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iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement

Introduction

Replace a broken speaker in an iPhone 5c to restore speakerphone capabilities.

What you need

  1. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

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

    Edit

  2. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Removing the Pentalobe screws: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Before you proceed, 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 3.8 mm P2 Pentalobe screws on either side of the Lightning connector.

    Edit

  3. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Starting the iSclack Opening Procedure: step 3, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Starting the iSclack Opening Procedure: step 3, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Starting the iSclack Opening Procedure: step 3, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    iSclack
    $24.99
    Buy

    • The next two steps demonstrate using the iSclack, a great tool for safely opening the iPhone 5c that we recommend for anyone doing more than one repair on an iPhone 5, 5s, or 5c. If you aren't using the iSclack, skip to Step 5.

    • 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.

    Edit

  4. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Finishing the iSclack Opening Procedure: step 4, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Finishing the iSclack Opening Procedure: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • 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 any cables.

    • Peel the two suction cups off your iPhone.

    • Skip the next three steps and continue on to Step 8.

    Edit

  5. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Manual Opening Procedure: step 5, image 1 of 1

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

    • Be sure the cup is completely on the screen to get a tight seal.

    Edit

  6. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Start lifting the front panel assembly: step 6, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Start lifting the front panel assembly: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Make sure the suction cup is firmly attached to the front panel assembly.

    • While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The display assembly is a much tighter fit than most devices.

    • With a plastic opening tool, begin to gently pry the rear case down, away from the display assembly, while you pull up with the suction cup.

    • There are several clips attaching the front panel assembly to the rear case, so you may need to use a combination of the suction cup and plastic opening tool to free the front panel assembly.

    Edit

  7. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

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

    • Remove the suction cup from the display assembly.

    Edit

  8. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Opening up the phone: step 8, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Opening up the phone: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the home button end of the front panel up to gain access to the connectors near the top of the phone.

    • 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.

    • In a pinch, you can use an unopened canned beverage to hold the display.

    • Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.

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  10. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 1

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

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  11. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

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  12. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Disconnecting the battery connector: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    • Be very careful to only pry up on the battery connector itself and not the socket on the logic board. If you pry up on the logic board socket or the board itself, you may destroy the socket or damage nearby components on the board.

    Edit

  13. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following Phillips #000 screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:

    • Two 1.3 mm screws

    • One 1.7 mm screw

    • One 3.25 mm screw

    • It is especially important to keep track of your screws in this step for reassembly. Accidentally using the 3.25 mm screw or the 1.7 mm screw 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. If they don't fit easily when you are securing them, they may be the wrong size—don't force them.

    Edit

  14. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

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

    Edit

  15. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables: step 14, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Use a plastic opening tool or a fingernail to disconnect the front-facing camera and sensor cable connector.

    • Be sure to only pry up on the connector, and not on the socket on the logic board.

    Edit

  16. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cables in this step.

    • Use a plastic opening tool or a fingernail to disconnect the LCD cable connector.

    • The LCD and Digitizer connectors are on the same cable assembly, so prying the LCD connector up should disconnect both connectors. Double check that the two cables are fully disconnected before removing the display.

    • When reassembling your phone, the LCD cable may pop off its connector. A blank screen, or white lines on the display could be caused by a loose connection. Should this happen, reconnect the cable and power cycle your phone. The best way to power cycle your phone is to disconnect and reconnect the battery.

    Edit

  17. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Separating front panel assembly and rear case: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

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  18. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Speaker: step 17, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement, Speaker: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Use a plastic opening tool to peel the home button spring contact cable up from the speaker enclosure.

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  19. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the speaker enclosure to the rear case:

    • Two 2.7 mm Phillips #000 screws

    • One 2.2 mm Phillips #000 screw

    Edit

  20. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the speaker enclosure up from the rear case.

    Edit

  21. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 20, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the speaker enclosure. Be careful not to snag it on the antenna cable.

    Edit

  22. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • The far right screw hole on the speaker has a contact bracket wrapped around it. Remove it and note the orientation for reassembly.

    • The flat portion of the contact clip should rest against the speaker, as shown.

    • The alignment bracket on the far end of the speaker assembly is adhered, but may fall off if handled aggressively.

    • The angled end should face up and line up with the outside edge of the speaker.

    Edit

  23. iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5c Speaker Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Your replacement speaker may be missing the contact-bearing sticker shown here; be sure to transfer it to the new part.

    • Use a plastic opening tool to lift the sticker from the speaker.

    • Peel up and remove the sticker.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

36 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 3 other contributors

Sam Goldheart

Member since: 10/18/12

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5 Comments

Speaker doesn't work even after replacing using this guide, any idea what can be wrong? many thanks

Amir - Reply

Same here. Speaker went out. Replaced it with a new one from an Amazon seller, and still nothing. It's like I didn't do anything.

Rest of the phone works perfectly.

wlnorris - Reply

I just did this replacement today and had the same problem as the other posts. However what I figured out was that the speaker is powered through contact on the back side. I applied some pressure to that area (this is mostly likely bad for the screen, so try at your own risk) to the speaker area and surprise it worked. A hacky fix was to put a piece of folded up paper on top of the speaker to create the contact. I do not recommend this fix, but it help solidify the actual cause.

Hope this helps

ayechonk - Reply

ayechonk merci pour le tips, c'est bien un faux contact, en appuyant un peu j'ai le son, je vais testé le coup de la cale.

Hadou - Reply

Does anyone know what's the actual voltage needed by the loudspeaker to work? I've tested it out the continuity of the loudspeakers (both the original on the replacing part) and they seem to work just fine, otherwise the output voltage from the motherboard on the contact while playing some music, swings quickly from 0 to 1mV.

Rocco Lorusso - Reply

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