Battery replacement of iPhone SE 2022

Before starting, it is necessary to discharge the iPhone below 25% because a charged Li-ion battery can ignite or explode if accidentally cut.

 

• Turn off the iPhone
• On the bottom edge of the iPhone, unscrew two 3.4 mm long pentalobe screws using a Pentalobe PL1 (0.8 mm) screwdriver.

 

Opening iPhone will break its waterproof seal, so have a replacement seal ready before beginning this step.  Without a new seal, your iPhone will not be waterproof.

A) Heating the phone

 

1. It is recommended to wear protective ESD gloves.

2. Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat entire bottom side of the iPhone for about 2 minutes to reach a temperature of approximately 80°C (176°F), or until it becomes difficult to keep your hand on the phone due to the high temperature.

 

Heating the phone up helps to soften the adhesive between the display and the phone frame, making it easier to open.

 

Note: Along the right edge of the iPhone are flex cables. Do not insert the pick or card into the marked area, as you could damage the flex cables.

 

B) Opening the display

 

The display can be opened in two different ways: The first method is using a suction cup, and the second method is using a securing tool, which is safer.

In this guide, we will proceed by using a suction cup.

 

Placement of the suction cup

 

• Attach the suction cup to the bottom edge of the phone, above home button.
• Securely hold your iPhone and with firm, steady pressure, pull on the suction cup to create a slight gap between the frame and the display.
• After separating the screen about 3 mm from the frame, insert a pick or card into the gap.

 

Do not insert the pick or card more than 3 mm along the bottom edge, as you could damage internal components.

The adhesive holding the screen in place is very strong. Therefore, creating this initial gap requires considerable force. If you encounter difficulty, reheat the bottom edge and gently slide the screen up and down repeatedly to weaken the adhesive until you create a gap large enough to insert the card.

 

• Move your pick in a back-and-forth motion along the lower edge to loosen the adhesive.
• Keep your pick in place in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

 

C) Heating the left edge

 

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the left edge of the iPhone (the edge with the volume buttons) for 90 seconds or until the display becomes too hot to touch.

 

D) Separating the adhesive (left side of the iPhone)

 

• Put the pick or card from the bottom left corner and slide it upwards to the top right corner, gently separating the adhesive as you go.

 

Exercise caution and avoid inserting the pick or card more than 3 mm to prevent any potential damage to internal components.

 

Before proceeding, leave the tool in the top left corner.

 

E) Heating up the right edge

 

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the right edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the screen becomes too hot to touch.

 

F) Separating the adhesive and releasing the right clip

 

• Insert a third opening pick in the top right corner, just above the previous pick.

 

Exercise caution and avoid inserting the pick or card more than 3 mm to prevent any potential damage to internal components.

 

G) Heating up the top edge

 

• Using a hair dryer or heat gun, heat the top edge of the iPhone for 90 seconds or until the display becomes too hot to touch.

 

H) Separating the adhesive (top edge of the iPhone)

• Slide the pick or card along the top edge until the clips holding the display release

 

Exercise caution and avoid inserting the pick or card more than 3 mm to prevent any potential damage to internal components.

After successfully releasing the adhesive from the edges of screen and frame, remove the suction cup/s.

 

Gently move the display assembly downwards, towards the charging port to release the clips securing it to the rear case.

 

• After the clips releases open the iPhone by  flipping the display to the right side

 

It is recommended to support the display to avoid tearing the flat flex cable that connects the display to the motherboard.

 

Do not try to completely detach the display at this point, as there are several delicate flat flex cables still connecting it to the iPhone's motherboard.

 

Warning: If the battery is damaged stop the repair!

 

During the reassembly process, position the display correctly and align the clips along the top edge. Press the top edge carefully into place before firmly securing the rest of the display. If you encounter difficulty in securing it, examine the condition of the clips around the display perimeter to ensure they are not bent or damaged.

 

• Unscrew the four screws using a Phillips PH000 screwdriver (1.5 mm) that secure the connector cover on the bottom side of the phone.

Two 1.2 mm screws are on the left side of bracket  and remaining screw are two 2.8 mm long screws. After removing them detach the cover using tweezers.

• Use the tip of a spudger tool to pry the battery connector off the motherboard.

   

Gently bend the battery connector with the flex cable away from the motherboard to prevent accidental contact with the motherboard connector and thus avoid potential short circuits.

 

This is a good time to test your new display if it works correctly before sealing the phone again.

• Disconnect the cable connector and digitizer using a spudger tool or your fingernail.

 

When assembling the iPhone back.

 

For reconnection, press down on the flex cable connector as shown in the picture.

 

Follow these steps:

• Carefully align and press down on one side of the flex cable connector until it snaps into place.
• Then repeat this process on the other side of the flex cable connector.

 

Avoid pressing on the middle part of the flex cable connector. If the flex cable connector is improperly aligned, the pins on the flex cable connector or on the motherboard connector may bend and cause permanent damage.

• Unscrew the three 1.8 mm long screws securing the front sensor connector cover on the upper side of the phone. Use a Phillips PH000 screwdriver.

Utilize tweezers to move the bracket away, disconnect the front sensor flex cable connector using a spudger tool or your fingernail.

 

• Remove the display.

 

After removing the display, place it on a clean, straight surface.

• Use a Phillips PH000 screwdriver (1.5 mm) screwdriver to unscrew three different screws that are securing the lightning connector bracket.

   

After removing the screws use tweezers to remove the bracket from iPhone.

• Slide a pick or card under the flex cable on the right side of the charging connector and separate it from the speaker.

 

There is adhesive between these parts so you can use heat gun or a hair dryer to warm the adhesive for easier removing.

Utilize a sharp end of spudger to disconnect the connector for Wi-Fi antenna from its socket. This socket is not attached to phone so use a opening tool to hold it in one place when disconnecting this connector.

 

After successful disconnecting use tweezers to remove the antenna.

 

Reconnecting this cable can be also hard so utilize a tweezers and hold down the connector. Carefully press down on the connector with spudger to place it in this socket.

There are two screws 2.1mm long holding the taptic engine in place. To unscrew the left one use a Phillips PH000 screwdriver. To unscrew the right one use Convex Phillips screwdriver.

 

Utilize tweezers to remove the grounding bracket at the left edge of taptic engine.

 

• Utilize a sharp edge of spudger to gently lift the antenna cable socket located on the right side of taptic engine. Pry it towards the charging connector.

 

• After prying up the socket you will uncover the taptic engine connector. Use a sharp edge of spudger to lift the connector away from its socket.

 

After everything is done use the tweezers to remove the taptic engine from phone.

The iPhone's battery is held in place by four stretch-release adhesive strips—two positioned at the top and two at the bottom.

 

Strips of adhesive features a black pull-tab at its end, which is gently attached to the front surface of the battery or occasionally just to the battery's short edge.

 

Utilize tweezers to peel pull-tabs.

 

Warning: Exercise caution to avoid puncturing or bending the battery with your tool, as this could result in the leakage of hazardous chemicals or even a fire. If feasible, utilize your fingernails or blunt tweezers. Reserve the use of pointed tweezers solely for situations where you are unable to effectively remove the adhesive with an alternative tool.

A) If its unsticking as it should

 

Grasp the initial pull tab either with tweezers or your fingers, then gently draw it away from the battery, directing it toward the lower part of the iPhone.

 

Apply sufficient force to maintain tension on the strip, but avoid excessive pressure. Allow ample time for the strip to stretch and detach from beneath the battery.

 

Avoid pressing down on the battery; instead, securely hold the iPhone by its sides.

 

Ensure the strip remains flat and free of creases. Aim to pull evenly across the entire strip rather than focusing mainly on the centre or one side.

 

Pull at a shallow angle to prevent the strip from catching on the battery's edge.

 

To minimize the risk of tearing, employ a technique involving both pulling and winding the strip around your tweezers. Repeat this process gradually until the strip is completely removed.

 

If the adhesive strip breaks, attempt to retrieve it using your fingers or blunt tweezers, then continue pulling without attempting to pry beneath the battery.

 

In the event that any adhesive strips snap underneath the battery and cannot be retrieved, proceed to remove the remaining strips and follow the instructions below.

 

 B) If the strip broke

 

If any of the adhesive strips have fractured and the battery remains adhered to the rear case, initiate its removal by applying several drops of isopropyl alcohol beneath the battery, near the areas where the strips are stuck.

 

Allow approximately one minute for the alcohol solution to dissolve the adhesive.

 

Utilize either an opening pick or the flat end of a spudger to delicately elevate the battery.

 

Avoid attempting to forcefully pry the battery out. If necessary, administer additional drops of alcohol to further diminish the adhesive's strength. Never attempt to deform or puncture the battery with your prying tool.

 

If you didnt have isopropyl alcohol, an alternative method involves utilizing a heat gun or a hair dryer for 30 seconds or a hot plate for about 3 minutes to warm up the battery and adhesive stuck under it.

 

Next, insert a plastic card beneath the lower edge of the battery.

 

Slide the plastic card along the battery's edge to detach it from the rear case and cut through the adhesive.

 

Using the plastic card, cautiously pry up the battery.

 

• Extract the battery from the device.

 

If any residual alcohol solution lingers within the phone, meticulously remove it using a coffee filter or lint-free cloth. Alternatively, allow it to naturally air dry before proceeding with the installation of your new battery.

 

• Uncover the first layer of protective foil and place the new adhesive strips on the battery in the same place, like the old ones were.

 

• Uncover the the second layer and place the battery in the phone. Be carefull to place the battery on the right side so the connector aligns with the socket.

Remove the old adhesive around the edges of the iPhone using the spudger tool.

 

Little bit of isopropyl alcohol can help you unstick the adhesive.

Apply new adhesive around the edges of the iPhone. Reconnect the battery through the reverse process.

 

The new adhesive will ensure the iPhone's resistance to water and dust.

 

Before placing the new screen on the iPhone, make sure to remove the protective foil.

 

Be precise while applying the new adhesive. Improper installation could lead to your iPhone not being water-resistant, and there's a higher likelihood of dust or moisture ingress.

Check the phone for excess screws and small parts that may be stuck in the body of phone and remove them.

 

When reassembling the iPhone back to its original state, follow these instructions in reverse order from the step 14. After reassembly, perform a forced restart. This may help prevent any possible issues.