iPhone SE (2020) - Replacing the Lightning connector

1. Turn off your iPhone SE (2nd generation) completely in the first step, to protect it from potential damage during repair.
   To do so, keep the standby button pressed until the "Power off" slider appears.
2. Wipe the slider from left to right. Your iPhone will shut down completely in about ten seconds.

• 2 × 3.4 mm Pentablobe

1. Remove the two Pentalobe screws to the right and left of the Lightning connector with a Pentalobe screwdriver. Then put the screws in your screw storage box.

In order not to lose any of the removed parts or screws, we recommend that you use a screw storage box. For example, you can convert an old sewing box into a screw storage box. We use a high-quality magnetic pad on which you can also arrange the components exactly as you found them in your phone. This way you know exactly where each screw has been and makes it much easier for you to assemble it later.

1. First, place your iPhone SE on a soft, clean surface to prevent scratches when lifting the display.
2. Since the display is glued to the edge, you will need to heat it up to make it easier to detach from the rest of the case.
   To do this, use a hot air device like a heat gun or alternatively a regular hairdryer to drive evenly over the edge of the display from the outside.

The rule of thumb for warming up is: you should still be able to touch your device without it becoming unpleasantly hot.

After opening the iPhone SE (2nd generation) the warranty for protection against dust and splashing water of the IP67 classification expires.

1. Press the suction cup on the display in the area above the home button and pull it upwards. By lifting the display screen, you create a narrow gap between the aluminium and display frames.

If the display screen is badly broken, apply parcel tape to it beforehand.

1. Insert a flat plastic tool into the narrow gap between the aluminium frame and the display frame and try to use it to additionally push the aluminium frame upwards. We use flat plastic picks for this.

Take care not to insert the picks on the side of the standby button too far, in order not to damage the display's flex cable.

1. Drive the pick once completely around the display frame. Keep warming the edge of the display and leave individual picks in the frame to prevent the adhesive from rejoining in the areas that have already been loosened.

Never open the display more than 180° while it is still connected, otherwise the flex cables may tear.

1. Now carefully push the display upwards with the plectrum so that the lugs come off the aluminium frame.
2. Then open it laterally towards the standby button. Lean the display against a stable object to avoid overstretching the flexible cables,

• 2 × 2.6 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.0 mm Phillips
• Connector

Disconnect the battery connector immediately at the beginning of the repair. This not only prevents a short circuit, but also ensures that you do not accidentally switch on your phone during the repair.

We're using photos of iPhone 8 in this guide. The battery connector may look slightly different in iPhone SE (2nd generation), but it's in the same place in the device.

1. Using a Phillips screwdriver, loosen the four screws of the contact cover and carefully lift it out of your device with tweezers.
2. Now disconnect the battery contact by carefully sliding a plastic spudger under the plug and lifting it off. We always use a plastic spudger for this.

• Connector

1. Using the plastic spudger, lever off the two connectors that are attached to the display (display and home button).

• 3 × 1.0 mm Phillips

1. Using the Phillips screwdriver (PH00), loosen the three Phillips screws to remove the cover over the FaceTime connector.
2. Use a spudger to carefully detach the FaceTime connector from the board.
3. Now you can remove the display completely.

• 1 × 2.9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3.0 mm Standoff
• Connector

1. Unscrew the two screws which fasten the bracket plate of the iSight camera and put the bracket plate aside.

There are special screwdrivers for removing the internal thread screw, but you can also use a regular, thin slotted screwdriver.

1. Disconnect the camera by carefully prying off its connector using a spudger.
2. Then remove the camera from your iPhone using tweezers.

• 1 × 1.1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.7 mm Phillips

1. First remove the screws of the bracket plate located above the connector of the standby and volume button.
2. Carefully separate the connector from the logicboard with the spudger.

• 2 × 1.2 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.0 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.4 mm Phillips

1. First unscrew the four Phillips screws from the plastic bracket to be able to remove the bracket afterwards.

One of the screws is screwed into the side of the backcover.

1. Remove the other two screws, which attach a kind of connecting item under the plastic bracket, and take it out of your device.

• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.2 mm Phillips
• Connector

1. First unscrew the Phillips screws with which the Wi-Fi antenna is attached.
2. Now carefully lever the antenna connector off the board with a plastic spudger.
3. Loosen the slightly stuck antenna with the help of a little hot air and a flat, stable lever tool by sliding it under the antenna. We always use a steel spatula in this case.
4. Once everything is loose, you can remove the antenna from your iPhone SE.

1. Take a SIM tool or a paperclip to remove the SIM card tray from your phone. To do so, press the SIM tool into the small hole in the SIM card tray.

• Connector

1. Carefully detach the three connectors from the logic board with a spudger.

• 1 × 2.4 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2.1 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.6 mm Phillips

1. Untighten the three screws that hold the logic board in place.

Please note, that the Phillips screw is covered by a sticker (see our photo).

2. With the screws loosend you can carefully remove the logic board. Next to the two holes for the iSight camera, there is a plastic holder for a screw.
   This plastic holder lies above the logic board.

• 1 × 1.2 mm Y-type
• 1 × 2.9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.5 mm Phillips
• Connector
• 1 × 1.4 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.1 mm Phillips

1. First unscrew the three screws from the cover plate that is attached above the flexible cable of the speaker, and remove the cover plate.

For the Y-type screw you need a suitable Y-type screwdriver.

1. Then carefully separate the speaker connector with a spudger and lift up the flex cable.
2. Loosen the screws that hold the speaker in place.
3. As a last step, lift the speaker and the flex cable out of your device.

• 1 × 2.0 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2.0 mm Phillips

1. First, carefully pull off the small flex cable that is located above the Taptic Engine connector.
2. Then loosen the screws that hold the Taptic Engine in place.
3. Use a spudger to carefully detach the Taptic Engine connector and take it out of your phone.

The following steps are with the battery removed. However, you don't need to remove the battery to replace the Lightning connector.

• 1 × 1.7 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.9 mm Phillips

1. Unscrew the two Phillips-screws on the barometric vent.
2. Carefully remove the glued barometric vent from the bottom of the back cover with tweezers.

• 2 × 2.1 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1.2 mm Phillips

1. Now remove the five Phillips screws that attach the Lightning connector and place them in a common field on the magnetic pad.

Two of the screws are screwed to the sides of the back cover and each one is hidden under a black tape.

1. In the next step, heat the glued flex cable with hot air and carefully separate it from the back cover with the flat side of the steel spatula.
2. Loosen the lightning connector and the two golden microphones with the spatula or the spudger.
3. Then carefully remove the Lightning connector with the flex cable from the backcover with your fingers or tweezers.

Now prepare the replacement part.

1. Remove and reuse the two rubber gaskets on the back sides of the microphones. They make the microphones sit properly.
2. Then remove the backing films of the sticker surfaces of the new Lightning connector.

• 2 × 2.1 mm Phillips
• 3 × 1.2 mm Phillips

1. Put the flex cable of the Lightning connector back in its original place and press it firmly against the back cover, so that it lies flat.
2. Press the two microphones, which are integrated on the flex cable, into their openings in the back cover frame.
3. Now fasten the Lightning connector with all previously loosened screws.

• 1 × 1.7 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.9 mm Phillips

1. Place the barometric vent back in the back cover.
2. Fasten it using the two Phillips screws.

• 1 × 2.0 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2.0 mm Phillips
• Connector

1. Put the Taptic Engine back between battery and Lightning connector.

Make sure that the screw holes of the taptic engine fit correctly.

1. Press the Taptic Engine connector so that it clicks into place.
2. Fix the Taptic Engine with the screws that were previously loosened.
3. Put on the small flex cable and attach its connector.

• 1 × 2.1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.4 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.2 mm Y-type
• 1 × 2.9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.5 mm Phillips

1. Put the speaker back in its original place and press it firmly.

Be sure to position the flex cable correctly between the battery and speaker.

1. Now screw the speaker back on.
2. Attach the connector of the flex cable.
3. Place the cover plate over the flex cable and fix it with the screws.

• 1 × 2.4 mm Standoff
• 1 × 2.1 mm Standoff
• 1 × 1.6 mm Phillips

1. Put the logic board back into its original place. The camera bracket must be seated above the board.
2. Screw the logic board tight.

• Connector

Attach the three connectors on the logic board.

1. First position the connectors over their sockets and then carefully press them down with your finger.

1. Slide the SIM card holder back into its corresponding opening on the device frame.

If the holder does not slide in easily, check the position of the logic board again.

• 1 × 1.3 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.2 mm Phillips
• Connector

1. Put the Wi-Fi antenna back into the case of your iPhone SE.
2. Screw the antenna mount to the case frame.
3. Then press it lightly to reattach the adhesive film.
4. Now attach the connector of the antenna.

• 1 × 2.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.4 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.2 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.0 mm Phillips

1. Put the small connector piece in its original place and screw it tight.
2. Now insert the plastic bracket and screw it tight as well.

• Connector
• 1 × 2.9 mm Phillips
• 1 × 3.0 mm Standoff

1. Put the camera back into its case opening and press it firmly.
2. Now attach the camera connector.
3. Put the cover plate of the camera back on and screw it tight.

• Connector
• 1 × 1.1 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.7 mm Phillips

1. Attach the connector of the standby and volume buttom again.
2. Put the bracket plate back on the connector and fasten it with the screws.

After opening and attaching a new adhesive frame, your iPhone is again protected against dust and splash water, but not 100% waterproof!

1. First remove all remaining adhesive residues on the metal frame and display, so that the new adhesive frame fits smoothly. Use tweezers or a spudger to help you.
2. Try aligning the adhesive frame on the back cover of your iPhone SE to ensure proper placement.

The corners of the adhesive frame differ and help with the correct alignment on the back cover.

• Connector
• 3 × 1.0 mm Phillips

1. Place the display upright on the upper case frame and connect the FaceTime connector on the logicboard.
2. Now sideline the display on the the case frame.
3. Place the bracket plate back over the FaceTime connector and fix it with the three Phillips screws.

• Connector

1. Attach the connectors from the home button and the display to the logic board.

• Connector
• 2 × 2.6 mm Phillips
• 2 × 1.0 mm Phillips

1. Reattach the battery connector.
2. Place the bracket plate over the battery connector and fix it with the four Phillips screws.

• Wrong position
• Right position

1. Position the display on the side of the case frame and carefully fold it onto your iPhone.

If a specific cable is not seated correctly, problems like spots on the display can occur. Therefore, before closing, make sure that the chip on the cable is in the right position. Use our photo to find the exact position.


2. Then press the entire surface of the display into the case frame.

• 2 × 3.4 Pentalobe

1. Screw the two pentalobe screws to the left and right of the Lightning connector into the rear case of your iPhone SE.