iPhone 4s rear camera repair guide

The rear-facing camera isn’t working.

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 4s’ defective rear camera. You need this repair if the rear camera isn’t working, your pictures are blurry, or the camera doesn’t focus.

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
Tweezers

Tweezers

We recommend using tweezers to remove screws and various small parts from your device.
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

iPhone 4s iSight Camera

iPhone 4s iSight Camera

from €12.99 on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 4s

Steps

12 Steps

Removing the enclosure screws

Step 1

Removing the back cover

Step 2

Disconnecting the battery connector

Step 3

Removing the battery

Step 4

Removing the cover

Step 5

Removing the rear camera

Step 6

Installing the rear camera

Step 7

Installing the cover

Step 8

Installing the battery

Step 9

Attaching the back cover

Step 10

Fastening the enclosure screws

Step 11

Setting the time

Step 12

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 4s

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

12 steps

Removing the enclosure screws
You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open your phone.

Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. 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 screws
Removing the back cover
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).

Then you can lift the back cover at the end that’s sticking out past the phone (see figure 2).
Disconnecting the battery connector
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.

Remove the two Phillips screws on the battery connector using a Phillips screwdriver (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
The 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.

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.

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.
Removing the battery
The antenna cover is under the battery connector. Remove the cover and put it in the same compartment of your organizer tray as the Phillips screws you removed before (see figure 1).

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.

Now you can also disconnect the antenna connector by carefully pulling it off the plug head using the spudger (see figure 3).
Removing the cover
Remove the four Phillips screws from the cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. It’s easy to tell them apart.
1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 2.7 mm Phillips screw (thin thread)

The cover is slightly clamped in place on the midframe (see figure 2). In order to remove the cover, use the spudger to push it slightly to the left, toward the dock connector (see figure 3).
Removing the rear camera
Use the spudger to lift off the camera connector and remove the camera.

Installing the rear camera
Put in the new camera. Check whether you need to transfer the gaskets on the lens to the new camera.
Installing the cover
Carefully put on the cover. It will be slightly clamped in place (see figure 1).

Fasten all the Phillips screws on the connector cover (see figure 2):
1 x 2.6 mm Phillips screw
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 2.7 mm Phillips screw (thin thread)
Installing the battery
Now put the battery back in the iPhone.

First you have to attach the antenna connector again (see figure 1).

Then install the antenna cover (see figure 2).

Now click the battery connector back into place and screw it in (see figure 3).
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
Attaching the back cover
Put the back cover back on and carefully push it the last few millimeters toward the dock connector.
Fastening the enclosure screws
Now screw in the two screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
2 x 3.6 mm pentalobe screws

Then all you have to do is push in the SIM card tray.
Setting the time
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:

Synchronize your iPhone with iTunes or connect to a WLAN network and wait until the time is set.

Remove the SIM tray with the SIM card and reinsert it.

Activate airplane mode on the device and then deactivate airplane mode.