This article was taken from the June 2014 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
Your iPhone may be incredibly well built, but one problem is hard to avoid: a cracked display.
The damage may serve as an effective theft prevention feature, but
iFixit.com provides a helpful guide to replacing the screen if you feel like you're up for the job. iFixit technical writer Andrew Optimus Goldberg claims this (warranty-voiding) repair for the iPhone 5 is actually relatively easy -- what have you got to lose?
Gather your tools
To undertake this moderately difficult job, you'll first have to buy a new display assembly. These are available online: search on sites such as eBay. In addition, you will need a 3.6 millimetre Pentalobe (five point) screwdriver, Phillips #00 screwdriver, a small suction cup and a plastic prising tool.
Open the iPhone's case
Remove the two five-pointed screws between the speakers on the bottom. Press a suction cup on to the glass close to the home button and pull up. Insert the prising tool in the resulting crack.
Still pulling, detach the clips that hold the screen on and work your way to the top. Don't open the assembly fully.
Detach the cables
Remove three screws at the top-right corner and use a small Phillips screwdriver to detach the logic board bracket, a small silver piece of metal. Below this you'll find three cables that need to be removed. Use the prising tool to remove them. The panel assembly can now be fully removed.
Disassemble the front panel
Remove the earpiece bracket and speaker. Dig out the camera sensor cable, remove the camera and rear microphone as a unit. Take the screws off the home button bracket. Lift the ribbon cable off the touch panel assembly, and remove the bracket and ribbon cable.
Prise the home button loose.
Reassemble the new housing
Remove the aluminium plate that covers most of the back of the display assembly and transfer the good parts you've just taken off your old panel and put them on to the new one. Everything should fit back into the same place, but be sure that all connections are reattached.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
