A cracked or broken iPhone 7 plus screen isn’t as easy of a fix as it used to be. With the newer technology, a cracked screen means that the entire thing has to be replaced and not just the glass. The good news is that Digital Supply USA has all the iPhone 7 Plus parts you need and the instructions that follow! So, if you’re ready to get started, here’s what you need to know
Crash Course on iPhone 7 Plus LCD Screen and Digitizer Replacement
In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix a cracked or broken iPhone 7 Plus screen. It involves removing the earpiece speaker, LCD shield, Home sensor assembly and front-facing camera. But don’t worry, it’s much easier than it sounds.
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 30 minutes
Tools Needed to Replace iPhone 7 Plus LCD Screen and Digitizer Replacement
- Phillips #000 Screwdriver
- P2 Pentalobe Screwdriver iPhone
- Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver bit
- iOpener
- Suction Handle
- Spudger
- Opening Tools
- Tweezers
- Opening Pics
iPhone 7 Plus Parts
- iPhone 7 Plus LCD Screen and Digitizer
- iPhone 7 Plus LCD Shield Plate Sticker
- iPhone 7 Plus Display Assembly Adhesive
Make sure your iPhone 7 Plus is discharged below 25% before getting started, and then completely power it off. Also, opening up the display will compromise the waterproof seals. So, take extra effort not to let your phone near any liquid during the repair.
Instructions for iPhone 7 Plus LCD Screen and Digitizer Replacement
Step One: Open It Up
- Remove the two 3.4 mm screws found at the bottom of the phone
- Heat iOpener in the microwave for 30 seconds and apply to a long edge on the phone for approximately 2 minutes
- Apply suction cup on lower half of the front of your iPhone 7 Plus (avoiding the home button)
- Pull firmly on the suction cup until a small gap appears in between the front and back of the phone
- Insert the flat end of a spudger and then, twist the spudger to widen the opening
- Slide the spudger along the sides of the phone, starting at the lower left and towards the volume buttons
- Remove the spudger and slide from the lower right towards the top corner
- Pull up on suction cup and open, making sure not to raise it more than 10 degrees
- Remove the suction cup
- Slide in an opening pick underneath the screen on the top edge of the phone
- Slightly pull the screen away from the top of the phone, swinging it to the left like a book cover
- Remove the tri-point Y000 screws attaching the lower cable bracket to the mother board (4 in total)
Don’t pry the two pieces apart as there are small clips and cables that can break.
Step Two: Start the Repair
- Remove the lower display cable bracket
- Using the spudger, lift the battery connector out of the socket and bend to prevent it from accidentally charging up
- Use the flat end of the spudger to disconnect the two lower display connections on the logic board
- To re-attach, all you have to do it press down on one end until it clicks, then the other end – never the middle
- Remove the three tri-point Y000 screws on the bracket over the front panel sensor
- Remove bracket
- Disconnect the front panel sensor from the logic board
- Reattach by pressing on one end at a time
- Remove the display assembly
- Reapply adhesive around the edges when putting back on
- Remove the five Phillips screws on the earpiece speaker bracket
- Remove the earpiece speaker bracket
- Using the flat end of the spudger, lift the front-facing camera out from its housing and gently bend the cable to the side to make space
- Remove the earpiece speaker
- Fold the camera and cable toward the bottom of your iPhone 7 Plus
- Slide the spudger under the sensor flex cable to lift it from its housing
- Using the tip of the spudger, slide it underneath the light sensor flex cable to lift it out from its housing
Step Three: Start the Replacement
- Insert the sharp edge of an iPhone opening tool under the camera assembly’s cable found on the opposite side of the front-facing camera
- Pry up to lift the cable from the back of the display
- Insert the pointed side of the spudger under the same flex cable you separated in the previous step and continue separating by pushing the spudger toward the gold circles (earpiece speakers)
- Using the spudger, carefully separate the last cable from the back of the display
- Remove the front camera along with the sensor cable assembly (tweezers help!)
- Remove the four Y000 screws around the home sensor
- Remove the bracket securing the home sensor
- Pry under the left side of the home button cable to disconnect it
- If the connector starts to flip up, press down on the top edge of the connector with the spudger while prying from the left edge
- Gently pry under the connector to move the home sensor cable out of the way
- Reheat iOpener and use as needed
- Don’t detach the connectors completely – just flip up so the home sensor cable can be removed
- Using the iOpener, heat the adhesive around the home sensor
- Using an opening pick, gently break up the adhesive
- Remove the home sensor assembly
- Peel back the LCD shield plate sticker (rectangular) to separate it from the flex cable
- You don’t have to remove it completely
- Using a Y000 driver, remove three screws from display EMI shield
- Remove the phillips screws securing the EMI shield near the bottom of the display
- Lift the LCD shield plate while also pressing down on the cable surrounding it
- Bring the flex cable through the cutout where the LCD shield was
- Remove the LCD shield plate
At this point, only the LCD and digitizer assembly remains. Now, to put your iPhone 7 Plus back together, you repeat these steps backwards. So, if you’re ready to get started, shop Digital Supply USA for all your iPhone 7 Plus repair parts.