iPhone 1st Generation Antenna Cover Replacement

Written By: iRobot

Comments: 21

iPhone 1st Generation Antenna Cover Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

10 - 20 minutes

Introduction

The plastic cover over the antenna on the rear bottom of the iPhone.

Tools

Parts

iPhone Gen 1 Antenna Cover

Step 1

Insert a SIM card eject tool or paper clip into the hole next to the headphone jack.
Press down on the paper clip until the SIM card tray pops out.

To remove the SIM, insert the end of a SIM eject tool or a small thin paper clip into the hole on the SIM tray. Press firmly and push the tool straight in until the tray pops out.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1438

neuronetix -

I put the SIM card back in, and the slide to unlock does not work.

dean - 26/02/15

The only carrier to accept this iPhone was AT&T, they have discontinued use of that baseband. Nobody else in the world except for early renegade reverse engineers such as Geohot can get the device to work as a really old iPod no use unlocking the device because the technology inside the most recently OEM sold/refurbed iPhone 1st gen fails universally. You should only buy a screen assembly and snap it onto the back and call it a dummy phone and put it in a museum.

Alexander Weinhart - 24/01/19

Step 2

Grasp the SIM card tray and slide it out of the iPhone.

Step 3

This image shows the two tabs and two catches located on the underside of the antenna cover. The two tabs at the top of the image must be pushed towards the black cover to release them.

YOU NEED TO PUT THE OPENER TOOL BETWEEN THE ANTENNA COVER AND THE DOCK CONNECTOR FIRST, THEN YOU WILL HAVE SPACE TO OPEN IT.. MY 2 CENTS

riversde -

You better lay off the caps.

lol SPLAAT - 02/08/16

Very hard to remove and the plastic is very fragile

Take care when removing

miguelvillela -

When you get stuck follow this guy guide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYHnr89HM...

miguelb -

Great Guide.

My dad banged his iPhone in a table after arguing with someone and got the aluminum cover next to the volume control bent in such a way as it got the volume control stuck in the max position. I used this guide to remove all parts out of the way so I can get the shape of that region and corrected it the "Han Solo" Way. It was an excellent opportunity to get the phone cleaned up as well

The biggest problem I had was screwing some of the screws back. The screwdriver that I had was not magnetized, so I used a little bit of superglue to bind the screw and the screwdriver until I had it screwed tightly.

The second biggest problem I had was that I lost a screw twice, but was lucky enough to find it quickly on the floor next to me.

I am very happy as I waited more than a month to get the confidence to get this iPhone repaired.

lantinian -

how do i know what part is in my phone? There are 2...

Ivanfrost -

Quote from Ivanfrost:

how do i know what part is in my phone? There are 2...

Once you have the phone apart and have gently unplugged the power ribbon, read the part number on the ribbon. If it's in the 821- family, you can safely use corresponding 821 headphone assembly. If it is the other part number, use the newer replacement. Many sites list both parts and let you order the appropriately numbered part. Otherwise (if you order the wrong part) it won't work or you'll have to [unnecessarily] hack the part to get it to work.

Steve -

Quote from Steve:

Once you have the phone apart and have gently unplugged the power ribbon, read the part number on the ribbon. If it's in the 821- family, you can safely use corresponding 821 headphone assembly. If it is the other part number, use the newer replacement. Many sites list both parts and let you order the appropriately numbered part. Otherwise (if you order the wrong part) it won't work or you'll have to [unnecessarily] hack the part to get it to work.

I bought the wrong one.... how do I hack it?

Rune Smistad -

My iPhone is very first model. It doesn't have any of the four tabs shown.

gameplayer2 -

The very first model does not have the four tabs. To open this version, use a plastic opener tool and push it into the middle of the tiny space between the rectangular dock connector and the antenna cover. Move the tool to the side and push it in a little deeper. A small gap should open up at the bottom of the antenna cover, where it meets the metal. Continue using the plastic opener tool in there, pushing it in and forcing it around the edge so that the antenna cover further separates. Then repeat this on the other side. To me it seems like a very brittle piece of plastic, so be careful. But now that it's loose at the bottom you can lift it with your fingers and work it off.

Alexander Ljungberg -

Step 4

Be sure to slide the metal spudger between the dock connector and the antenna cover, and not into the dock connector itself.
Insert a metal spudger into the slot between the dock connector and the antenna cover. Gently pry up near the two tabs to create a small gap between the antenna cover and the silver front bezel.

Take heed to the note about getting the spudger between the dock connector and the cover. The dock connector is black plastic, as is the antenna cover, so it's difficult to see any gap between them. Putting the spudger between the metal shielding of the connector and the plastic is incorrect.

Michael Lance -

Rens' duct tape technique (see comment in step 6 section below) worked very well. No need to risk breaking the antenna with a spudger.

jbshoe - 01/01/16

Step 5

Insert an iPod opening tool in the gap between the antenna cover and the front bezel. The wedge of the tool should be pointing towards the antenna cover. Slide the tool around the corner and up until you reach the metal backing.
Repeat the same procedure on the other side of the dock connector.

Step 6

Grasp the antenna cover on either side and slide it up and away from the iPhone. This requires some force. If it does not come free, ensure that the antenna cover is lifted up enough to free the catches.

It was released very hard on my iPhone 2G but the problem comes when i have to put it back.

It remains a little more space between the dock and the Antena cover and maybe that's because the two tabs between the mic and the speaker are not entered under the gold board?

If someone knows please tell me how to put it back.

Thanks

infomihai -

There is a very easy way to remove the cover by simply sticking duct tape on it and pulling the tape away of the phone.

It will leave no marks and it didn't damage my antenna cover as much(my "chinese" repair tools were to weak).

rens -

Thanks, using the tape was quick and easy, no damage at all.

Roeland -

Brilliant. Works perfectly. 20 seconds of work.

koenatclaes -