Introduction

This is a professional-level repair that requires special tools and skills.

Replacing the display on an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max is no easy task. Apple's tight integration of software and hardware means that only displays installed by authorized technicians with Apple tools and parts will fully function. You may have encountered the dreaded "Important Display Message" after a third-party repair shop, or after you swapped in an aftermarket screen.

This error essentially disables certain features like auto-brightness and True Tone as Apple's diagnostic software detects the non-genuine display. Bypassing this restriction requires advanced technical skills, opening the phone, and reprograming the microcontroller chip.

This guide will walk through the process of installing a new display while retaining full functionality. We'll cover:

  • Required tools like an SPI flasher and soldering iron to access the EEPROM chip
  • Safely disassembling the phone without damage
  • Reading and backing up the original EEPROM data
  • Flashing the microcontroller to re-enable True Tone
  • Rearranging display components from the old screen
  • Securing and testing the new display's connections

It's a complicated procedure but following this repair manual will allow even non-certified technicians to replace an iPhone 11 series screen while retaining the original calibration and features. Ready to get started? Let's begin by gathering the necessary tools and parts.

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    • The phone comes with an unresponsive and damaged screen. We need to replace with a new screen. Take apart the phone and remove the screen.

    • Get a new OEM screen installed. Press the power button to turn on the phone. The Important Display Message appears.

    • Tips:the Important Display Message will appear after third-party display repairs and has nothing to do with the replacement screen, whether it’s an aftermarket screen or an OEM screen.

    Comment fait on pour retirer ce message ?

    Eric Rouault -

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    • Why the Display Repair Warning for iPhone 11 series appears? The system will verify the touch module data during start up. Since the touch module is located on the back of the screen, screen replacement can result in a mismatch between the touch module data and the phone.

    • The only workable solution by now is to solder the touch module of the original screen onto the new replacement screen.

    • Also, since the touch module is located on the back of the screen, traditional desoldering tools can easily damage the screen. We will adopt a new chip grinding tool today.

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    • Stick high-temperature tape around the touch module on the replacement screen. Then wrap the screen with protective film.

    • Now we will grind the touch module with the electric chip grinding tool.

    • Be patient during the grinding. Start with the top layer then move on to the next layer. Also, be careful not to damage flex cables nearby.

    • With solder joints coming out, stop the grinding work. Clean the bonding pad with PCB Cleaner soaked cotton swap afterwards.

    ciao ho provato a fare questa molatura ma il mio display acquistato e diverso ce un coperchio e sotto un chip con delle resistenze a fianco forse devo acquistare un display specifico ? mi fai capire per favore questa cosa grazie

    Bruno Gargano -

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    • Now we need to remove the touch module on the original screen and solder it onto the new replacement screen.

    • Remove the earpiece speaker and sensor flex cable on the original screen. Then put a piece of paper under the touch flex cable. Heat with Hot Air Gun and pry up the touch module on the original screen.

    • Then apply low-temp solder paste to the touch module. Heat with Soldering Iron at 365℃ to clean residual solder paste and black adhesive. Clean thoroughly with Solder Wick afterwards. Then clean with PCB Cleaner.

    • Continue to get the touch module reballed.

    This is a very incomplete guide. There are no instructions on how to properly reball the IC after you have removed it.

    Hunter Desborough -

  5. HRnXB33cNMd1TTHy
    • Now we need to solder the reballing-finished touch module onto the replacement screen.

    • Before soldering, insert a pry piece under the touch flex cable. For better operation, we can apply some alcohol here. The metal plate and paper are used here for heat insulation. So that the screen won’t be damaged by high temperature during soldering.

    • Apply some paste flux to the bonding pad. Get the touch module in the right position. Solder with Hot Air Gun.

    You have mentioned using the protective film in the Step 3. For al viewers in this page, Protective Film is called "Kapton Tape" which is High Temperature Tape Protection from heat absorption. This is safer to use than inserting a paper in between flex cable and metal back frame. Paper will easily get burned (the author knew it). And , you might burned your LCD using the technique written in here. Unless, you are a proffesional Technician you can do the risk that the author is telling.

    Jojo -

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    • Get the earpiece speaker and sensor flex cable installed.

    • Now we can assemble the phone and test. Press the power button to turn on the phone. Go to Settings>About. There is no more Important Display Message here

Conclusion

Tips: professional motherboard repair techniques and handwork skills are required during the process.

Phryne

Member since: 18/11/19

20275 Reputation

15 comments

If we change it by an original display, we must change the touch ic?

Augusto Luz -

Or you must buy a board that copy the data from the old screen to the new.

Daniele Carminati -

Do you know where to buy the board which can copy data from original screen onto new screen?

Lucy Pastuzo -

Cazzate, il problema si presenta anche se cambi con un display originale (provato personalmente a spostere un display originale tra due iphone 11)

francesca di maggio -

Hai letto per bene la guida? C’è scritto che il messaggio non dipende dall’originalità dello schermo, ma dal modulo touch, che deve essere trasferito dal vecchio pannello del telefono a quello nuovo. Oppure è possibile acquistare delle schede che copiano i dati dal modulo e li sovrascrivono sul nuovo.

Daniele Carminati -

is this just a much more difficult way than the copying and writing data using a programmer method or does that method only fix certain problems??

Bobby Jr -

Wow, this is a great write-up. Thanks so much for the help! That said, I don’t do customer repairs, but I refurbish and resell. Things like this are why I have left the iPhone scene. Not worth it for me because I can choose to not get involved.

Mark Student -

We used a programmer (JCID V1S) to rewrite the data on the new replacement screen (original used) and the problem still persists. We really dont want to solder a new IC on the screen, is there anything else we can try with a programmer? Will an update to V3 help? Cheers

Žiga Bregar -

I have the same issue, despite using JCID Wifi. I programmed the new one with the data of the old display. Have still this warning message though. Did you solve that issue?

Volli -

hello congratulations for the video I tried to make this project on my iphone but I have a problem IC of the display purchased after scratching it there are no pins of the original ic but a chip with resistors maybe not all the displays purchased have the same ic? sorry my english

Bruno Gargano -

Si infatti nella guida c’è ben descritto che il problema è legato al modulo e non dall’origine del display. La domanda è : vorrei acquistare un programmatore della jcid , sono un appassionato fai da te con un po’ di esperienza, copiando i dati del vecchio display originale e copiandoli sul nuovo OEM , funziona 100% e nn si verifica più l’errore? In attesa di un vostro riscontro distinti saluti

Alberto Ciulla -

quello che mi stavo chiedendo anche io, seguo la discussione.

Davide -

I swapped the oem ic but was to to copy truetone function on my iphone 12 pro max after that i changed the display ic also i thought that the truetone data is stored in the display ic but after changing the display ic i got the imporatant display message back ! I dont understand how is this possible i have tried everything to remove the message again i also reballed the oem touch ic again but no sucss can anyone please help me how is this possible ?

Farzan Farooq -

I've seen there's a way to restore True Tone for iPhone 11 using iCopy Plus device, which also has interface for iPhone 12 / pro / max, but I haven't tried myself.

Pedro -

Hallo,

Kann man mit dem JCID Programmer diese Lötprozedur überspringen. Mit dem Gerät werden ja die alten Daten vom Bildschirm auf das neue überschrieben.

Grüße

Volli -