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iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to remove the ringer switch and volume buttons from your iPhone 5.

What you need

Video Overview

  1. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Taping the display glass: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.

    • Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.

    • This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.

    • Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

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  2. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Remove the Pentalobe screws: step 2, image 1 of 1

    • Before you proceed, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

    • Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

    • Remove the two 3.6 mm Pentalobe screws next to the Lightning connector.

    Edit

  3. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, How to prevent display separation: step 3, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, How to prevent display separation: step 3, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, How to prevent display separation: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • In the following steps you will be pulling the display up out of the phone body. The display is composed of a glass screen and a plastic bezel with metal clips.

    • Regardless of the tool you use, you need to be sure you pull up the entire display.

    • If the glass begins to separate from the plastic, as shown in the first image, slide a plastic opening tool between the plastic frame and the metal phone body to pry the metal clips out of the case.

    • If you are reassembling a phone with a separated display bezel, you may want to place a thin strip of adhesive between the plastic bezel and the glass to keep the phone closed.

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  4. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 4, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 4, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Anti-Clamp instructions: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • The next two 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 two steps for an alternate method.

    • For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.

    • Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.

    • Position the suction cups just above the home button on the screen—one on the front, and one on the back.

    • Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.

    • If you find that the surface of your device is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use packing tape to create a grippier surface.

    Edit

  5. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.

    • Turn the handle clockwise until you see the cups start to stretch.

    • Make sure the suction cups remain aligned to each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

    • Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and for the bottom of the screen to open.

    • If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.

    • Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.

    • Skip the next three steps.

    Edit

  6. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Manual Opening Procedure: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Press a suction cup onto the screen, just above the home button.

    • Be sure the cup is completely on the screen to get a tight seal.

    • If you're opening an iPhone with cracked glass, neatly lay a couple strips of packing tape across the front and squeeze out as many bubbles as you can. This will give the suction cup a surface to grab, and minimize the spread of broken glass.

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  7. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Start lifting the front panel assembly: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Make sure the suction cup is firmly attached to the front panel assembly.

    • While holding the iPhone down with one hand, pull up on the suction cup to slightly separate the front panel assembly from the rear case.

    • Take your time and apply firm, constant force. The screen is a much tighter fit than most devices.

    • With a plastic opening tool, begin to gently pry the rear case down, away from the screen, while you pull up with the suction cup.

    • There are several clips attaching the front panel assembly to the rear case, so you may need to use a combination of the suction cup and plastic opening tool to free the front panel assembly.

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  8. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Detaching the front panel side clips: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Continue to pry up around the sides of the front panel assembly, detaching the clips along the left and right side.

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  10. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Opening up the phone: step 9, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Opening up the phone: step 9, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Opening up the phone: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Do not try to completely remove the front panel assembly from the rear case, as there are several ribbon cables still attached at the top of the iPhone.

    • Once the clips have been released on the bottom and sides of the front panel assembly, pull the bottom of the assembly away from the rear case.

    • Open the display to about a 90º angle, and lean it against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.

    • Add a rubber band to keep the display securely in place while you work. This prevents undue strain on the display cables.

    Edit

  11. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the battery connector bracket screws: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following two screws securing the metal battery connector bracket to the logic board:

    • One 1.8 mm Phillips screw

    • One 1.6 mm Phillips screw

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  12. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the battery connector bracket: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the metal battery connector bracket from the iPhone.

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  13. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Disconnecting the battery connector: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Use a plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.

    • Be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

    • Be very careful to only pry up on the battery connector itself and not the socket on the logic board. If you pry up on the logic board socket or the board itself, you may destroy the socket or damage nearby components on the board.

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  14. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the front panel assembly cable bracket screws: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the front panel assembly cable bracket to the logic board:

    • Two 1.2 mm Phillips screws

    • One 1.6 mm Phillips screw

    • This screw tends to not be attracted to a magnetized screwdriver. Take care not to lose it when removing, and make sure it gets back into the right place—a magnetized screw may interfere with the compass.

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  15. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the front panel assembly cable bracket: step 14, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the front panel assembly cable bracket: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the display cable bracket toward the battery to unhook it, and remove it from the iPhone.

    • During reassembly, clip the left-hand hooks under the logic board and lower the bracket towards the outside of the phone.

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  16. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables: step 15, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables: step 15, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Disconnecting the front panel assembly cables: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Make sure the battery is disconnected before you disconnect or reconnect the cables in this step.

    • Use a plastic opening tool or a fingernail to disconnect the three front panel assembly cables:

    • Front-facing camera and sensor cable

    • LCD cable

    • Digitizer cable

    • When reassembling your phone, the LCD cable may pop off the connector. This can cause white lines, or nothing at all to appear when powering your phone back on. If that happens, simply reconnect the cable and power cycle your phone. The best way to power cycle your phone is to disconnect and reconnect the battery.

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  17. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Separating front panel assembly and rear case: step 16, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the front panel assembly from the rear case.

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  18. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Lifting the battery: step 17, image 1 of 1

    • Use the exposed clear plastic pull tab to peel the battery off the adhesive securing it to the iPhone.

    • If you are having trouble peeling the battery up or if the tab breaks, apply a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol under the edge of the battery.

    • Wait about one minute for the alcohol solution to weaken the adhesive. Use an opening tool to gently lift the battery by its edge.

    • Don't try to forcefully lever the battery out. If needed, apply a few more drops of alcohol to further weaken the adhesive. Never deform or puncture the battery with your pry tool.

    • If there's any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off or allow it to air dry before installing your new battery.

    • If you still have trouble peeling the battery up, use an iOpener or hair dryer to heat the rear case of the iPhone and soften the adhesive.

    • Overheating the iPhone may ignite the battery.

    Edit

  19. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Prying up the battery: step 18, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Prying up the battery: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Use the plastic opening tool to gently pry the battery up, only at the outside edge of the phone. Prying anywhere else, especially near the logic board, may result in damage to the logic board.

    • If the battery doesn't pry easily out of the case, apply a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol.

    • Pry gently and evenly to avoid deforming the battery. A bent battery can be a fire hazard.

    • Do not pry at the top portion of the battery, you risk severing the volume control cables.

    Edit

  20. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Removing the battery: step 19, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the battery.

    • If your replacement battery came in a plastic sleeve, remove it before installation by pulling it away from the the ribbon cable.

    • Before you adhere the replacement battery, temporarily reconnect the battery connector to the motherboard socket. This ensures that the battery is properly aligned in its recess.

    • Adhere the battery, disconnect it, and continue reassembling your device.

    • During reassembly, make sure the battery is seated firmly against the rear case. This will prevent any damage to other components when reinstalling the front panel assembly.

    • Perform a hard reset after reassembly. This can prevent several issues and simplify troubleshooting.

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  21. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement, Volume Controls: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the following screws securing the volume button and ringer switch brackets to the side of the rear case:

    • One 1.5 mm Phillips screw

    • Two 1.8 mm Phillips screws

    Edit

  22. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the ringer switch bracket from the side of the rear case.

    • Remove the ringer switch.

    Edit

  23. iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 iPhone 5 Volume Controls Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Use a spudger to pry the volume button bracket from the side of the rear case.

    • Remove the volume buttons.

    Edit
Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

61 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 12 other contributors

Andrew Optimus Goldheart

Member since: 10/17/2009

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One Comment

I managed to finish the repair. Ended up with several stripped screws, which took even longer to take out. I would suggest on using an even smaller tip phillips screw driver as the one suggested here was too big for most of the screws. And after all the frustration, money, and hours of replacing my volume buttons. They still don't work on one of them. I've wished I didn't go through all that. Now I have to take it to a repair shop to find out what it is that's wrong. My suggestion, unless your an experienced technician with steady hands. I would take to a repair shop instead. Not for the timid.

darcyearle - Reply

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