Our collection of videos is constantly growing. As new phone models are released we will attempt to create a video tutorial for each different form factor. Before beginning any cell phone repair please be certain that the videos feature same model phone that you are working with. Failing to do so may cause problems or possibly damage the device that you were attempting to repair. It is also recommended that you view the entire video before beginning your project.In this video tutorial section we show you step-by-step how to disassemble various cell phone models for repair. Most of the video tutorials that you will view here are also narrated so be sure to have your sound turned on. At the bottom of the page for each video you will also find a comment section. Registered users can ask and in some cases answer questions about specific repairs in those comment sections.

 

• Be sure that you have your replacement part and the correct tools for the job before you begin to disassemble your phone.
• Read and understand the tips below before you attempt to repair your device.
• When you work with phones there are risks involved!

 

FFCs and other sensitive components

Cell phones contain many small and sensitive components. If you think that glass is fragile then you will soon learn that the screen on your phone takes a lot more abuse than many of the internal parts which you will come into contact with. FFC or "flat flexible cable" and the connections that is uses are one of the easiest components to damage as the cables themselves are literally paper thin. In the image below you can see where this flex cable has been partially worn through due to normal wear and tear. While this type of wear only occurs with phones using moving parts such as a slider or clam shell design, the photo demonstrates how easy they are to destroy. Be very careful when handling these cables.

LCDs

Another part which can be easy to break is the LCD. When properly installed between glass or plastic and a metal sheet the LCD of a phone is well protected. Unless pressure sufficient to break the protective glass is applied the LCD is unlikely to become damaged. Occasionally we will see a phone with a broken LCD although the outer glass is not damaged. This is the  rare exception however. Once the glass or rear panel are removed the LCD becomes extremely fragile.

 

In some cases it will be necessary to remove the metal panel behind the LCD but usually you will only need to do this in order to access a cable which is installed beneath the display. This design is popular with HTC and is becoming more common with Motorola brand cell phones. What makes this particularly difficult is the fact that while traditional LCDs have a very limited amount of flexibility, that amount is easy to exceed when attempting to remove the screen from its mounting. Liberal amounts of strong adhesive are typically used to secure the LCD in place. Heating the back of the metal housing and patiently prying a little at a time is usually the best approach. Do not heat the LCD directly. This can also result in permanent damage.

Circuitry

There are all sorts of components connected to the cell phones "logic" or "main" board. Most of these components are installed using a solder flow process and cannot be replaced by hand if they are damaged. While they may not be essential for some operations it is very likely that damaging one of them will at the very least cause loss of use related to one or more of the phones features. Considering that each main board has a unique serial number registered to the FCC you can think of it like a VIN or vehicle identification number which is registered with the DMV. In other words only the manufacturer can produce a main board for your cell phone. If you want to replace one you would need to acquire it from a "donor" phone. This also makes the main board the only part of the phone which cannot theoretically be reproduced by an after market supplier.