To open a modern phone you need four kinds of tool: a suction cup to lift the screen or back glass, thin plastic opening picks to slice through adhesive, a plastic spudger or pry tool to release clips and disconnect connectors, and precision screwdrivers for the screws inside. Add gentle heat to soften adhesive and you can open most phones safely. A basic kit costs very little: our 10 in 1 repair kit is £0.99 (checked 15 October 2026). The key qualification is that the right tool matters less than technique: slow, shallow work with plastic tools prevents most damage. This guide explains what each tool does, which you need for your first repair, and how to use them.
Why phones need special opening tools
Most current phones are sealed with adhesive for water resistance, and their screens and back panels are thin glass. Inside, flex cables run close to the edges, and connectors are tiny press-fit sockets. Using a knife or metal screwdriver to open a phone risks cracking glass, cutting cables, scratching frames and shorting components. Purpose-made tools are thin enough to get into the seam, soft enough not to scratch, and non-conductive where it matters.
The core tools and what each does
Suction cup
A suction cup grips the screen or back glass so you can lift it slightly and create a gap at the edge. Pull gently and steadily: the aim is a gap of a millimetre or two, just enough to insert a pick. Suction cups work best on clean, intact glass. On cracked glass, cover the area with clear packing tape first so the cup can seal.
Opening picks (triangle picks)
Thin plastic picks, often triangular or guitar-pick shaped, slide into the gap and are slid along the edge to cut through adhesive. They are the most-used tool in any phone repair. Leave picks in place as you work round the phone so the adhesive does not reseal behind you. Insert them only a few millimetres deep near cables, which are often close to the edges.
Spudger
A spudger is a pen-shaped tool, usually nylon or plastic, with a flat end and a pointed end. Use it to:
- Pop connectors off their sockets on the logic board, by levering gently under the connector edge.
- Press connectors back into place.
- Lift small components and release clips.
- Push flex cables into position.
Plastic spudgers are non-conductive, which makes them the right tool around batteries and live circuits.
Pry tools and teardown rods
Flat pry bars, sometimes called teardown rods, give more leverage than picks. Use them to release clips on phones with snap-fit backs, and to lift larger components. Always pry against a solid frame, never against a battery or a flex cable.
Plastic cards
A thin plastic card is excellent for cutting long runs of adhesive, such as under a battery or along a tablet edge. It spreads force over a wider area, reducing the risk of bending a battery.
Precision screwdrivers
Phones use tiny screws with several head types. The most common are:
| Screw head | Where you will find it |
|---|---|
| Pentalobe (P2) | The two external screws at the bottom of iPhones |
| Phillips (#000, #00) | Internal brackets and shields in most Android phones and many iPhone parts |
| Tri-point (Y000) | Internal brackets in many iPhones from the iPhone 7 onwards |
| Torx (T2, T3, T5) | Some Android phones and older devices |
| Standoff screwdriver | Standoff screws holding the logic board in some iPhones |
Use the exact size. A screwdriver that is nearly right strips the screw head, and a stripped screw can turn a simple repair into a difficult one.
Tweezers
Fine-point and angled tweezers handle small screws, brackets, adhesive strips and tiny flex cables. Anti-static tweezers are a sensible upgrade.
SIM eject pin
Removing the SIM tray is the first step of most repairs. Keep an eject pin in your kit.
Heat source
Adhesive softens when warm. A heat pad, a hot plate designed for phone repair, or a hairdryer or heat gun on a low setting all work. Warm the edges evenly until they are hot but comfortable to touch. Overheating damages screens, batteries and plastic parts, so keep the heat moving and take your time.
Starter kit vs professional kit
| Kit level | What it includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic starter kit | A few screwdrivers, a suction cup, picks or triangle tools, a pry tool and an eject pin | One-off repairs: a screen or battery on a common phone |
| Enthusiast kit | Wide set of precision bits, several spudgers and picks, tweezers, anti-static strap, magnetic screw mat | People who repair family phones regularly |
| Professional bench | Quality drivers, heat plate, screen separator, microscope, ESD mat, adhesive dispensers, testers | Repair shops |
Our guide to the best professional phone repair tool kits covers bench equipment for shops.
Our 10 in 1 repair kit
For a first repair, a small kit covers the essentials. Our 10 in 1 Repair Kit is £0.99 (price read from our store on 15 October 2026). According to the listing, it contains four screwdrivers, two teardown rods (pry tools), a chuck, two triangle pry slices (picks) and an eject pin. Check the screwdriver tips against your phone's screws before starting, and add any specific bit your phone needs, such as tri-point for many iPhones.
For adhesive, extra picks and other repair supplies, browse our repair tools and adhesive collection.
How to open a phone safely: the basic method
Every model is different, so follow a model-specific guide. This is the general approach used for most glued phones.
- Back up the phone if possible.
- Discharge the battery below 25%, which reduces fire risk if it is accidentally damaged.
- Power off and remove the SIM tray.
- Remove any external screws, such as the pentalobe screws at the bottom of an iPhone.
- Warm the edges evenly for a few minutes.
- Apply the suction cup near the edge you will open first and pull gently to create a gap.
- Insert an opening pick into the gap, a few millimetres deep.
- Slide the pick along the edge to cut the adhesive, adding more picks as you go. Reheat if the adhesive firms up.
- Check where the cables are before lifting fully. Many screens open like a book from one side.
- Disconnect the battery first, using a plastic spudger, before touching any other connector.
Five rules that prevent most damage
- Plastic near electronics. Use plastic tools around batteries, connectors and the logic board.
- Shallow picks near cables. Learn where your model's display and button cables run.
- Never pry against a battery. A bent or punctured lithium battery can catch fire.
- Keep screws in order. Use a magnetic mat or a sheet of paper with the screw positions drawn on it. Different lengths in the wrong holes can damage the board.
- Do not force it. If something will not move, there is usually a hidden screw, clip or more adhesive.
Opening different types of phone
iPhones
Most iPhones open from the screen side. Remove the two pentalobe screws, warm the bottom edge, lift with a suction cup and work round with picks. Newer iPhones open like a book from the left, hinging on the right; older models such as the iPhone 6s hinge at the top. Apple's Self Service Repair programme shows the tools Apple itself uses for supported models.
Samsung and most Android phones
Most Android phones open from the back. Warm the back glass or plastic, lift with a suction cup and cut the adhesive with picks. Watch for the fingerprint sensor cable on phones with a rear sensor.
Phones with clip-on backs
Some budget phones use plastic backs held with clips rather than adhesive. Use a pry tool or pick in the seam and release the clips gradually round the edge.
Tablets
Tablets have long edges of adhesive and large, fragile glass panels. Use plastic cards as well as picks, and work slowly in sections.
Tools for closing the phone
Opening is half the job. To close a phone properly you also need:
- Replacement adhesive: pre-cut adhesive sheets or strips for the screen or back, to restore dust and splash protection.
- Battery adhesive strips if you replaced the battery.
- Isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and a lint-free cloth to clean old adhesive.
- Clamps or a soft weight to hold the panel while the adhesive bonds.
Anti-static precautions
Static discharge can damage sensitive components. Simple precautions:
- Work on a hard surface rather than carpet.
- Touch a grounded metal object before handling the phone's internals, or use an anti-static wrist strap and mat.
- Use anti-static plastic tools and tweezers where possible.
Useful extras worth adding later
- Magnetic project mat: a mat you can write on, which holds screws in the position they came from.
- Screen separator clamp: a clamp with two suction cups that applies steady, even pull, useful for tightly glued screens.
- Precision bit set with a quality handle: covers more screw types and lasts longer than fixed screwdrivers.
- Head-mounted or desk magnifier: makes small connectors and screws much easier to see.
- Battery isolation tool: a thin plastic piece slipped under the battery connector to keep it disconnected while you work.
Buy these as your repairs become more frequent; none is essential for a first screen or battery job.
Looking after your tools
- Replace picks when their edges become chewed or bent; damaged picks catch on cables.
- Keep screwdriver tips clean and replace worn bits before they strip screws.
- Keep suction cups clean so they seal properly.
- Store everything in one box so nothing goes missing mid-repair.
When to stop and use a repair shop
- The battery is swollen.
- The phone has liquid damage with corrosion.
- A repair needs soldering or a laser machine, such as back glass on many iPhones.
- You have stripped a screw and cannot remove it.
- Face ID, Touch ID or other paired parts are involved and you are unsure.
If you are unsure which screen or part you need for your repair, our guides to soft OLED vs hard OLED vs in-cell screens, phone screen replacement costs by brand and choosing a phone screen fixer can help.
Common mistakes
- Using a kitchen knife or metal screwdriver to open the phone.
- Inserting picks too deep and cutting display or button cables.
- Pulling too hard on the suction cup and cracking the glass.
- Overheating the phone with a heat gun.
- Disconnecting connectors before the battery.
- Losing track of which screw goes where.
Safety and disposal
Wear safety glasses when lifting cracked glass, and keep a fire-safe container, such as a metal tin with sand, nearby when working with batteries. Never put old batteries in household waste; take them to a collection point, as explained in GOV.UK's guidance on waste batteries. For more on tool types and repair guides, iFixit's tools section is a useful reference.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to open a phone?
A suction cup, plastic opening picks, a plastic spudger or pry tool, the right precision screwdrivers, and gentle heat. Tweezers and a SIM eject pin are also useful.
What is a spudger used for?
Disconnecting and reconnecting tiny connectors, releasing clips and lifting small parts without scratching or shorting anything.
Which screwdriver do I need for an iPhone?
A pentalobe P2 for the bottom screws, plus Phillips #000 and, on many models from the iPhone 7 onwards, tri-point Y000 for internal screws.
Can I open a phone without a heat gun?
Yes. A heat pad or a hairdryer on a warm setting works. Heat just needs to soften the adhesive evenly.
How much is a phone opening tool kit?
Our 10 in 1 repair kit is £0.99 (checked 15 October 2026). Professional kits cost more and include a wider range of bits and tools.
Next step
Identify your phone model and the repair you plan, check which screws it uses, then order a kit and any specific bits you need, along with replacement adhesive. Follow a model-specific guide, work slowly with plastic tools, and disconnect the battery before anything else.
