A wafer having on one side a device area with a plurality of devices is processed by providing a protective film and applying the protective film, for covering the devices on the wafer, to the one side of the wafer, so that a front surface of the protective film is in direct contact with the one side of the wafer. The protective film is heated during and/or after applying the protective film to the one side of the wafer, so that the protective film is attached to the one side of the wafer, and the side of the wafer opposite to the one side is processed. Further, the invention relates to a method of processing such a wafer in which a liquid adhesive is dispensed only onto a peripheral portion of a protective film and/or only onto a peripheral portion of the wafer.