iPhone 5s Logic Board Replacement

Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

Remove the two 3.9 mm Pentalobe screws from either side of Lightning connector.

If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.

• This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.

If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.

Close the handle on the iSclack, opening the suction-cup jaws.

Place the bottom of your iPhone in between the suction cups, against the plastic depth gauge.

• The top suction cup should rest just above the home button.

Open the handles to close the jaws of the iSclack. Center the suction cups and press them firmly onto the top and bottom of the iPhone.

Hold onto your iPhone securely and close the handle of the iSclack to separate the suction cups, pulling the front panel up from the rear case.

The iSclack is designed to safely open your iPhone just enough to separate the pieces, but not enough to damage the home button cable.

Skip the next three steps and continue on Step 9.

If you don't have an iSclack, use a single suction cup to lift the front panel:

Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.

While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the home button end of the front panel from the rear case.

With a plastic opening tool, gently pry the edges of the rear case down, away from the front panel assembly, while you pull up with the suction cup.

Pull the plastic nub to release the vacuum seal on the suction cup.

Remove the suction cup from the screen.

Open the phone just enough to reveal the metal bracket covering the home button cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to push the bracket free and remove it with tweezers.

Use the flat end of a spudger to snap the front portion of the Touch ID cable bracket down over the cable connector.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the home button cable connector up out of its socket.

Once the connector has been released, pull the home button end of the assembly away from the rear case, using the top of the phone as a hinge.

Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

• Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.
• In a pinch, you can use an unopened canned beverage to hold the display.

Remove the two 1.6 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board.

Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:

• One 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw
• One 1.2 mm Phillips #000 screw
• One 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screw
• One more 1.7 mm Phillips #000 screw

  • This 1.7 mm screw tends to not be attracted to a magnetized screwdriver. Take care not to lose it when removing.
• It is especially important to keep track of your screws in this step for reassembly. Accidentally using the 1.3 mm screw or one of the 1.7 mm screws in the bottom right hole will result in significant damage to the logic board causing the phone to no longer boot properly.

  • Be careful not to over-tighten the screws, and don't force them. If they don't fit easily when you are securing them, they may be the wrong size.

Remove the front panel assembly cable bracket from the logic board.

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front-facing camera and sensor cable.

Disconnect the LCD cable connector.

Finally, disconnect the digitizer cable connector.

Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the SIM card tray.

Press to eject the tray. This may require a significant amount of force.

Remove the SIM Card tray assembly from the iPhone.

Use a spudger to gently pry the button assembly cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Use a spudger to pry the Lightning connector cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Fold the Lightning connector cable out of the way of the logic board.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry the antenna cable up from its socket on the logic board.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the rear-facing camera cable from its socket on the logic board.

Remove any tape covering the camera flash bracket.

Remove the following screws from the logic board:

• One 2.4 mm Phillips #000 screw

  • This screw also holds a small metal contact beneath the logic board. It's held in place underneath a plastic bracket, but if you see it slipping out, refer to this step to remove it.
• Two 2.3 mm Phillips #000 screws
• Four 2.8 mm standoff screws

  • Standoff screws are best removed using an iPhone Standoff Screwdriver Bit and driver handle.
  • In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn't slip and damage surrounding components.

Use a plastic opening tool to lift the logic board up enough to grab with your fingers.

Pull the logic board slightly away from the rear facing camera.

Flip the logic board toward the battery, as if you are turning the page in a book.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the antenna cable on the back of the logic board.

Remove the logic board from the iPhone.

At this point, a small metal plate near the rear facing camera is loose and may come free from its recess.

Use tweezers to remove the plate from beneath the bracket to the left of the rear-facing camera.