Replacing LCD display on the 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 side 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 six different screws that are securing the earpiece bracket.

 

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

 

• Again use a Phillips PH000 screwdriver (1.5 mm) and remove two more screws that are under the bracket you just removed.

 

After unscrewing the screws use tweezers to remove the module under the flex cable.

Utilize a hair dryer or heat gun to warm up the rest of assembly to remove it from the old display. Heat it for approximately 30 seconds and pry it up with tweezers.

 

If it still holds secure on the old display. Heat it one more time.

 

• With a Y000 screwdriver unfasten three 1.2 mm screws and one 1.1 mm screw in the middle of home button holding the bracket covering the cable.

 

With tweezers or fingernails remove the bracket.

• Utilize a spudger to gently lift the left edge of the home/Touch ID sensor cable connector and detach it from its socket.

 

Warning: If the connector starts to lift entirely without disconnecting, exert pressure on the cable's top edge within the connector using the flat side of a spudger. Simultaneously, continue prying up the left edge of the connector. Exercise extreme caution to prevent any harm to the cable or connector, as this could result in permanent sensor impairment.

Use a heat gun, hair dryer or hot plate and apply heat to the home button assembly. But be careful not to overheat it—the display is sensible to heat damage.

 

• Insert a pick or card under the assembly and separate it from the display.

 

Exercise caution to prevent any harm to the cable connector throughout this process. The home button sensor cable wraps around it, and sudden movements could lead to tearing. Instead, attempt to fold the connector upwards towards the selfie camera, keeping it clear of the cable's path.

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• Utilize tweezers to carefully extract the home button sensor assembly by lifting it from the front side of the display.

 

For reinstallation, begin by threading the cable of home button through the opening at the front of the new display.

• Use a Y000 screwdriver to unscrew the three screws that are securing the brackets on the sides of the phone.

 

• One screw on the upper side of display
• Two screws that are holding the bottom bracket

Use your fingers to remove the upper bracket. Lower bracket is little bit harder to remove, be extra careful around the lower two screw holes they may need a little bit more pulling power.

• Use the screw holes to put the assembly in the right place on the new screen.
• After putting it in right place connect the connector to the new display.

 

Cover it with the bracket. Be carefull to put the screws in the right place.

• Put the earpiece assembly on the new display. Be sure to place it in the right place.

 

• Use tweezers to help you with the sensitive cables and connectors.

• Put the modul back under the cable and put the bracket over the assembly and screw back the four screws that were holding it in the old display.

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.

• Install the new LCD display.

 

Also 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 9. After reassembly, perform a forced restart. This may help prevent any possible issues.