iPhone SE – Replacing the Lightning connector
Duration: 30 min.
Steps: 18 Steps
In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of swapping out your iPhone SE’s faulty Lightning connector all by yourself! This repair is a must if your computer is playing hard to get and won't recognize your iPhone, if you’re left with a dead battery because it won’t charge, if your headphone output is feeling a bit shaky, or if your headset’s remote control is just not responding. Plus, if your microphone is on strike and people can’t hear you during calls, it’s time to replace that Lightning connector. Let’s get your iPhone SE back in action!
Step 1
- First things first, power down your iPhone completely to keep it safe during the repair process.
- Give that standby button a nice press for about three seconds until you see the slider pop up.
- Swipe that slider from left to right, and just like that, your iPhone will be shutting down in about ten seconds. Easy peasy!
Step 2
2 × Pentalobe
- Grab your trusty pentalobe screwdriver; it's essential for getting into the iPhone SE.
- Next up, let's tackle those two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure. They're hanging out right next to the Lightning connector, one on each side. Make sure to keep these little guys safe in the same box for later!
Step 3
Watch out for those sneaky shards of glass! They can be sharp and might just want to ruin your day. So, handle with care while you're lifting that display!
- Place your iPhone SE on a soft, clean surface to keep that back safe from scratches.
- To lift the display, grab a suction cup and a hard plastic pick. If your screen is looking like it’s been through a battle, cover it with tape first. Safety first, folks! We don’t want any glass injuries.
- Stick the suction cup over the Home button if you can (if not, just pop it next to it). While you gently lift the display with the suction cup, use the hard plastic pick to press down on the aluminum frame. At the same time, slide that pick between the aluminum frame and the display. It might take a few tries, but you’ve got this!
- Once you’ve created a little gap, you can open it up more by slightly twisting the pick.
- As soon as you can lift the display a few millimeters, work your way around the edges to loosen it on both sides. But hold your horses! Don’t fully remove the display just yet; you need to disconnect the Home button first.
- There’s a metal cover blocking the Home button. Use a pair of tweezers to carefully remove that cover.
- Once the cover is off, you can disconnect the Home button from the flexible flat Lightning cable.
Step 4
2 × 1.5 mm Phillips
- Underneath a cover, you'll find the battery contact and the flexible flat Lightning cable contact. This cover is held in place by two Phillips screws. Grab your Phillips screwdriver and unscrew those screws. Once they’re out, use a pair of tweezers to gently lift the cover off. Don’t forget to keep all the parts in the same compartment of your organizer tray – organization is key!
- Next, let’s carefully disconnect that battery contact using your trusty spudger. Slide the pointed tip just below the connector to pry it loose. If you don’t have a spudger handy, your fingernail can do the trick too. You got this!
Step 5
1 × 1.4 mm Phillips
1 × 1.5 mm Phillips
2 × 1.1 mm Phillips
- First, let's tackle those four Phillips screws holding the silver cover in place. Make sure to keep them in a safe spot, like a little container, so they don’t wander off. Once they’re out, gently lift the cover off!
- Now, it’s time to disconnect three overlapping connectors. Follow the order shown in the image carefully. Take your trusty spudger and place its pointed tip just below each contact, then lift it up gently. You've got this!
Step 6
Lightning connector
Antenna
- First, let's disconnect that plug on the Lightning connector's flex cable. Gently slide the spudger's pointed tip just below the contact and give it a little lift. The flex cable is just a tad glued to the back cover, so detach it carefully and fold it over like a pro.
- Now, grab that spudger again and use it to unhook the antenna cable from the logic board. You're doing great!
Step 7
1 × 3.0 mm Phillips
2 × 3.3 mm Phillips
2 × 1.3 mm Phillips
2 × 2.7 mm Phillips
- Time to tackle those seven Phillips screws! Make sure to toss them into separate containers so you can easily spot them later. You’ve got this!
Step 8
- Grab the flat end of your spudger and gently lift that speaker out of its cozy little home. Just a heads up, there are two tabs keeping it snug inside. One sneaky tab is hiding under the logic board, right below the antenna connection, while the other one is just below where the Home button connects to the Lightning connector.
- Now, take your tweezers and give the speaker a little twist to free it from its spot.
Step 9
- The Lightning connector is glued to the back cover, so let's warm things up a bit! Use a heat gun to gently heat the back cover and the connector to loosen that stubborn glue.
- Now, grab your trusty steel laboratory spatula and carefully pry the Lightning connector free. Just slide that spatula under different parts of the flexible flat cable and give it a little nudge.
- Finally, with a gentle touch, remove the ribbon cable using your fingers or tweezers. You're doing great!
Step 10
- Slide that Lightning connector back into its cozy spot on the back cover, just like it was before!
- Give that flexible flat cable a good press so the glue can really bond with the back cover; it’s like giving it a warm hug!
- Double-check that the microphone with its rubber sleeve, the Lightning connector, and the headphone jack are all snugly fit into the frame.
Step 11
- Alright, let's get that speaker back in its original spot! Remember, there are two tabs keeping it snug inside. One of those sneaky tabs is hiding under the logic board, right below the antenna connection, while the other tab is just below where the Home button connects to the Lightning connector. Use your tweezers to twist and gently insert the speaker back in place. You've got this!
Step 12
1 × 3.0 mm Phillips
2 × 3.3 mm Phillips
2 × 1.3 mm Phillips
2 × 2.7 mm Phillips
- Secure that Lightning connector in place with those seven Phillips screws! You've got this, just make sure they’re nice and snug!
Step 13
Antenna
- First, let's get that antenna cable cozy with the logic board! Just connect it right up.
- Now, it's time to give the Lightning connector a warm welcome back to the logic board. Reconnect it and you're all set!
Step 14
Front camera flex
LCD
Digitizer
1 × 1.4 mm Phillips
1 × 1.5 mm Phillips
2 × 1.1 mm Phillips
If those display connectors are feeling a bit shy and not properly connected, you might see some funky stripes on your screen or find that parts of the touchscreen are on a break. Let's make sure everything's snug and ready to go!
- Reconnect those connectors! Sometimes connecting the display can be a bit tricky, so don’t be shy if it takes a couple of attempts. Just be super careful not to bend them.
- Once you've got those connectors snugly in place, fire up your iPhone! Give the LCD, touchscreen, proximity sensor, front camera, and earpiece a quick check. If the display connectors aren’t sitting right, you might see some funky stripes or find parts of the touchscreen are on a break.
- Now it’s time to put the cover back on and secure it with screws. You're almost there!
Step 15
2 × 1.5 mm Phillips
- First, let's get that battery contact cozy with the logic board!
- Now, pop that cover back on and secure it with the two Phillips screws. You're almost done!
Step 16
- Pop that display into the enclosure at the top edge where those connection cables are hanging out. Make sure it clicks into place just right!
- Before you can link up your device to the display, don’t forget to connect the Home button to the Lightning connector and secure them with the cover. Teamwork makes the dream work!
- Gently press down on the display towards the Home button until it fits snugly into the frame. It should be flush with the frame, just like a perfect puzzle piece!
Step 17
2 × 3.8 mm Pentalobe
- Alright, let's get those two pentalobe screws at the bottom of the enclosure all snugged up! They're just waiting to be fastened, so grab your trusty screwdriver and make them feel at home.
Step 18
Heads up! When you pop out the battery, your iPhone will forget the time and reset to 1:00 a.m. on 1/1/1970. Without the right time, you might have a hard time connecting to the cellular network. So, let’s get that time back on track!
- Let's kick things off by syncing your iPhone with iTunes or hopping onto a WLAN network and just chill for a bit while the time gets sorted out.
- Next up, pop out that SIM tray with the SIM card and then slide it back in like a pro.
- Now, switch on airplane mode for a moment and then turn it off again. Simple as that!
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