iPhone 16 Plus Screen Replacement

Written By: Nick Schultz

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a broken, cracked, or non‑responsive screen on your iPhone 16 Plus.

You'll need replacement screen adhesive to complete this repair.

Note: Since you can't disconnect the battery during this repair, make sure your phone stays powered down, don't use metal prying tools, and be careful not to touch exposed contacts.

After a screen replacement, True Tone and auto brightness may be disabled. Calibrate genuine screens using Apple's Repair Assistant to restore this functionality.

Tools

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

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.

Step 4

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

Step 5

The next five 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 screen, you need to secure the back glass with tape.
Cut two strips of tape, apply them along the long edges of the back of the phone, and fold them over the back glass to secure it. If you have suction tape, fold it over the short edge of the back glass when applying (the edge with the USB-C port).
Make sure the tape is only securing the back glass, and not the screen.

Step 6

Pull the Anti-Clamp's blue handle backward to unlock the arms.
With the screen facing up, slide the arms over the right edge of your phone, with one suction cup on the screen and the other on the back glass. 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

Heat your iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the screen for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the screen 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 screen 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 do the work for you, repeating this process as necessary.

Step 9

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap between the screen and the frame.
Remove the Anti-Clamp using the pull tabs on the suction cups.
Skip the next two steps.

Step 10

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the screen for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the bottom edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 11

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen, above the USB-C port.
Pull up on the handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and the frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 12

As you slice the adhesive securing the screen in the next eight steps, don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the following areas:
Two delicate cables connecting the screen to the phone—one just above the Action button and the other about halfway between the volume down button and the bottom of the phone.
Multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone.

Step 13

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave your pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 14

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the screen for two minutes.
When using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 15

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Slide your opening pick around the bottom right corner and up the right edge of the screen to separate the adhesive and release the metal clip.
You'll hear and feel the metal clip release as you pass it.

Step 16

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the screen for two minutes.
When using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat until it's hot to the touch.

Step 17

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Continue sliding your pick around the top right corner and across the top edge to separate the adhesive and release the two metal clips.

Step 18

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the screen for two minutes.
When using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat until it's hot to the touch.

Step 19

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm to avoid damaging the screen cables and the spring contacts.
Slide the opening pick down the left edge of the screen to separate the remaining adhesive and release the last two metal clips.

Step 20

At this point, the screen should be free from the frame. If the screen feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with your pick to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
Swing open the screen over the left edge of the phone and support it with a clean, sturdy object.

Step 21

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 0.9 mm‑long screw securing the front sensor connector cover.
Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 1 mm‑long screw securing the screen connector cover.

Step 22

Use tweezers or your fingers to lift the front sensor cover to a 90-degree angle and unhook it from its slot in the logic board.
Lift the cover out of its slot and remove it.
Repeat this process for the screen connector cover.
During reassembly, insert each cover at a 90-degree angle to re-engage the hook before laying it flat against the press connector.

Step 23

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen press connector.
Repeat this process for the front sensor press connector.
During reassembly, align each connector carefully over its socket and press down with your fingertip or flat end of a spudger—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 24

Lift the screen off of the frame and remove it.
During reassembly, use this guide to reapply adhesive and install your new screen.
Be careful not to damage any of the spring contacts as you clean the frame.

Conclusion

To reassemble your phone, follow this guide to reapply adhesive and install your screen.

After your repair, calibrate a genuine replacement screen using Apple's Repair Assistant. Navigate to Settings → General → About → Parts & Service History, tap Restart & Finish Repair, and follow the onscreen prompts.

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 Plus Answers Community for help.

Author

Nick Schultz

Member since: 24/03/24

13497 Reputation

iPhone 16 Plus Screen Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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