iPhone Air USB-C Connector
Before You Begin
Warning
Read Battery Safety and follow workspace and battery handling guidelines before you begin.
Tools
Adhesive cutter
Crosshead 44 mm half-moon bit
Crosshead 100 mm half-moon bit
ESD-safe tweezers
Ethanol wipes or isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipes
Nitrile or lint-free gloves
Nylon probe (black stick)
Torque driver (gray, 0.55 kgf cm)
Torque driver (blue, 0.65 kgf cm)
Trilobe 44 mm half-moon bit
USB-C charge cable
Refer to a full list of tools required for all repairs.
Removal
Note: If you’ve already completed the removal steps, skip to reassembly.
Follow the display removal procedure.
Follow the back glass removal procedure steps 2 through 3.
Use a torque driver and the trilobe bit to remove six trilobe screws.
Use a torque driver and crosshead bit to remove eight crosshead screws. Then complete the entire step before continuing to the next step.
Remove the logic board cowling and the back glass cowling. Save the cowlings for reassembly.
Lift the ends of the battery flex cable (1) and the back glass flex cable (2) off the connectors.
Caution: You must disconnect the battery flex cable first to ensure that the iPhone stays turned off.
Lift the end of the USB-C flex cable off the connector (3).
Remove the back glass.
Remove the Taptic Engine cowling and the Taptic Engine chin cowling. Save the cowlings for reassembly.
Use a black stick or adhesive cutter to separate the Taptic Engine flex cable from the USB-C connector flex cable.
Lift the ends of the Taptic Engine flex cable and the main microphone flex cable off the connectors.
Remove the Taptic Engine.
Remove the battery.
Turn the iPhone over in the repair tray so the display side is facing up. Use a torque driver and the long crosshead bit to remove two crosshead screws from the USB-C connector.
- Caution: Use the driver at a low angle to avoid stripping the screws.
Turn the iPhone over in the repair tray so the back glass side is facing up.
Gently peel the dock flex cable from the enclosure.
Separate the adhesive on the USB-C connector and remove it from the enclosure.
Reassembly
Screw Diagram
Warning
Installing only new batteries is recommended. Used battery cells can become damaged during the removal process. Read Battery Safety to learn more.
Use ESD-safe tweezers to remove all residual adhesive from the enclosure, the microphone 4 area, and the USB-C connector port. Use an ethanol wipe or IPA wipe to clean these areas.
Remove all the adhesive liners from the replacement USB-C connector, making note of the areas where adhesive is present.
Insert a USB-C charge cable into the port on the iPhone. Position the USB-C connector in the enclosure. Align the screw holes. Then press the USB-C connector flex cable to the enclosure, paying close attention to the areas where adhesive is present.
- Warning: Ensure that the USB-C charge cable isn’t plugged into a power source.
Turn the iPhone over in the repair tray so the display side is facing up. Use the blue torque driver and long crosshead bit to install two new crosshead screws (923-13688) into the USB-C connector.
- Caution: Keep the torque driver at a low angle to avoid stripping the screws.
Turn the iPhone over in the repair tray so the back glass is facing up. Remove the USB-C charge cable.
Press the USB-C connector flex cable into place.
Press the ends of the USB-C flex cable and the main microphone flex cable to the connectors.
Use the gray torque driver and crosshead bit to install three new crosshead screws (923-13693) into the USB-C connector flex cable.
Reinstall the Taptic Engine.
Reinstall the battery.
Reinstall the display.
Reinstall the back glass.