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Disassembly/Repair of the mobile device Apple iPhone 12 mini (iPhone 12 mini A2176 A2398 A2399 A2400) with each step description and the required set of tools.


Author, currently - Quality Assurance Specialist


How to disassemble Apple iPhone 12 mini, Step 1/1

Step 1. Before disassembling!

⚠ī¸ Before disassembling, do not forget to turn your phone off.


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Step 2. Remove the tray

Use the ejection tool (aka Needle) or Paperclip. Push the tip all the way into the hole until the tray ejects, and then pull the tray out.

⚠ī¸ī¸ Pay attention! The tool must be inserted into a hole on the edge of the phone's housing. Do not press too hard. It may break the tray eject mechanism.


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Step 3. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (precision star-shaped 0.8 mm aka Pentalobe), unscrew/drive 2 screws out at the end of the phone.


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Step 4. Open the display module

⚠ī¸ī¸ Pay attention! Disassembly has a maximum 3rd difficulty because the process begins with the disassembly of the display module. If you have no experience or are not sure of your skills, we strongly recommend that you contact a specialized service center.

We recommend using a special heating device such as a separator machine, heat gun, or heating mat. It will simplify the process. You can use a home hairdryer, but you will have to make a nozzle by hand or have a suitable one in the kit to gently heat and concentrate the heat flow in the right place.

ℹī¸ī¸ī¸ The surface of the display module must be heated to soften the adhesive underneath. The approximate heating temperature is 50° C / 125° F.

Use a thin plastic film or pick for separation. To facilitate the process, you can use isopropyl alcohol. It is often most difficult to pass the tool between the parts to be divided. Choose the far edge from the FFC cables or buttons.

Do not use a lever or any force for separation that could damage the elements inside.

The process can be seen in our video entirely so as well as in detail, at the end of the instructions.


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Step 5. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0 mm Y000), unscrew 6 screws and remove the brackets securing connectors.


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Step 6. Disconnect the battery connector

Disconnect the battery connector as soon as possible.

ℹī¸ī¸ī¸ The Apple iPhone 12 mini model has a battery A2471 with 2227 mAh capacity (aka rechargeable battery).

⚠ī¸ī¸ It is highly recommended to disconnect the connector to avoid possible short circuits during disassembly. Also, try not to use a metal tool to disconnect the rechargeable battery connector or do it carefully.


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Step 7. Disconnect the connectors

Pry up the connectors and remove the display module.


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Step 8. Remove the battery

There is only one way to remove the battery - pulling the tabs to remove the adhesive lines. If the tags are cut because of the adhesive lines drought, we need to use isopropyl alcohol to soften the adhesive and a plastic sheet to separate the battery.


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Step 9. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (Phillips 1.5 mm PH000), unscrew two screws and remove the bracket securing the rear cameras.


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Step 10. Remove the rear camera

Pry up the connectors and remove two rear cameras assembly.


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Step 11. Remove the front camera

Disconnect the connectors and remove the assembly of the front (selfie) camera and face ID.


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Step 12. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (Phillips 1.5 mm PH000), unscrew two screws and remove the bracket.


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Step 13. Remove the vibration motor

Using a screwdriver Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0 mm, Y000; Philips iPhone 2.5 mm unscrew three screws.

Disconnect the connector. Remove the taptic engine (aka vibration motor).


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Step 14. Disconnect the connectors

Disconnect the connectors.


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Step 15. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (Phillips iPhone 2.5 mm barrel screwdriver), unscrew two barrel screws.


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Step 16. Remove the bracket

Using screwdrivers Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0mm, Y000; Philips iPhone 2.5 mm unscrew two screws and remove the bracket.


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Step 17. Remove the motherboard

Do not forget to press the card ejection pusher back. Because it will catch the housing side and hold the motherboard.

Carefully remove the printed circuit board. There is no need to use a lever or try to reach the board by force. Make sure that nothing is getting in the way or holding the board.

⚠ī¸ī¸ Do not bend the circuit board when removing it or push tools under it. Unbeknownst to yourself, you can damage components or cables from the inside.


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Step 18. Remove the loudspeaker

Using screwdrivers Philips 1.5 mm PH000 unscrew seven screws. Remove the loudspeaker and one bracket.


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Step 19. Unscrew the screws

Using screwdrivers Philips iPhone 2.5 mm; Philips 1.5 mm #000 unscrew seven screws.

ℹī¸ī¸ī¸ī¸ Be sure to note the location of the screws before disassembling. When assembling the device, screwing the screw in the wrong place may damage the device or its part. To avoid damage, the removed screws and individual pieces (as gaskets or brackets) must be laid out in the appropriate order, or the screws and their holes in the phone must be marked with colored markers.


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Step 20. Remove the charging port

Peel off and remove the flat cable with a lightning port, microphones.


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Step 21. In the housing remained

ℹī¸ī¸ī¸ In the housing.

Detailed disassembly instructions of Apple iPhone 12 mini in the video, made by our mobile repair & service center:

If you have a question, ask us, and we will try to answer in as much detail as possible. If this article was helpful for you, please rate it.


Disassembling\Repair has hard complexity and takes about minutes in time. Our manual is suitable for all models Apple iPhone 12 mini — Apple iPhone 12 mini A2176 A2398 A2399 A2400 released for markets in different countries.


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