5. Motherboard Removal, Slice the bottom right corner adhesive: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Slice the bottom right corner adhesive: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Rotate the pick around the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.

  6. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Slide the pick along the bottom edge to slice the adhesive.

    • Leave the pick in the bottom left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

  7. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's left edge for two minutes.

  8. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Rotate the pick around the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.

  9. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Slide the pick along the edge to slice the adhesive.

    • Leave the pick in the top left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

  10. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Apply a heated iOpener to the back cover's top edge for two minutes.

  11. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Rotate the pick around the top left corner to slice the adhesive.

  12. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Slide the pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.

  13. Motherboard Removal, Remove the back cover: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Remove the back cover: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the back cover from the phone and remove it.

    • If the back cover is still stuck to the midframe, slide an opening pick around the edges of the phone until the cover separates completely.

  14. Motherboard Removal, Separate the camera bezel adhesive: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Separate the camera bezel adhesive: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert an opening pick between the right edge of the camera bezel and the motherboard cover.

    • Slide the pick back and forth along the edge to slice the adhesive.

  15. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert an opening pick between the left edge of the camera bezel and the motherboard cover.

    • Slide the pick back and forth along the edge to slice the adhesive.

  16. Motherboard Removal, Remove the camera bezel: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Remove the camera bezel: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the camera bezel from the phone and remove it.

    • During reassembly:

    • This is a good point to test your phone's functionality before sealing it up. Use this guide to run a hardware test. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

    • If you are replacing the fingerprint sensor or screen assembly, use this guide to calibrate the fingerprint sensor.

    • Follow this guide to replace the back cover and camera bezel adhesive.

  17. Motherboard Removal, Detach the left wireless charging coil tape: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Detach the left wireless charging coil tape: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath the tape that connects the wireless charging coil to the speaker on the bottom left of the phone.

    • Slowly lift the spudger up until the tape detaches from the speaker.

  18. Motherboard Removal, Detach the right wireless charging coil tape: crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Detach the right wireless charging coil tape: crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert a spudger underneath the tape that connects the wireless charging coil to the daughterboard cover on the bottom right of the phone.

    • Slowly lift the spudger up until the tape detaches.

  19. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the ten 4 mm screws securing the motherboard cover.

  20. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Adhesive secures the motherboard cover to the motherboard itself.

    • Apply a heated iOpener between the bottom edge of the motherboard cover for two minutes.

  21. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert an opening tool between the motherboard cover and the midframe.

    • Pry up with the opening tool until you are able to grab the motherboard cover with your fingers.

    • During reassembly, press down around the perimeter of the motherboard cover to engage the clips.

  22. Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Remove the motherboard cover: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Slowly pull the motherboard cover up and away from the phone and remove it.

  23. Motherboard Removal, Move the graphite film: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Move the graphite film: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use your fingers to move the graphite film that covers the battery out of the way.

  24. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the battery: crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the battery: crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery's press connector.

    • To re-attach press connectors 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.

  25. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the interconnect cable: crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the interconnect cable: crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the interconnect cable's press connector.

  26. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the screen cable: crwdns2935265:026crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the screen cable: crwdns2935265:026crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen's press connector.

  27. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the button assembly cable: crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the button assembly cable: crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the button assembly's press connector.

  28. Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the white coaxial cable: crwdns2935265:028crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal, Disconnect the white coaxial cable: crwdns2935265:028crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the white antenna's coaxial connector.

    • Pry under the rounded edge of the coaxial connector, not the straight edge. If you pry under the straight edge you may rip the socket off of the motherboard.

    • During reassembly, make sure to put the cable back in its clip on the motherboard.

    • To re-attach coaxial connectors like this one, hold the connectors in place and gently press them straight down with your finger or the pointed end of a spudger.

  29. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Repeat the previous step on the black antenna's coaxial connector.

    • During reassembly, make sure to put the cable back in its clip on the motherboard.

  30. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    • Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tweezers—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

    • Use a pair of tweezers to grip the bottom right corner of the motherboard near the peg on the right edge of the phone.

    • Pull the motherboard up and over the peg with a slow, steady force. This should release a few clips securing the motherboard.

    • This may require multiple attempts and significant force, as the peg wedges the motherboard in very tightly.

  31. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:031crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:031crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the middle of the motherboard's bottom edge.

    • Gently pry up on the motherboard to release the clips securing it.

  32. Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:032crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Motherboard Removal: crwdns2935265:032crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the motherboard from the phone.

    • During reassembly:

    • Clean off the old thermal paste from the midframe and motherboard using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste before reassembly.

    • Ensure that all of the cables that connect to the motherboard (interconnect, battery, antenna, display, and button assembly) are out of they way so they do not get stuck under the motherboard when it's reinserted.

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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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