iPhone 15 Logic Board Replacement

Written By: Clay Eickemeyer

Comments: 7

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 4 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace the logic board in your iPhone 15.

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

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions and consider replacing your battery.

Due to Apple's parts pairing restrictions, much of your iPhone's functionality depends on the logic board—and without Apple's proprietary calibration process, even a genuine replacement logic board won't work. To retain full functionality, you must also replace the following parts with ones that are paired to your replacement logic board:

Screen (to retain True Tone and Auto-Brightness)
Front Camera and Sensors (most functionality)
Battery (to retain battery health data)

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.

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 -

Step 4

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

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 the screen, you need to secure the back glass 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 back glass to secure it.

Step 6

Pull the Anti-Clamp's blue handle backward to unlock the arms.
With the screen facing up, slide the arms over the left 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 tend to slip, remove the Anti-Clamp and apply tape for the cups to stick to.
If you don't have tape, you may use your hands to clean the suction cups and warm them up to help them stick.

Step 8

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 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 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 10

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen.
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 11

As you slice the adhesive securing the screen in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
There are two delicate cables connecting the screen to the phone, one just above the mute switch, and the other about halfway between the volume down button and the bottom of the phone.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in these locations to avoid bending the contacts.

Step 12

Don't insert your opening pick deeper than 3 mm along the bottom edge.
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 re-sealing.

Step 13

Heat the right edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 14

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the right edge.
Slide your pick around the bottom right corner of the screen and toward the power button until you feel a hard stop at a clip securing the screen.
Rotate your pick so the flat edge is under the screen.

Step 15

Hold the pick with one hand and twist it to increase the gap between the screen and the frame and release the right clip.
Insert a second opening pick to the right of the first one.

Step 16

Slide the first pick back to the bottom right corner of the screen.
Slide the second pick to the top right corner of the screen to separate the adhesive.
Leave these picks inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 17

Heat the top edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 18

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge.
Insert a third opening pick in the top right corner, just above the previous pick.
Slide your pick around the top right corner and along the top edge until you feel it stop against the top left screen clip.

Step 19

Rotate your pick so its flat edge is under the screen.
Twist your pick to release the top left screen clip.
Slide your pick to the top left corner.

Step 20

Heat the left edge of the screen until it's hot to the touch.

Step 21

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the left edge to avoid the two cables connecting the screen to the phone.
Slide your pick around the top left corner of the screen and along the left edge to release the clips and separate the adhesive securing it.

Step 22

Gently swing open the screen over the left edge of the phone.
If the screen feels stuck, go back around the perimeter to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.

Step 23

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

Step 24

Use tweezers to lift the cover to a 90-degree angle.
Unhook the cover from its slot in the logic board.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, insert the cover at a 90-degree angle to re-engage the hook before laying it flat against the press connector.

Step 25

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the front sensor press connector.
To reconnect a press connector, align it over its socket and gently press down on one side until it clicks into place, then press down on the other side.

Step 26

Use your tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 0.9 mm screw securing the screen connector cover.

Step 27

Use tweezers to lift the cover and unlatch it from its hook on the logic board.
Remove the cover.

Step 28

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the screen press connector.

Step 29

Remove the screen.
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.

Step 30

Flip your phone over and lay it on a soft surface, such as a microfiber cloth, to protect its internals as you work.

Step 31

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.

Step 32

Apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back glass.
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 33

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the following areas:
There's 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.
There are multiple spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be extra careful not to insert your pick deeper than suggested in each step to avoid bending these contacts.

Step 34

Don't insert your opening pick deeper than 5 mm along the bottom edge.
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 re-sealing.

Step 35

Heat the right edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 36

Don't insert your pick deeper than 7 mm along the right edge.
Rotate your pick around the bottom right corner and slide it to the volume down button or until you feel a hard stop at a large clip securing the back glass.
Don't slice past the volume buttons to avoid damaging the wireless charging cable.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 37

Heat the left edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 38

Along the left edge, don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm.
Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge.
Rotate the second pick around the bottom left corner.
Slide this pick up to the top left corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 39

Heat the top edge of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 40

Don't insert your pick deeper than 3 mm along the top edge.
Rotate your second opening pick around the top left corner and slide it to the top right corner to separate the adhesive.
You might hear and feel clicks as the top two clips release.
Leave this pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 41

Heat the top right corner of the back glass until it's hot to the touch.

Step 42

Don't insert your pick deeper than 4 mm along the right edge.
Rotate the second opening pick around the top right corner and slide it to the volume up button to separate the adhesive.

Step 43

Gently swing open the back glass to the right of the phone.
If the back glass feels stuck, go back around the perimeter to check for missed sections of adhesive or stuck clips.
Rest the back glass against a raised surface so it doesn't strain the cable.

Step 44

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1.3 mm-long screws securing the lower connector cover.

Step 45

Use tweezers to slide the cover toward the top of the phone to unlatch it from the logic board.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, latch the top edge of the cover onto its slot on the logic board before securing it with its screw.

Step 46

Hold the back glass upright with one hand and rotate it just enough to reveal the battery press connector just below the volume buttons.
Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector from the logic board.
A plus and minus sign is printed on the head of this connector.
To reconnect a press connector, align it over its socket and gently press down on one side until it clicks into place, then press down on the other side. Make sure it sits flat, as the insulating rubber around the sockets might prevent it from connecting fully.

Step 47

Use your tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 0.9 mm-long screw securing the middle connector cover.

Step 48

Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to push the cover toward the bottom of the phone and unclip its top edge.
Remove the cover.
During reassembly, place the cover so its tab is just behind the clip on the logic board. Press down with one finger and slide the cover forward to engage the clip.

Step 49

Use an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil and NFC connector.

Step 50

Remove the back glass.
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 51

Use your tri-point Y000 driver to remove the two 1.3 mm screws securing the upper connector cover.
Remove the cover.

Step 52

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the antenna, front sensors, and front camera press connectors (three connectors in total).

Step 53

Use tweezers or your fingers to pull the front camera and sensors out of their recess in the frame and remove them.

Step 54

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the earpiece speaker press connector.

Step 55

Use a Phillips #000 driver to remove the five screws securing the earpiece speaker:
Two 1.1 mm screws
Three 1.6 mm screws

Step 56

Use tweezers or your fingers to lift and pull the earpiece speaker away from the top of the phone to free the gasket from the frame.
Remove the earpiece speaker.

Step 57

Light adhesive secures the battery cable to the logic board.
Slide an opening pick under the battery cable to separate it from the logic board.
Be careful not to crease the cable or dent the battery with your tool.

Step 58

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the volume buttons press connector.

Step 59

Disconnect the power button press connector.

Step 60

Disconnect the rear cameras and antenna press connectors (three connectors in total).

Step 61

Disconnect the eSIM, Taptic Engine, and charging port press connectors (three connectors in total).

Step 62

Use your standoff driver to remove the five standoff screws securing the logic board:
One 2.9 mm screw
One 3.9 mm screw
Three 3.5 mm screws
If you don't have a standoff driver, you may use a thin flathead driver—but be careful not to strip the shallow notches in the screw heads.

Step 63

Grip the top edge of the logic board and gently pull it out from under the cables.
Remove the logic board.
During reassembly, make sure all nine press connectors (including the small volume buttons cable) are above the logic board.

Conclusion

To reassemble your phone, 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 Answers community for help.

Author

Clay Eickemeyer

Member since: 19/09/22

65196 Reputation

iPhone 15 Logic Board Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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