The iPhone charging port is located on a hardware piece called a dock connector. The dock connector can become faulty, as it has a couple of components; a malfunction or fault in any of them can affect the other parts. In this guide, we will discuss the steps to replace the dock connector so that you can save money and continue to use your iPhone.
I highly recommend that people carry out repairs themselves, as it keeps them busy and creates additional skills that can be utilized to help family members, neighbors, and elders.
However, before you begin, check if your iPhone is charging. If not, make sure that the fault lies with the dock connector and not with the USB cable or the charger. You can connect your phone to a computer or another USB adapter using a different USB cable to check. Once you have confirmed this, proceed with the steps below:
The equipment and replacement parts needed to carry out this procedure can be purchased inexpensively from the Amazon links below, with the total cost ranging from approximately $20 to $35.
- iPhone 5 Dock Connector at Amazon Check Price $$
- iPhone 5c Dock Connector at Amazon Check Price $$
- iPhone 5s Dock Connector at Amazon Check Price $$
- Pentalobe Screw Driver Kit at Amazon Check Price $$
- Philips Screw Driver at Amazon for Check Price $$
- 1 x Separating Tool (Optional)
Steps to Replace the Charging Port or Dock Connector for iPhone 5/5s/5c.
a) Use the pentalobe screwdriver to remove the screws from the bottom of the phone.
b) Upon loosening the screws, insert something sharp between the screen and the actual frame, then pull up to remove the screen from the frame.
c) Don’t use force, or else the cables attaching your motherboard to the screen will be damaged. To remove the cables, locate the small metal frame on top of them and loosen the screws to release.
d) Now, place a sharp knife or pry tool beneath the cable and gently release each one-by-one. There will be a total of three cables to disconnect. After removing the cables, set the screen aside, as you will not need to deal with it any further.
e) Now that your work is at the southern part of the device, remove the screws from the metal plate at the bottom right of your device.
f) Next up, you will see two cables: one attaching to the dock connector and the other connecting to the battery. Place something sharp or a pry tool between the cables, and gently disconnect them one by one.
g) Now, you can either pull out your battery to make some room or simply leave it as is; it doesn’t matter. Proceed to remove the screws from the bottom of the phone one by one.
h) When you reach the last two screws, this is when it gets tricky. The last two screws are positioned on a cable connecting your audio jack. Gently remove them.
i) After unscrewing, the cable will pop out on its own. If not, then it is stuck like a sticker at the top of the audio cable. Use tweezers to pull it out.
j) Next up, you have to disconnect the actual loudspeaker. The loudspeaker is located slightly under the logic board. So, gently lift it up a bit and jiggle it out. Now, put your loudspeaker aside.
k) Now that you have removed the speaker, there is a small cable beside the dock-cable. Use your hands or tweezers to pull it out.
l) Now, move over; you have to disassemble the dock connector from the device. Grab the dock-connector cable and peel it off. In case it is stuck, use a blow dryer with some heat, and it will automatically pop out.
m) Now, you have successfully removed the dock connector, which has the USB port and audio jack connected together.
n) Next, you must replace the dock connector. To do this, simply follow the steps in reverse order. Review the steps again, paying close attention to how you unscrewed and re-screwed each component.
