Repair guide
How to Replace a Cracked iPhone Screen (DIY Guide)
Yes, you can replace an iPhone screen at home in about 1 to 2 hours with the right tools. Here's how, step by step, and when not to try.
You can replace an iPhone screen at home in 1 to 2 hours with about $30 of tools and a replacement screen. It's a moderate job: careful hands matter more than experience. If Face ID stopped working after the drop, or the phone is bent, skip DIY and go to a pro.
- DifficultyModerate
- Time1–2 hours
- ModelsiPhone X and newer (steps vary slightly by model)
- CostScreen + ~$30 tools
⚠️ Safety first
- Disconnect the battery before touching anything else. Working on a live board can short and kill the phone.
- Never pry near the battery with metal tools. A punctured lithium battery can catch fire.
- If the battery is swollen, stop. Don't press on it. Bring it to a pro.
- Wear eye protection. Cracked glass splinters.
Tools and parts
Tools
- P2 pentalobe screwdriver (bottom screws)
- Y000 tri-point and Phillips #000 screwdrivers (internal brackets)
- Suction handle
- Plastic opening picks (at least 3)
- Spudger (plastic pry tool)
- Hair dryer or heat pad
- Tweezers
- Magnetic mat or an ice cube tray for screws
Parts
- Replacement screen for your exact model (iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro screens are different parts)
- Display adhesive gasket for your model
- Packing tape (if the glass is shattered)
Before you start
- Back up your phone. Repairs rarely wipe data, but mistakes happen. See how to back up and reset.
- Drain the battery below 25%. A low battery is safer if something goes wrong.
- Know this: on iPhone XS and newer, a third-party screen will show an "unknown part" message in Settings, and True Tone may not work. That's expected. Apple genuine parts avoid it.
Step-by-step: replace the screen
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Power off and tape the glass. Turn the iPhone off. If the screen is shattered, cover it with overlapping strips of packing tape so the suction cup can grip and glass can't fly.
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Remove the two bottom screws. Use the P2 pentalobe driver on the two screws on either side of the charging port. Keep them together, they're tiny.
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Heat the edges. Warm the edges of the screen with a hair dryer for 1–2 minutes. It should be hot to touch but not painful. This softens the adhesive.
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Lift a gap. Put the suction handle on the bottom of the screen, just above the port. Pull up with firm, steady pressure until a thin gap opens, then slide a pick into it.
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Slice the adhesive. Slide the pick around the bottom corner and up the left side, then across the top. Go shallow: no more than a few millimetres in. Deep picks can cut the display cables on the right edge. Leave picks in place so the glue doesn't reseal.
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Open it like a book. Swing the screen open from the left side toward the right, where the cables are. Don't open past about 90°. Prop it against something.
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Disconnect the battery. Remove the screws on the metal bracket covering the logic board connectors. Use the spudger to pop the battery connector straight up. Do this before anything else.
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Disconnect the screen. Pop off the display connector(s) and the front sensor connector. Lift them straight up, like a Lego. Remove the old screen.
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Move over any parts. On some models (iPhone X to 11), the earpiece speaker and front sensor assembly must move from the old screen to the new one. Handle that flex cable gently. Face ID stops working if it's damaged.
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Test before you seal. Connect the new screen, then reconnect the battery last. Power on. Check touch in every corner, brightness, Face ID, the front camera and the earpiece. Power off and disconnect the battery again.
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Clean and apply the new adhesive. Scrape off old glue with a plastic pick. Wipe the frame with isopropyl alcohol. Apply the new gasket.
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Close it up. Reconnect everything (battery last), replace the bracket, then press the screen down starting at the top clips. Reinstall the two bottom screws. Hold the phone under light pressure (a few books) for 10 minutes.
When to go to a pro
- Face ID stopped working after the drop
- The frame is bent, or the back glass is also cracked
- The phone got wet
- The battery looks swollen or the screen is lifting on its own
- It's a Pro model with a 120Hz screen and you want genuine-part quality
Any of those, and the risk of a $30 DIY job turning into a dead phone goes way up.
After the repair
- Avoid water for 24 hours while the adhesive sets. Your water resistance won't be factory-level again.
- Put on a screen protector. Cheaper than doing this twice. Shop screen protectors.
- If the "unknown part" message bugs you, it doesn't affect how the phone works.
Repair or replace?
If your iPhone is several years old, the repair cost plus your time can get close to the price of a refurbished replacement. An iPhone 13 starts at $286.99 refurbished with a 1-year warranty. Do the math before you buy parts.
FAQ
Can I replace my iPhone screen myself?
Yes. With the right tools and about 1 to 2 hours, most careful people can do it. The risky parts are cutting the adhesive without damaging cables and protecting the Face ID components.
Will a third-party screen work on my iPhone?
Yes, but on iPhone XS and newer you'll see an "unknown part" notice in Settings and True Tone may not work. Quality varies a lot between third-party screens.
Will replacing the screen break Face ID?
Not if you're careful. Face ID lives in the phone, not in the screen, but on some models the front sensor flex has to be moved to the new screen, and damaging it breaks Face ID.
Is my iPhone still water resistant after a screen repair?
Partly, if you use a new adhesive gasket. It won't match the factory seal, so keep it away from water.
Rather not open it up yourself?
Mail it to our technicians from anywhere in Canada. Exact price upfront, free insured shipping label, warranty on the repair.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the iPhone 13 pre-owned from $286.99, tested by real technicians with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.