Accidents happen, and when your iPhone 12 Mini screen shatters, it’s tempting to rush to a repair shop. However, replacing the screen yourself can save you time and money. In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll guide you through the process of replacing iPhone 12 Mini screens. Be sure to gather the necessary tools and work in a clean, well-lit area to ensure a successful repair.
The first thing you’ll need to do is gather all the materials. You’ll need to purchase a replacement screen for your specific iPhone model. You’ll also need a few screwdriver sets, including Pentalobe and Phillips heads, to remove the screws. Having tweezers, a plastic opening tool, a suction cup, and a heat gun or hair dryer is essential. It’s also a good idea to get some adhesive strips to help secure the new screen. An electrostatic discharge mat and wrist strap can help prevent accidental damage but aren’t totally necessary.
Once you have your tools and parts, it’s time to set up your workspace. Clear off your cleanest, brightest table and lay down the ESD mat if using one. Attach the wrist strap to ground yourself before touching any internal phone parts. Next, power off your iPhone to avoid any electrical issues during the repair. Then comes the fun part – start removing screws! Use the Pentalobe screwdriver to detach the eight screws around the edges and frame of the phone.
Now it’s time to apply some heat. Gently warm up the edges and back of the phone with your heat gun or hair dryer. This helps release the adhesive holding the screen in place. Once it feels loose, place the suction cup near the bottom and lift up slightly to create space. Then carefully slide the plastic opening tool along the edges to detach any remaining adhesive. At this point, you can lift the screen up a bit, but don’t remove it fully yet since the ribbon cables are still connected inside.
Use tweezers to detach the three thin ribbon cables connecting the screen to the logic board, one by one. They can be fragile, so try to be gentle. After disconnecting them all, the old screen assembly can now be fully removed. Install the new screen by first aligning and inserting the ribbon cables. Then gently press the screen back into the phone body to adhere it in place. Screw the eight screws back in to fully secure the frame, and you’re almost done!
Just power the iPhone back on and check that the display, touch input, and all other features are functioning as intended before calling it a success. With patience and care, replacing an iPhone 12 Mini screen yourself is totally achievable. Just follow the steps and don’t get discouraged!