Samsung Galaxy S III Broken Front Glass Replacement

Check if a protective screen is already applied to your phone.

• If yes, proceed with repairs.
• Else, cover the screen with tape of equal size from packaging material for future use during cleanup.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry open the back case.

The back case should come off with minimal effort.

• Remove the battery.

Remove the SIM card from the phone:

• Push the SIM card inwards slightly until you hear a click.
• Slide the SIM card out of its slot.

Note: Sprint USA phones do not use SIM cards.

Consider removing the motherboard for added safety.

• If removed, refer to the Samsung Galaxy S III Motherboard Replacement guide for detailed instructions.
• Proceed with using a heat gun.

Be cautious when using the heat gun as overheating may damage your device.

• Preheat the surface to 170-180° F (70-80° C) with an infrared thermometer to loosen the glue.
• Hold the infrared thermometer 3 inches from the phone and heat the borders for 3-5 minutes on low setting.
• Avoid overheating, which may cause discoloration or damage the digitizer.
• If discoloration occurs, immediately turn off the heat gun.

Use a guitar pick or plastic opening tool to carefully pry apart the glass edges, working from top to bottom.

Risk of cutting yourself on shards.

• Apply heat with a heat gun as needed while separating the glass.
• Be extra cautious when dealing with heavily damaged glasses and potential LCD exposure.

Start at the top borders and work down to the center, ungluing the entire screen.

• Leave opening tools in place to prevent re-bonding of the glass to the LCD.

• Be extra cautious when reaching the bottom as menu buttons may be stuck to the glass.

Do not pull the glass free yet, cables may be damaged. Pull the screen from top to bottom until you can see the menu and return button cables.

Do not damage the buttons or cable — extra care is required.

• Use a spudger to detach the buttons from the inner side of the glass, starting in the middle under the black ribbon.
• Apply gentle heat if necessary for button detachment.
• Work sideways from the center point to separate each button.

Remove the broken glass. If it's severely shattered, use tweezers to pick up individual shards or attach tape beforehand.

• For easier removal, consider using screen protectors.

Remove the metal gasket from the old glass and install it into the new glass.

Avoid applying too much WD40 or windex when cleaning glue.

• Use a microfiber cloth and a small amount of WD40 or windex to remove remaining glue.
• Never scrape glue from between the LCD and frame, as this may damage the LED.

When cleaning, apply gentle force toward the center or underneath to avoid cracking the LED.

• Cut two small pieces (1mm) of sticker tape and attach them to hold buttons in place.
• Ensure buttons align exactly with reference image.

Apply adhesive strips along the internal frame edges.

• Wipe down the digitizer with lint-free wipes or a microfiber cloth.
• Clean with lens cleaner for optimal clarity.

Remove the plastic film from the new glass, taking care not to touch the inner surface of the screen.

• The glass has two thin protective films on either side. Remove them before installing the glass onto your phone.

Inspect the glass under a light source to ensure it's streak-free.

If packaging marks are visible, clean with glass cleaner and let dry before proceeding.

• Remove the protective paper from the sticker tape.
• Apply the new glass to the surface, pressing the edges firmly to secure adhesion.