iPhone Xr - Replacing the lightning connector

1. Turn your iPhone off completely to avoid damaging it during the repair. Press and hold the Standby button and one of the two volume keys for three seconds, until the "Power off" slider appears.
2. Swipe the slider from left to right. Now your iPhone will shut down completely, which can take about ten seconds.

• 2 × 6,8 mm Pentalobe

You need a pentalobe screwdriver (PL1) to open the iPhone Xr.

1. Remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom edge of the back cover. They’re to the right and left of the Lightning connector. Put the screws in the same field of your magnetic pad.

After being opened, your iPhone Xr loses its guarantee for dust and water protection (IP 67 rating).

1. Put your iPhone Xr on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.
2. To lift the front panel, you need a suction cup, a hard plastic pick and a heat gun. If the screen is severely cracked, cover all of it with packing tape before you continue.
3. The screen is glued to the frame. Use a heat gun to heat the outer edges of the display to about 60°C (140°F).
4. Place the suction cup at the bottom of the display. While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the frame and the display and press down the frame.

If you are using an iFlex, switch to a plastic pick as soon as possible to avoid scratching the frame.

1. Because the display’s glued on, you have to slide the pick all around the iPhone between the aluminum frame and the display frame. Don’t stick the pick in too far on the side where the Sleep/Wake button is because that could damage the display flex cables.
2. Now use the pick to push up the display so the tabs disengage from the steel frame. Then you can fold the display over to the side. Rest the display on a stable object to avoid straining the sensitive flex cables.

Heat the outer edge of the frame several times if necessary.

• 3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• Battery connector

Before starting the repair, disconnect the battery contact to prevent short circuits and avoid accidentally turning on your device during the repair.

1. Use a Y-Type screwdriver (Y000) to remove the Y-Type screws. Then take off the bracket plate. Put all the parts on the same field of your magnetic pad.

Apple introduced Y-Type screws with the iPhone 7. They are often wrongly called Tri-Point or Tri-Wing. Use a matching Y-Type screwdriver for these screws so you don't strip the screw heads.

2. Now very carefully pry off the battery contact by inserting a spudger under the connector.

• 2 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• Display connector
• 3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• Earpiece connector

1. The display unit is connected to a total of three connectors which are located under two cover plates.
2. Use a spudger to separate the connectors for display and earpiece one by one.

Once you've disconnected the two lower connectors, you can place the display flat next to the device because the earpiece cable is long enough.

1. If all connectors are off, you can remove the display. There may still be glue residue on the frame and display.

• 1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,4 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• Connector

1. Remove the Phillips screws of different lengths from the cover plate of the speaker and the Taptic Engine. Place the screws on your magnet mat so that you can reassign them correctly later.

There is a short flex cable attached to the cover, which is connected to a contact underneath.

1. Fold the cover plate to the side and separate the small square connector with a spudger.
2. Finally, remove the cover plate.

• 1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2,4 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,8 mm Phillips

The loudspeaker is secured with several screws. One of the screws also attaches a cover plate over the Taptic Engine contact. A rubber cover is glued to the plate.

1. First remove the black rubber cover.
2. Loosen the screw of the metal cover plate and all the other screws of the speaker.

A small metal bracket is attached to one of the screws. Memorize the orientation of the bracket to put it back in the right direction later.

1. Now you can lift out the speaker. First lift the loudspeaker a little with a Spudger at the top and then pull the loudspeaker out.

The loudspeaker is strongly glued to the frame. You can use hot air again to loosen the foam frame properly.

• 2 × 1,4 mm Phillips
• Taptic Engine Connector

1. Use a spudger to disconnect the Taptic Engine’s connector.
2. Remove the Phillips screws that fasten the Taptic Engine.
3. Now remove the Taptic Engine.

In the following steps the battery is missing. However, the battery does not have to be removed to replace the Lightning Connector.

• 1 × 2,2 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
• Camera connector

1. Take out the two screws und remove the bracket plate of the camera.
2. Disconnect the connector of the camera using a spudger.
3. Pry out the camera using a spudger and remove it.

There are special screwdrivers available to loosen the Standoff screw. You can also carefully remove the screw with a regular, thin slotted screwdriver.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3,0 mm Standoff
• SIM reader connector

On the iPhone Xr, the SIM card reader is a separate module for the first time on an iPhone and can be replaced individually.

1. First remove the SIM card holder from the device.
2. Then carefully disconnect the contact with a spudger.
3. Loosen the screws that hold the card reader in place.
4. Now you can remove the SIM card reader.

• Lightning Connector
• Wireless charging connector
• Antenna connector
• Front camera & FaceID connectors
• Standby & flashlight connector
• Mute & volume button connector
• 2 × 2,9 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• 2 × 2,8 mm Standoff

1. Disconnect all connectors from the logic board. They connect for example the charging socket, the flash, the front camera and the volume keys.
2. One contact is under one of the front camera cables. Carefully bend the cable to the side and lever off the connector.
3. Then loosen the screws of the motherboard.
4. Then carefully bend all flex cables to the side and remove the logic board.

Next to the opening for the camera is a plastic holder for a screw (top left in the picture). This plastic holder has to be placed over the logic board again later.

• 1 × 2,7 mm Standoff
• 1 × 3,0 mm Standoff

Where the headphone socket used to be there is now a small plastic cover screwed on.

1. Loosen thes crews and remove the part.

There are special screwdrivers for removing the internal thread screw, but you can also use a regular, thin slotted screwdriver.

• 2 × 3,0 mm Phillips

The flex cable of the charging socket is glued to the back cover and secured with several screws.

1. Loosen the two screws that fix the charging port at the bottom of the frame.

Heat the entire flex cable with the heat gun to loosen the glue more easily.

1. Use the steel spatula to slide under the cable and gradually remove it from the back cover. Be careful not to damage it with a sharp edge of your tool.
2. Carefully remove the two golden microphones from the frame.
3. Lever the charging jack out of its guide and then loosen the rest of the cable. Heat several times to make the glue easier to remove.
4. When everything is loosened, you can remove the Lightning Flex cable.

Compare the old Lightning connector with the new spare part. There may still be a small sticky area on the microphone that you need to take over for the microphone to sit firmly in the frame.

Also remove any protective film over the adhesive surfaces of the new Lightning connector.

• 2 × 3,0 mm Phillips

1. Position the Lightning Connector in the iPhone and slide the charging socket into its opening at the bottom.
2. Position the small golden microphones on the bottom of the back cover. The small metal pins fit directly into cut-outs on the frame.
3. Lead the flexible cable along the edge.
4. Screw the Lightning Connector on.

• 1 × 2,7 mm Standoff
• 1 × 3,0 mm Standoff

1. Place the barometric cover in place and push it into position while screwing it in.

• Lightning Connector
• Wireless charging connector
• Antenna connector
• Front camera & FaceID connectors
• Standby & flashlight connector
• Mute & volume button connector
• 2 × 2,9 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• 2 × 2,8 mm Standoff

1. Make sure that all flex cables are lying flat in the backcover and then insert the logic board. Bend all cables a bit to the side so that you don't trap any of them under the logic board.

Make sure that the black plastic holder below the camera position is above the screw opening of the logic board.

1. Secure the logic board by inserting all the screws.
2. Then connect all connectors. Take your time and proceed carefully. Position the connectors above their positions on the logic board and press carefully. The contacts should engage slightly. Don't slide the plugs back and forth and try not to push them tight with force.

• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3,0 mm Phillips
• SIM reader connector

1. Reinsert the SIM card reader and screw it in place.
2. Make sure to insert the small metal clip the right way round.
3. Plug in the connector of the card reader.
4. Insert the SIM card holder. You shouldn't feel any strong resistance, otherwise the card reader is not sitting properly yet.

• 1 × 2,2 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
• Camera connector

Before installing the camera, make sure that there is no dust or fingerprints on the lens or inside the unit.

1. Place the camera back in its place and press it down.
2. Plug in the connector of the camera.
3. Put the bracket plate in its place and screw it in using the various screws.

• 2 × 1,4 mm Phillips
• Taptic Engine Connector

1. Put the Taptic Engine back between the battery and the Lightning connector. Make sure the screw holes of the Taptic Engine sit correctly.
2. Connect the Taptic Engine’s connector.
3. Fasten the Taptic Engine with the phillips screws.

• 1 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2,1 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2,4 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2,1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,8 mm Phillips

1. Place the speaker back in its original position and press it in.
2. Put the bracket plate over the connector and screw it in.
3. Also screw the metal bracket at the top of the speaker.
4. Finally glue on the rubber cover.

Make sure that no foam or glue enters the speaker opening.

• 1 × 1,9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,4 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1,2 mm Phillips

1. First connect the square-shaped connector of the bracket plate.
2. Fold down the bracket plate so the screw holes are over the threads.
3. Screw in the bracket plate using the various screws.

In the pictures you can see iPhone X. The iPhone Xr is built very similar and is re-glued in the same way.

1. To make sure that the new frame sticker will really stick, remove all glue residue and dirt from the metal frame.
2. Remove the first protective film layer of the frame sticker.
3. Position the frame sticker carefully on one edge of the frame and attach it gradually. Make sure the frame sticker is positioned evenly and press it on. You can use the plastic spudger to press the adhesive on.
4. Remove the next large protective film.
5. You can leave the small protective films on for now and remove them when you've connected the display and attached the bracket plates. This prevents anything from sticking to the frame sticker before you install it. But you can also remove the films right away.

Please make sure the frame sticker is positioned correctly. Each corner has a different shape, which you can use for orientation.An iPhone repaired with a frame sticker will be protected against dust and spray water, but it will not be 100% waterproof!

• Earpiece connector
• 3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 1,5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,3 mm Phillips
• Display connector
• 2 × 1,2 mm Y-Type

1. Put the display next to the device in place.

When connecting the connectors, make sure the connectors are seated correctly and don't slide them over the sockets on the logic board to avoid damaging the contacts.

1. Connect the earpiece connector, put the cover plate on and screw it on.

To connect the other connectors, lean the display against a stable object. In this way you avoid stretching the sensitive flex cables too far.

1. Connect the two display connectors.
2. Put on the small cover plate and screw it on.

• Battery connector
• 3 × 1,2 mm Y-Type

1. Now you can connect the battery connector.
2. Then insert the bracket plate and fasten it with the Y-Type screws.

Before you finally close the device, you should test it to make sure that all functions work.

1. Test the brightness of the display.
2. Test the touchscreen. Select an app and drag it all around the display. If the app follows your finger everywhere, the touchscreen is working correctly.
3. You can use the voice memo app to test the microphone, speakers, earpiece and proximity sensor.

1. Take the display in both hands and slowly press it down.
2. Make sure it sits properly everywhere in the frame and gradually press it down all over.

In the pictures the iPhone X is shown again, but the procedure for the iPhone Xr is the same

• 2 × 6,8 mm Pentalobe

1. Screw the two pentalobe screws to the left and right of the Lightning connector into the enclosure.