iPhone 12 mini Display

Before You Begin

Warning

  • Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.

  • Read Broken Glass Safety before you begin.

  • Before performing a TrueDepth camera repair you must update the iPhone to the latest iOS version.

Tools

  • 5.4-inch heated display pocket

  • 5.4-inch repair tray

  • Adhesive cutter

  • Display adhesive press plate

  • Display press

  • ESD-safe tweezers

  • Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes

  • Heated display removal fixture

  • Heat-resistant gloves

  • Micro stix bit

  • Nylon probe (black stick)

  • Torque driver (black, 0.35 kgf cm)

  • Torque driver (gray, 0.55 kgf cm)

  • Torx security bit

Caution

To avoid damaging the lenses, don’t touch the TrueDepth camera assembly or nearby parts.

Caution

Don’t touch the back of the display. Touching the back of the display may affect image quality.

Important

If you replace this part, it is recommended to run Repair Assistant in order to finish the repair. Repair Assistant will be available on the device after you’ve completed all reassembly steps.

Removal

  1. Use a torque driver and the Torx security bit to remove the two security screws, one from each side of the Lightning connector. Set aside the screws.

  2. Flip the switch on the back of the heated display removal fixture to turn it on. The internal fan will turn on. Wait for a checkmark to appear on the screen.

    • Note: If an error code appears on the screen, turn off the fixture and turn it back on.

  3. Gently insert the iPhone into the heated display pocket with the display faceup and the Lightning connector facing the bottom of the pocket.

    • Important: Ensure that the clamp on the side of the pocket is flipped up.

  4. Flip down the clamp on the side of the pocket to lock the iPhone into place.

  5. Put on the heat-resistant gloves. Align the cutout on the bottom of the pocket with the rail on the fixture. Slide the pocket with the iPhone onto the rail on the fixture.

    • Warning: Don’t insert the pocket into the fixture without wearing the heat-resistant gloves.

  6. Slide the pocket into the fixture until the pocket clicks into place.

    • Note: The screen on the fixture will turn red and the timer will count down from 2 minutes while the pocket heats to the correct temperature. When the timer ends, the fixture will start to beep and the screen will turn green.

  7. Turn the knob on the fixture clockwise to lower the suction cup as close to the iPhone as possible without touching the iPhone.

    • Caution: To avoid damaging the iPhone, don’t turn the knob before the timer beeps.

    • Note: The fixture will beep until the suction cup is lowered.

  8. Grasp the handle and slide the suction cup straight out until the edge of the suction cup aligns with the bottom edge of the display.

    • Caution: Failure to align the edges of the suction cup and the display may damage the iPhone.

  9. Turn the knob on the fixture clockwise to lower the suction cup onto the display (1). Then flip down the handle on the suction cup to secure the suction cup to the display (2).

    • Important: After the suction cup is lowered onto the iPhone, the screen will begin a 15-minute countdown. When the timer shows 0, the heated display removal fixture will turn off. Ensure that you complete steps 10 and 11 within this time frame.

  10. Slowly turn the knob on the fixture counterclockwise until the display begins to separate from the enclosure.

    • Important: If you don’t see a gap between the display and the enclosure immediately, wait 30 seconds. If you still don’t see a gap, turn the silver part of the knob counterclockwise until the display begins to separate from the enclosure.

  11. Insert the edge of the adhesive cutter between the display and the enclosure. Run the cutter between the display and the enclosure to the right and left as shown until the display partially releases from the enclosure.

    • Caution: To avoid damaging the flex cables, don’t tilt up the bottom of the display more than 5 degrees.

  12. Flip up the handle to release the suction cup (1). Gently slide the flat end of the black stick under the edge of the suction cup to release it from the display (2).

    • Caution: Don’t turn the knob. Turning the knob may damage the flex cables.

  13. Press the eject button on the side of the pocket to release the pocket from the fixture.

  14. Hold both sides of the pocket and slide it straight out of the fixture.

  15. Flip up the clamp on the side of the pocket to release the iPhone (1). Hold the area outlined in blue and gently remove the iPhone from the pocket (2).

  16. Place the enclosure in the repair tray with the display faceup and the Lightning connector facing the cutout. Remove the gloves.

  17. Slide the display slightly toward the bottom of the iPhone.

  18. Insert the edge of the adhesive cutter into the top of the iPhone between the display and the enclosure. Hold the adhesive cutter at a 45-degree angle. Start at the middle and cut along the top and sides of the iPhone until the display is free.

    • Caution: To avoid damaging the flex cables, don’t tilt up the bottom of the display more than 5 degrees.

  19. Insert the repair tray suction cups into the slots in the repair tray.

  20. Tilt up the display toward the suction cups. Press the top and bottom edges of the display to secure it to the suction cups.

    • Caution

      • To avoid damaging the enclosure or display, ensure that the internal display clips are released before you tilt up the display.

      • Don’t damage the flex cables as you tilt up the display.

    • Warning: If the battery is dented, punctured, or otherwise damaged, stop the repair. You can find a service option at support.apple.com/repair.

  21. Use a torque driver and the Micro stix bit to remove the trilobe screw from the lower cowling. Set aside the screw.

  22. Use ESD-safe tweezers to remove the lower cowling. Save the cowling for reassembly.

  23. Use a torque driver and the Micro stix bit to remove four trilobe screws (1–4) from the upper cowling. Hold the upper cowling in place and remove the last trilobe screw (5). Set aside the screws.

  24. Use ESD-safe tweezers to remove the upper cowling. Save the cowling for reassembly.

  25. Use the black stick to lift the end of the battery flex cable off the connector.

    • Caution: You must disconnect the battery flex cable first to ensure that the iPhone remains turned off.

  26. Use the black stick to lift the ends of the display flex cable (1) and the receiver flex cable (2) off the connectors.

  27. Hold the display by the edges. Pull the tabs on the suction cups to release them from the display. Then set the display facedown on a clean, flat surface.

  28. Remove the suction cups from the repair tray.

  29. Use ESD-safe tweezers to pick up the adhesive. Then pull the adhesive to remove it from the enclosure. Repeat this process until all the adhesive is removed from the perimeter of the enclosure.

    • Caution: Don’t touch the TrueDepth camera assembly, grounding springs, or nearby parts.

  30. Use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes to clean all residual adhesive from the enclosure.

    • Caution: Don’t use ethanol wipes or IPA wipes on the display. Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol may damage the display and affect image quality.

Reassembly

  1. Inspect the internal display clips for damage before reassembly. Ensure that the internal display clips are at a 90-degree angle and aren’t bent or damaged.

    • Important

      • If the internal display clips are damaged, you may need to replace the display.

      • If you’re installing a replacement display, peel the protective liner from the top and underside of it.

    • Warning: Inspect the enclosure for loose or extra screws and small parts, which can damage the battery and cause safety issues.

  2. Place the enclosure in the repair tray with the Lightning connector facing the cutout.

  3. Inspect the TrueDepth camera. Ensure that the top edge of the TrueDepth camera is under the lip of the enclosure.

    • Correct position

    • Incorrect position

    • Caution: If the TrueDepth camera is positioned incorrectly, use the black stick to move it away from the grounding clip. Then insert the top edge of the TrueDepth camera under the lip of the enclosure.

    • Warning: Inspect the enclosure for loose or extra screws and small parts, which can damage the battery and cause safety issues.

  4. Align the replacement display adhesive over the enclosure with the top holes over the TrueDepth camera assembly and the bottom tab on the left.

    • Caution: Ensure that you’ve removed all adhesive residue from the display and the enclosure before you apply the replacement display adhesive.

  5. The replacement display adhesive has a top release liner, a middle release liner, and a bottom release liner. Grasp the tab from the bottom release liner. Then slowly pull the bottom release liner (1) out from under the adhesive (2) while pressing the adhesive onto the enclosure.

    • Important: Don’t remove the top release liner yet.

      • Bottom release liner (1)

      • Adhesive (2)

    • Note: The replacement display adhesive for your model may look different from the illustration, but the steps are the same.

  6. Place the display adhesive press plate on top of the enclosure with the icon in the top right corner as shown.

  7. Position the repair tray with the iPhone in the display press. Pull down the lever until the display press locks.

  8. Wait until the timer on the display press beeps. Pull down the lever (1) and pull out the release knob (2). Then lift the lever (3).

  9. Remove the repair tray from the display press and remove the press plate.

  10. Remove the center section of the top release liner first (1). Then remove the three sections running along the bottom (2), right (3), and top (4).

    • Important: Don’t remove the middle release liner strips yet.

      • Top release liner

  11. Insert the suction cups into the repair tray.

  12. Align the left edge of the display with the left edge of the enclosure as shown. Gently press along the edges of the display to secure it to the suction cups.

  13. Press the ends of the receiver flex cable (1) and display flex cable (2) to the connectors. Press evenly along the length of each connector.

  14. Press the end of the battery flex cable to the connector (3). Press evenly along the length of the connector.

  15. Use ESD-safe tweezers to position the lower cowling over the ends of the display and battery flex cables.

  16. Use the black torque driver and Micro stix bit to install one new trilobe screw (923-04994) into the lower cowling.

  17. Use ESD-safe tweezers to position the upper cowling over the end of the receiver flex cable.

  18. Use the black torque driver and Micro stix bit to install five new trilobe screws (923-04995) (1, 2, 3) (923-04994) (4, 5) into the upper cowling in the order shown.

  19. Peel the first strip of the middle release liner (1) counterclockwise, starting at the top right of the enclosure. Peel the second strip (2) clockwise, starting at the top right of the enclosure. Peel the third strip (3) clockwise, starting at the bottom left of the enclosure.

    • Caution: The third strip of the middle release liner runs under two flex cables. Don’t damage the flex cables while removing the release liner.

      • Middle release liner

  20. Inspect the display adhesive to ensure that it’s in the correct position and not damaged or wrinkled. If the adhesive is damaged, remove it and apply replacement adhesive.

  21. Repeat step 3 to ensure that the TrueDepth camera is in the correct position. Then continue to step 22.

    • Warning: Inspect the enclosure for loose or extra screws and small parts, which can damage the battery and cause safety issues.

  22. Pull the tabs on the suction cups to release them from the display. Tilt down the display to rest on the enclosure.

  23. Remove the suction cups from the repair tray.

  24. Press all four corners of the display simultaneously. Then press along the edges of the display until it clicks and the display is flush with the enclosure.

    • Raised edges

    • Edges in correct position

    • Caution: Ensure that the flex cables aren’t trapped between the display and the enclosure. Feel the edges of the display for variations or gaps. If the display isn’t flush, repeat all removal steps and check the flex cables for damage. Then repeat reassembly steps 1 through 24.

  25. Position the repair tray with the iPhone in the display press. Pull down the lever until the display press locks.

  26. Wait until the timer on the display press beeps. Pull down the lever (1) and pull out the release knob (2). Then lift the lever (3).

  27. Remove the repair tray from the display press.

  28. Use the gray torque driver and Torx security bit to install two new security screws, one on each side of the Lightning connector. As you install the screws, press lightly on the display near the Lightning connector.

    • Caution: If the screws aren’t flush, remove and set aside the screws. Repeat step 28 to install another new set of screws. If the new screws still aren’t flush, repeat all removal and reassembly steps.

Important

Depending on the part replaced, Repair Assistant may be available on the device to finish the repair. Learn how to initiate Repair Assistant.

Note: If you have not run Repair Assistant, the device’s parts and service history may show a part status of “finish repair,” and Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair may show a part status of “unknown.”

Published Date: