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Follow this guide to replace the 5G mmWave antenna in your iPhone 16 Pro. This antenna is only in United States and Puerto Rico iPhone 16 Pro models (A3083).
You may need to replace the 5G mmWave antenna if your phone is having cellular connectivity issues but works normally on Wi-Fi.
You'll need replacement back glass and 5G mmWave antenna adhesive to complete this repair. For the antenna, you can use thin, double-sided tape as a substitute for the adhesive that usually comes pre-installed on the earpiece speaker.
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Unplug any cables from the phone.
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Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off the phone.
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If the screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
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Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
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Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.
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Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
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Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, above the USB-C port.
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Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
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Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.
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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.
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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.
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Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
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Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and halfway up the right edge, or until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the back glass.
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Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
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Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
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Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
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Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
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Heat the top edge of the back glass, including the area around the volume buttons, until it's hot to the touch.
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Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
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Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons.
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Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.
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Remove the opening picks.
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Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the lower connector cover:
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Two 1.2 mm‑long screws
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One 1.0 mm‑long screw
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Use tweezers or your fingers to pick up and remove the lower connector cover.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
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Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the upper connector cover:
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Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
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One 1.2 mm‑long screw
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One 1.6 mm‑long screw
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Use tweezers or your fingers to pick up and remove the upper connector cover.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back glass press connector.
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Lift the back glass off the frame and remove it.
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Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the earpiece speaker and 5G mmWave antenna press connectors, located on the top right corner of the logic board.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six screws securing the earpiece speaker:
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Three 1.2 mm‑long screws
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Two 1.8 mm‑long screws
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One 1.7 mm‑long screw
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Insert the point of a spudger in the bottom-right corner of the earpiece speaker and pry it up to remove it.
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Use your tweezers to grab the stretch release adhesive pull tab, located on the edge of the 5G mmWave antenna.
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Use your tweezers to pull the stretch release adhesive strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the antenna.
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If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it with your tweezers and continue pulling.
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Lift the 5G mmWave antenna off the earpiece speaker and remove it.
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The next step shows how to install the 5G mmWave antenna before installing the earpiece speaker. If your phone doesn't have this antenna, skip the next step.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Tesa 61395 Tape$2.99
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Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the liners from the adhesive.
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Press the antenna onto the earpiece speaker to adhere it.
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Insert the gasket at the top edge of the earpiece speaker into its cutout at a downward angle then press it flat to the frame.
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Use a Phillips screwdriver to install the six screws securing the earpiece speaker:
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Three 1.2 mm‑long screws
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Two 1.8 mm‑long screws
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One 1.7 mm‑long screw
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Use your finger or a spudger to connect the earpiece speaker and 5G mmWave antenna (US only) press connectors, located on the top right corner of the logic board.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Tweezers$4.99
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Use blunt nose tweezers or your fingers to remove large pieces of adhesive from the frame perimeter.
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Use a spudger to scrape the adhesive residue off of the frame.
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If the adhesive feels stubborn, apply some heat using a hair dryer or heat gun and try again.
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If you're reusing your back glass, apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to a microfiber or lint-free cloth and wipe around the perimeter to prepare the surface for new adhesive.
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Wrap a lint-free cloth or a coffee filter over the point of a spudger and apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to it.
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Wipe in one direction along the perimeter of the frame to clean the adhesive residue.
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Lay the adhesive sheet over the frame to determine its proper orientation.
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Grab the tab in the corner of the adhesive sheet and peel the liner to expose a third of the adhesive.
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Carefully align the exposed edge of the adhesive strip with the corresponding edge of the iPhone's frame.
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When it's correctly aligned, gently press the exposed adhesive strip onto the frame.
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Continue peeling away the liner from the adhesive, gently pressing the adhesive into place.
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Use a spudger to press the adhesive around the entire perimeter of your iPhone.
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Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the pull tab connected to the large front liner. The pull tab is often in a corner of the liner.
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Use the pull tab to peel off the large front liner from the adhesive.
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Prop up the back glass along the right edge of your iPhone.
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Use your finger or the flat end of a spudger to press and connect the back glass connector onto the logic board.
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Use your finger or a spudger to press and connect the battery press connector onto the logic board.
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Align the back glass connector cover by its screw holes and lay it in place.
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Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the four screws securing the back glass connector cover:
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Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
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Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
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Align the battery connector cover by its screw holes and lay it in place.
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Use a tri-point Y000 driver to install the three screws securing the battery connector cover:
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Two 1.3 mm‑long screws
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One 1.0 mm‑long screw
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Use your fingers or a spudger to peel away all perimeter liners, exposing the adhesive.
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Check the frame and back glass for any stray liners and remove them. There should be no liners remaining.
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Lower the back glass onto the frame, beginning with the top edge.
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Press along the edges of the iPhone until the back glass sits flush against the frame.
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Use a hair dryer, heat gun, or an iOpener to heat the back glass perimeter until it's slightly too hot to touch.
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Use your fingers to firmly squeeze around the perimeter of the iPhone.
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Place your iPhone screen-side down on a clean, flat work surface.
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Lay a strip of tape around the perimeter of the back glass to protect the finish.
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Stack coins around the perimeter of the back glass until you create a wall that's as tall as the rear camera protrusions.
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Place 3-4 heavy books squarely on top of your iPhone.
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Leave the books in place for about 30 minutes.
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Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to install the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.
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Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 16 Pro Answers Community for help.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 16 Pro Answers Community for help.
