iPhone SE (2020) - Replacing the screen

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.

• 2 × 2.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.5 mm Phillips
• 1 × 2.2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.7 mm Phillips

The earpiece is located under a metal cover on the back of the display unit.

1. First remove the three Phillips screws that secure the metal cover over the earpiece. Then place all parts on a common field of the magnetic mat.
2. Loosen the two Phillips screws that hold the earpiece in the display unit.
3. The earpiece is located under the flex cable of the front camera. To be able to take it out, you have to fold it to the side.

Note the different lengths of the screws. If you mix them up, the display may be damaged during assembly.

The FaceTime camera's cable set is also located on the display unit, to which it is heavily glued. Removal must be done in two steps.

1. First, remove the heavily bonded flat cable from the display unit by placing a flat, stable tool such as a spudger or steel spatula under the cable.

1. Loosen the sensors integrated in the cable set a little with the steel spatula.
2. Then lift the loosened cable set with tweezers and take it out of your device.

• 4 × 1.1 mm Y-Type

The home button of the iPhone SE (2nd generation) is also located on the display unit. Usually, the cable set of the Home button is heavily glued.

1. Remove the four Y-Type screws that remove the silver cover of the Home button. Place them together with the screws on a common field of the magnetic mat.
2. Using the spudger, gently lever the contact of the Home Button cable from the display unit.

The Home button cable is very sensitive. Small damages can already lead to failure.

1. Use your tool to carefully move under the glued cable set to loosen it.

If necessary, use hot air to loosen the glue.

1. Press the Home button from the inside of the display unit.

• 6 × 1.0 mm Y-Type

1. First loosen the six Y-type screws to remove the back plate of the display unit.
2. Then run hot air over the back plate, so that the glued flex cable under the back plate can be loosened more easily.
3. Remove the detached back plate and put it aside.

• Sensor
• Frontkamera

1. Since not all available displays are equipped in the same way, you may have to take over the following parts before installing the new display:

• Bracket for the front camera (slightly glued)
• Holder for the sensor (slightly glued)

1. Remove the protective film and seal from the new display.

• 6 × 1.1 mm Y-Type

The silver chip on the flex cable must be in exactly the right place. Otherwise discolorations become visible when the display is installed.

1. Put the flex cable back into the display unit and press it firmly.
2. Now position the back plate over it so that it is exactly over the screw holes.

Align the back plate as exactly as possible, because there is still glue on the bottom of the back plate.

1. As soon as the back plate is positioned correctly, you can screw it back on.

• 4 × 1.1 mm Y-Type

1. Take the home button and guide it through the recess in the display frame from the outside to the inside.
2. Then lift the home button connector to place the flex cable of the home button under the connector.

The plastic nose helps you to position the flex cable correctly.

1. Now you can connect the flex cable connector to the home button connector.
2. Finally put the metal cover over the home button and screw it with the four Y-type screws.

It is important that you position the proximity sensor correctly, otherwise its function is limited.

1. Push the sensors on the FaceTime camera's cable set back into their sockets at the top of the display.
2. Now position the FaceTime cable with the help of the small plastic lugs and press it lightly so that the adhesive bonds.

• 1 × 2.2 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.7 mm Phillips
• 1 × 1.5 mm Phillips
• 2 × 2.5 mm Phillips

1. Lift up the FaceTime cable to put the earpiece back into its guide above the sensors.

Be careful not to confuse the screws. A screw that is too long in the wrong place will scratch the paint layer and can be seen on the front of the display.

1. Screw the earpiece together with the two Phillips screws.
2. Now also put the FaceTime camera back into its guide before you put on the metal cover and fix it with three Phillips 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.

1. Test the brightness of the display.
2. Test the touchscreen. Select an app and drag it all around the display. If the app follows your finger everywhere, the display’s working.