When you’re talking on your phone, you can’t hear the other person.

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 4’s defective earpiece. You need this repair if you can’t hear the person you’re talking to or the call is very quiet.

Required tools

  • For storing screws

    For storing screws

    We recommend storing your screws so you don’t mix up the various screws and small parts.

    from €10.99 on Amazon
  • Menda ESD Spudger

    Menda ESD Spudger

    You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.

    from €26.38 on Amazon
  • Steel Laboratory Spatula

    Steel Laboratory Spatula

    You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.

    on Amazon
  • Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    Pentalobe PL1 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing pentalobe PL1 screws.

    on Amazon
  • Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    Phillips PH00 screwdriver

    You need the right screwdriver for removing PH00 screws.

    from €10.84 on Amazon

Required replacement part

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 4 

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 4

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

23 steps
  1. Removing the enclosure screws

    iPhone 4 - Removing the enclosure screws 01
    1. Depending on when your iPhone was manufactured, you’ll need either a Phillips screwdriver or a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone.
    2. Depending on when your iPhone was manufactured, you’ll need either a Phillips screwdriver or a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone. They are located to the right and left of the dock connector. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
      2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe/Phillips screws
  2. Removing the back cover

    iPhone 4 - Removing the back cover 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the back cover 02
    1. Use your thumbs or the palm of your hand to push the back cover of your iPhone about 4 mm away from the bottom of the phone where the dock connector is (see figure 1).
    2. Then you can lift the back cover at the end that’s sticking out past the phone (see figure 2).
  3. Disconnecting the battery connector

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the battery connector 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the battery connector 02
    1. If your iPhone’s still on, turn it off now by holding down the standby button for about five seconds and following the prompt on the display.
    2. Remove the screw on the battery connector using a Phillips screwdriver (see figure 1). Put the screw in a separate compartment of your organizer tray.
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
      The battery contact point on the logic board could come off. If the contact point breaks off but the soldering points are still intact, you can solder the contact point back on.
    3. Now carefully lift off the battery connector by inserting the pointed ESD spudger slightly below the silver cover plate (see figure 2). If you don’t have a spudger, you can also try using your fingernail.
    4. For the rest of the repair, you can also use the metal laboratory spatula instead of the spudger. This may make some steps easier for you. However, we explicitly recommend using the ESD spudger produced specifically for precision electronics.
  4. Removing the battery

    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 02
    iPhone 4 - Removing the battery 03
    1. The antenna cover is under the battery connector. NRemove the cover and put it in the same compartment of your organizer tray as the Phillips screw you removed before. (See figure 1).
    2. Now remove the battery. It’s sometimes glued firmly in place. Insert the flat end of the spudger into the space (about 1 cm to the left of the volume down button) between the battery and the outer frame, and slowly lift the battery (see figure 2). If the battery’s really stuck on, use other leverage points to the right and left of the original spot to pry it off. If you still can’t detach the battery, you can use a heat gun to warm it slightly from the outside and soften the glue.
    3. Now you can also disconnect the antenna connector by carefully pulling it off the plug head using the spudger (see figure 3).
  5. Plastic tab

    iPhone 4 - Plastic tab 01
    iPhone 4 - Plastic tab 02
    1. Fold the plastic tab with the warning over and press it firmly onto the lower adhesive strip. This way, it won’t get in the way during your repair.
    2. Of course, you can also remove the plastic tab.
  6. Disconnecting the dock connector cable

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 02
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the dock connector cable 03
    1. Remove the two Phillips screws from the dock connection cable and remove the black (silver for newer models) cover (see figure 1).
      1 x 1.6 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw
    2. Put the screws and cover in the same compartment of your organizer tray. It’s easy to tell them apart.
    3. Now you can carefully detach the connector by using the flat end of the spudger to lift the connector again. Alternatively, you can also use your fingernail again (see figure 2).
    4. Pull the flat cable that’s lightly glued in place off of the logic board and bend it carefully over the frame (see figure 3).
  7. Removing the Wi-Fi cover

    iPhone 4 - Removing the Wi-Fi cover 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the Wi-Fi cover 02
    iPhone 4 - Removing the Wi-Fi cover 03
    1. Remove the five Phillips screws. (See figure 1).
      1 x 2.3 mm Phillips screw
      2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 4.8 mm Phillips Wi-Fi screw
      1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
    2. Use the flat end of the spudger to detach the cover. (See figure 2).
    3. Lift the cover out of the phone. Note that the cover is hooked on in two places. (See figure 3).
  8. Disconnecting the connectors

    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the connectors 01
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the connectors 02
    iPhone 4 - Disconnecting the connectors 03
    1. Now you can disconnect the following five connectors. Be very careful (see figure 1).
      Touchscreen
      LCD
      Front camera
      Headphone output/volume controller
      Standby/proximity sensor
      Camera (removed in the following step)
      Be particularly careful with the headphone output connection. There’s a little resistor there that you need in order for the front camera to work.Don’t break it off (see figure 3).
    2. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up (see figure 2). Make sure you don’t break off the resistors that are soldered onto the logic board.
  9. Removing the rear camera

    iPhone 4 - Removing the rear camera 01
    1. Lift the camera connector to remove it like you removed the other connectors and take out the camera.
  10. Removing the water indicator

    iPhone 4 - Removing the water indicator 01
    1. Remove the white water indicator sticker. It helps to use the tweezers or laboratory spatula. If you’re having trouble removing the sticker, some hot air can help.
    2. There’s a Phillips screw below that.
    3. It’s best if you stick the sticker on the plastic tab so you don’t lose it.
  11. Removing the SIM card tray

    iPhone 4 - Removing the SIM card tray 01
    1. You can use the SIM Tool or a paperclip to remove the SIM card tray. Press the SIM Tool into the small hole in the SIM card tray to remove it.
  12. The right tools for your repair

    With the right tools, you will succeed in any repair. In our store you will find a large selection of professional quality tools.
    VIEW NOW
  13. Removing the logic board

    iPhone 4 - Removing the logic board 01
    iPhone 4 - Removing the logic board 02
    iPhone 4 - Removing the logic board 03
    iPhone 4 - Removing the logic board 04
    1. Now unscrew all three screws that hold the logic board in place.
    2. You’ll need both the Phillips screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver or the laboratory spatula (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. You can easily tell them apart by looking at them.
      1 x 4.8 mm Phillips/flathead screw
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 2.0 mm Phillips screw
    3. Now you can carefully lift the logic board below the battery connection using the spudger (see figure 2) and remove it by hand (see figure 3).
    4. There’s a little black rubber protector on the right side of the logic board (see figure 4). It comes off easily. Put it with the screws from this step so it doesn’t get lost.
  14. Replacing the earpiece

    iPhone 4 - Replacing the earpiece 01
    iPhone 4 - Replacing the earpiece 02
    iPhone 4 - Replacing the earpiece 03
    1. Insert the laboratory spatula under the adhesive film on the earpiece’s foam ring (see figure 1) and not under the cable set.
    2. Loosen the earpiece until you can remove it (see figure 2).
    3. Now you can put in the new earpiece. The two ends of the contact point should point towards the right (see figure 3).
  15. Installing the logic board

    iPhone 4 - Installing the logic board 01
    iPhone 4 - Installing the logic board 02
    iPhone 4 - Installing the logic board 03
    iPhone 4 - Installing the logic board 04
    1. Put the rubber protector back on the sharp edge of the logic board. The thicker part should be facing down (see figure 1).
    2. Put the logic board back in carefully as shown in the picture. The logic board will click gently into place when it’s in the right position (see figure 2). This may take several attempts. Use figure 3 to check whether your logic board is in the right place.
      Make sure the antenna cable attached to the speaker isn’t under the logic board.
    3. Now screw in all three Phillips screws that hold the logic board in place (see figure 4).
      1 x 4.8 mm Phillips/flathead screw
      1 x 2.4 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 2.0 mm Phillips screw
  16. Attaching the water indicator

    iPhone 4 - Attaching the water indicator 01
    1. Stick the white water indicator sticker back on the Phillips screw.
  17. Connecting the connections

    iPhone 4 - Connecting the connections 01

    1. First connect the camera and then connect the other connectors to the corresponding connections. Use your finger to carefully press them in. Only use as much pressure as you need for the contacts to gently click into place.
    2. If the LCD/touchscreen cable is too short, you forgot to pull it tightly through the slot in the midframe.
  18. Installing the Wi-Fi cover

    iPhone 4 - Installing the Wi-Fi cover 01
    iPhone 4 - Installing the Wi-Fi cover 02
    1. Put the cover on the logic board and make sure it’s hooked on properly.
    2. Then fasten it with the five Phillips screws (see figure 1).
      1 x 2.3 mm Phillips screw
      2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
      1 x 4.8 mm Phillips Wi-Fi screw
      1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
    3. If you have problems with the Wi-Fi signal later, the Wi-Fi screw may be screwed in wrong. Also check whether the Wi-Fi contact point is fitted properly on the cover (see figure 2).
  19. Attaching the dock connector cable

    iPhone 4 - Attaching the dock connector cable 01
    1. Connect the dock connection cable again and put the black/silver cover on it.
    2. Fasten the two Phillips screws again.
      1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw
      1 x 1.6 mm Phillips screw
  20. Aligning the plastic tab

    iPhone 4 - Aligning the plastic tab 01
    1. Detach the plastic tab with the warning or stick it back in if you took it out.
  21. Installing the battery

    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 01
    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 02
    iPhone 4 - Installing the battery 03
    1. First you have to attach the antenna connector again (see figure 1).
    2. Now put the battery back in the iPhone.
    3. Then install the antenna cover (see figure 2).
    4. Now click the battery connector back into place and screw it in (see figure 3).
      1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
  22. Attaching the back cover

    iPhone 4 - Attaching the back cover 01
    1. Put the back cover back on and carefully push it the last few millimeters toward the dock connector.
  23. Fastening the enclosure screws

    iPhone 4 - Fastening the enclosure screws 01
    1. Now screw in the two screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
      2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe/Phillips screws
    2. Then all you have to do is push in the SIM card tray.
  24. Setting the time

    iPhone 4 - Setting the time 01

    When the battery is removed from the device, the iPhone loses the time and sets itself to 1:00 a.m. on 1/1/1970. You could have trouble connecting to the cellular network if the time isn’t set.

    After a repair, complete the following steps:

    1. Synchronize your iPhone with iTunes or connect to a WLAN network and wait until the time is set.
    2. Remove the SIM tray with the SIM card and reinsert it.
    3. Activate airplane mode on the device and then deactivate airplane mode.
Ø 5 (24 Ratings)

Bewerte unsere Anleitung

Hat dir unsere Anleitung weitergeholfen? Wir sind auf deine Beurteilung gespannt.

Submit rating

Submit rating

How did you like this repair guide?

Exceptional

Similar guides

You might also be interested in these guides.

You might be interested in

Get in touch with iDoc

Please contact our customer service for any questions about iDoc's products and services.

  • Send a message

    If you have a question about a guide or want to give us general feedback, just use our contact form

    Write a message
  • Free shipping

    From a minimum order value of 79.00 € your order will be shipped free of charge within Germany.

  • Call iDoc

    If you have any questions about our guides or services, call us from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

    +49 30 200 514 455
  • 5 star service

    We offer top quality and service. Our customers confirm this as well.

    Show reviews

Profi-Insights & Tipps für deine erfolgreiche Handy-Reparatur

iDoc schenkt dir den ultimativen Reparatur-Guide GUIDE GRATIS ANFORDERN

Profi-Insights & Tipps für deine erfolgreiche Handy-Reparatur

iDoc schenkt dir den ultimativen Reparatur-Guide GUIDE GRATIS ANFORDERN