iPhone Xs - Replacing the taptic engine

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 Xs.

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 box of your magnetic pad.
2. Put your iPhone Xs on a soft, clean surface to avoid scratching the back.

After being opened, your iPhone Xs loses its guarantee for dust and spray water protection (IP 68 rating).

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. Place the suction cup over the Home button (if possible) or next to it. While lifting the screen with the suction cup, insert the hard plastic pick between the steel frame and the display frame and press down the steel frame.

Do not insert your tool more than 5 mm into the gap, so you don't damage small parts inside the iPhone.

If you can't get a plectrum into the gap, you can use an iFlex. But change to a hard plastic plectrum as soon as possible to avoid scratches on the frame.

1. Because the display’s glued on all sides, you have to slide the pick all around the iPhone between the steelframe 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.

• 1 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• 3 × 1,0 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 3,7 mm Phillips
• 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 and Phillips screwdriver (Y000/PH00) to remove the screws. Then take off the bracket plate. Put all the parts in the same box of your magnetic pad.

Note that the screws have different lengths


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.

• Display Connector
• Earpiece connector

1. The display unit is connected by three flexible cables.
2. Use a spudger to separate the connectors for the display and the earpiece one by one.
Be very careful when prying off the connectors using the spudger to prevent damaging anything.
3. The flex cable of the earpiece is still slightly glued to the cable underneath. Loosen it by carefully pulling it off. Use hot air to help yourself if the adhesive doesn't come off.

Be especially careful with the cable as there may be problems with FaceID if it gets damaged.

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

• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,6 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,0 mm Y-Type

1. Remove the Phillips and Y-Type screws from the two brackets. The screws have different lengths. Place them on your magnet mat so that you can reassign them later.
2. Then remove the two metal brackets. Both can be easily glued on.

• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• Speaker connector

1. Loosen the single screw of the cover plate over the connector of the flex cable leading to the speaker.
2. Then remove the cover plate.
3. Then disconnect the connector of the flex cable and lift it up.
4. Now you can lift out the speaker together with the flex cable. First lift the loudspeaker a little and loosen the rubber strip at the upper edge.
5. Then pull the speaker all the way out.

The loudspeaker is strongly glued to the frame. To reinstall, remove any excess adhesive and make sure the adhesive is flush.

• 2 × 1,8 mm Phillips
• Taptic Engine Connector

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

• 2 × 1,8 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.

Make sure it sits correctly and press it a little into place with a tool if necessary.

1. Fasten the Taptic Engine with the phillips screws.

When you've replaced the Taptic Engine, take over the rubber strip.

• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• Speaker connector

1. Put the speaker back in place and push it toward the bottom so that it sticks into place.
2. Be careful not to pinch the rubber strip under the speaker.
3. Then connect the speaker's connector and secure the cover plate with the single screw.

Make sure that the connector is seated correctly again.

• 1 × 1,7 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,6 mm Phillip
• 2 × 1,2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1,0 mm Y-Type

1. Place both brackets in place and hold them in position. The plate on the left of the charging port is above the other.
2. Then screw both covers with the Phillips and Y-Type screws.

In the pictures you can see iPhone X. The iPhone Xs is built in the same way 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!

• Display Connector
• Earpiece Connector

1. Place the display unit on the edge of the frame and rest it against a stable object, in order not to overstretch the sensitive flex cables. Make sure your device doesn't slide away.
2. Connect the two display connectors.
3. You might need to press down the lower of the two connectors with a spudger to make it sit properly.
Make sure the connectors attach properly. Don't slip and bend the socket contacts on the logic board.
4. Use tweezers to position the earpiece connector over its socket on the logic board.
5. Carefully press to attach the connector to its socket.

• Battery Connector
• 1 × 1,2 mm Y-Type
• 3 × 1,0 mm Y-Type
• 1 × 3,7 mm Phillips

1. Now you can connect the battery connector.
2. Then insert the bracket plate and fasten with the various screws.

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.

• 2 × 6,8 mm Pentalobe

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