iPhone 13 SIM Card Reader Replacement

Written By: Kyle Smith

Comments: 15

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the SIM card reader in an iPhone 13.

Tools

Step 1

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paperclip into the small hole in the SIM card tray, located on the volume button edge of the iPhone.
Press firmly to eject the tray.

Step 2

Remove the SIM card tray from the iPhone.
The SIM card will fall out of the tray easily.
When reinserting the SIM card, make sure it's in the proper orientation inside the tray.
A thin rubber gasket around the SIM tray provides water and dust protection. If this gasket is damaged or missing, replace the gasket or the entire SIM tray to protect your iPhone's internal components.

Step 3

Caution: Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.
Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
Remove the two 6.8 mm-long pentalobe P2 screws at the bottom edge of the iPhone.
Opening the iPhone's display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Step 4

If your iPhone has a cracked screen, keep further breakage contained and prevent bodily harm during your repair by taping over the glass.
Lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the iPhone's display until the whole face is covered.
This will keep glass shards contained and provide structural integrity when prying and lifting the display.
Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.
If the broken glass makes it difficult to get a suction cup to stick in the next few steps, try folding a strong piece of tape (such as duct tape) into a handle and lifting the display with that instead.

How to detect my Iphone what screen it is, OLED or LCD?

sabrihakulii - 08/07/20

It’s OLED. You can find the specs here, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201296

When you find your phone, at the bottom of the description click on, See the tech specs…

mcr4u2 - 23/08/20

The included suction cups were stiff and worthless. They would not lift the screen. Also, I tried every type of tape on the screen to help the suction cups stick without success. Heavy duty suction cups were for my bathroom also failed. However, I had an old GoPro mount with some preapplied double sided 3M VSB tape and stuck that on the screen near the bottom. Magic! This method had the added bonus of being able to use a GoPro attachment as a handle to lift the screen, and propped up the screen like a kickstand in step 12.

Tawan Khamapirad - 15/12/20

Very cool! Thanks

Antonio -

My screen was pretty stuck… would not budge. Heated, super glued the suction cup, tried gorilla tape. Ended up doing the GoPro mount with 3M VSB tape method mentioned. Worked great. That 3M tape is the bomb.

Rich Wachtel - 03/05/21

The included suction cup took a few tries but ended up working for me.

charlotte -

If you have flat feeler gauges (for adjusting engine valve tappet clearance, ignition points … old school) the .003 thick goes right in. Work your way up until you can get the pick or supplied pry tool in.

William Olstad -

where can I buy 3M VSB plis!!

gerardo artigas cuellar -

3M VHB tape is at auto stores and other big box stores, or online.

nicO Gurney -

I used the tweezers that came with the replacement screen and jammed one of them into the glass and that eventually worked. Heating with a blow dryer is also important. The suction cup was helpful in loosening the adhesive for sure, but just not enough to get the display to come out.

J Olin -

Step 5

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone helps soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
Use a hairdryer or heat gun or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the iPhone for about a minute in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 6

The next two steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down two steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the iPhone—one on the front, and one on the back.
Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.
If you find that the surface of your device is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use packing tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 7

Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.
Turn the handle clockwise until you see the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned to each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.
Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
Insert an opening pick under the screen when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.
Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next two steps.

Step 8

If you're using a single suction handle, apply it to the bottom edge of the phone, while avoiding the very edge of the glass.
If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 9

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you're having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your opening pick.

Step 10

Heating the edges of the iPhone will make it easier to cut through the adhesive securing the display.
Apply heat to the left edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 11

Slide the opening pick around the lower left corner and up the left edge of the iPhone, slicing through the adhesive holding the display in place.
Don't insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone.

Step 12

Apply heat to the right edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 13

Re-insert your pick at the bottom edge of the iPhone, and slide it up the right side to continue separating the adhesive.
Don't insert the pick more than 2 mm or you may damage internal components.

Step 14

Apply heat to the top edge of the iPhone for about one minute to soften the adhesive underneath.

Step 15

The top edge of the display is secured with both glue and clips.
Insert your pick into the right edge of the phone. Slide it around the top-right corner and across the top edge.
Don't insert the pick more than 1 mm or you may damage the front panel sensor array.

Step 16

If you haven't removed your suction handle or iSclack, remove it now.
Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the right side, like the front cover of a book.
Don't try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone's logic board.
Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you're working on the phone.
During reassembly, lay the display in position, align the clips along the top edge, and carefully press the top edge into place before snapping the rest of the display down. If it doesn't click easily into place, check the condition of the clips around the perimeter of the display and make sure they aren't bent.

Step 17

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 1.3 mm screws securing the battery and display connector cover.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your iPhone.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your iPhone and test all functions before you seal the display in place. Be sure to power your iPhone back down completely before you continue working.

Step 18

Remove the cover.

Step 19

Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to pry the battery connector up from its socket on the logic board.
Try not to damage the black silicone seal surrounding this and other board connections. These seals provide extra protection against water and dust intrusion.
Bend the connector slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Step 20

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the display cable connector.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 21

Remove three screws securing the front sensor connector cover:
One 1.7 mm Phillips screw
One 1.3 mm Phillips screw
One 1.8 mm Y000 screw

Step 22

Swing the cover up from the center of the phone until the small clip by the edge of the phone unhooks.

Step 23

Remove the cover.
During reassembly, insert the clip on the left edge into its slot first, then hinge the rest of the cover into place.

Step 24

Use a spudger or a fingernail to disconnect the front sensor assembly cable connector.

Step 25

Remove the screen.
During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the waterproof adhesive around the edges of the display.

Step 26

Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 2.2 mm screws securing the Taptic Engine.

Step 27

Remove the Taptic Engine bracket from the top two screw hole tabs.

Step 28

Swing the Taptic Engine up from its lower edge so that it sits upside down on the SIM card reader.
Be careful not to tear the delicate ribbon cable connecting the Taptic Engine to the logic board. Don't pull or twist the Taptic Engine while swinging it onto the SIM card reader.

Step 29

Use the point of a spudger to pry the Taptic Engine cable connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.

Step 30

Remove the Taptic Engine from the iPhone.

Step 31

During reassembly, follow these steps to reconnect the Taptic Engine:
Place the Taptic Engine upside-down on the SIM card reader so that the Taptic Engine's ribbon cable faces its connector on the logic board.
Use the flat end of a spudger or the tip of your finger to reconnect the Taptic Engine press connector.
Flip the Taptic Engine back into its recess.

Step 32

Use the point of a spudger to pry the SIM card reader cable connector straight up and out of its socket on the logic board.
The SIM card reader cable connector is located next to the battery cable connector.

Step 33

Remove the three screws securing the SIM card reader:
One 1.2 mm Phillips screw
Two 3.2 mm standoff screws
Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff screwdriver or bit.
In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn't slip and damage surrounding components.

Step 34

The SIM card eject pin blocks the SIM card reader from being removed when it is fully extended into the phone.
Use the tip of a spudger to push the SIM card eject pin away from the SIM card reader into the edge of the phone.

Step 35

Remove the SIM card reader from the iPhone.
Before reinstallation, make sure the SIM eject pin is pushed into the edge of the phone.

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our iPhone 13 Answers community for help.

Author

Kyle Smith

Member since: 01/02/21

35783 Reputation

5 comments

Manca tutta la parte di rimozione del Taptic Engine, altrimenti non si arriva alle viti a distanziale del punto 27.

Nick -

Hi Nick, thank you for commenting about the missing steps! I have now added the Taptic Engine removal to this guide.

Kyle Smith -

From iPhone 12 you can easily swap the reader with a dual sim reader to have dual physical sim instead of esim on board. I did personally the change and iOS recognised immediately the reader without any issue on my iPhone 13

Evic Zega - 30/08/22

Done, works great with dual physical sim, ios system recognizes the new reader and gives you the menu options to manage the two sim cards

tomas Freebird -

The SIM card reader is the same of iphone 13?

Mateus -