After having an issue with an iPhone 7's home button not working (but the touchID on the replacement screen WAS working, strangely enough) yesterday, I was being rather cautious with an iPhone 7 today. I used a heat gun to heat up the back of the phone (low heat to the point of the metal just getting "warm") and a slight bit of heat on the edges of the screen, avoiding the home button. I used a razor blade to slide under the edges of the screen, no more than 1/8" in. I didn't disconnect ANYTHING, but when I turned the phone back on to test, neither the home button nor touchID worked any longer. Again, aside from merely lifting the screen off the metal frame, this is the untouched original screen and home button I'm talking about. Also, I thought it might have been my imagination but I could've sworn while I was heating the back (and the phone was off) I felt the haptic feedback engine vibrate, like the home button had been touched.
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Update 15 minutes later: both touchID and the home button work on the after-market replacement screen but it seems like the original screen's home button cables were damaged in the repair. I think it was the heat, even slight as it was--there is NO damage to the cables from the razor blade. I have not yet installed the rear metal frame to the after-market screen. NOTE: one thing I did different from yesterday's failed repair was this time I did NOT remove the tiny rubber ring on the inside of the home button, which I thought was merely for waterproofing. I'm thinking maybe that is vital in the functionality of this new home button. I also made sure that the home button metal bracket was properly in place (the plastic bump on the left side was fully inside the circular gap of the bracket) and the three other screws were in place before putting the screw for the actual home button in. I've also made a habit of not putting the home button on my magnetic screw pad.
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Update 15 minutes later: both touchID and the home button work on the after-market replacement screen so I'm assuming the original screen's home button cables were damaged in the repair. I think it was the heat, even slight as it was--there is NO damage to the cables from the razor blade. I have not yet installed the rear metal frame to the after-market screen. NOTE: one thing I did different from yesterday's failed repair was this time I did NOT remove the tiny rubber ring on the inside of the home button, which I thought was merely for waterproofing. I'm thinking maybe that is vital in the functionality of this new home button. I also made sure that the home button metal bracket was properly in place (the plastic bump on the left side was fully inside the circular gap of the bracket) and the three other screws were in place before putting the screw for the actual home button in. I've also made a habit of not putting the home button on my magnetic screw pad.
Final update: after market screen is fully installed and touchID and home button are still working properly.
After having an issue with an iPhone 7's home button not working (but the touchID on the replacement screen WAS working, strangely enough) yesterday, I was being rather cautious with an iPhone 7 today. I used a heat gun to heat up the back of the phone (low heat to the point of the metal just getting "warm") and a slight bit of heat on the edges of the screen, avoiding the home button. I used a razor blade to slide under the edges of the screen, no more than 1/8" in. I didn't disconnect ANYTHING, but when I turned the phone back on to test, neither the home button nor touchID worked any longer. Again, aside from merely lifting the screen off the metal frame, this is the untouched original screen and home button I'm talking about. Also, I thought it might have been my imagination but I could've sworn while I was heating the back (and the phone was off) I felt the haptic feedback engine vibrate, like the home button had been touched.
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Update 15 minutes later: both touchID and the home button work on the after-market replacement screen but it seems like the original screen's home button cables were damaged in the repair. I think it was the heat, even slight as it was--there is NO damage to the cables from the razor blade. I have not yet installed the rear metal frame to the after-market screen. NOTE: one thing I did different from yesterday's failed repair was this time I did NOT remove the tiny rubber ring on the inside of the home button, which I thought was merely for waterproofing. I'm thinking maybe that is vital in the functionality of this new home button.
+
Update 15 minutes later: both touchID and the home button work on the after-market replacement screen but it seems like the original screen's home button cables were damaged in the repair. I think it was the heat, even slight as it was--there is NO damage to the cables from the razor blade. I have not yet installed the rear metal frame to the after-market screen. NOTE: one thing I did different from yesterday's failed repair was this time I did NOT remove the tiny rubber ring on the inside of the home button, which I thought was merely for waterproofing. I'm thinking maybe that is vital in the functionality of this new home button. I also made sure that the home button metal bracket was properly in place (the plastic bump on the left side was fully inside the circular gap of the bracket) and the three other screws were in place before putting the screw for the actual home button in. I've also made a habit of not putting the home button on my magnetic screw pad.
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Final update: after market screen is fully installed and touchID and home button are still working properly.
After having an issue with an iPhone 7's home button not working (but the touchID on the replacement screen WAS working, strangely enough) yesterday, I was being rather cautious with an iPhone 7 today. I used a heat gun to heat up the back of the phone (low heat to the point of the metal just getting "warm") and a slight bit of heat on the edges of the screen, avoiding the home button. I used a razor blade to slide under the edges of the screen, no more than 1/8" in. I didn't disconnect ANYTHING, but when I turned the phone back on to test, neither the home button nor touchID worked any longer. Again, aside from merely lifting the screen off the metal frame, this is the untouched original screen and home button I'm talking about. Also, I thought it might have been my imagination but I could've sworn while I was heating the back (and the phone was off) I felt the haptic feedback engine vibrate, like the home button had been touched.
+
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Update 15 minutes later: both touchID and the home button work on the after-market replacement screen but it seems like the original screen's home button cables were damaged in the repair. I think it was the heat, even slight as it was--there is NO damage to the cables from the razor blade. I have not yet installed the rear metal frame to the after-market screen. NOTE: one thing I did different from yesterday's failed repair was this time I did NOT remove the tiny rubber ring on the inside of the home button, which I thought was merely for waterproofing. I'm thinking maybe that is vital in the functionality of this new home button.
After having an issue with an iPhone 7's home button not working (but the touchID on the replacement screen WAS working, strangely enough) yesterday, I was being rather cautious with an iPhone 7 today. I used a heat gun to heat up the back of the phone (low heat to the point of the metal just getting "warm") and a slight bit of heat on the edges of the screen, avoiding the home button. I used a razor blade to slide under the edges of the screen, no more than 1/8" in. I didn't disconnect ANYTHING, but when I turned the phone back on to test, neither the home button nor touchID worked any longer. Again, aside from merely lifting the screen off the metal frame, this is the untouched original screen and home button I'm talking about. Also, I thought it might have been my imagination but I could've sworn while I was heating the back (and the phone was off) I felt the haptic feedback engine vibrate, like the home button had been touched.