Nothing Phone (1) Rear Glass Replacement
Replacing the rear glass on the Nothing Phone (1) compromises its IP rating and water resistance.
- To perform the replacement:
- Purchase new adhesive for reassembly.
Step 1 | Heat the rear glass
Apply a iOpener for 2+ minutes to loosen rear glass adhesive.
Alternatives: use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate.
Avoid overheating as it may cause heat damage to the display and internal battery.
Step 2 | Insert an opening pick
Adhesive slicing requires care — risk of damage or injury.
- Suction Handle: Attach near rear glass edge, at the back.
- To repair cracked suction:
- Temporarily lift with strong tape.
- Apply superglue and let it cure.
- Lift rear glass with the suction handle, creating a small gap.
- No gap? Apply more heat (follow iOpener instructions).
Insert an opening pick into the created gap.
- Opening Pick: Slide to bottom right corner to slice adhesive.
- Leave the pick in place to prevent resealing.
Step 3 | Slice the adhesive
- Insert Pick 2 at the device's bottom edge and secure it.
- Slice the adhesive with Pick 2, placing it at the bottom left corner.
Do not remove either pick to prevent re-adhesion of the broken screen.
Step 4 | Slice the adhesive
Careful not to damage nearby LEDs, approximately 2-3 mm from the glyph.
- If adhesive becomes hard and unyielding, apply heat with an iOpener for 1-2 minutes.
- Add another Pick to the bottom left corner for additional support.
- Gently slide the Pick along the left edge to carefully slice the adhesive.
- Leaving a Pick in the top left corner will help prevent resealing of the area.
Step 5
- Insert the Opening Pick into the top-left phone corner and slide it along the top edge to cut the adhesive.
- Anchor the Secure Pick in the top-right corner.
Step 6
Be careful not to damage surrounding components.
- Insert the fifth Opening Pick under top right corner of device.
- Slide it along the right edge of rear glass to break remaining adhesive.
Separate the rear glass from the frame.
- If stuck, use the pick to scrape extra adhesive around edges.
Step 7 | Remove the rear glass
Use caution when handling sharp edges and fragile components.
- Remove the rear glass from the device.
- Clean the area with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).
- Clean the rear glass using a dust blower.
- Install new rear glass into the device.
- Attach the back cover with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape.
- Apply strong, steady pressure for minutes to form a good bond.
- (Optional) Add weight using heavy books.