Signs your iPhone or iPad needs board-level repair
If your device is showing any of the symptoms below, the issue may live on the logic board itself rather than on a swappable part. The only reliable way to know is a microscope-based diagnostic.
iPhone will not turn on
Pressing the side button does nothing — no Apple logo, no haptic, no charging response.
Dead iPhone or iPad
No signs of life even when plugged in to a known-good charger and a known-good cable.
Not charging
Lightning or USB-C port works mechanically but the device draws no power or charges erratically.
Boot loop
Device restarts repeatedly without finishing boot.
Stuck on Apple logo
Device hangs on the Apple logo and never reaches the Lock Screen.
Water / liquid damage
After exposure to water, drinks, or other liquids — corrosion is progressive and time-sensitive.
No image
Backlight on but no image, or completely blank display with the rest of the device functioning.
Backlight failure
Faint image visible only with a flashlight; common after a lifted backlight filter or a failed backlight IC.
Touch issues caused by board faults
Ghost touches, dead zones, or unresponsive touch that persist with a known-good display.
Audio / charging IC issues
No microphone in calls, missing speaker output, intermittent charging — common signs of failed audio or charging ICs.
Data needed from a dead device
Photos, contacts, or messages trapped on a device that no longer turns on.
What iPhone and iPad board-level repair actually covers
Component-level work on an iPhone or iPad logic board ranges from small fixes (a single fuse, a lifted pad) to full IC replacements. The list below covers the categories of work we do most.
IC replacement
Power management ICs, charging ICs, audio ICs, backlight ICs, and other surface-mount components.
Connector repair
Charge port flex, board-to-board connectors, display flex connectors, and battery connector replacement.
Short detection
Thermal imaging and current-injection techniques to find shorted capacitors and components pulling a rail to ground.
Power management issues
PMIC repair, power-rail analysis, and replacement of components on the boot/power path.
Charging circuit repair
Charging IC, fuses, and surrounding components when the port itself is fine but the circuit on the board has failed.
Backlight circuit repair
Backlight IC, filter, coil, and fuse replacement to bring the display backlight back to life.
NAND-related diagnostics
Diagnose storage-related faults that present as boot loops, restore failures, or capacity errors. NAND replacement and storage upgrades have their own page.
Trace / pad repair where applicable
Lifted pads, broken traces, and jumper-wire repairs to bring damaged board sections back into circuit.
What to know before booking
Microsoldering is an advanced repair, not a guarantee. Realistic limits up front are part of the service.
- Not every board is repairable — severe physical damage, deep liquid damage, and prior failed repair attempts can push a board past the point where microsoldering is safe.
- Some biometric features (Face ID, Touch ID) have pairing and security limitations at the silicon level. We do not promise restoration of biometric features unless the specific repair is one we can confidently support — please ask about your model before booking.
- Liquid damage worsens over time. The longer a wet device sits or is repeatedly powered on, the worse the corrosion becomes inside the board.
- Data recovery is not guaranteed. Outcomes depend on the failure mode, the state of the storage, and prior handling.
- Manufacturer water resistance is not guaranteed after a device has been opened, and we do not promise restored water resistance after a board-level repair.
When logic board repair makes sense — and when it doesn't
Board-level repair isn't always the right answer. The diagnostic exists so you can make an informed call before any soldering work happens.
- Board repair makes sense when a single component is responsible — replacing the whole device for one failed IC is rarely the best answer.
- Board repair preserves the storage on the original board, which gives you the best chance of keeping your data.
- On some models, replacing the device or full board can be expensive enough that a targeted repair is the more sensible option.
- We do not promise that board repair is always cheaper than a replacement — every case is different and depends on the fault.
- When a replacement actually is the better path, we say so honestly during the diagnostic.
Some dead iPhone repairs are actually about the data
When the photos and contacts matter most
Some of the dead-iPhone repairs we see are not really about restoring the device — they are about retrieving photos, contacts, messages, or notes from a phone that no longer turns on. In those cases the goal of the repair shifts: bring the device far enough back to copy data off, or work directly with the storage chip when required. We do not promise data recovery success.
For a focused recovery-first job, see our board-level data recovery page.
Our iPhone and iPad diagnostic process
Every iPhone or iPad board-level repair follows the same predictable workflow — diagnostic-first, with no soldering work until you've approved the plan.
Intake
We capture history: drops, spills, prior repairs, recent updates, and the symptoms you've seen.
Symptom verification
We reproduce the issue and rule out simple causes (cable, charger, software) before opening the device.
Board inspection
The logic board comes out and is inspected under stereo microscope for corrosion, damaged pads, and prior repair signs.
Power & charging tests
Power rails are measured, the charging circuit is tested, and any shorts are localized to a specific area of the board.
Estimate
You receive a clear repair plan, an honest read on whether the board is repairable, and a quote — no work proceeds without approval.
Repair attempt
Microsoldering work: IC replacement, connector repair, corrosion cleanup, trace or pad rebuilds, and other component-level fixes.
Testing
Functional and electrical testing — boot, charge, audio, touch, and other affected functions — before the device leaves the bench.
Tell us what your iPhone or iPad is doing
Send us your model, what happened, and the symptoms — including any spills or prior repair history. We'll respond with the next step. Walk-in service in Revelstoke, BC, and mail-in iPhone or iPad logic board repair across Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to questions we hear from customers about this service.
Can an iPhone logic board be repaired?
Often, yes. The vast majority of iPhone board failures come down to a single failed IC, a damaged connector, a corroded section after a liquid spill, a blown fuse, or a shorted component on a power rail. Component-level board repair targets the actual failed part instead of replacing the whole board. Severe physical damage and long-term liquid damage can push a board past the point where repair is safe, and we tell you honestly when that is the case.
Is iPhone motherboard repair worth it?
Often, yes — particularly when the data on the device matters or when only a single component has failed. A targeted iPhone motherboard repair lets you keep the original board, the original storage, and the data on it. We do not promise that repair is always cheaper than a replacement device — every case is different — but for many board faults, microsoldering is significantly less expensive than buying new.
Can you fix a dead iPhone?
We can attempt it. A dead iPhone (no signs of life, no response to a known-good charger) is one of the most common board-level cases we see. The fault could be in the power management IC, the charging IC, a damaged trace from a previous repair, or liquid damage. We diagnose under microscope and explain what is realistic for your device before any soldering work.
Can you repair iPhone water damage?
Often, yes — and the sooner the better. iPhone water damage board repair is time-sensitive: corrosion progresses even after the device has been dried out. We disassemble, ultrasonically clean affected sections, inspect under microscope, and repair the failed components. Severe or long-standing liquid damage may not be repairable.
Can you fix an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo?
Sometimes. An iPhone stuck on the Apple logo (boot loop) can come from a software issue, a failed NAND/storage chip, an audio IC fault, or other board-level problems. Software-only cases are usually a restore. When the cause is on the board, microsoldering is the path forward. The diagnostic determines which one applies to your iPhone.
Can you repair charging IC or audio IC problems?
Yes. Charging IC repair and audio IC repair are common iPhone board-level jobs — for example, a charging IC that no longer regulates power, or an audio IC that has lifted from the board after a flex bend. The actual repair always depends on what the diagnostic finds and which IC is involved.
Can you recover data from a dead iPhone?
Sometimes. When the goal is photos, contacts, or messages from a device that no longer powers on, the work shifts to repair-first data recovery: bring the iPhone back far enough to copy data off, or work directly with the storage chip when required. We do not promise data recovery success — see our board-level data recovery page for realistic expectations.
Do you offer mail-in iPhone board repair?
Yes. We accept mail-in iPhone and iPad logic board repair from across Canada — no-power, not-charging, boot loop, water damage, and other component-level work. Power the device off, pack it securely, insure the outbound shipment for replacement value, and contact us first so we can confirm next steps. See our mail-in microsoldering page for full guidance.