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Opening Procedure

Prerequisite Only
This guide is only intended to be used as a prerequisite for other guides. It's incomplete by itself.

Introduction

Prerequisite-only guide to open an iPhone 11 Pro Max, allowing access to internal components for repair or replacement.

What you need

  1. Opening Procedure, Remove the pentalobe screws: step 1, image 1 of 2 Opening Procedure, Remove the pentalobe screws: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

    • Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

    • Remove the two 6.7 mm-long pentalobe screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.

    • Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

    Edit

  2. Opening Procedure, Tape over any cracks: step 2, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure, Tape over any cracks: step 2, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure, Tape over any cracks: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • If your iPhone has a cracked screen, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping over the glass.

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

    • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

    • If you can't get the suction cup to stick in the next few steps, fold a strong piece of tape (such as duct tape) into a handle and lift the screen with that instead.

    • If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the screen.

    Edit

  3. Opening Procedure, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 3, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 3, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 3, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Clampy - Anti-Clamp
    $24.95
    Buy

    • The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.

    • For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.

    • Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.

    • Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.

    • Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone—one on the front, and one on the back.

    • Squeeze the cups together to apply suction to the desired area.

    • If you find that the surface of your iPhone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use tape to create a grippier surface.

    Edit

  4. Opening Procedure: step 4, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 4, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Pull the blue handle forward to lock the arms.

    • Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.

    • Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

    Edit

  5. Opening Procedure: step 5, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 5, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Heat an iOpener and thread it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp.

    • You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but extreme heat can damage the display and/or internal battery, so proceed with care.

    • Fold the iOpener so it lays on the bottom edge of the iPhone.

    • Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.

    • Insert an opening pick into the gap under the screen and the plastic bezel, not the screen itself.

    • If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle a quarter turn.

    • Don't crank more than a quarter turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.

    • Skip the next three steps.

    Edit

  7. Opening Procedure, Heat the lower edge of the phone: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

    • Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

    Edit

  8. Opening Procedure: step 7, image 1 of 2 Opening Procedure: step 7, image 2 of 2

    • If you're using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the curved portion of the glass.

    Edit

  9. Opening Procedure, Lift the display slightly: step 8, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure, Lift the display slightly: step 8, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure, Lift the display slightly: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

    • Insert an opening pick into the gap.

    • The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

    Edit

  10. Opening Procedure, Separate the screen adhesive: step 9, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure, Separate the screen adhesive: step 9, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure, Separate the screen adhesive: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the display in place.

    • Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage internal components.

    Edit

  11. Opening Procedure, Screen information: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • There's a delicate cable along the right edge of your iPhone. Don't insert your pick here, as you may damage the cable.

    Edit

  12. Opening Procedure: step 11, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 11, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.

    • Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the display cables.

    Edit

  13. Opening Procedure: step 12, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 12, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • The top edge of the display is secured with both glue and clips.

    • Gently pull the right edge of the display down slightly (in the direction of the Lightning port).

    • Insert your pick into the top-right corner of the phone.

    Edit

  14. Opening Procedure: step 13, image 1 of 2 Opening Procedure: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Continue pulling the display down (toward the Lightning port) as needed in order to make a gap large enough for the pick.

    • Slide the pick to the top left corner and cut any remaining adhesive securing the display.

    • Don't insert your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the front panel sensor array.

    Edit

  15. Opening Procedure, Remove the suction cup: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

    Edit

  16. Opening Procedure, Open the iPhone: step 15, image 1 of 3 Opening Procedure, Open the iPhone: step 15, image 2 of 3 Opening Procedure, Open the iPhone: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

    • Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.

    • Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

    • During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

with 6 other contributors

Jeff Suovanen

Member since: 08/06/13

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