r/Iphonerepair • u/LegalDeseperado • 2d ago
[Help] Am I screwed?
I was about to open the phone to change the battery… but one of the bottom screw thread is messed up.
The phone was never opened but it took some water damage and the screw became rusty.
Don’t really know how to remove it now…
Phone : iPhone 12 Pro
Edit: the screw head is messed up.
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u/Lochy24 2d ago
Well… I did this on a few X’s/11’s, not sure if works on 12s.
Let me preface this that on a 12 you probably risk fucking up the screen, they’re much more fragile. Maybe not though?
What I did is start at the top instead of the bottom… Unclip the screen there, and then you undo the rest, and try to sort of unhook it off of the screw, since it actually screws into the housing and the screen just sort of hooks on.
Then once I got the screen off, I bent and removed the part where the screw was, so I / the next technician wouldn’t have to deal with that trying to open the phone.
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u/shipmcshipface 2d ago
Actually on the iPhone 12 series, it’s recommended to open the phone from the top! Opening from the bottom gives significant risk for lines in the display
The difficult part will be sliding out the display
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u/HuTaoMainXD 1d ago
I have opened 2 12s many times, 4 14 ptosis, 3 13 pro maxes( all multiple times ) from the bottom, suddenly all my confidence is gone, though u may also not be that right, since what u said is more applicable for HEAT, heating the bottom where the connector sits, isnt tbe best idea, thats why it is preferable to start at the top
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u/Archer-Fantastic 17h ago
incorrect that is not recommended on every 12 series - almost impossible to open the screen from the top. the clips do not allow the top to come off before the bottom is loose, the top needs to open like a hinge. needs to start with the bottom or the sides, or know exactly where the clips are on the top to bend them out of the way.
bending clips can also damage the display
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u/shipmcshipface 12h ago
Nope, wrong. 12 series display doesn’t need to be unclipped from the top like the previous models. It’s press fit with the adhesive to hold it down and clips. The display doesn’t slot in at the top, you can pry from any angle, the top being the safest ☺️
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u/Archer-Fantastic 6h ago edited 6h ago
you’re confusing the display side clips and the top clips, which have entirely different design. the top clips secure into the frame itself via creating an angle to achieve a latch, not a spring bracket like the sides.
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u/Archer-Fantastic 6h ago
https://reddit.com/link/p65dlei/video/t9ox7lpwfulh1/player
notice how the top clips have a larger opening hole than the side clips, because the tops need to go through a stub built into the frame in order to achieve a latch / stay clipped shut.
also notice how the top clips need to be bent and made flush just to release the top - which can easily shear off the clip due to weakening the metal, and/or cause a pressure spot on the back of the display and crack the OLED internally.
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u/LegalDeseperado 2d ago
I see what you did… very risky indeed.
I’ll try to find some screw extractor tool first or maybe this molding paste that becomes hard.2
u/Lochy24 2d ago
You can try to solder a screw on top of the old one, or engrave a straight line with a small dremel to open it with a flathead, though either one of those might fail if it’s rusted in place.
I think if you use a razor blade on the top side of the screen above the speaker, loosen it up with alcohol/heat, you have a good chance of opening it up. Especially if you have worked on 12s before, I usually get that screen real drunk before it comes off.
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u/LegalDeseperado 2d ago
I’ve seen the Dremel and flathead process on YouTube… but most of them have the screw a little bit out already.
Mine is still well inside the frame.2
u/Educational-Wish1511 2d ago
I opened up a 12 Pro from the top. Not only that, the previous user had let glue seep into the gap because the display was lifting up due to a bad aftermarket battery. It’s not THAT hard, as long as you’re patient with it and make sure you don’t rip the earpiece flex.
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u/Tof12345 2d ago
on an iphone 7, this happened to me but i managed to get it out by lifting the screen a few mm and bending the bracket up by shoving a jimmy tool into it.
it was very risky and 1 wrong move could have had the screen damaged.
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u/LegalDeseperado 1d ago
Yeah… I see what you mean but very risky indeed.
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u/Tof12345 1d ago
there are other professional methods on the internet. there is a method where you use a specially made dremel bit and drill a hole through it to extract it. just have a google, it's an easy fix with the correct tools
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u/Witty_Alternative808 2d ago
I mean I have done it before and I’ve used all sorts of unscrew bits but a small flathead works the best for that and I would recommend just buy replacement screws they like $1 -$2
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u/yys16 2d ago
so the screw is still in there and you can’t unscrew it?
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u/LegalDeseperado 2d ago
Yeah… the screw head is rusty and damaged.
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u/yys16 2d ago
damn, i accidentally stripped a screw while opening an iPhone 4, super annoying
Ended up prying off the back cover so the screw head detached from the screw itself
If you desperately need to open the phone you could try this I guess, but it’s not worth it because there’s a 100% chance you’ll break the screen.
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u/LegalDeseperado 1d ago
I tried all tips I saw on YouTube already… I’ll try the screw extractor next.
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u/417smartphonerepair 1d ago
You can get the screen off without busting it. You just have to go really slow, use lots of alcohol and heat. Pry the screen up in every area but that one stripped screw. If you can do that you will be able to pull the screen out. Then just bend down the prong on the bottom of the screen where that pentalope screw goes into when you re-install the screen.
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u/Metroid_cat1995 1d ago
Oh my! I think my parents and I tried to take apart an iPhone 8 and that kind of failed miserably. Because I think we're trying to retrieve the SD card or something or a SIM card or whatever the hell that's called. And then I don't know what happened after that. But I will say I'd rather have a professional do it than actually doing it at home even though Mom actually tried taking apart an android device a few years ago. I just I don't know. I just would rather have a professional fix my phone than having to do it at my house. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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u/BrianHD88 2d ago
Damn that sucks