iPhone SE 2022 Home/Touch ID Sensor Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 29 Steps
Heads up: most replacement home buttons won't have full functionality.
Ready to tackle the adventure of swapping out the home/touch ID sensor, also known as the home button, on your iPhone SE 2022? You’re in the right place! This guide is tailored for the A2783 (international) model. Keep in mind that the home button on the iPhone SE 2022 is a solid-state sensor with nifty Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) features. Be cautious with replacements, as most won’t play nice—so double-check before diving in! Your device’s original home button is paired with the logic board right from the factory, and without Apple's special calibration, even a genuine button from another iPhone will be a no-go. If you're looking to fix a busted home button, consider installing a universal-style button, but remember, you’ll lose the Touch ID magic. If you're just swapping out a broken screen, this guide will help you delicately remove and transfer your original home button to the new screen, keeping all its cool functions, including Touch ID! Note: We recommend fully detaching the display assembly for easier handling and to avoid any display cable mishaps. Feeling adventurous? If you prefer to keep those display cables connected while removing the Home/Touch ID Sensor, feel free to skip the disconnection steps. Just a heads-up: if you don’t replace the adhesive seals during reassembly, your device will still work like a charm, but it might lose some water resistance. Make sure to grab some replacement adhesive for a solid reattachment when putting everything back together!
Step 1
- First things first, turn off your phone before you get started with the disassembly.
- Unscrew the two 3.4 mm P2 pentalobe screws on the bottom edge of the iPhone. Keep those screws safe—they’re small but mighty!
Step 2
Don't let your pick go rogue—if it slides in too deep, it can mess with your device. Mark your pick so it knows when to stop!
Get creative and add marks to the other corners for different depths. Style points for color coding.
Or, for a DIY twist, tape a coin 3 mm from the tip of your pick. That way you get precision and pocket change.
- Mark the opening pick 3 mm from the tip using a permanent marker—just a little reminder to keep things precise!
Step 3
Pop on some safety glasses—your eyes deserve a little backup if any sneaky glass decides to jump out during the fix.
If your iPhone screen is cracked, don’t let it get any worse! Pop a piece of tape over the glass to keep things in check and prevent any sharp edges from causing harm while you work.
In a pinch, superglue the suction cup to the screen. It's not the best method, but hey, it works when you're in a bind!
- Start by layering some clear packing tape over the iPhone's screen, making sure to cover the entire face like a protective shield.
- If the suction cup isn't playing nice in the next few steps, just grab a sturdy piece of tape (duct tape works wonders) and fold it into a handy handle to give the screen a gentle lift instead.
Step 4
The next three steps walk you through using the Anti-Clamp, a handy gadget we crafted to make prying open your device a breeze. If you’re not using the Anti-Clamp, feel free to skip ahead three steps for another way to get the job done.
For full details on how to work the Anti-Clamp like a pro, check out this guide.
If your iPhone’s surface is a bit too slick for the Anti-Clamp to grip, try adding some tape for extra traction.
- Give that blue handle a little tug backwards to release the Anti-Clamp's arms.
- Gently glide those arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.
- Set the suction cups right near the bottom edge of the iPhone, just above the home button—one on the front and one on the back.
- Squeeze the cups together to create a snug little grip on the area you want to tackle.
Step 5
- Slide the blue handle forward to lock those arms in place.
- Rotate the handle clockwise a full 360 degrees or until you notice the cups starting to stretch.
- Keep an eye on the suction cups — make sure they stay lined up. If they start to drift, just loosen them a bit and realign the arms.
Step 6
Take it slow, don’t go twisting more than a quarter turn at a time. Give it a minute between each turn to let the Anti-Clamp and some good old-fashioned patience do their magic.
You can try using a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but remember, too much heat might harm the screen or battery, so handle with care!
If the Anti-Clamp isn’t making enough space, warm the area a bit more and twist the handle a quarter turn to help things along.
- Warm up that iOpener and slide it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp like a pro.
- Bend the iOpener so it rests snugly on the bottom edge of your iPhone.
- Take a breather for a minute to let the adhesive loosen up and create a tiny opening gap.
- Gently slide an opening pick under the screen's plastic bezel, steering clear of the screen itself.
- Feel free to skip the next two steps!
Step 7
If you're using a suction handle, follow these next couple of steps to gently pry off the rear glass. Go slow and steady!
You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate to warm things up, but keep an eye on the temperature! Both the display and internal battery are a bit sensitive to heat—too much can cause some damage. Take your time!
- Grab your iOpener and let it work its magic on the screen for about two minutes. This will help loosen up that stubborn adhesive hiding underneath.
Tools Used
Step 8
If the screen is playing hard to get, try heating up the bottom half a bit more to loosen that stubborn adhesive. Just follow the iOpener directions carefully so you don’t overcook it!
- Grab a suction handle and stick it to the lower part of the front panel, right near the home button for the best grip.
- Gently pull up on the suction handle to create a tiny gap between the front panel and the frame—time to let some air in!
- Now, slide an opening pick into that gap beneath the screen's plastic bezel and get ready to work your magic.
Tools Used
Step 9
- Gently slide the opening pick towards the bottom right corner to cut through that front panel adhesive. It’s like a clean break!
- Place another opening pick at the bottom edge of your device. A little extra leverage goes a long way.
- Now, slide the pick towards the bottom left corner to finish slicing through the adhesive. You’re almost there!
- Keep those picks in place so the adhesive doesn’t decide to come back together. You’ve got this!
Step 10
Avoid trying to wiggle the top edge of the display away from the rear case; it's secured with some tricky little plastic clips that might just throw a fit and break!
If the adhesive feels tough to slice through, it probably cooled off. Warm it back up by heating with your iOpener for two to three minutes and then try again.
- Gently slide the bottom left opening pick up along the left side of your phone to carefully cut through the adhesive.
- Pause as you reach the top left corner of the display.
Tools Used
Step 11
Keep your pick within 3 mm to avoid any unintentional run-ins with those delicate internal parts!
- Gently glide the bottom right opening pick along the right edge of your phone to cut through the adhesive.
- Pause just before you reach the top right corner of the display.
Step 12
Keep the display angle below 15º, or you might end up putting a strain on those delicate ribbon cables that connect the display. Let's keep everything in one piece, shall we?
- Take out those opening picks like a pro.
- Carefully lift the bottom edge of the display by pulling up on the suction handle—nice and easy now.
- Once the display starts to budge, remove the suction handle and keep going.
Tools Used
Step 13
- Gently slide an opening pick under the top left corner of the display to get things started.
- Now, glide that pick around the top left corner and along the top edge of the phone to cut through the rest of that sticky adhesive. You're doing great!
Step 14
- Gently slide the display assembly down toward the charging port to pop the clips free from the rear case—easy does it!
Step 15
Hold off on pulling the display completely away from the phone just yet—there are still some delicate ribbon cables hooking it up to the logic board!
- Gently lift the display open from the left side, just like turning the pages of your favorite book.
- Prop the display up against something sturdy so you can focus on the task at hand without it flopping around.
Step 16
- Unscrew the four Phillips screws holding the lower display cable bracket in place:
- As you work through the steps, keep track of those screws! They all need to return to their exact homes when it’s time to reassemble. Installing a screw in the wrong spot could lead to some serious damage, and we want to avoid that!
- Two screws that are 1.2mm long
- Two screws that are 2.8mm long
Step 17
- Grab a pair of tweezers and gently remove the lower display cable bracket. Be careful not to damage any components while you’re at it!
Tools Used
Step 18
- Grab the pointy end of your spudger and gently pry the battery connector straight up to unplug it from its socket.
Tools Used
Step 19
- Grab the pointed end of your spudger and gently pry up the bottom two display cables by lifting their connectors straight out from the sockets.
- When it's time to snap those connectors back in, press down on one side until you hear a click, then do the same on the other side. Avoid pressing the middle—if the connector is even a bit off, it might bend and cause permanent damage.
The display and digitizer cables like to hang out on top of each other, so make sure you don't mix them up! Always start by disconnecting the upper cable first, and never try to yank them both out at once. Take it slow, and if you're unsure at any point, feel free to schedule a repair for a helping hand.
Tools Used
Step 20
- Grab your trusty Phillips screwdriver and unscrew the three 1.2mm-long screws holding the front sensor assembly bracket in place. Easy, right? Just a couple of twists and you're good to go!
Step 21
- Grab your tweezers and gently lift the front sensor assembly bracket. Take your time, there's no rush!
Tools Used
Step 22
- Grab your trusty spudger and use the pointy end to gently pop the front sensor assembly connector straight up from its socket. Easy does it—no need to wrestle!
Tools Used
Step 23
- Gently detach the display assembly. Take your time with this one—it’s easier than you think, just give it a little patience and the screen will pop off without a hitch!
Step 24
- Take out the four screws holding the home/Touch ID sensor bracket in place:
- Three screws are 1.2 mm long—these are Y000 screws.
- One screw is 1.1 mm long—also a Y000 screw.
Step 25
- Grab your tweezers and gently lift off the home/Touch ID sensor bracket—no need for muscle, just a little finesse!
Tools Used
Step 26
If the whole connector starts to lift up instead of just separating, hold down the cable at the top edge with the flat end of your spudger, while gently prying up the left edge of the connector. Take it easy—damaging the cable or connector here will retire your sensor for good!
- Grab your trusty opening tool and gently pop up the left side of the home/Touch ID sensor cable connector to set it free from its socket.
Tools Used
Step 27
You can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate to warm things up, but take it easy—overheating can mess with your phone’s display and battery, which don’t appreciate the heat!
Step 28
Go easy on the cable connector here—the home/Touch ID sensor cable is wrapped around it and a wild move could tear it. Gently fold the connector up toward the selfie camera to keep those cables out of harm’s way.
- Gently slide your opening pick under the home/Touch ID sensor cable, then carefully lift it away from the back of the display panel. Take it slow, there's no rush!
Step 29
- If possible, power up your device and test your repair before sealing it all back up with the new adhesive.
- Take a moment to compare your new replacement part with the original one—you may need to move over some leftover bits or peel off adhesive backings before installing the new part.
- To put everything back together, just follow the steps in reverse order and you're golden.
- Got some e-waste? Make sure to drop it off at an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
- Things didn’t go as planned? No worries! Try some basic troubleshooting or ask for help from our community of experts.
