Battery replacement of iPhone 12 Pro Max

Before starting, it is necessary to discharge the iPhone below 25% because a charged Li-ion battery can ignite or explode if accidentally cut.

• Unplug any cables from your iPhone and turn it off.
• On the bottom edge of the iPhone, unscrew two 6.7 mm long pentalobe screws using a Pentalobe PL1 (0.8 mm) screwdriver.

Opening iPhone will break its waterproof seal, so have a replacement seal ready before beginning this step. Without a new seal, your iPhone will not be waterproof.

• A) Heating the phone
• 1. It is recommended to wear protective ESD gloves.
• 2. Using a heat gun or a hair dryer, heat the entire perimeter of the display for about 3 minutes to reach a temperature of approximately 80°C (176°F), or until it becomes difficult to keep your hand on the phone due to the high temperature.

• Heating the phone helps to soften the adhesive between the display and the phone frame, making it easier to open.

• Note: There are two fragile cables linking the screen to the phone: one positioned slightly above the mute switch, and the other located approximately halfway between the volume down button and the bottom edge of the phone.

• There are several spring contacts located around the phone's perimeter.

• Exercise caution to avoid inserting your pick deeper than recommended in these areas to prevent bending these contacts.

• B) Opening the display
• The display can be opened in two different ways: The first method is using a suction cup, and the second method is using a securing tool, which is safer.
• In this guide, we will proceed using a suction cup.
• Placement of the suction cup
• Attach the suction cup to the bottom edge of the phone, avoiding the edge of the glass itself.
• Securely hold your iPhone and with firm, steady pressure, pull on the suction cup to create a slight gap between the frame and the display.
• After separating the screen about 3 mm from the frame, insert a pick or card into the gap.

• Do not insert the pick or card more than 3 mm along the bottom edge, as you could damage internal components.
• The adhesive holding the screen in place is very strong. Therefore, creating this initial gap requires considerable force. If you encounter difficulty, reheat the bottom edge and gently slide the screen up and down repeatedly to weaken the adhesive until you create a gap large enough to insert the card.
• Move your pick in a back-and-forth motion along the lower edge to loosen the adhesive.
• Keep your pick in place in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

• C) Heating the right edge

• Using a heat gun or a hair dryer warm up the right edge of the iPhone (the side with the power button) for approximately 90 seconds, or until the screen reaches a temperature too hot to touch

• D) Releasing the right clip and separating the adhesive (right side of the iPhone)
• Avoid inserting your pick more than 5 mm deep along the right edge.
• Gently maneuver your opening tool around the lower right corner of the screen and toward the power button until you encounter resistance from a clip securing the screen.
• Adjust the orientation of your pick so that the flat edge is positioned beneath the screen.
• Rotate the pick to widen the space between the screen and the frame until the right clip disengages.
• Introduce a second opening pick to the right of the initial one.
• Move the first pick back to the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Glide the second pick to the top right corner of the screen to loosen the adhesive.
• Leave these picks in place to prevent the adhesive from sealing again.

• E) Heating up the top edge
• Using a heat gun or a hairdryer, heat the top edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen becomes too hot to touch.

• F) Separating the adhesive and releasing the top left clip
• Insert a third opening pick in the top right corner, just above the previous pick.

• Do not insert the pick or card more than 3 mm along the top edge, as you could damage internal components.
• Guide your pick around the upper right corner and along the top edge to disengage the two clips and adhesive holding it in place.
• Rotate your pick so its flat edge is under the screen.
• Twist your pick to release the top left screen clip.
• Slide your pick to the top left corner.

​​​​​​​

• G) Separating the adhesive (left side of the iPhone)
• Using a heat gun or a hairdryer, heat the left edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the display becomes too hot to touch.

• H) Releasing the left clips and separating the adhesive (left side of the iPhone)
• Exercise caution not to insert your pick more than 2 mm deep along the left edge to prevent damage to the two cables linking the screen to the phone.
• Rotate your pick around the upper left corner of the screen.​​​​​​​
• Guide your pick toward the bottom left corner of the screen to loosen the adhesive.

• Carefully open the screen to the left side of the phone.
• If the screen appears to be stuck, revisit the edges to ensure no sections of adhesive or clips are overlooked.
• Support the screen against a box or similar object to prevent strain on the cables.
• Do not attempt to fully detach the screen yet, as several fragile flat flex cables still connect it to the iPhone's motherboard.
• Warning: If the battery is damaged stop the repair. Do not put yourself in danger.
• When reassembling the iPhone to its original state, place the display in position. Align the clips along the top edge and before snapping the rest of the display into place, gently press the top edge into position. If it doesn't snap into place easily, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the screen and ensure they are not bent.

• Utilize a Y000 tri-point screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the logic board cover in place:
• Four screws measuring 1.1 mm in lenght
• Use tweezers or fingernail to lift the cover and remove it.
• As you reassemble, this is an ideal time to power on your iPhone and test all functions before securing the screen. Make sure to fully power down your iPhone again before proceeding with the remaining steps.

• Use the tip of a spudger to pry the battery connector off the motherboard.
• Gently bend the battery connector with the flex cable away from the motherboard to prevent accidental contact with the motherboard connector and thus avoid potential short circuits.
• Try not to damage the black silicone seal, which provides additional protection against water and dust ingress.

• Utilize the tip of a spudger to gently lift and disconnect press connector for the display cable from its socket.

Use a Y000 screwdriver to take out the four screws, measuring 1.1 mm in length, that hold the front sensor connector cover in place.

Utilize the tweezers to take out this connector cover.

• Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the front sensor assembly cable connector.

•  
• Remove the display and place it on a clean, straight surface.
• Warning: Do not touch the TrueDepth camera, grounding springs or near parts.
• Exercise caution to avoid causing harm to any of the spring contacts while cleaning the frame.

• Use a Phillips screwdriver to take out the four 1.4 mm screws.

• Insert an opening pick between the top edge of the Taptic Engine and the adhesive-backed strip.

• Use a tweezers to grip the loudspeaker.
• Gently tilt the loudspeaker to release it from the adhesive-backed strip connected to the Taptic Engine.
• Remove the loudspeaker completely.
• When reinstalling, position the loudspeaker by placing the battery-side into its recess first, ensuring it aligns with the adhesive-backed strip.

• Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 1.4 mm screw holding the plastic cover in place.
• Utilize tweezer to remove it.

• Use a spudger to disconnect the Taptic Engine by gently lifting the connector straight up from its socket.

• Using a Phillips screwdriver, take out the bottom screw securing the Taptic Engine
• One 1.6 mm Phillips screw
• Next, use a Standoff screwdriver to remove the screws on the top measuring 2.8 mm holding the Taptic Engine in place.
• For best results, use a dedicated Standoff screwdriver or driver bit to remove standoff screws. If needed, a small Flathead screwdriver can also be used, but take extra care to avoid slipping and damaging nearby components.

• Insert the flat end of a spudger between the left side of the Taptic Engine and the frame.
• Gently pry upwards until you can grip the Taptic Engine with tweezers or your fingers.
• Lift and remove the Taptic Engine.

• Four stretch-release adhesive strips hold the battery in place against the rear case—two at the bottom edge and two at the top edge of the battery.
• Each strip has a black pull-tab at the end, which is lightly stuck to the edge of the battery.
• In the following steps, you’ll pull each tab to slowly stretch the adhesive underneath the battery. These "command-strip" style adhesives lose their adhesion when stretched, allowing for easy battery removal.
• If the strips happen to break, don't worry! This is a common occurrence. Continue reading for tips on how to deal with broken strips.

• Pull one of the adhesive pull tabs out from under the battery until you can grip it with your fingers or wrap it around your tool.
• Keep the phone stable by holding onto the edges of the frame—avoid pressing down on the battery.
• Pull the strip slowly, evenly, and at a shallow angle without dragging it across other components.
• Continue pulling, re-gripping, or wrapping it around your tool as needed until the strip fully releases from under the battery.
• If the strip breaks, try to retrieve it. If you cannot grip it from under the battery, proceed to the next step.
• Repeat this process for the remaining three adhesive strips.

• If you have successfully removed all four stretch-release adhesive strips, you can now proceed to remove the battery!
• If not, follow the next steps to dissolve the adhesive using isopropyl alcohol and a plastic card.
• If one of the top adhesive strip remains, lift the top edge of the phone.
• If either of the bottom adhesive strips remains, lift the left edge of the phone (where the volume buttons are located).
• Apply a few drops of highly concentrated isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%) along the raised edge of the battery.
• Allow one minute for the isopropyl alcohol to seep under the battery and soften the adhesive.

• Avoid bending or folding your battery. If the adhesive proves resistant, add a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol and attempt again.
• Slide the narrow edge of a plastic card between the lower edge of the battery and the frame.
• Take care not to scrape the frame beneath the battery—the wireless charging coil is exposed near the center.
• Carefully lift the battery until the adhesive completely releases.
• Depending on the strength of the adhesive, this process may require patience.
• Apply steady pressure for up to a minute to allow the adhesive to loosen.

• Remove the old battery.
• Clean the frame using isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free or microfiber cloth.
• Before applying adhesive, temporarily reconnect your new battery and position it in place to ensure it fits and the cable reaches the socket on the logic board.
• Disconnect the battery afterward.
• If your new battery lacks adhesive, refer to a guide on applying stretch-release adhesive strips.
• Alternatively, use thin, double-sided tape for securing it.

• Remove all the old screen adhesive around the perimeter of your iPhone's case using a spudger or tweezers.
• Be sure to remove any remaining smaller bits of adhesive with the tip of your spudger
• Be careful not to damage any of the spring contacts as you go around the frame.

• Using a lint-free cloth (or coffee filter) with a bit of isopropyl alcohol, clean the areas of the case and rear display where you removed the old adhesive.
• This will help remove any remaining adhesive residue and prep the surface for the new adhesive.
• For best results, swipe your cleaning cloth in one direction, not back and forth

• Note how your old battery adhesive sat in the battery compartment. You may take a photo to ensure proper placement of the new adhesive.
• Remove all the old battery adhesive residue in the battery compartment.
• You may pull it off with your fingers or tweezers, roll it into the tip of a spudger or scrape it off with the spudger’s flat end.

• Clean the surface that had the old battery adhesive with a lint-free cloth (or a coffee filter) soaked with a bit of isopropyl alcohol.
• Inspect the battery compartment on your device. Avoid placing the battery adhesive over delicate surfaces like ribbon cables, NFC components or wireless charging coils. Don’t place the battery adhesive too close to sensitive components.
• It is advised to check for the fitment of the new battery at this point of your repair. Temporarily reconnect the new battery and place it into its compartment. Check its fitment and that the cable properly reaches its socket on the logic board.
• Once you make sure everything fits, disconnect the battery and continue reasembly.

• Remove the small sections of blue film covering the flat ends of the new stretch release adhesive strips.
• Don't remove the entire blue liner yet.
• Carefully align the sections with the blue film removed with the top edge of the battery on its front side and gently press them into the place.
• Note that these will act as the strips you pulled from the top of the old battery while removing it.
• Place the battery on a flat surface and begin removing the rest of the blue film, beginning on the other side of the stretch release adhesive.
• Use a pair of tweezers if you’re having trouble with separating the edge of the blue film from the adhesive.
• Gently roll the adhesive onto the surface of the battery over the top edge using your fingertip and lay it flat to the back side of the battery.
• Do not pull or stretch the adhesive.
• Press the strips firmly, sticking them properly to the back side of the battery.

• Turn it off again, disconnect the rear glass components and continue.

• Install back the old LCD display
• Also check the phone for excess screws and small parts that may be stuck in the body of phone and remove them.
• When reassembling the iPhone back to its original state, follow these instructions in reverse order.
• After reassembly, perform a forced restart. This may help prevent any possible issues.