Apple iPhone 2G

Apple iPhone 2G - How to Open

2008-12-28T18:35:18Z

Preparations

Place your Apple iPhone 2G (First Generation) on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the recommended opening tools

Step 1
Remove the Sim-Card Slot using a paper clip.

Step 2
The best entry point for the safe opening tool is the gap above the dock connector as shown in image.

Step 3
Slide the safe open tool towards the edge and slightly twist it to widen the gap.

Step 4
The previous step will have created a gap on the side of the dock connector. You'll have to apply a little force to insert the plastic prying tool here.

Step 5
Slide the tool towards and around the edge of the first generation iphone.

Step 6
Slide it all the way up to the iPhone 2G backplate.

Step 7
Repeat the procedure on the other side of the dock connector.

Step 8

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11
Now you can lift up the iPhone antenna cover with your fingers and pull.

Step 12
After the antenna cover has been removed, you will notice two screws on the sides holding the backplate in place and one screw in the center connecting the antenna ground and the iphone backplate.

Step 13
Remove the three screws using the phillips screwdriver.

Step 14
Push a flathead under the small aluminum hook extending from the backplate, try to lift the hook itself as little as possible as they are breakable. The goal is to extert the prying force on the reinforced part of the backplate that is located by the hook, not on the hook itself.

Step 15
Repeat the procedure on the bottom and then go back to the top.

Step 16
Now this is the most difficult part: Insert the flatheat screwdriver about a quater of an inch underneath the aluminum hook holding the backplate in place.
Pry the backplate upwards by using the side of the antenna as an area of support.
This step will be easier if you use a slightly bigger, sturdier flathead screwdriver, otherwise the small flathead works fine.

Step 17
As you push down on the back of your screwdriver, it's front should exert a force on the backplate from underneath.
Please use patience and care during this step, it will require quite a bit of force to make the backplate come loose. Be careful, since it will come loose abruptly.

Step 18
View from the side after successfully lifting the back cover.

Step 19
When the cover is released on both sides, it can be lifted up as shown in the image. The backplate is still connected by the headphone jack module ribbon cable. Be careful not to tear it.

Step 20
The backplate can be placed next to the iphone front as shown in the image.

Step 21
Use the safe open tool to release the headphone jack module connector as shown in image.

Step 22
You have successfully opened your iPhone 2G. Before re-installing the backplate, be sure to tighten it's sides by carefully pushing them inward with your fingers. Otherwise the sides of the backplate will not align with the front bezel after reassembly.

iPhone 2G Screen Replacement

2009-02-19T17:33:07Z

Before you begin

Follow the steps of the guide "iPhone 2G - How to open".

Place your iPhone body on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the required opening tools

Step 1

This is your open iphone and the new iphone 2G replacement screen.

Step 2

Begin by carefully removing the glue that is holding the wifi-antenna cable in place. You can use the opening tool or a flathead screwdriver. When the glue is peeled off, gently pry up the connector itself, do not pull the wire or put pressure on the ring-shaped antenna socket.

Step 3

This is what is looks like when the wifi-antenna connector is released.

Step 4

Do the same with the iPhone GSM antenna connector.

Step 4

The board is held in place by a total of three screws. Remove the screw that was partially covered by the antenna cable. Also remove the screw at the top of the communications board and on the opposite side of the antenna connectors.

Step 7

Carefully lift the board and release the screen connector, digitizer connector and ear speaker connector cables at the bottom.

Step 8

Use the opening tool to pry up the iphone battery. It is held in place by powerful glue.

Step 9

Pry at the bottom side of the iPhone 2G battery. Avoid bending or puncturing the battery.

Step 10

If you work patiently the glue will come loose and you can slide the opening tool under the battery. Gently twist the iphone 2G battery left and right slowly to release it from the glue.

Step 11

You will now have access to the connector for the large ribbon cable on the bottom side of the iPhone motherboard. Open the latch using the green tool and you will be able to take out the motherboard/communicationsboard assembly with the battery.

Step 12

This is a look at the front assembly after removal of the iPhone logic board/ iPhone communicationsboard assembly.

Step 13

Turn the front assembly on it's side and remove the three srews.

Step 14

There are three more screws on the oppsite side, remove those as well.

Step 15

Remove the four screws on the top and bottom corners of the front assembly, one of which is hidden under adhesive tape.

Step 16

There is a screw next to the iPhone 2G microphone under the black tape.

Step 18

You can now take off the chrome bezel surrounding the screen.

Step 19

Make sure you wear a cut-safe glove when using a knife.

For right tool for the next step we prefer not to make a specific recommendation. You can use anything from a safe open tool to a small not too sharp kitchen knife. Avoid applying too much force at any point to you don't slip and injure yourself.

Step 20

Hint: Use a hair dryer to heat up the assembly before you try to remove the glass. The glue will become much weaker when warm.

Insert the blade at the bottom of the front assembly next to the menu button. The goal is to cut through the glue that is holding the screen assembly to the midboard. Insert the blade right underneath the glass layer of the iPhone 2G screen.

Step 21

On the bottom you can push the blade all the way in, until you make contact with the metal frame surrounding the screen. Do the same on the other side of the iPhone menu button.

Step 22

On the top of the front assembly you have to be careful. Be sure to not push the blade in all the way, since you will be damaging the iPhone 2G digitizer cable.

Step 23

This is about as far in as you can go, if you want to keep from damaging the digitizer cable.

Step 24

Let the blade sit under the glass to keep it slight lighly elevated and inserted the small flathead between the iPhone metal frame and the screen on the side of the front assembly. The goal is to release the three clips of the screen backlight from the metal frame.

Step 25

Insert an opening tool under the glass to wide the gap between glass and front assembly. Be careful not to exceed too much force.

Step 26

Remove the black adhesive tape at the top.

Step 27

This is what it looks like when the black adhesive tape is removed.

Step 28

Bend up the small rectangular metal box that contains the digitizer controller.

Step 29

Slowly pull the iPhone 2G screen away from the midboard. The digitizer controller will get trapped, carefully push it downward to allow it to get released from the midboard.

Step 30

As you can see the screen and digitizer cables have to slide through the apertures at the top of the iPhone 2G midboard.

Step 31

Almost done ...

Step 32

You successfully separated the screen from the iphone midboard. For reassembly using the new screen, follow the steps in reverse order. Also, look at the tips for reassembly below.

Step 1 - Tips for Reassembly

Make sure the touch screen controller and the digitizer cable are inserted into the apertures at the top of the midboard first.

Step 2

Slowly lower the screen on the midboard and keep the cables from getting trapped to avoid tearing. On certain replacement screens you may have to straighten the digitizer cable before installation, otherwise it will appear too short upon installation.

Step 3

Reposition the menu button before you reseat the screen assembly. You can use adhesive tape to hold the menu button in place as you move the screen. It may be necessary to insert a distance piece under the menu button if the screen does not sit perfectly flush, otherwise the menu button will be slightly recessed.

iPhone 2G Earspeaker Replacement

2009-11-02T20:32:56Z

Before you begin

Read this website's Legal Guidelines and make sure you understand the risks of this repair. Place your Apple iPhone 2G on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the required opening tools.

This what your iphone 2g should look like after you take off its backplate and have it face down.

Step 2

There are 3 screws that need to be removed towards the edges. 2 large screws towards the center and a smaller one at the top of the iphone 2G communication board and Logicboard.

Step 3

Carefully remove the iPhone 2G battery using a green tool or any plastic tool. Use a very slight amount a pressure to ease the battery loose since it is taped/glued on firmly. Be careful not to puncture the battery and take your time with the removal.

Step 4

Then take the mainboard (the communications board and the logicboard and pull them away from the phone but do it carefully since these three cables that you see are connected to the mainboard. You might want to use a small flathead to ease the cables loose so that they do not have the potential to tear. This is what it looks like after you remove the mainboard.

Step 5

Remove the black tape usine a flat head and be careful removing it because you want to preserve the piece for later during re-assembly.

Step 6

Try not to tear the tape like you see in this picture. We are showing you this here for demonstrational purposes and we have ample tape to replace it with.

Step 10

Use a very fine flat head or a dentist tool if you have one to release the hooks that hold this piece of metal in over the ear speaker. The amount of space to work with is small to release the metal hooks but slowly work you way between the edge.

Step 13

You have now made it to the ear speaker. This piece is held in by double sided tape so just wedge you flathead into a side of the ear speaker and wedge it out of the iphone midboard frame.

Step 12

As you life the ear speaker out you will feel the double sided tape slowly giving.

Step 15

Now you can remove the ear speaker.

And replace it with a working one.

iPhone 2G Camera Replacement

2010-01-02T16:11:48Z

Before you begin

Read the legal information section and make sure you are qualified to attempt this repair. Place your Apple iPhone 2G on a clean flat and soft surface, such as a rubber mat or a piece of soft cloth and get the required opening tools.

Follow the steps of our guide on opening a 2G iPhone until the antenna cover is removed.

Once you remove the iphone antenna cover on the bottom you can then remove the backplate using a flathead screwdriver by wedging it below where the two screws on the edge were removed.

Step 2
You can now lift off the iphone backplate and disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the logicboard and the headphone jack and power button assembly.

Step 3

In order to remove the iPhone camera you can use use a flathead screwdriver or even better a safe open tool to disconnect it from the logicboard.

Step 4

After it is disconnected you can remove the module from the front assembly. Install the new camera and follow the guide in reverse order.