iPhone 15 Pro Max Back Glass Replacement

Written By: Clay Eickemeyer

Comments: 8

iPhone 15 Pro Max Back Glass Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

45 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace a cracked or broken back glass on your iPhone 15 Pro Max.

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

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 7.2 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 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.

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 phone 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 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 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.
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 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 11

As you slice the adhesive securing the back glass in the next steps, be careful of the wireless charging cable near the volume buttons.

Step 12

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 left corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 13

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

Step 14

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the left edge.
Insert a second opening pick to the left of the first one.
Slide this pick to the top left corner of the back glass to separate the left edge adhesive.
Leave this pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 15

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

Step 16

Don't insert your pick deeper than 5 mm along the top edge.
Insert a third opening pick in the top left corner of the back glass.
Slide your pick to the top right corner to separate the top edge adhesive.
If the top edge of the back glass doesn't separate, the top clips may be stuck. Use the flat end of a spudger to press the clips inward until they release.

Step 17

Don't slide your pick past the volume up button to avoid slicing the wireless charging cable.
Rotate your pick around the top right corner of the back glass.
Slide your pick to the volume up button.
Leave this pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 18

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

Step 19

Don't slide your pick past the volume down button to avoid slicing the wireless charging cable.
Insert a fourth opening pick at the bottom edge of the back glass.
Rotate your pick around the bottom right corner of the back glass.
Slide your pick to the volume down button.

Step 20

Gently swing open the back glass over the right edge 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 box or similar object so it doesn't strain the cable.

Step 21

Use a tri-point Y000 driver to remove the 1.0 mm screw securing the wireless charging connector cover.
Use tweezers to slide the cover out of its slot on the logic board and remove it.

Step 22

Use the tip of an opening pick to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil 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.