Everything you need to know to do-it-yourself (DIY) repair your Verizon or Sprint CDMA iPhone 4. Whether you're out of warranty or your iPhone 4 has suffered accidental damage, we've got you covered!
If you have a Verizon or Sprint CDMA iPhone 4 that's showing it's age and exhibiting some hardware issues, and you don't have the benefit of AppleCare or insurance, we can help you give it some love and get it back in working order. Whether it's time to replace that problem battery, fix that cracked screen, replace a recessed power button, or get that broken Home button back in working order, iMore will help you get the longest life possible out of your iPhone 4, and walk you step by step through all the major repairs, with detailed instructions, photographs, and links to high quality parts from suppliers we trust.
Not exactly sure what the issue is? Read the descriptions for each repair below and match up the symptoms. Also make sure you check back often and bookmark this page as we'll be updating and adding even more guides on a regular basis.
- How to replace the battery in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace the back casing on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace a cracked or broken screen on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace a stuck or unresponsive Home button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to fix a broken vibrator assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to fix a blown earpiece speaker in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace the loud speaker assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to fix cellular reception issues in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace the dock connector and lower mic in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
- How to fix common sound issues with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S
- How to choose quality colored parts for your iPhone 4
- How to check for water damage on an iPhone 4
How to replace the battery in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If you're iPhone 4 is going on a few years old and your battery just isn't what it was before, replacing the battery can make a huge difference and possibly prolong the life of your device another year if not longer.
An iPhone 4 battery replacement is a super easy repair to perform and only takes about 10 minutes. It'll also cost you a lot less than shelling out money for a brand new phone, especially if you're out of warranty.
Symptoms of a dead or dying battery can include drastically reduced battery life, random reboots, and sluggishness even after a restore. In rare instances, a completely dead battery may result in an iPhone 4 only powering on when plugged into a charging source and when unplugged, the iPhone will turn off instantly.
How to replace the back casing on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If you've cracked the back casing on your iPhone 4 or just want to change it out for a different color, an iPhone 4 back replacement is one of the easiest repairs to perform but if you need some help along the way, check out our guide for reference.
How to fix a cracked or broken screen on a Sprint or Verizon iPhone 4
Whether you've cracked the glass on your precious iPhone 4 or the touchscreen has stopped responding, a digitizer/LCD replacement will solve the problem in just about an hour or two. It'll also solve any issues with the LCD whether there is discoloration, lines through the display, or no image at all.
This may not be the easiest repair to perform but if you've got some patience and a little technical know-how you should be able to get the job done for a lot cheaper than what a replacement phone out of warranty will cost you.
How to replace a stuck or unresponsive Home button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is having Home button issues, it's possible to replace the flex cable to resolve the issues. If your symptoms include an unresponsive Home button, a single click registering as two or vice versa, or a tacky feeling you probably need to replace the flex cable.
This one isn't a simple repair by any means but if you feel up to the task, you'll spend a ton less cash than you would on a new iPhone.
How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
Over time, the cable underneath the on/off button in the iPhone 4 can wear down causing the button to become recessed or "unpressable". Symptoms typically range from having to push extremely hard in order for a press to register, no "click" feedback when pushing the button, or the button doesn't respond at all anymore when pushing it.
If you're up for fixing it yourself, you can do so by following our guide.
How to fix a broken vibrator assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 has stopped vibrating or the vibrator is providing bad feedback in the form off a rattling noise or other unpleasant sound, you can DIY replace it yourself to resolve the issue.
How to fix a blown earpiece assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If your earpiece volume is extremely low, giving a bad feedback noise, or you just can't hear out of it at all, it may be time to replace the earpiece. It's a relatively easy repair to perform and we can walk you through from beginning to end.
How to replace the speaker assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If the sound on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is cutting out when playing music or games, taking a call on speakerphone, or when a system tone clicks in, the loud speaker assembly may be going out. This isn't a hard repair to perform and will cost you a boat load less than an out of warranty replacement or brand new iPhone.
Follow our guide and we'll get you back to working order in no time.
How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If you're having image quality issues with the camera in your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4, it may be time to replace it. One thing to be certain of before proceeding is that the issue is with the actual camera and not the rear housing. The plastic lens that covers your camera is part of the back panel, not the camera itself. Inspect it and make sure it isn't the plastic that is scratched and causing issues. If that is the case, you'll need to perform a back replacement instead.
If there are no blemishes or scratches over the camera lens cover on the rear casing, the actual camera could be the culprit. If that's the case, follow our guide to replace it. These symptoms could range from lines through the camera, poor quality images, or the camera app not opening at all and only showing the black unopened shutter upon launching the Camera app. It's a relatively easy repair and should be doable for most, even beginners.
- How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
How to fix cellular reception problems on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If you're experiencing cellular reception issues on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4, it may be time to replace the cellular antenna. Symptoms could range from poor call quality to heavily fluctuating bars and dropped calls. If you're experiencing all these issues despite your software being up to date and making calls in an area you know to be good reception wise, it may be time to check out our guide and get that antenna replaced with a new one.
How to replace the dock connector and/or lower mic in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 won't take a charge, your lower mic isn't working, or you've gotten moisture in the dock and you want to change it out just to be safe, a DIY dock connector replacement can remedy any of these issues.
The lower mic is the part of the phone that controls what other people hear when you're on a call. If people are complaining that you're cutting in and out or can't hear you at all unless you're on speakerphone, the lower mic could very well be the culprit.
If any of these symptoms describe your issues, try a dock connector replacement before ditching the iPhone.
How to fix the front facing FaceTime camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
If you use FaceTime, Skype, or another video chat client frequently then the front facing camera on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is probably pretty important to you. Whether it's blacked out or distorted, a DIY replacement costs far less than a new phone and it isn't too hard of a repair to perform on your own.
How to fix common sound issues with the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S
If you're having issues with your headphone jack or your volume buttons and/or mute switch aren't functioning correctly, replacing the cable that runs to them can fix any issues you may have.
One cable controls the function for the following functions -
- Mute switch
- Volume buttons
- Headphone jack
- How to replace the headphone jack and volume control cable in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
How to choose the highest quality colored parts for your iPhone 4
If you're looking into performing a color conversion on your iPhone 4 it's always a good idea to make sure you order high quality parts. Let's face it, eBay and other online resellers have a nasty habit of selling parts that are DOA or issues crop up after a few days. Making sure you use a quality supplier right from the start will save you a lot of headaches.
Apple never made colored parts so you won't find genuine OEM parts anywhere and if anyone claims they are OEM, turn around and run the other way. It doesn't mean there aren't quality parts floating around out there though. Check out our guide of what to look for so you can be prepared before you even place an order.
How to check for water damage before purchasing a used iPhone 4
If you're thinking about picking up a used iPhone 4 from eBay, Craigslist, or any other online source, it's always a good idea to make sure the device hasn't seen any previous water damage before actually committing to the purchase.
You can check some sensors externally and a few internally if the seller will allow it. To make sure you're getting the most for your money and you're not buying a non-working iPhone 4, check out our guide before purchasing
More DIY guides and help
If you've got a GSM iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other type of iPhone, we may have guides that can help you fix those as well. If you don't see a guide that can help or can't figure out exactly what the issue is, you can always check out our mod and DIY forums for answers to many questions. If you still can't find what you're looking for, feel free to shoot an e-mail to ally@imore.com with guide suggestions and questions.
