iPhone 16 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 18

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the 5G mmWave antenna in your iPhone 16.

You may need to replace the 5G mmWave antenna if your phone is having connectivity issues but still connects to Wi-Fi.

You'll need replacement back glass and antenna adhesive to complete this repair.

Tools

Parts

Tesa 61395 Tape

Step 1

Allow your phone's battery to drain below 25%, as a charged lithium-ion battery is a potential safety hazard.
Unplug any cables from your phone.
Hold the power and either volume buttons and slide to power off your phone.

Step 2

If your screen or back glass is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the bottom edge that's big enough for a suction cup to stick to.

Step 3

Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two 7.7 mm-long screws on either side of the charging port.

Step 4

If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.
Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Got to step 2 and realized the fix kit doesn't include an opening pick! Looks like a guitar pick, and I have those lying around. Is that expected? Looks like the pick is used in many steps below. There's a little blue crowbar that isn't mentioned in the instructions. Perhaps that replaces the opening pick?

Sloan Looney -

Hi! I can't see which guide you were using when writing this comment. Can you reply here with which guide and fix kit you used?

Clay Eickemeyer -

I see you posted this in Meta. I hope it's resolved soon! In the meantime, a guitar pick may work well enough for your repair.

Clay Eickemeyer -

what fix kit?

Meow Purr -

My fix kit didn't include an opening pick either

WILLIAM HARRIS -

Make sure you check inside the black boxes after emptying them. My pick was stuck inside one of the boxes.

AndyF -

My AliExpress refurbished screen came with a pick that has a coin-like circle that pops out, so no modification was necessary

Gijs Leegwater -

the picture shows 3 cm but the description says 3 mm's. Which one is it?

John Pena -

That is a misunderstanding. It is a ruler with a scale for cm, it shows 0.3 cm, i.e. 3 mm.

VauWeh -

Oh, come ON!

Big Ed -

It will ALWAYS be millimeters on a phone, but this step is ridiculous, skip it!

Leif DeWolf -

It's not an Ifixit KIT if it doesn't include everything. You'll need to order the opening pic separately. Or head to Walmart like myself and look for guitar pics. Hopefully, this will work just as well.

Jaleeljb97@icloud.com -

No pick in mine as well. It’s really not clear that you have to order this separately when ordering an IPhone SE 202/2022 screen repair kit. Is this the case?

Jackson Castiglione -

Frustrated, I ordered a compact package where everything was encapsulated. Useless suction tools could not separate the screen. If it is unable to decouple the screen, then why sucking suction tools you have provided.

Shourob Datta -

For my kit the triangle pick was stuck inside the box with the screen not with the other tools maybe it's also there for you

Henry Scheibehenne -

Y’all are getting far, FAR too detailed with some of this stuff…. Measuring and marking the pick that you won’t actually use to open the device?!? lol that’s kinda funny. Just heat it up, grab a spudger, and the back just pops right off! The iFixit tech need to stick to the KISS method more often, you know KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!! Like l, for reals, I’ve been doing this stuff for YEARS and using iFixit guides regularly and this is just ridiculous at this point!

Leif DeWolf -

Step 5

The next four steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down four steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
The Anti-Clamp applies suction to both the screen and the back glass. To open only the back glass, you need to secure the screen with tape. You can also check out the full instructions on how to use this tape.
Cut two strips of tape, apply them along the long edges of the phone, and fold them over the screen to secure it.
Make sure the tape is only securing the screen and not the back glass.

Step 6

Pull the Anti-Clamp's blue handle backward to unlock the arms.
With the back glass facing up, slide the arms over the right edge of your phone, with one suction cup on the back glass and the other on the screen. Center the suction cups near the bottom edge.
Support your phone so it rests level while between the Anti-Clamp's arms—a small box works well.
Squeeze the cups together to create suction.
If you find that the surface of your iPhone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, use tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 7

Pull the blue handle forward to lock the arms.
Turn the handle one full turn (360 degrees) or until the cups start to stretch.
As the cups stretch, make sure they stay vertically aligned with each other. If they keep slipping, remove the Anti-Clamp and apply tape for the cups to stick to.
If you don't have tape, you may warm up the suction cups to help them stick.

Step 8

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.
Wait up to a minute for the adhesive to separate and a gap to form between the back glass and the frame.
If a gap doesn't appear after one minute, apply more heat and rotate the handle a quarter turn. Let the Anti‑Clamp and time do the work for you.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Remove the Anti-Clamp using the pull tabs on the suction cups.
Skip the next two steps.

Step 9

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.
You can also use an iOpener to heat the back glass. Follow these instructions to heat and apply the iOpener properly.

Step 10

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass.
While supporting the frame with one hand, pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 11

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the following steps, don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the following areas:
A delicate cable connecting the back glass to the phone, right next to the volume down button. Don't insert your pick here to avoid slicing the cable.
Multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone.

Step 12

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 13

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your pick around the bottom right corner and to the volume down button to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.
Don't slide past the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging cable.
You'll hear and feel the metal clip release as you pass it.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 14

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 15

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
Slide the second pick around the bottom left corner and along the left edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
Leave this pick inserted at the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 16

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the top edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 17

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your second opening pick around the top left corner and along the top edge to separate the adhesive and release the metal clips.
You'll hear and feel the metal clips release as you pass them.
Continue sliding your pick around the top right corner until you reach the Action button.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 18

At this point, the back glass should be free from the frame. If the back glass feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
Swing open the back glass to the right of the phone to separate the remaining adhesive.
Support the back glass with a clean, sturdy object.
Remove the opening picks before continuing.

Step 19

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1 mm‑long screws securing the middle connector cover.

Step 20

Insert the point of a spudger in either cutout on the middle connector cover.
Slide the cover towards the left edge of the phone and release its hook from its slot on the logic board.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, align the hook over its slot on the logic board. Press down the cover to the logic board and slide it towards the right edge of the phone to re-engage the hook.

Step 21

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.
During reassembly, align the connector carefully over its socket and press down with your fingertip—first on one side, then the other—until it clicks into place. Don't try to force the connector into place. If you're having trouble, reposition it and try again.

Step 22

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil press connector.

Step 23

Lift the back glass off the frame and remove it.
During reassembly:
This is a good point to test your repair before sealing up your phone. Temporarily reconnect the battery and back glass, power on your phone, and make sure it works as expected. Power it back down and continue reassembly.
Use this guide to reapply adhesive and install your back glass.

Step 24

Use a screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the top bracket:
One 3.5 mm-long Phillips screw
Two 1.4 mm-long Phillips screw
One 1.0 mm-long tri-point Y000 screw

Step 25

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the top bracket.

Step 26

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the two front camera press connectors.
The second press connector is underneath the first.

Step 27

Insert the point of a spudger between the top edge of the front camera and the frame.
Lift the front camera out of the frame and remove it.

Step 28

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna press connector.

Suddenly front camera is gone - for a time I thought one step got missed out

Sudarshan_Karki -

You're right! Great catch! I have added those steps back in.

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl -

Step 29

Use angled tweezers to grip the black pull tab at the bottom right corner of the 5G mmWave antenna.
Press the antenna down with your free hand and use your tweezers to pull the stretch‑release adhesive strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give it plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the antenna.
To better grip the adhesive strip, you can twist it around the tip of the tweezers while you pull.
If the adhesive strip breaks off, try to retrieve it with your tweezers and continue pulling.
If you can't retrieve the strip, follow the next two steps for an alternate method. Otherwise, skip the next two steps.

Step 30

Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol (>90%) to the bottom edge of the 5G mmWave antenna.
Lift the bottom edge of the phone to let the isopropyl alcohol flow under the antenna.
Wait one minute for the adhesive to loosen.

Step 31

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the top left edge of the 5G mmWave antenna, near the front camera cutout.
Pry up the antenna to separate the adhesive.

Step 32

Lift the 5G mmWave antenna off the earpiece speaker and remove it.

Step 33

During reassembly:
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the old adhesive from the top of the earpiece speaker.
Use thin double-sided tape to replace the old adhesive on the earpiece speaker.
While holding the new antenna above the earpiece speaker, reconnect its press connector.
Press the antenna onto the earpiece speaker to adhere it.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 16 Answers Community for help.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

151892 Reputation

iPhone 16 5G mmWave Antenna Replacement

Introduction

Tools

Parts

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