iPhone SE 2020 Battery Replacement

Use this guide to revive your iPhone SE 2020’s...

Written By: Adam O'Camb

INTRODUCTION

Use this guide to revive your iPhone SE 2020’s battery life and performance with a new
battery. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

This guide instructs you to completely detach the display assembly; this is intended to
prevent accidental damage to the display cables. If you feel comfortable removing the
battery without putting undue strain on the display cables, you can skip the steps for
detaching the display. Additionally, while it’s possible to remove the adhesive strips
securing the battery as soon as you open the phone, this guide recommends first removing
the Taptic Engine. Doing so reduces the risk of breaking the lower adhesive strips
accidentally, either by snagging them on the Taptic Engine, or by pulling the strips at too
sharp of an angle.

For optimal performance, after completing this guide, calibrate your newly installed
battery: Charge it to 100% and keep charging it for at least two more hours. Then use your
iPhone until it shuts off due to low battery. Finally, charge it uninterrupted to 100%.

TOOLS: PARTS:

P2 Pentalobe Screwdriver iPhone (1) iPhone SE 2020 Battery (1)

Suction Handle (1) iPhone 8/SE 2020 Battery Adhesive
iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) (1) Strips (1)
iOpener (1) iPhone 8/SE 2020/SE 2022 Display
Spudger (1) Assembly Adhesive (1)
Tweezers (1)
Phillips #000 Screwdriver (1)
Tri-point Y000 Screwdriver (1)
Standoff Screwdriver for iPhones (1)
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.
Step 2 — Mark your opening picks

If inserted too far, an opening pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark
your pick and prevent damage.

Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
You can also mark the other corners of the pick with different measurements.

Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Step 3 — Anti-Clamp instructions

The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the
opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps
for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.

Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.

Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your iPhone.

Position the suction cups 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 apply suction to the desired area.

If you find that the surface of your iPhone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold
onto, you can use tape to create a grippier surface.
Step 4

Pull the blue handle forwards to lock the arms.

Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.

Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of
alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.
Step 5

Heat an iOpener and thread it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp.

You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but extreme heat can damage
the display and/or internal battery, so proceed with care.

Fold the iOpener so it lays on the bottom edge of the iPhone.

Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and
rotate the handle a quarter turn.

Don't crank more than a quarter turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns.
Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.

Skip the next three steps.

Step 6 — Heat the display

The next three steps show how

to separate the screen using a
suction cup.

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 7 — 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.
Step 8

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure to create a slight gap between
the screen and the frame.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

The watertight adhesive holding the screen 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 9

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 10 — Screen information

There are delicate cables along

the right edge of your iPhone.
Don't insert your pick here,
as you may damage the cables.

Step 11

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 your pick more than 3 mm, as you may damage the display cables.
Step 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

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 16 — 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.

Step 17

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 18 — 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.

Step 19

Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the second lower display cable.
Step 20

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

Remove the bracket.

Step 21

Use the point of a spudger to disconnect the front panel sensor assembly connector.
Step 22 — 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.

Step 23 — Remove the Wi-Fi diversity antenna

Remove the three screws

securing the bracket next to
the Taptic Engine:

One 1.3 mm Y000 screw

One 2.7 mm Phillips screw

One 2.9 mm Phillips screw

Step 24

Remove the bracket.

Step 25

Gently slide an opening pick between the antenna flex cable and the top of the speaker.
This portion of the flex cable is lightly adhered in place. If necessary, apply a little
heat from an iOpener or hair dryer to soften the adhesive. This will make it easier to
separate the flex cable safely.
Step 26

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the diversity antenna flex cable
from the logic board.

Step 27

Slide an opening pick under the antenna flex cable to hold the socket down.

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the antenna flex cable from its
socket, using the opening pick to hold the socket down.
Reconnecting this cable can be tricky. Make it easier by using your tweezers to hold
the flex cable so the connector aligns with its socket. Then, gently press straight down
on the connector with the flat of your spudger until it clicks into place.
Step 28

Remove the Wi-Fi diversity

antenna.

Step 29 — Remove the Taptic Engine

Remove the two screws

securing the Taptic Engine:
One 2.1 mm Phillips screw

One 2.1 mm standoff 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 30

Use the point of your spudger to pry the antenna cable socket up and away from the
connector below it.

Step 31

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the Taptic Engine flex cable.
Step 32

Remove the Taptic Engine.

Step 33 — Remove the battery adhesive

The iPhone's battery is secured

by four pieces of stretch-
release adhesive—two at the
top, and two at the bottom.

Each piece of adhesive has a

black pull-tab at the end, which
is lightly adhered to the front
surface of the battery.
Step 34

Peel back the first battery adhesive tab from the bottom right edge of the battery.
If possible, use your fingernails or blunt tweezers. Be careful not to poke the battery
with any sharp tools.
Step 35

Try to keep the adhesive strips flat and unwrinkled during this procedure; twisted or
wrinkled strips will stick together and break instead of pulling out cleanly.

Additionally, do not press down on the battery as you pull the strips. Pressing on the
battery creates pressure points that can snag and break the adhesive.

Slowly pull one battery adhesive tab away from the battery, towards the bottom of the
iPhone.

Pull steadily, maintaining constant tension on the strip until it slips out from between
the battery and the rear case. For best results, pull the strip at as low an angle as
possible, without snagging it on any of the iPhone's other components.
The strip will stretch to many times its original length. Continue pulling and re-grab
the strip near the battery if necessary.

If the battery adhesive tabs break during the removal process, use your fingers or blunt
tweezers to retrieve the remaining length of adhesive, and continue pulling.

If any of the adhesive strips break underneath the battery and cannot be retrieved, try
to remove the remaining strips, and then proceed as instructed below.
Step 36

Repeat the above steps to remove the remaining three adhesive strips.
Be sure to hold onto the battery as you remove the final strip, or it may fling out of the
iPhone unexpectedly.

If you removed all of the adhesive strips successfully, skip the next step.

If any of the adhesive strips broke off underneath the battery and could not be
retrieved, continue with the next step below.
Step 37

If any of the adhesive strips broke off and the battery remains stuck to the rear case,
remove it by adding a few drops of isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater) underneath the
battery near the stuck strip(s). After about a minute, gently lift the battery.
Don't try to forcefully lever the battery out. If needed, apply a few more drops of
alcohol to further weaken the adhesive. Never deform or puncture the battery with
your pry tool.

If you choose to use pry tools to lift the battery out of the iPhone, use extreme caution
or you may damage the ribbon cables or the wireless charging coil directly
underneath the battery.

If the battery remains stuck to the rear case, prepare an iOpener or use a hair dryer to
heat the rear case directly behind the battery. This will help soften the adhesive.
Heat the iPhone until the rear case is slightly too hot to comfortably touch. Don't
overheat the iPhone, or you may accidentally ignite the battery.

Alternatively, thread a strong piece of string (such as dental floss or a length of thin
guitar string) underneath the battery.
Pull the string from side to side in a sawing motion all along the length of the battery
to separate the adhesive. Do not deform or damage the battery.

To protect your fingers, wear gloves or wrap the string ends around a tool (such as
the two screwdriver handles shown in the image).
Step 38 — Remove the battery

Remove the battery from the

iPhone.

If your replacement battery

came in a plastic sleeve, slide
off and remove the sleeve
before installation.

If there's any alcohol solution

remaining in the phone,
carefully wipe it off or allow it
to air dry before installing your
new battery.

If your new battery doesn’t

have adhesive preinstalled,
refer to this guide to replace
the adhesive strips.

Perform a force restart after

reassembly. This can prevent
several issues and simplify
troubleshooting.

Before you adhere the

replacement battery,
temporarily reconnect the
battery connector to the logic
board socket. This ensures that
the battery is properly aligned
in its recess.
Adhere the battery,
disconnect it, and continue
reassembling your device.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Don't forget to
reapply the display adhesive before reinstalling the display.

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.