iPhone SE 2022 Earpiece Speaker Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 28 Steps
Follow this guide to swap out a busted earpiece speaker on an iPhone SE 2022, specifically the A2783 (international) model. Heads up: this walkthrough has you fully detach and remove the display assembly—that’s the easiest way to avoid stressing those delicate display cables. If you’re confident handling the earpiece without unplugging the display cables, feel free to skip those disconnect steps. Just a quick note—if you skip replacing the adhesive seals when putting everything back together, your phone will work fine, but you’ll probably lose some water resistance. To keep things sealed tight, make sure to have replacement adhesive ready when you reassemble.
Step 1
- Before you dive in, make sure to power off your phone. It's always a good idea to keep things safe and sound!
- Grab your P2 pentalobe screwdriver and carefully remove the two 3.4mm screws on the bottom edge of your iPhone. Let's get that cover off!
Step 2
Be careful not to shove that opening pick in too deep; it could end up causing some damage to your gadget. To avoid this, let's mark your pick so you can keep things safe and sound!
You can also add some measurements to the other corners of the pick to make it even easier.
If you prefer, you can stick a coin to a pick, making sure it's about 3 mm from the tip. Simple as that!
- Grab your opening pick and make a mark with a permanent marker exactly 3 mm from the tip. Precision is the name of the game!
Step 3
Pop on those safety glasses before you dive in—nothing like a little eye protection in case some glass decides to make a surprise exit during your repair adventure.
Got a cracked iPhone screen? No worries! Tape over the glass to keep it in check and prevent any sharp surprises while you work your repair magic.
If you're still struggling, a little superglue on the suction cup might just do the trick. It'll give you a solid grip for the next step.
- Cover the entire iPhone screen with overlapping strips of clear packing tape to keep everything in place.
- If the suction cup refuses to stick in the next steps, no worries! Just fold a strong tape like duct tape into a little handle and use that to lift the screen instead.
Step 4
Ready for a smooth opening? The next three steps walk you through using the Anti-Clamp, a nifty tool designed to make your life easier. Not using the Anti-Clamp? Just skip ahead three steps for the alternate route.
Want the full scoop on the Anti-Clamp? Check out the dedicated guide for all the details.
If your iPhone is playing hard to get and feels too slick for the Anti-Clamp, try sticking some tape on it for extra grip.
- Give that blue handle a gentle tug towards you to set the Anti-Clamp's arms free.
- Slide those arms over the edge of your iPhone—pick either the left or right side, it's your call!
- Now, grab those suction cups and place them just above the home button on the bottom edge of your iPhone—one on the front and one on the back.
- Press the cups together to create some suction magic in the chosen spot!
Step 5
- Give that blue handle a little pull forward to lock the arms in place.
- Now, twist the handle clockwise a full 360 degrees, or keep going until those suction cups start to stretch out.
- Keep an eye on those suction cups to make sure they're staying in line. If they start to drift, just loosen them up a bit and get them back in perfect alignment.
Step 6
Take it easy with the turning! Give it a gentle twist of no more than a quarter turn at a time, and then chill for a minute between each twist. Let the Anti-Clamp and a little patience do the heavy lifting for you.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate can help loosen things up, but keep it cool—too much heat can mess with your screen or battery.
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t giving you enough wiggle room, warm things up a bit more and twist the handle a quarter turn for that extra boost.
- Warm up that iOpener and slide it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp.
- Fold the iOpener and rest it along the bottom edge of your iPhone.
- Give it a minute to let the adhesive soften and form a nice little gap for you to work with.
- Carefully slide an opening pick under the plastic bezel around the screen—not the screen itself.
- Feel free to skip the next couple of steps, you're good to go!
Step 7
If you're using a suction handle, get ready to tackle the next two steps to gently loosen that rear glass!
Feeling a little chilly? A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate can do the trick too, but be sure to keep an eye on the heat—both the display and internal battery aren't fans of getting too toasty!
- Grab your iOpener and give it a little warm-up action on the screen for at least two minutes. This will help loosen the adhesive underneath, so you’re ready for the next move!
Tools Used
Step 8
If that gap’s playing hard to get, try warming up the bottom half of the screen a bit more to loosen the adhesive. Just stick to the iOpener instructions and keep things chill—no need to cook your device!
- Attach a suction handle to the bottom part of the front panel, aiming to get it as close to the home button as you can.
- Gently pull up on the front panel using the suction handle to create a small opening between the panel and the frame.
- Slip an opening pick into the gap beneath the screen’s plastic bezel to start loosening it.
Tools Used
Step 9
- Gently slide that opening pick to the bottom right corner and give that front panel adhesive a little slice!
- Now, pop in a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone – it's like giving it a little buddy!
- Slide your trusty opening pick over to the bottom left corner to cut through the adhesive there too.
- Keep those opening picks snug in place to make sure the adhesive doesn't try to sneak back together.
Step 10
Avoid prying the top edge of the display away from the rear case—those plastic clips are holding on tight and can snap if you’re too rough.
If the adhesive is giving you a hard time and feels tough to slice through, it probably just got a little too cool. Give your iOpener a whirl for two to three minutes to warm things back up and get that sticky situation sorted!
- Glide the bottom left opening pick up the left side of your phone—think of it as spreading peanut butter, but stickier.
- Pause when you get close to the top left corner of the screen. Don’t go overboard!
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick insertion under 3 mm to avoid poking any sensitive bits inside.
- Glide the bottom right opening pick up the right side of your phone, slicing through the adhesive as you go.
- Pause when you reach the top right corner—almost there!
Step 12
Keep the display tilted no more than 15º—anything more and you might end up stressing or damaging the ribbon cables that connect the display. Take it slow and steady, your device will thank you!
- Time to say goodbye to those opening picks! Pop them off.
- Now, gently pull up on the suction handle to lift the bottom edge of the display—like you're getting the lid off a treasure chest.
- And, just like that, remove the suction handle. Easy peasy.
Tools Used
Step 13
- Gently slide an opening pick beneath the top left corner of the display, like you're sneaking into a secret club.
- Now, glide that pick around the top left corner and along the top edge of the phone to slice through the remaining adhesive, as if you're spreading frosting on a cake.
Step 14
- Gently nudge the display assembly down towards the charging port—those sneaky clips are holding on, but a smooth slide will set it free from the rear case.
Step 15
Hold off on prying the display away—there are some delicate ribbon cables still hanging on to the logic board. No need to rush this reunion!
- Flip open the phone by swinging the display up from the left side, just like opening the back cover of a book.
- Prop the display against something sturdy to keep it standing while you get your hands busy inside the phone.
Step 16
- First up, let's tackle those four Phillips screws holding down the lower display cable bracket. You've got this!
- As you work through this guide, make sure to keep an eye on your screws—each one deserves to return to its rightful home during reassembly. Putting a screw in the wrong spot could lead to some not-so-fun consequences.
- Two screws measuring 1.2 mm long
- Two screws measuring 2.8 mm long
Step 17
- Grab your tweezers and gently lift off the lower display cable bracket—easy does it!
Tools Used
Step 18
- Grab the pointy end of your spudger and gently pop the battery connector straight up from its socket—just a little nudge, no force necessary!
Tools Used
Step 19
The display and digitizer cables are like best buddies, tangled up on top of each other. To keep them happy and avoid any accidental breakups, always unplug the upper cable first. Remember, no double trouble—disconnect one at a time for a smooth repair journey!
- Grab the pointed end of your spudger and gently lift the bottom two display cables out of their sockets, pulling straight up. Take your time here—no need to rush!
- To put the connectors back, press down on one side until you hear that satisfying 'click'. Then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle! A little misalignment can bend the connector, and trust us, that’s not a good look. Take it slow and steady.
Tools Used
Step 20
- Grab your Phillips screwdriver and take out the three tiny 1.2 mm screws holding the front sensor assembly bracket in place.
Step 21
- Grab your trusty tweezers and gently lift off the front sensor assembly bracket with care.
Tools Used
Step 22
- Grab the pointy end of your spudger and gently pry the front sensor assembly connector straight up from its socket to disconnect it. Easy does it!
Tools Used
Step 23
- Carefully lift out the display assembly to set the stage for your next move.
Step 24
- Let's get those screws out of the way! Start by removing the three screws that are holding down the earpiece speaker bracket:
- Two Phillips screws measuring 2.6 mm in length
- One Phillips screw that is 1.6 mm long
Step 25
- Grab yourself a trusty pair of tweezers and gently pry away the earpiece speaker bracket. You've got this!
Tools Used
Step 26
Give that front camera cable some TLC—don’t tug or twist it during this step.
- Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently lift that front-facing camera out of its cozy little socket. Swing it to the left so you can easily access the earpiece speaker. You're doing great!
Tools Used
Step 27
- Remove the two screws holding the earpiece speaker in place:
- A 1.8 mm Phillips screw
- A 2.3 mm Phillips screw
Step 28
- Power up your device and give your repair a whirl before sealing things up with fresh adhesive.
- Check your new part against the old one—sometimes you’ll need to move over a few bits or peel off protective stickers before installing.
- Ready to put everything back together? Just go through these steps in reverse.
- Recycle your old parts with an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler—let’s keep it clean!
- If things didn’t go quite to plan, try a little troubleshooting, or swing by our Answers community for some pro tips. Still stuck? You can always schedule a repair.
