iPhone 6s home button repair guide

The home button on your iPhone 6s no longer works properly, or not at all?

In this guide, we show you how to replace your iPhone 6s’ defective Home button cable on your own. You need this repair if the Home button no longer works or only sometimes works. Please note: We do not recommend replacing the Home button. For privacy protection reasons, Touch ID only works in combination with the original Home button.

Required tools

Heat gun

Heat gun

You can use a heat gun to heat parts that are glued on so they’re easier to remove. In most cases, you can also use a hairdryer.
from €15.99 on Amazon
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
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
Plastic prying tool

Plastic prying tool

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
from €14.99 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

Required replacement part

iPhone 6s Home Button Cable

iPhone 6s Home Button Cable

from €14.52 on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the iPhone 6s

Steps

15 Steps

Turning off your device

Step 1

Removing the enclosure screws

Step 2

Lifting the display

Step 3

Disconnecting the battery contact

Step 4

Disconnecting the connectors

Step 5

Removing the earpiece

Step 6

Removing the rear panel

Step 7

Removing the home button

Step 8

Installing the home button

Step 9

Attaching the rear panel

Step 10

Installing the earpiece

Step 11

Connecting the display

Step 12

Connecting the battery

Step 13

Attaching the display

Step 14

Fastening the enclosure screws

Step 15

Getting started with the repair of your iPhone 6s

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

15 steps

Turning off your device
Turn off your iPhone before reparation to prevent it from damage. Therefore, press the standby button for about three seconds until the slider appears on the display.

Swipe it from the left to right-hand side. Your iPhone will shut down in approximately 10 seconds.
Removing the enclosure screws
Used tools

Wiha PicoFinish Pentalobe Screwdriver PL1

Magnetic Pad
To open the iPhone 6s you need a pentalobe screwdriver.

Remove the two pentalobe screws right and left of the lightning connector. We recommend you to arrange the removed screws on a magnetic pad, just like they were located in your phone before .
2 x 3.8 mm pentalobe screw
Used tools

Wiha PicoFinish Pentalobe Screwdriver PL1

Magnetic Pad
Lifting the display
Used tools

Heat gun

Pick Set

VAKUPLASTIC Suction Cup
Put your iPhone 6s on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.

Use a suction cup to lift the front panel, a hard plastic plectrum and a hot-air gun. If the screen is severely damaged, cover it entirely with adhesive tape before you continue.

The screen is slightly adhered to the frame. Use the hot-air gun to heat the outer edges of the display to about 60°C (140°F).

Place the suction cup over the home button or next to it. While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic plectrum between the aluminum frame and the display frame. Try to press down the aluminum frame as well as to push up the display with the hard plastic plectrum. Usually this takes several attempts.

As soon as you can lift up the screen a few millimeters, slide carefully alongside the outer edges until the display is loosened on both sides.
If necessary, heat the outer edges of the display several times.
Used tools

Heat gun

Pick Set

VAKUPLASTIC Suction Cup
Disconnecting the battery contact
Used tools

Pry Tool

Wiha PicoFinish Phillips Screwdriver PH00

Piergiacomi Tweezers 2a SA ESD
To avoid a short circuit, disconnect the battery contact at the beginning of the repair. This will also ensure that you do not accidentally switch on the device during the repair.
Remove the Phillips screws and the plug cover that secure the battery plug. Place the loosened parts in a common field on the magnetic pad to make them easier to find later.
1 x 2.2 mm Phillips screw
1 x 2.9 mm Phillips screw

Now carefully remove the battery plug by carefully driving an ESD spudger under the plug. If you do not have a spudger at hand, you can also try it with your fingernail.
Used tools

Pry Tool

Wiha PicoFinish Phillips Screwdriver PH00

Piergiacomi Tweezers 2a SA ESD
Disconnecting the connectors
First loosen the four Phillips screws of the silver contact cover. Place the loosened screws together with the cover in a field on the magnetic pad to make them easier to find again afterwards.
3 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
1 x 2.9 mm Phillips screw

Release the following three overlapping display connectors in the order shown below. To do this, slide the spudger under the respective connector and lift it carefully.
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone
Touch ID cable
Display

Test the new display

Connect the new display provisionally. Connecting the display cable is not always easy.
Start your iPhone and make sure the LCD and touchscreen are working properly. Make sure the display contacts are firmly seated on the connectors. If they are not, the display will stay black or show streaks.
If the display looks a bit yellowish, check the last step of this manual.
Removing the earpiece
You can find the earpiece at the upper display edge. Remove the three Phillips screws from the earpiece cover and put them in the same field of the magnetic pad.
2 x 2.2 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw

Now remove the earpiece cover which is still attached to the display back with an adhesive strip. Put it with the screws you removed before.

The earpiece is located under the front camera’s ribbon cable. To remove it, push the cable slightly aside.
Removing the rear panel
Undo the eight Phillips screws that fix the rear panel (see picture 1).
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw (small head)
6 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw

Pull off the adhesive strips on the left and right upper end of the rear panel.

Now you can remove the rear panel (see picture 3).

Removing the home button
Remove the two Phillips screws. Then remove the silver cover and put everything in the same section of the magnetic pad.
1 x 1.9 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw

To disconnect the contact of the home button cable you can use a spudger.

Carefully insert the flat end of the spudger under the firmly adhered cable set to detach it.

The home button is adhered to the screen from the inside. Carefully push the button inward from the front side on with your finger.

Once the cable set is detached, you can lift it out.
Installing the home button
Attach the home button again and connect the connectors.

Put the silver cover back on and screw it tight.
1 x 1.9 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.7 mm Phillips screw
Attaching the rear panel
Place the silver rear panel on new display's back and screw it tight. Make sure that the 3D Touch cable lies under the rear panel.
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw (small head)
6 x 1.2 mm Phillips screw
Attach the adhesive strips on the left and right upper end of the rear panel.
Installing the earpiece
Put the earpiece back in its previous position between the FaceTime camera and the sensors. Subsequently, put the cover plate back on and the adhesive strip back in its original position.

Fasten the Phillips screws. Make sure the front camera is centered on the display front. Move it slightly if necessary.
2 x 2.2 mm Phillips screw
1 x 1.8 mm Phillips screw

Note that the screws aren’t the same length! If you mix them up, a screw could press against the display glass from the inside and damage it.
Connecting the display
Plug the display connectors. This usually takes several attempts. Be careful not to bend the connectors.
Front camera/sensor/earpiece/ambient microphone
Touch ID cable
Display

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

Now put back the connector cover and screw it tight.
3 x 1.3 mm Phillips screw
1 x 2.9 mm Phillips screw
Connecting the battery
Connect the battery connector.
Put on the silver cover plate and screw it in place.
1 x 2,9 mm Phillips-Schraube
1 x 2,2 mm Phillips-Schraube
Attaching the display
Carefully fold down the display. Make sure that the edge on the upper screen side with the connected cables snaps in properly. Now carefully push down the display towards the home button alongside the display edge until it is properly placed in the frame.
Fastening the enclosure screws
Now screw tight the two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure.
2 x 3.8 mm pentalobe screw