Introduction
Use this guide to separate and replace the front panel and digitizer on the iPhone 3GS.
What you need
Video Overview
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If your display glass is cracked, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping the glass.
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Lay overlapping strips of clear packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.
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Remove the metal handle from the suction cup. It's easier and safer to grip the suction cup's base instead of the metal handle.
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Use a small suction cup near the Home button to gently pull up the lower portion of the iPhone's display assembly.
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Continue to hold the display assembly with one hand, and use your other hand and a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled "1."
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Ribbon cable "1" is connected with a plug style connector. The block at the end of the cable is the plug which is simply pushed into a socket on the circuit board. No other locking mechanism is used.
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Rotate the display assembly up until it is roughly vertical. This will allow easier access for disconnecting the remaining cables.
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Use a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled "2."
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Slide the ribbon cable out of the connector, and remove the display assembly from the iPhone.
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Turn the display around, and if there is a thin strip of black tape on the edge of the display assembly, carefully peel it up.
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Turn the display assembly over and again carefully insert a metal spudger between the two metal rails along the edge of the display assembly. Gently rotate the spudger to lift the LCD up from the glass.
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Separate the LCD and glass by sliding the LCD panel away from the ribbon cables on the glass.
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If the glass has shattered at the top or bottom be especially patient and gentle when removing fragments. In extreme cases you may have to pick off any glass shards that remain glued to the plastics.
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Using a heat gun or hairdryer, heat the top left area of the touch screen.
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Use your fingernails to slowly lift up the left corner. The touch screen plastics are held to the touch screen with adhesive. It may take some work to free the corners.
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Heat and repeat for the right side.
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Once the top is free, use the heat gun to heat the sides of the touch screen.
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Use a spudger to free the sides of the touch screen plastics.
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Heat the bottom corners with the heat gun.
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Again, use your fingernails to free the corners.
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Remove the touch screen plastics from the touch screen.
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In order to adhere the new panel, peel as much of the existing adhesive off of the front panel frame as you can.
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Place or double stick tape on the upper area of the front panel plastics.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to press the adhesive strips to the plastic frame.
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Place the second adhesive strip or double stick tape on the home button end of the front panel frame.
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Run the flat end of a spudger over the strip to stick it down and push bubbles out from under the sticker.
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Using the tip of a spudger to start, peel the adhesive backings off of the strips on the front panel plastic.
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Ensuring that the upper cables are folded clear, align the top of the front glass with the front panel frame.
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Press the front panel and front panel frame together, ensuring the the home button ends are aligned.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.