Samsung Galaxy S III LCD Display/Front Glass Replacement

Use a plastic opening tool or your fingernail to pry open the notch in the gap between the rear case and the phone's main body, located at the top.

• Gently twist the tool to release the clips holding the rear case in place.
• Be cautious not to break any of these clips along the perimeter of the rear case.

Slide the plastic opening tool left along the top edge, repeating the twisting motion to increase the gap.

• Move the tool in a smooth, continuous motion.
• Apply gentle but firm pressure as needed.

Move the plastic opening tool clockwise around the top left corner, carefully prying up the rear case.

Insert a pry tool into the top right corner of the rear case.

• Pry downwards along the right edge of the rear case.

Lift up the rear case carefully.

• Peel it away from any remaining clips.
• The rear case may need to be lifted further for complete separation.

Push the SIM card with your fingernail until you hear a click.

• Release the card and it will pop out of its slot.

If reassembling, push the SIM card into the slot until it clicks in place to avoid damage.

Use your thumb to slide out some of the SIM card.

• Grab hold of the partially exposed SIM card.
• Remove it away from the phone.

Push the microSD card into its slot using your fingernail.

• Continue pushing until you hear a click.
• Release the card and it will pop out of its slot.

Do not force the card beyond the click, as this may damage the slot or the card.

For reassembly, push the microSD card into the slot until it clicks in place.

Slide the microSD card out using your thumb.

• Remove the microSD card from the device.

Check if a protective screen is already installed on your phone.

• If not, cut a piece of packaging tape to match the screen size and apply it.
• This helps in safely removing the broken glass later.

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

• The back case should come out relatively easy.

• Remove the battery.
• No additional cables need to be disconnected.

Remove the SIM card if applicable.

• Push the SIM card in slightly to release it; you'll hear a small click when it's disengaged.
• Slide the SIM card out of its slot.

Note: Some providers, like Sprint USA, do not use SIM cards.

For added safety, consider removing the motherboard as well.

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

When using a heat gun on this device, be cautious of overheating, as it may cause discoloration or damage.

• Preheat the surface with an infrared thermometer set to 170-180° F (70-80° C) to loosen the glue without damaging electronics.
• Hold the heat gun approximately 3 inches away from your phone and use low setting for 3-5 minutes, depending on the gun's strength.

Discoloration indicates overheating; immediately shut off the heat gun if you notice any signs of damage.

Alternatively, working with a hair dryer may take up to 1 hour to melt the glue.

• The glue holds the glass to the frame and display; heating it will loosen its bond.

Never touch the LCD or broken glass shards — risk of electrical shock and personal injury.

• Use a guitar pick or plastic opening tool to carefully separate the edges of the glass, starting from the top and working downwards.
• Apply heat from the heat gun multiple times as you progress down the glass, taking extra care with severely damaged glasses to avoid damaging the LCD beneath the shards.

Start separating the screen from the top borders, working your way down to the center.

• Leave some opening tools in place to prevent the glass from bonding again.
• Be extremely careful when reaching the bottom as menu buttons are glued in place.
• Do not pull the glass yet; damage to cables is possible.
• Pull the screen from top to bottom until you can see the menu and return button cables.

Careful not to damage the buttons or cable.

• Use a spudger to detach the buttons from the inner glass side, which might require some heat.
• Start by prying under the black ribbon that connects the two buttons and work sideways to separate each one.

Remove the broken glass from the device.

• If the glass remains intact, remove it in one piece.
• If the glass is severely shattered:
• Use tweezers to pick up small fragments one at a time.
• Apply adhesive tape to the glass before removal.
• Consider using a screen protector for added protection.

Remove the small metal part from the old glass assembly.

• It will be necessary for installation into the new glass unit.

Remove excess glue from borders using a microfiber cloth with WD40 or Windex.

• Use minimal amount of cleaning solution to avoid damage.

Do not attempt to scrape glue from cracks between LCD and frame, as this may crack the LED.

Secure buttons with two small pieces (1mm) of sticker tape.

• Ensure buttons align perfectly with provided picture.

Place strips of sticker tape along the internal frame of the phone.

• Clean the digitizer with lint-free wipes or a microfiber cloth.
• Use a lens cleaner to leave it free from smudges and spots.

Remove the plastic film from the new glass.

Avoid touching the inner surface of the glass to prevent damage or scratches.

• Peel off both the top and bottom protective plastic layers from the glass.
• Place the prepared glass onto your phone, aligning it correctly.

Inspect the glass against a light source to ensure it is streak-free.

• If packaging has left noticeable marks, clean with glass cleaner and let dry before applying.
• Peel off the paper backing from the sticker tape and apply the new glass.
• Press down on the edges to secure adhesion.

• Disconnect the ten 4.0 mm Phillips screws from the midframe.
• The screws are securing it to the front panel assembly.

Hold the left side of the plastic midframe with your thumb and forefinger.

Lift upwards to remove it from the phone.

Use the spudger to carefully remove the display data cable from the motherboard.

Using a heated iOpener, loosen the display adhesive, starting from the top.

• Apply heat for 2 minutes before reheating.
• Work from the top of the screen to the bottom.

Use a pick to lift the display in one of its corners.

• Work the pick along the top, lifting the display away from the case.
• Insert a plastic card into the top edge for extra leverage and to prevent the display from reseating.

Reapply iOpener as needed, reheating and reapplying multiple times to ensure thorough adhesive removal.

• Monitor progress and adjust as necessary for optimal results.

Continue sliding the card down, using the picks to gently pry open the sides.

• Insert the picks into the display's sides.
• Slide the card towards the bottom of the phone.

If you see the same view as in the second picture after removing the card and picks, it indicates successful part separation.

Check if the touch buttons are still attached to the case.

• If yes, gently remove the adhesive tape holding them in place using a plastic spudger.
• If no, proceed with caution to avoid damaging the cable or buttons when handling them.

Be extremely careful not to damage the cable or buttons, as this may render your device unusable.

Careful: Bottom left corner must be removed first.

• Remove bottom left corner.
• Lift right side, being careful of connection cable.

Use a pick to gently pry cabling away from case, avoiding excessive force.

• Lift the display to the right once all adhesive is separated.

Careful not to damage the cable passing through the case.

• Separate the display from the case, guiding the cable through its path.

Compare the new display with the old one and the case.

• Check if your device has touchscreen buttons; if it does, skip to the next step.
• Proceed only if your device lacks touchscreen buttons.

Be careful when handling connectors and cables.

• Lift the black lock on the connector using a spudger.
• Gently pull the cable out of the connector.
• Use a pick to carefully separate the touchscreen cable from the display.
• If needed, place an iOpener on top to loosen the adhesive and facilitate separation.

Remove and dispose of the old display.

Retain the case for reuse.

• Save the touchscreen buttons for future assembly or replacement.

Be cautious when handling hot iOpener and sharp picks.

• Apply iOpener to loosen adhesive strip on case.
• Use picks to lift edges of strip, then peel off slowly.
• Patience is key; multiple attempts may be necessary with heating and picking.

Apply double-sided tape to the case to secure the glass in place.

• Remove the protective covering from the new LCD display's adhesive.
• Check if your replacement screen includes custom 3M tape sections.

Attach touchscreen buttons to the new screen.

• Slide cable through the case.

• Apply pressure, but do not press too hard, as this may damage the new screen.

• Follow steps 1-5 in reverse order to reassemble from the back.