Complete Repair Guide to Fix your iPhone XR Screen at Home

A cracked or shattered screen is the most common reason for iPhone XR screen replacement and repair. However, your screen doesn’t necessarily have to have a cracked glass to need replacing. You will also require replacement if you’re experiencing issues with color, touch sensitivity, and display. Fortunately, you can install your  iPhone XR screen replacement all by yourself. Just follow this complete guide so you can have your phone working in no time. 

• Prepare the materials and working space.

Before proceeding with the installation, make sure you’re working on a clean and straight surface. You will be working with small screws during the installation. Make sure you keep track of all of them and that no screw gets misplaced. Moreover, if your screen has any cracks, place tape over them to prevent injury from the glass shards during the assembly. 

When you’re working with iPhone screen re placements, it’s highly recommended to get an  iPhone XR screen replacement kit. This includes the full screen assembly and all the materials you will need during installation. 

• Remove the screws at the bottom of your phone. 

On your iPhone XR, you will find two 6.7 mm long pentalobe screws on each side of the charging port. You can use a pentalobe screwdriver to remove them. Note that once you open your iPhone, you will be compromising the waterproof seal feature. You can reapply a seal after you replace your display. 

• Use heat to dissolve screen adhesive. 

An adhesive is securing your iPhone XR’s display. You can dissolve it using heat either from a hairdryer or a heat gun. Place it a few inches away from the lower portion of your iPhone for about 60 seconds. This will soften up the adhesive.

Once you’ve dissolved the adhesive, use a suction cup to remove the glass display. Place it at the bottom portion of your iPhone (near the charging port). Then, begin lifting up the screen slowly, just enough to create a little gap between the display and the phone itself.

• Separate screen.

Use a small plastic pick to slightly pry up the screen assembly from the phone. Just make sure you are not inserting the pick too far inside your iPhone to avoid damage to the cables. Do this along the sides of the screen to continue separating it from the phone. Use the suction cup again to completely remove the screen. 

• Open your iPhone XR.

The proper way to open your iPhone XR is by moving the display up from the left side like a book. It is important not to separate the display completely to avoid damaging the cables. 

• Disconnect the battery. 

When doing the XR screen replacement, you first have to disconnect the battery to avoid electrical damage to your phone. Using a Y000 screwdriver, unscrew the three 1.2 mm screws of the battery cover. Take note of the location of each screw. 

Use a spudger to pry up the battery connector from the socket. Be careful not to bend the cable too heavily. Just bend it enough so it won’t come in contact with the socket. Moreover, as much as possible, avoid damaging the silicone seal on the circuit board. 

• Disconnect the screen digitizer and display. 

First, unscrew the two 1.2 mm screws of the display connector cover. Then, with a spudger, pry up the digitizer cable carefully. Then, use the spudger again to pry up the display cable connector. 

When reassembling, be careful with the cables. Just align the cable on to the pins and press gently so it clicks into place. 

• Disconnect the logic board connector cover and front sensors. 

There are five screws that secure the logic board to the rear case. These are different screws, so make sure you take note of their positions. 

There are three 1.2 mm Y000 screws located on the upper left, lower left, and lower right. There is one 1.3 mm Phillips #000 screw on the uppermost right. The one immediately below it is a 1.5 mm Phillips #000 screw. After removing the cover, use a spudger to lift up the front sensor assembly from the socket. 

• Remove the screen assembly. 

Once all cables are disconnected from the socket, you can now remove the whole display assembly from the rear case. 

• Remove the earpiece speaker. 

There are our screws securing your iPhone’s earpiece speaker (two 1.6 mm & one 2.3 mm Phillips screws, and one 1.2 mm Y000 screw). Carefully remove them and take note of the locations of each screw. Flip the speaker over away from the top display.

• Heat the top front of the display. 

With a hairdryer or heat gun, use heat on the top front of the display to remove the adhesive securing the sensor strip. 

• Lift up the microphone piece and proximity sensor.

With a spudger, lift the flex cable just below the mic. Be careful not to damage the flex cable. If you’re having difficulty, try applying more heat to dissolve the glue. Then, slide a plastic pick under the proximity sensor and flood illuminator to separate it from the front panel. 

• Remove the speaker and front sensor. 

With tweezers, slide the ambient light sensor bracket up and off the sensor. Then, lift the ambient light sensor from the panel. Be careful with the flex cable. The trick is to wiggle it slowly to avoid damaging the cable. 

If you are unable to detach the white diffuser strip, reapply heat to dissolve the glue. Make sure that you install the diffuser first when reassembling. Take note of its position when you reattach it. Then, the ambient light sensor should sit on top of the diffuser. Keep it steady as you screw back the assembly. 

You can now remove the earpiece speaker and front sensors assembly. Begin reassembling the parts onto your new iPhone XR screen replacement. 

To make things easier, you can take a picture of your iPhone XR during each step. This will make it easier for you to remember the positions of the components during the reassembly. Installing your XR screen replacement is easy. However, it certainly requires patience and attention to detail to ensure success.