Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

21

Time Required

                          20 - 45 minutes

Sections

5

  • Pentalobe Screws
  • 1 step
  • Opening Procedure
  • 9 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 2 steps
  • Display Assembly
  • 5 steps
  • Rear Camera
  • 4 steps

Flags

0

  • BackiPhone SE 2020

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the pentalobe screws
  • Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.
  • Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.
  • Remove the two 3.5 mm pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone.
  • Opening the iPhone’s display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

Before you begin, discharge your iPhone battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

Power off your iPhone before beginning disassembly.

Remove the two 3.5 mm pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Opening the iPhone’s display will compromise its waterproof seals. Have replacement seals ready before you proceed past this step, or take care to avoid liquid exposure if you reassemble your iPhone without replacing the seals.

1024

Step 2

              Heat the display
  • Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.
  • Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the phone for about 90 seconds in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Heating the lower edge of the iPhone will help soften the adhesive securing the display, making it easier to open.

Use a hairdryer or prepare an iOpener and apply it to the lower edge of the phone for about 90 seconds in order to soften up the adhesive underneath.

Step 3

              Separate the display
  • Apply a suction cup to the lower half of the front panel, just above the home button.
  • Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.
  • If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Apply a suction cup to the lower half of the front panel, just above the home button.

Be sure the suction cup does not overlap with the home button, as this will prevent a seal from forming between the suction cup and front glass.

If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.

Step 4

  • Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.
  • Insert an opening pick into the gap.
  • The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between the front panel and rear case.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

The watertight adhesive holding the display in place is very strong; creating this initial gap takes a significant amount of force. If you’re having a hard time opening a gap, apply more heat, and gently rock the screen up and down to weaken the adhesive until you create enough of a gap to insert your tool.

Step 5

  • Slide the opening pick up the left edge of the phone starting at the lower edge and moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch, breaking up the adhesive holding the display in place.
  • Stop near the top left corner of the display.
  • Do not try to pry the top edge of the display away from the rear case, as it is held in place by plastic clips that may break.

Slide the opening pick up the left edge of the phone starting at the lower edge and moving towards the volume control buttons and silent switch, breaking up the adhesive holding the display in place.

Stop near the top left corner of the display.

Do not try to pry the top edge of the display away from the rear case, as it is held in place by plastic clips that may break.

Step 6

  • Re-insert your tool at the lower right corner of the iPhone, and slide it around the corner and up the right side of the phone to separate the adhesive.
  • Don’t insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel.

Re-insert your tool at the lower right corner of the iPhone, and slide it around the corner and up the right side of the phone to separate the adhesive.

Don’t insert the pick very far, or you may damage the display cables along this side of the iPhone. Insert it only a few millimeters, or about the width of the display bezel.

Step 7

  • Gently pull up on the suction cup to lift up the bottom edge of the display.
  • Do not raise the display more than 15º or you’ll risk straining or tearing the ribbon cables connecting the display.
  • Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Gently pull up on the suction cup to lift up the bottom edge of the display.

Do not raise the display more than 15º or you’ll risk straining or tearing the ribbon cables connecting the display.

Pull on the small nub on the suction cup to remove it from the front panel.

Step 8

  • Slide an opening pick underneath the display around the top left corner and along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive.

Slide an opening pick underneath the display around the top left corner and along the top edge of the phone to loosen the last of the adhesive.

Step 9

  • Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

Slide the display assembly slightly down (away from the top edge of the phone) to disengage the clips holding it to the rear case.

Step 10

  • Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.
  • Don’t try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone’s logic board.
  • Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.

Open the iPhone by swinging the display up from the left side, like the back cover of a book.

Don’t try to fully separate the display yet, as several fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the iPhone’s logic board.

Lean the display against something to keep it propped up while you’re working on the phone.

Step 11

              Disconnect the battery
  • Remove four Phillips screws securing the lower display cable bracket to the logic board, of the following lengths:
  • Two 1.3 mm screws
  • Two 2.8 mm screws
  • Throughout this guide, keep careful track of your screws so that each one goes back where it came from during reassembly. Installing a screw in the wrong place can cause permanent damage.
  • Remove the bracket.

Remove four Phillips screws securing the lower display cable bracket to the logic board, of the following lengths:

Two 1.3 mm screws

Two 2.8 mm screws

Throughout this guide, keep careful track of your screws so that each one goes back where it came from during reassembly. Installing a screw in the wrong place can cause permanent damage.

Remove the bracket.

Step 12

  • Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector out of its socket in the logic board.
  • Bend the battery connector cable slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector out of its socket in the logic board.

Bend the battery connector cable slightly away from the logic board to prevent it from accidentally making contact with the socket and providing power to the phone during your repair.

Step 13

              Disconnect the display and digitizer
  • Use the point of a spudger to pry the lower display connector out of its socket.
  • To re-attach press connectors like this one, press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the lower display connector out of its socket.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is even slightly misaligned, the connector can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 14

  • Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the second lower display cable.

Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the second lower display cable.

Step 15

  • Remove the three 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector.
  • Remove the bracket.

Remove the three 1.3 mm Phillips screws securing the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector.

Step 16

  • Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector.

Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector.

Step 17

              Remove the display assembly
  • Remove the display assembly.
  • During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Remove the display assembly.

During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Step 18

              Disconnect the rear camera
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the camera cable connector by prying it straight up from its socket.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the camera cable connector by prying it straight up from its socket.

Step 19

              Remove the rear camera bracket
  • Remove the two screws securing the rear-facing camera bracket:
  • One 3.0 mm standoff screw
  • One 3.1 mm Phillips screw
  • Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff screwdriver or bit.
  • In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.

Remove the two screws securing the rear-facing camera bracket:

One 3.0 mm standoff screw

One 3.1 mm Phillips screw

Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff screwdriver or bit.

In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.

Step 20

  • Remove the rear-facing camera bracket.

Remove the rear-facing camera bracket.

Step 21

              Remove the rear camera
  • Remove the rear camera by lifting it straight up out of its recess.

Remove the rear camera by lifting it straight up out of its recess.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our iPhone SE 2020 Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      6 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 1 other contributor 


                    Adam O'Camb

Member since: 04/11/2015

173,479 Reputation

                                      418 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       39







                                                        +36 more badges

Alan Lemire - Dec 3, 2020

Reply

Two things:

First, thanx for actually showing the Iphone SE. Almost every other repair vid/instructions I found were all rehashed Iphone 8 videos, and the opening of the phone is completely different. Your instructions showed me how to do it correctly, whereas everything else I saw had me stumped.

Also: Would love to see instructions about replacing scratched or broken glass cover for this lens. I currently can’t find anything online and have had to utilize my insurance to get a new SE at a cost of $99.00.

Reliable Sage - Aug 11, 2022

Reply

can i change iPhone se 2020 camera with iPhone 8 camera as my camera lens was broken and dust went inside and now it cannot focus and its blurry while taking photos or can i just clean the inside camera module and change the lens

klatte - Nov 5, 2022

Reply

Thank you for this perfect guide. Whit this: Piece of cake.