Motherboard Removal

ID: 173909

Description: Prerequisite guide for removing the motherboard...

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the back cover for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
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 susceptible to heat damage.

Apply a suction handle to the back cover, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the cover and the frame.
If you have trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to further soften the adhesive. Follow the iOpener instructions to avoid overheating.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Slide the pick back and forth along the right edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted near the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Slide your opening pick to the bottom left corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick in the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

There's a remaining patch of adhesive directly under the flash.
Line up the tip of an opening pick with the flash cutout.
Slide the opening pick under the top of the back cover until you feel it start to snag on the adhesive.
You should see the opening pick through the flash cutout.
Keep sliding the pick toward the bottom of the phone until you feel the adhesive completely separate from the back cover.
Avoid touching the rear cameras with your pick. Pushing against the lenses risks damaging them.

Grab and remove the back cover.
If your cover is still sticking to the frame, slide an opening pick around the perimeter until the cover completely separates.
During reassembly:
This is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
Remove any adhesive chunks with a pair of tweezers or your fingers. Apply heat and isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater) if you're having trouble removing the adhesive.
If you're using custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
If you're using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil press connector from the motherboard.
To re-attach press connectors, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the thirteen 3.5 mm‑long screws securing the wireless charging coil and the loudspeaker:
Six screws securing the wireless charging coil
Seven screws securing the loudspeaker

Insert the point of your spudger in the notch at the top left corner of the loudspeaker.
Pry up to unclip the loudspeaker from the frame.

Use your fingers to lift the loudspeaker away from the frame to fully separate it.
Remove the wireless charging coil and loudspeaker from the frame.
During reassembly, press around the perimeter of the loudspeaker to clip it to the frame.

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the earpiece speaker press connector.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.5 mm‑long screws securing the earpiece speaker.

Insert the flat end of your spudger between the bottom edge of the earpiece speaker and the sliver shield on the motherboard.
Don't insert your spudger anywhere else or you risk dislodging fragile surface‑mounted components.
Twist the spudger to unclip the earpiece speaker from the frame and remove it.
During reassembly, insert the top end of the earpiece speaker into the frame first before pressing down and clipping it back in.

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the primary and secondary interconnect cable press connectors from the daughterboard.

Repeat the previous step for the primary and secondary interconnect cable connectors on the motherboard.

Insert the tip of your spudger between the left edge of the antenna press connector and the sliver shield on the motherboard.
Fragile surface mounted-components surround this connector. Prying on other edges of this connector risks dislodging them from the board.
Pry up and disconnect the antenna press connector.

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the display and 5G mmWave cable press connectors from the motherboard.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 3.5 mm‑long screws securing the motherboard.

Insert the flat end of your spudger between the top edge of the motherboard and the frame, near the earpiece speaker cutout.
Twist the spudger to lift the motherboard up and out of the frame until you can grip it with your fingers.
Remove the motherboard.
During reassembly, make sure all of the cables are out of the way before placing the motherboard back into the frame.

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