Replacing LCD display on the iPhone 14

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

• 1. Turn off the iPhone
• 2. On the bottom edge of the iPhone, unscrew two 6.75 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 hair dryer or heat gun, 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.

Along the left edge of the iPhone are flex cables. Do not insert the pick or card into this side!

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

• Place the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone, one on the front and the other on the back, and gently press down on the spot.

If using a single suction cup, attach it 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 display about 3 mm from the frame, insert a pick or card into the gap.

The adhesive holding the display 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 display up and down repeatedly to weaken the adhesive until you create a gap large enough to insert the card.

C) Heating the right edge

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, apply heat the right edge of the iPhone (the edge with the power button) for 90 seconds or until the screen becomes too hot to touch.

D) Separating the adhesive (right side of the iPhone)

• Slide the pick or card from the bottom right corner up to the top right corner, separating the adhesive.

Do not insert the pick or card more than 3 mm, as you could damage internal components.

Before proceeding, leave the pick or card in the top right corner.

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the top edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen becomes too hot to touch.

• Slide the pick or card around the top right corner of the iPhone to separate the top adhesive

Before proceeding, leave the pick or card in the top left corner.

E) Heating the left edge

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the left edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen becomes too hot to touch.

F) Separating the adhesive (left side of the iPhone)

• Insert the second pick or card into the bottom left corner of the iPhone.

• Slide the pick or card along the entire edge until the clips holding the display release. Be very careful of the flex cables located on this side of the display.

If you have difficulty separating the adhesive, reheat the left edge

• After successfully releasing the adhesive from the edges, remove the suction cups.
• Open the iPhone by flipping the display from the left side like a book.

It is recommended to support the display to avoid tearing the flat flex cable that connects the display to the motherboard.

Do not attempt to fully detach the display 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 display and ensure they are not bent.

• Remove this screw using a tri-Point Y000 screwdriver that secure the display connector, and simultaneously detach it using tweezers.

When reassembling the phone this is a good point to start your phone to make sure display works before sealing the phone.

• Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

• Use Y000 screwdriver to unscrew the 0.9 long screw. After that disconnect the bracket for front sensor using tweezers.

• Disconnect the front sensor cable using the spudger tool to remove the sensor cable from its socket.

• Carefully remove the screen from phone and place it on a clean and stable surface

• Unscrew the two Y000 screws securing a bracket for the front sensor on the inside of the old display.

• Use tweezers to remove the front sensor bracket from the display.

• Use a heat gun or a hair dryer and apply it to the top edge of the screen for short period of time. But be careful not to overheat the phone—the display is sensitive to heat damage.

• Insert an opening pick between the ambient light sensor and its recess in the screen. Pry up with the pick to separate the ambient light sensor from the screen.

• Insert an opening pick between the proximity sensor and its recess in the screen. Pry up with the pick to separate the proximity sensor from the screen.

• Use tweezers, or your fingers, to move the proximity sensor cable away from the screen.

• Insert an opening pick under the microphone cable, close to the microphone (the metal rectangle).

• Slide the opening pick around the perimeter of the microphone to separate its adhesive.

• Insert an opening pick under the left side of the front sensor assembly.
• Slide the pick under the assembly to separate it from the frame.

Now adhesive may have cooled down. If so, apply a heat to the assembly for one more time before continuing.

• Connect the sensors to their slots in the frame to help align the main section of the assembly on the back of new screen.

We recommend using double sided tape to re-adhere the assembly if it’s no longer sticky.

• Remove all of the old adhesive around the inside edges of the iPhone using the spudger tool.

• Apply new adhesive around the edges of the iPhone.

   

  The new adhesive will ensure the iPhone's resistance to water and dust.

   

  Opening your iPhone will breach its water-resistant seal, so have a replacement seal ready before starting this step. Without a new seal, your iPhone will not be water-resistant, and there's a higher likelihood of dust or moisture ingress.

• Check the phone for excess screws and small parts that may be stuck in the body of phone and remove them.

• Install the new LCD display.

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 some issues.