I completely ripped my home button ribbon, that being attached to the LCD shield/Front Panel (steps 36-38, step 38 to be more precise). I can confirm you CAN replace the shield\attached ribbon cable. This DOES NOT disable touch ID/you do not have to ask Apple to resync the button identifier.
Just to be clear, this is assuming that you do not damage the actual home button assembly steps 29-35.
(My replacement was from a supplier who reclaims parts from iPhones, so it would/should be an Apple original)
I had the impression the double sided adhesive strip is thicker than normal under the microphone, and found it more difficult to lift than in other areas (other than the home button connector, which is adhered to a metal backing, making it extremely difficult). Fortunately, I did not rip the ribbon. Perhaps applying some heat would be advised.
Q Why is there a microphone in the ‘earpiece’? Surely there must be a microphone nearer the bottom (where your mouth would be). Are there two, perhaps for speaker/conference?
Take note of where the cable is placed. When I put everything back together my cable assembly was behind the others (as I reassembled this ‘area’ into my new screen before continuing to the home button). As the cable was behind, the four connectors being attached to the main board were not in the right sequence, so I had to manoeuvre them (a bit more fiddly than you would imagine).
BLACK plastic bracket???? As this is crucial, I have been trying to locate a black bracket for the last hour or so, magnifying these images, watching different youtube videos etc … is there definitely a black bracket? Or could you be referring to the CLEAR plastic bracket that can be (just about) seen next to the white recess of the Ambient Sensor, in the pictures of this step?
I would also like contributors to comment on the WHITE recess of the Ambient sensor (a shown in the pictures of this step). I have a replacement screen that does not have a white recess, it is completely black (looks like it is ‘just a hole’ going through to the glass on the front). I can see no way of removing the white ‘cover’ from the original screen …does it matter?
Hi @dv1977, are you saying the black tab shown in the third picture of this step (almost directly where the point of spudger is), would have pulled the home button and connector ‘easily’ off? Wow, if that is the case, this step should be updated by iFixit. I completely ripped mine as I followed the ‘LCD Shield Replacement’ guide, which gave the impression it was a ‘simple’ matter of carefully (and persistently) using the point of a spudger. I have bought a new shield, in the hope the cable is ‘just wires’, and the intelligence (id) is within the actual button assembly.
Update: It appears someone has added a helpful comment about heat since my comment. You may also find the comments for Step 38, “iPhone 6 Front Panel Replacement“ informative …wish I had read that guide and comments before attempting this.
In my experience, this step should have a BIG WARNING. I completely ripped the cable, which made the whole process pointless (as I wanted to reuse the shield and cable on a new LCD). The connector end of the cable has a thin metal backing. I found this was ‘stuck fast’. causing the ribbon to rip when the spudger was carefully used. A contributor below has suggested applying heat to loosen the adhesive. I would very much suggest trying this.
Step 27 needs a BIG WARNING … “gently lift the home button cable up off of the front panel” makes it sound easy, but I completely ripped the cable. The ‘connector’ has a thin metal back plate, which was ‘stuck fast’. Had to use a blade to remove it rather than a spudger.
@lordjoebot mentions Step 24, but that is only disconnecting Home Button. Perhaps the instructions have changed since the comment April 17’(?). Not sure why anybody would think the guide was great or perfect without a warning as the ripped cable means the process is pointless. I have had to buy another shield and cable, thankfully they are not expensive.
I suspect @moopet advice is good, and heat should be applied. If confirmed, perhaps this should be added to the instructions.
UPDATE: My replacement shield/attached ribbon, works perfectly. No loss of touch ID.
I completely ripped my home button ribbon, that being attached to the LCD shield/Front Panel (steps 36-38, step 38 to be more precise). I can confirm you CAN replace the shield\attached ribbon cable. This DOES NOT disable touch ID/you do not have to ask Apple to resync the button identifier.
Just to be clear, this is assuming that you do not damage the actual home button assembly steps 29-35.
(My replacement was from a supplier who reclaims parts from iPhones, so it would/should be an Apple original)
I had the impression the double sided adhesive strip is thicker than normal under the microphone, and found it more difficult to lift than in other areas (other than the home button connector, which is adhered to a metal backing, making it extremely difficult). Fortunately, I did not rip the ribbon. Perhaps applying some heat would be advised.
Q Why is there a microphone in the ‘earpiece’? Surely there must be a microphone nearer the bottom (where your mouth would be). Are there two, perhaps for speaker/conference?
Take note of where the cable is placed. When I put everything back together my cable assembly was behind the others (as I reassembled this ‘area’ into my new screen before continuing to the home button). As the cable was behind, the four connectors being attached to the main board were not in the right sequence, so I had to manoeuvre them (a bit more fiddly than you would imagine).
BLACK plastic bracket???? As this is crucial, I have been trying to locate a black bracket for the last hour or so, magnifying these images, watching different youtube videos etc … is there definitely a black bracket? Or could you be referring to the CLEAR plastic bracket that can be (just about) seen next to the white recess of the Ambient Sensor, in the pictures of this step?
I would also like contributors to comment on the WHITE recess of the Ambient sensor (a shown in the pictures of this step). I have a replacement screen that does not have a white recess, it is completely black (looks like it is ‘just a hole’ going through to the glass on the front). I can see no way of removing the white ‘cover’ from the original screen …does it matter?
Hi @dv1977, are you saying the black tab shown in the third picture of this step (almost directly where the point of spudger is), would have pulled the home button and connector ‘easily’ off? Wow, if that is the case, this step should be updated by iFixit. I completely ripped mine as I followed the ‘LCD Shield Replacement’ guide, which gave the impression it was a ‘simple’ matter of carefully (and persistently) using the point of a spudger. I have bought a new shield, in the hope the cable is ‘just wires’, and the intelligence (id) is within the actual button assembly.
Update: It appears someone has added a helpful comment about heat since my comment. You may also find the comments for Step 38, “iPhone 6 Front Panel Replacement“ informative …wish I had read that guide and comments before attempting this.
In my experience, this step should have a BIG WARNING. I completely ripped the cable, which made the whole process pointless (as I wanted to reuse the shield and cable on a new LCD). The connector end of the cable has a thin metal backing. I found this was ‘stuck fast’. causing the ribbon to rip when the spudger was carefully used. A contributor below has suggested applying heat to loosen the adhesive. I would very much suggest trying this.
Step 27 needs a BIG WARNING … “gently lift the home button cable up off of the front panel” makes it sound easy, but I completely ripped the cable. The ‘connector’ has a thin metal back plate, which was ‘stuck fast’. Had to use a blade to remove it rather than a spudger.
@lordjoebot mentions Step 24, but that is only disconnecting Home Button. Perhaps the instructions have changed since the comment April 17’(?). Not sure why anybody would think the guide was great or perfect without a warning as the ripped cable means the process is pointless. I have had to buy another shield and cable, thankfully they are not expensive.
I suspect @moopet advice is good, and heat should be applied. If confirmed, perhaps this should be added to the instructions.