iPhone 5c mainboard repair guide

Remove the logic board

In this guide, we show you how to remove your iPhone 5c’s logic board on your own. You need to remove the logic board if you want to clean it.

Required tools

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
Pick Set

Pick Set

You need a flat but stable tool such as a pick to pry out parts that are glued in place.
from €14.99 on Amazon
Steel Laboratory Spatula

Steel Laboratory Spatula

You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.
on Amazon
iDoc Tool Kit, 21 pieces

iDoc Tool Kit, 21 pieces

Do you need to repair your smartphone? This kit includes all the tools you need for professional-quality repairs, from the ESD spudger and suction cup, to screwdrivers and tweezers, as well as the iDoc magnetic pad that holds your screws and small parts in place while you work. Not sure what goes where? Don’t worry – our detailed repair guides tell you what tool to use for each step.
from €29.99 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
Phillips screwdriver with centering pin

Phillips screwdriver with centering pin

Phillips screwdriver with practical centering pin for logic board screws.
on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 5c

Steps

18 Steps

Removing the enclosure screws

Step 1

Lifting the display

Step 2

Disconnecting the connectors

Step 3

Disconnecting the battery connector

Step 4

Removing the iSight camera

Step 5

Disconnecting the cables

Step 6

Removing the SIM card tray

Step 7

Removing the logic board screws

Step 8

Disconnecting the Wi-Fi antenna

Step 9

Installing the Wi-Fi antenna

Step 10

Fastening the logic board screws

Step 11

Connecting the contacts

Step 12

Connecting the camera

Step 13

Connecting the battery

Step 14

Connecting the display

Step 15

Attaching the display

Step 16

Fastening the enclosure screws

Step 17

Setting the time

Step 18

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 5c

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

18 steps

Removing the enclosure screws
You need a pentalobe screwdriver to open the iPhone 5c.

Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. They are located to the right and left of the Lightning connector. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
2 x 3.8 mm pentalobe screws
Lifting the display
Put your iPhone 5c on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.

To lift the front panel, you need a suction cup and the hard plastic pick. If the screen is severely cracked, cover all of it with packing tape.

Place the suction cup over the Home button (if possible) or next to it (see figure 1). While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the plastic frame and the display frame and press down the plastic frame. Also use the hard plastic pick to raise the screen (see figure 2). This usually takes several attempts.

As soon as you can lift the screen a few millimeters (see figure 3), you have to carefully work your way around the outside until it’s loosened on both sides (see figure 4).
Disconnecting the connectors
First remove the four Phillips screws from the silver cover (see figure 1). Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray. Then lift the cover to remove it.
1 x 3.2 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

Disconnect the following three connectors (see figure 2). Be very careful. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up.
Touchscreen
LCD
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone

Test the new display.

Temporarily connect the new display assembly.

Start the iPhone and check whether the LCD and touchscreen work properly. Make sure the connectors are securely plugged in to the connections. If not, the display will remain black or stripes will appear on it.
If the display is slightly yellow, see the last step in this manual.
Disconnecting the battery connector
Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the Phillips screws on the battery connector (see figure 1). Then lift the cover using the spudger (see figure 2). Put all the parts in the same compartment of the organizer tray.
2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws

Now carefully lift the battery connector by inserting the pointed tip of the ESD spudger slightly below the connector (see figure 3). If you don’t have a spudger, you can also try using your fingernail.
Removing the iSight camera
Remove the two Phillips screws and the silver cover.
1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw

Now disconnect the connector. Place the pointed tip of the spudger very slightly below the contact and lift it up (see figure 2).

Now lift the camera out of the phone (see figure 3).
Disconnecting the cables
Lift the standby/volume cable set connector to remove it (see figure 1). Carefully place the pointed tip of the spudger or spatula below the contact and lift it up.

Disconnect the connector of the Lightning connector’s ribbon cable (see figure 2) by placing the flat end of the spatula very slightly below the contact and lifting it up. Then carefully fold the cable over.

Carefully lift off the antenna connector using the laboratory spatula (see figure 3).
Removing the SIM card tray
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.
Removing the logic board screws
Now unscrew all six screws that hold the logic board in place.

Three of the screws have an internal thread. You can remove them with a flathead screwdriver or the spatula. Put the screws in the same compartment of your organizer tray.
3 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screws
2 x 2.3 mm Phillips screws
1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw

Under the yellow circle, there’s a copper contact that can fall out easily. Make sure you don’t lose it.
Disconnecting the Wi-Fi antenna
Slightly raise the logic board using the spudger (see figure 1) and turn it around the longitudinal axis by the plastic tab (see figure 2).

On the other side, disconnect the antenna connector by carefully pulling it off the plug head using the spudger (see figure 3). It’s sometimes lightly glued in place.

Carefully remove the logic board.

Installing the Wi-Fi antenna
Reconnect the antenna connector to the logic board (see figure 1) and put it back in its original position (see figure 2).

Make sure you insert the logic board properly between the two contacts at the level of the camera.
Fastening the logic board screws
Now fasten all six screws that hold the logic board in place.
3 x 2.7 mm Phillips/flathead screws
2 x 2.3 mm Phillips screws
1 x 2.5 mm Phillips screw
Connecting the contacts
Now reconnect the following connectors:
Antenna connector
Dock connector plug
Standby/volume cable set connector
Connecting the camera
Reconnect the camera, put the cover over it and screw it in place (see figure 2).
1 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw (smooth head)
1 x 1.5 mm Phillips screw
Connecting the battery
Now reattach the battery connector (see figure 1).

Then put on the cover and screw it in place (see figure 2).
2 x 1.6 mm Phillips screws
Connecting the display
Reattach the connectors (see figure 1). The touchscreen connector sometimes comes undone when you connect the LCD connector.
Touchscreen
LCD
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone

Start your iPhone as soon as the connectors are securely attached. Check the function of the LCD, touchscreen, proximity sensor, front camera and earpiece.
If the connectors aren’t connected properly, stripes will appear on the display or parts of the touchscreen won’t work.

Now attach the cover and screw it in place (see figure 2).
1 x 3.2 mm Phillips screw (not magnetic)
2 x 1.2 mm Phillips screws
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
Attaching the display
Then carefully fold down the screen. Make sure that the edge on the upper part of the screen where the cables are clicks into place properly. Now carefully push the screen on toward the Home button until it is properly installed in the frame.
Fastening the enclosure screws
Now screw in the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
2 x 3.8 mm pentalobe screws
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.