Teardown difficulty:
Hard

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Disassembly/Repair of the mobile device Apple iPhone 12 (iPhone 12 A2172 A2176) with each step description and the required set of tools.


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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¸ 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¸ 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¸ 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¸ The Apple iPhone 12 A2172, A2176 model has a battery A2479 with 2815 mAh capacity (aka rechargeable battery).

⚠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. Unscrew the screws

Using a screwdriver (Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0 mm Y000), screwdriver (Phillips 1.5 mm PH000), unscrew five screws and remove the bracket securing the camera's assembly.


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Step 9. Remove the rear camera

Pry up the connectors and remove two rear cameras assembly.


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Step 10. Remove the front camera

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


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Step 11. Unscrew the screws

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


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Step 12. Unscrew the screws

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


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Step 13. Remove the card holder

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

Using a screwdriver (Phillips iPhone 2.5 mm barrel screwdriver), unscrew one barrel screw.

Disconnect the connector and remove the Sim card holder.


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Step 14. Disconnect the connectors

Disconnect the connectors.


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Step 15. Remove the motherboard

Using screwdrivers Philips 1.5 mm PH000, Philips iPhone 2.5 mm unscrew four screws.

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¸ 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 16. Remove the loudspeaker

Using screwdrivers Philips 1.5 mm PH000 unscrew four screws. Remove the loudspeaker.


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Step 17. Remove the vibration motor

Using a screwdriver Philips 1.5 mm #000; Philips iPhone 2.5 mm unscrew three screws.

Remove the taptic engine (aka vibration motor).


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Step 18. Remove the bracket

Using a screwdriver (Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0mm, Y000), unscrew two screws and remove the bracket.


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Step 19. Unscrew the screws

Using screwdrivers Tri-point, Tri-wing 2.0 mm, Y000; Philips iPhone 2.5 mm; Philips 1.5 mm #000 unscrew 11 screws.

ℹī¸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¸ In the housing remained: the battery.

Detailed disassembly instructions of Apple iPhone 12 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 — Apple iPhone 12 A2172 A2176 released for markets in different countries.



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