How to Replace an iPhone Screen at Home: Tools Checklist
Replacing an iPhone screen at home saves you a lot of money — but only if you use the right tools. Cracked screens are the most common phone repair in Australia, and with the correct toolkit the job takes about 30 minutes. Here is the complete tools checklist before you start.
What you need (tools checklist)
1. Pentalobe screwdriver (0.8mm)
iPhones use 5-point star screws at the bottom. A Y0.6 pentalobe screwdriver is the exact size — never improvise with a flathead, you will strip the screw head instantly.
2. Suction cup
The screen is glued to the frame. A powerful suction cup lifts the screen just enough to slide an opening pick in. This is the single most important tool for not cracking the new screen during opening.
3. Opening picks and spudgers
Once the suction cup lifts the screen, use plastic opening picks to work around the edges and release the adhesive clips. Metal tools are tempting but they scratch the frame and can crack the display.
4. Phillips #000 screwdriver + magnetic mat
Inside the phone you will find dozens of tiny Phillips screws in different lengths. A magnetic screw mat keeps them organised by position — mix them up and you risk a screw that is too long piercing the motherboard. (A magnetizer ring turns any screwdriver magnetic in seconds.)
5. Adhesive replacement
Do NOT reuse old adhesive — the screen will lift and dust will get in. Use fresh screen adhesive tape (or B-7000 glue for older models) to reseal the phone properly.
6. (Optional but recommended) Heat
A hairdryer on low or a hot air station at ~70°C softens the adhesive and makes opening dramatically easier and safer. Never overheat — you can damage the battery.
Step-by-step in 30 minutes
- Power off the phone, remove the two pentalobe screws at the bottom
- Warm the edges, attach the suction cup, lift gently
- Slide opening picks around the edges to release the adhesive
- Open like a book (hinge on the left), remove the battery connector first
- Unscrew the LCD bracket, disconnect the screen cables
- Fit the new screen, reconnect, test everything BEFORE sealing
- Apply new adhesive, close, re-screw, done
Pro tip: test the new screen with the phone open — check brightness, touch and Face ID — before you glue it shut.
Where to get the tools
Every tool on this list is in stock at Repair Partners — wholesale pricing, genuine tools, and same day dispatch from Melbourne. If you would rather leave it to the pros, our repair service team is in Melbourne too.
Shop opening tools → · Shop screwdrivers → · Shop adhesive →