iPhone SE 2020 Earpiece Speaker Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 27 Steps
Ready to swap out that busted earpiece speaker on your iPhone SE 2020? Follow this straightforward step-by-step guide to get your sound back in action!
Step 1
Hey there! Before you dive in, make sure to let your iPhone's battery get below 25%. A fully charged lithium-ion battery can be a bit temperamental and might just throw a party if it gets punctured!
And don't forget to power off your iPhone before you start taking things apart. Safety first, my friend!
Opening up your iPhone's display will mess with its waterproof seals, so make sure you're ready with replacements before diving any deeper into the repair. If you're planning to reassemble without replacing them, just be cautious about water exposure!
- Take out the two tiny 3.5 mm pentalobe screws chilling at the bottom edge of your iPhone.
Step 2
Pushing your opening pick in too deep can cause harm to your device—let's avoid that! Mark your pick at the right spot to keep things safe.
Feel free to mark the other edges of your pick with different measurements for extra precision.
Another trick: tape a coin onto your pick about 3 mm from the tip to act as a handy depth guide.
- Mark the opening pick 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker to keep your edge on point.
Step 3
The next three steps walk you through using the Anti-Clamp, a handy tool we created to make opening your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, just skip ahead three steps for another way to get it open.
For full details on how to handle the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
If your iPhone’s surface feels a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, try adding some tape to create a better hold.
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug backward—this releases the Anti-Clamp’s arms.
- Slide the arms over whichever edge of your iPhone is calling your name—left or right, dealer’s choice.
- Line up the suction cups near the bottom edge, just above the home button—one on the screen, one on the back.
- Give the cups a good squeeze to get some solid suction going right where you want it.
Step 4
- Slide that blue handle forward—arms locked and loaded!
- Give the handle a full 360-degree twist (clockwise) or keep turning until the suction cups start to stretch. You’ll know when it’s working.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups—they should stay lined up with each other. If they start to drift apart, loosen them a bit, realign the arms, and keep going.
Step 5
No need to rush—give it a quarter turn, then chill for a minute before the next. Let the Anti-Clamp do its thing and let time work its magic.
Feel free to grab a hair dryer, heat gun, or even a hot plate if you're feeling bold—but keep in mind that too much heat can mess with the display or internal battery. So, take it slow and steady!
If the Anti-Clamp isn't giving you enough space, no worries—just apply a bit more heat and give the handle a gentle quarter turn to loosen things up.
- Grab that iOpener and slide it through the arms of your trusty Anti-Clamp.
- Now, give that iOpener a little fold so it can rest on the bottom edge of your iPhone.
- Take a breather! Wait a minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a nice little gap for you.
- Slide an opening pick into that gap and get ready to dive in.
- Feel free to skip the next three steps and keep cruising along!
Tools Used
Step 6
Up next, we’re diving into three simple steps to gently pop the screen apart using a trusty suction cup.
- Warming up the bottom edge of your iPhone helps loosen the adhesive holding the screen, making it simpler to pry open.
- Grab a hairdryer or an iOpener and apply heat to the lower edge of your phone for about 90 seconds to soften the glue underneath.
Tools Used
Step 7
Make sure the suction cup stays clear of the home button; otherwise, it won't create a proper seal with the front glass. Keep it cozy and snug for the best results!
- Stick the suction cup onto the lower part of the screen, right above where the home button hangs out.
Step 8
The adhesive holding the screen in place is pretty tough, so getting that first gap to open will need some muscle. If you're struggling, just heat things up a bit more and gently rock the screen up and down. This should help loosen the adhesive enough for you to get your tool in there and make some progress.
- Grab the suction cup and give it a steady, confident pull to gently wiggle a tiny gap between the screen and the frame.
- Slide an opening pick into that gap to start prying things apart like a pro.
Step 9
Avoid trying to pry the top edge of the display off the rear case. It's held in place by plastic clips, and we’d rather you not break them – we know you’ve got this!
- Take your opening pick and glide it up the left side of the phone, starting at the bottom and heading toward those volume buttons and the silent switch. You’re breaking up that stubborn adhesive holding the display down.
- Pause when you reach the top left corner—don’t go any further just yet.
Step 10
Be careful! There are some fragile cables hanging out along the right edge of your iPhone. It’s best to keep your pick away from this area to avoid any accidental damage to those wires. You've got this!
Step 11
Keep your pick shallow—no deeper than 3 mm—so those precious display cables stay safe and sound.
- Pop your tool back in at the lower right corner of your iPhone, then glide it smoothly around the corner and up the right edge to loosen up that sticky adhesive.
Step 12
Keep your display angle at or below 15º to avoid putting a strain on those delicate ribbon cables that connect it. We want to keep everything cozy and intact!
- Gently lift the bottom edge of the display by pulling up on the suction cup. Take it slow and steady!
- Grab the small nub on the suction cup and pull to detach it from the front panel. Easy does it!
Step 13
- Gently slide an opening pick under the display, starting at the top left corner and moving along the top edge of the phone. This will help loosen any remaining adhesive, making the next steps a breeze!
Step 14
- Gently nudge the display assembly downward (away from the top of your phone) to pop those clips free from the rear case. A little wiggle goes a long way!
Step 15
Hold off on completely separating the display just yet! There are some delicate ribbon cables still linking it to the logic board, so take it slow and steady.
- Open up your iPhone by gently lifting the display from the left side—kind of like flipping open a book!
- Once the display is up, lean it carefully against something sturdy to keep it steady while you work on your phone.
Step 16
- Take out the four Phillips screws holding down the lower display cable bracket on the logic board. They come in these sizes:
- Keep a close eye on your screws throughout this process—putting them back in the wrong spots can cause damage you don't want.
- Next, remove the bracket.
- Two screws are 1.3 mm long
- Two screws are 2.8 mm long
Step 17
- Grab your trusty spudger and gently use its point to wiggle the battery connector out of its cozy little home on the logic board.
- Now, give that battery connector cable a little bend away from the logic board to keep it from sneaking back into its socket and accidentally powering up your phone while you're working your magic.
Tools Used
Step 18
- Gently use the pointy end of a spudger to pop the lower display connector out of its socket.
- When reconnecting press connectors like this one, press down on one side until you hear a click, then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle to keep the connector happy and prevent bending, which can cause permanent damage.
Tools Used
Step 19
- Gently use the pointy end of your spudger to unplug that second lower display cable. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 20
- Let's kick things off by unscrewing those three tiny 1.3 mm Phillips screws that are holding down the bracket over the front panel sensor assembly connector. Got your screwdriver ready? Awesome!
- Now, gently take off that bracket and set it aside. You're doing great!
Step 21
- Gently pry up the front panel sensor assembly connector using the pointy end of your spudger.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Let's kick things off by carefully taking out the display assembly.
- When you're putting everything back together, feel free to hit pause right here if you'd like to swap out the adhesive around the display edges.
Step 23
- Take out the three Phillips screws that are holding the top earpiece bracket to the front panel:
- Two are 2.6 mm (the big guys)
- One is 1.8 mm (the little guy)
Step 24
- Lift off the earpiece speaker bracket and set it aside—you're one step closer to victory!
Step 25
- Gently lift the front-facing camera out of its cozy socket and swing it to the side for a little extra room.
Step 26
- Unscrew the two Phillips screws holding the earpiece speaker to the front panel:
- One 1.8 mm screw
- One 2.3 mm screw
Step 27
- Line up your shiny new part with the original one. You might need to move a few bits over or peel off some sticky backing before popping it in place.
- Put your device back together by simply reversing the steps you followed earlier.
- Got some electronic scraps left? Take them to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler to keep things green.
- Things didn’t go as planned? No worries! If you’re stuck, you can always schedule a repair with the pros at Salvation Repair.
