iPhone 16 Pro Taptic Engine Removal

ID: 181298

Description: Prerequisite guide to remove the Taptic Engine...

Allow the phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
Unplug any cables from the phone.
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off the phone.

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.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the bottom edge that's big enough for a suction cup to stick to.

If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.
Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Use a P2 pentalobe screwdriver to remove the two 7.4 mm‑long screws on either side of the USB-C port.

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass, above the USB-C port.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
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.
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.
If you damage the spring contacts, gently bend them back with a spudger or opening pick so they align with their gold contact pads on the back glass.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm on the bottom edge to avoid damaging the spring contact.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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.
Don't slice near the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging/flash cable.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
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.
You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Heat the top edge of the back glass, including the area around the volume buttons, until it's hot to the touch.

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your opening pick across the top edge and around the top right corner to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.
You'll hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.

Don't try to fully remove the back glass just yet—it's still attached with a delicate ribbon cable. Follow the next few steps to remove it safely.
If the back glass doesn't swing open easily, don't force it—go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
You may need to lift the back glass up slightly before swinging it open to fully disengage the clips.
Gently swing open the back glass towards the volume buttons.
Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object like a small box to avoid straining the cable.
Remove the opening picks.
Consider using polyimide tape to protect the rear camera lenses while you're working inside the phone. Don't push against the lenses to avoid damaging the delicate stabilizers.

Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the lower connector cover:
Two 1.2 mm‑long screws
One 1.0 mm‑long screw

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

Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the upper connector cover:
Two 1.0 mm‑long screws
One 1.2 mm‑long screw
One 1.6 mm‑long screw

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back glass press connector.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three screws securing the Taptic Engine cover:
One 3.0 mm‑long screw
Two 1.7 mm‑long screws

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the lower assembly cable press connector from the logic board.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the two press connectors near the bottom right edge of the frame.

Use a tri-point Y000 screwdriver to remove the 1.0 mm‑long screw securing the lower assembly cable.

Use an iOpener or hair dryer to heat up the lower assembly cable section on top of the Taptic Engine until it's hot to the touch.

Slide an opening pick under the lower assembly cable to separate it from the Taptic Engine.
Carefully bend the cable out of the way so you can access the Taptic Engine.