iPhone 13 Taptic Engine Replacement

Written By: Kyle Smith

Comments: 11

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

The Taptic Engine produces your iPhone's vibration and haptic feedback functions. Follow this guide to remove and replace the Taptic Engine in an iPhone 13.

Tools

Step 1

Caution: Before you begin, 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 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.
Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Step 2

If your iPhone has a cracked screen, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping over the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of 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.
If the broken glass makes it difficult to get a suction cup to stick in the next few steps, try folding a strong piece of tape (such as duct tape) into a handle and lifting the display with that instead.

How to detect my Iphone what screen it is, OLED or LCD?

sabrihakulii - 08/07/20

It’s OLED. You can find the specs here, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201296

When you find your phone, at the bottom of the description click on, See the tech specs…

mcr4u2 - 23/08/20

The included suction cups were stiff and worthless. They would not lift the screen. Also, I tried every type of tape on the screen to help the suction cups stick without success. Heavy duty suction cups were for my bathroom also failed. However, I had an old GoPro mount with some preapplied double sided 3M VSB tape and stuck that on the screen near the bottom. Magic! This method had the added bonus of being able to use a GoPro attachment as a handle to lift the screen, and propped up the screen like a kickstand in step 12.

Tawan Khamapirad - 15/12/20

Very cool! Thanks

Antonio -

My screen was pretty stuck… would not budge. Heated, super glued the suction cup, tried gorilla tape. Ended up doing the GoPro mount with 3M VSB tape method mentioned. Worked great. That 3M tape is the bomb.

Rich Wachtel - 03/05/21

The included suction cup took a few tries but ended up working for me.

charlotte -

If you have flat feeler gauges (for adjusting engine valve tappet clearance, ignition points … old school) the .003 thick goes right in. Work your way up until you can get the pick or supplied pry tool in.

William Olstad -

where can I buy 3M VSB plis!!

gerardo artigas cuellar -

3M VHB tape is at auto stores and other big box stores, or online.

nicO Gurney -

I used the tweezers that came with the replacement screen and jammed one of them into the glass and that eventually worked. Heating with a blow dryer is also important. The suction cup was helpful in loosening the adhesive for sure, but just not enough to get the display to come out.

J Olin -

Step 3

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 4

The next two steps demonstrate the iSclack, a handy tool that we recommend for anyone doing frequent repairs. If you aren't using the iSclack, skip down two steps for an alternate method.
If the plastic depth gauge is attached at the center of the iSclack, remove it now—it's not needed for larger iPhones like the iPhone 13.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone—one on the front, and one on the back.
Press both suction cups firmly into place.
If your display or back glass is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may help the suction cups adhere. The iSclack also includes two pieces of tape for this purpose.

Step 5

Hold onto your iPhone securely and close the handle of the iSclack to slightly separate the screen from the rear case of the phone.
Don't try to completely separate the screen; a small opening along the bottom edge is all you need.
Insert an opening pick into the gap under the display on the lower edge of the iPhone.
Skip the next two steps.

Step 6

If you're using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the very edge of the glass.
If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 7

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your opening pick.

Step 8

Heating the edges of the iPhone will make it easier to cut through the adhesive securing the display.
Apply heat to the left edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 9

Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the display in place.
Don't insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone.

Step 10

Apply heat to the right edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 11

Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.
Don't insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage internal components.

Step 12

Apply heat to the top edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 13

The top edge of the display is secured with both glue and clips.
Insert your pick into the right edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-right corner and across the top edge.
Don't insert the pick more than 1 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.

Step 14

If you haven't removed your suction handle or iSclack, remove it now.
Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the right side, like the front cover of a book.
Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.
Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.
During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

Step 15

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 1.3 mm screws securing the battery and display connector cover.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your iPhone.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the display in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

Step 16

Remove the cover.

Step 17

Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.
Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Step 18

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the display cable connector.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 19

Remove three screws securing the front sensor connector cover:
One 1.7 mm Phillips screw
One 1.3 mm Phillips screw
One 1.8 mm Y000 screw

Step 20

Swing the cover up from the center of the phone until the small clip by the edge of the phone unhooks.

Step 21

Remove the cover.
During reassembly, insert the clip on the left edge into its slot first, then hinge the rest of the cover into place.

Step 22

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front sensor assembly cable connector.

Step 23

Remove the screen.
During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the waterproof adhesive around the edges of the display.

Why is the removal of the proximity light sensor from the back of the screen not covered in this tutorial?

Jenny Lawson -

Step 24

Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 2.2 mm screws securing the Taptic Engine.

Step 25

Remove the Taptic Engine bracket from the top two screw hole tabs.

Step 26

Swing the Taptic Engine up from its lower edge so that it sits upside down on the SIM card reader.
Be careful not to tear the delicate ribbon cable connecting the Taptic Engine to the logic board. Don't pull or twist the Taptic Engine while swinging it onto the SIM card reader.

Step 27

Use the point of a spudger to pry the Taptic Engine cable connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 28

Remove the Taptic Engine from the iPhone.

Step 29

During reassembly, follow these steps to reconnect the Taptic Engine:
Place the Taptic Engine upside-down on the SIM card reader so that the Taptic Engine's ribbon cable faces its connector on the logic board.
Use the flat end of a spudger or the tip of your finger to reconnect the Taptic Engine press connector.
Flip the Taptic Engine back into its recess.

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

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

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 13 Answers community for help.

Author

Kyle Smith

Member since: 01/02/21

33960 Reputation

iPhone 13 Taptic Engine Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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