Introduction
Use this guide to replace a cracked or broken back glass on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The glass is released from the back with heat and a pick, so the display and the frame stay in place and no laser machine is needed. You need replacement back glass adhesive to complete the repair. Written for repair shops, with an illustration and the safety notes for every step.
What you need
Parts
Trade prices, ex VAT.
Tools
Step 1Power down
- Let the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery drop below 25% if you can, unplug every cable and power the phone off.
- Work on a clean, non-flammable surface with good light.
Step 2Tape over cracks
- If the back glass is cracked, cover it with overlapping strips of clear packing tape so the shards stay together and the suction handle can grip.
- Leave one smooth area near the bottom edge. Wear eye protection.
Step 3Remove the pentalobe screws
- Use a P2 pentalobe driver to remove the two screws either side of the charging port.
- Put them in a tray in the order they came out, as the two can differ slightly.
Step 4Mark your opening pick
- Measure 3 mm from the tip of a plastic pick and mark it with a pen, or tape a coin 3 mm back.
- Never slide the pick in further than this: delicate cables and spring contacts sit under the edge.
Step 5Heat the bottom edge
- Warm the bottom edge of the back glass with an iOpener, hair dryer or heat gun until it is hot to the touch.
- Do not overheat, as too much heat can damage the wireless charging coil and the battery.
Step 6Open a gap
- Press a suction handle onto the bottom edge, as close to the edge as you can.
- Hold the frame, pull steadily and insert the tip of a pick into the gap that opens.
Step 7Slice the adhesive, edge by edge
- Reheat each edge before you cut it, then slide the pick along it, never deeper than your 3 mm mark.
- Stop at the volume buttons on the side: a delicate cable runs to the glass there and a metal clip releases as you pass it. Leave a pick in to stop the adhesive resealing.
Step 8Open the back glass like a book
- When the adhesive is free all round, lift the glass and swing it open on its hinge side, resting it on the suction handle.
- It is still attached by the wireless charging cable, so do not pull it away.
Step 9Remove the connector cover
- Use a Y000 tri-point driver to remove the small screw holding the wireless charging connector cover, then lift the cover away.
Step 10Disconnect the back glass
- Use the point of a spudger to pry up the wireless charging connector, then lift the old back glass away.
Step 11Clean the frame
- Pull away the large pieces of old adhesive with tweezers, then scrape the rest off the frame with a plastic spudger and isopropyl alcohol.
- Warm the frame a little if the adhesive is stubborn. Let it dry completely.
Step 12Fit the new adhesive
- Lay the adhesive sheet over the frame without peeling anything to check its orientation, using the connector notch as a guide.
- Peel back the liner a third at a time and press it down flat on the frame.
Step 13Reconnect and align the new glass
- Connect the wireless charging connector of the new glass and refit its cover and screw.
- Check the camera cut-out lines up, then lay the glass onto the adhesive.
Step 14Press it down
- Press the glass down evenly all round and hold it under light pressure for the time the adhesive maker advises, or clamp it for around an hour if you have a clamp.
- Refit the two pentalobe screws.
Step 15Test and finish
- Check wireless charging, cameras, flash and speakers, then wipe the glass clean.
- Tell the customer the water resistance may not be as good as new, since the factory seal has been replaced by new adhesive.
Conclusion
Check the new glass sits flat with an even gap all round, then test the cameras and wireless charging. Recycle the old glass carefully, as the edges are sharp.
Common questions
Do I need to swap the frame or use a laser?
No. On the iPhone 18 Pro Max the back glass is released from the rear with heat and a pick, and the frame and display stay in place.
Will wireless charging still work?
Yes. The wireless charging connector moves across with the new glass, so reconnect it, refit its cover and test charging before you finish.
What do I need besides the glass?
Replacement back glass adhesive, a pentalobe P2 and a Y000 driver, a suction handle, picks and a heat source.
Will this affect water resistance?
Replacing the back glass replaces the factory seal on the iPhone 18 Pro Max with new adhesive, which restores a lot of protection but not the original rating, so don't promise it.
More iPhone 18 Pro Max guides
Screen replacement Battery replacement All iPhone 18 Pro Max guides