Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Antenna Replacement

Power off your device completely.

• iOpener, or alternatively a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate, applied to the back cover's bottom edge for two minutes, can be used to loosen adhesives.

Avoid overheating: heat damage may occur on display, internal battery, and plastic back cover.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, near the center of the bottom edge.

• Pull up on the suction cup with strong force until a gap forms between the back cover and frame.
• If necessary, apply heat and try again due to the phone's age or difficulty.

Insert an opening pick into the gap, but only up to 5 mm to avoid damaging internal components.

Slide the pick back and forth along the bottom edge to cut through the adhesive.

Do not remove the pick as this will allow the adhesive to reseal.

Apply iOpener to the left edge of the back cover and heat for 2 minutes.

• Attach a suction cup to the phone's back, near the left edge.
• Pull up on the suction cup with steady force to create a gap between cover and frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap, but no more than 5 mm deep to avoid damage.

Never insert the pick too far, as you may cause internal component damage.

Do not cut too far to avoid damaging the camera area.

• Insert an opening pick along the left edge and guide it towards the bottom left corner.
• Stop before reaching the camera shell, as cutting past this point may crack the plastic.
• Leave the pick in place to prevent re-adhesion.

Apply a iOpener to the right edge of the back cover and heat it for 2 minutes.

Apply a suction cup near the center of the right edge.

Do not insert the pick more than 3mm — risk of damaging the secondary interconnect cable.

• Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Sliding an opening pick back and forth along the back cover's right edge will break the adhesive.

• Insert the pick and continue to slide it back and forth until the adhesive is broken.
• Leave the pick in place to prevent re-adhesion of the adhesive.

Insert a right-edge opening pick around the top-right corner of the phone.

• Only insert up to 5 mm deep to avoid damaging internal components.
• This procedure can be applied to all corners, except for the top-left where the rear-facing camera is located.

Position the top-most opening pick near the camera lens.

• Slide it in carefully.
• Repeat with the left-edge pick.

Apply a heated iOpener to the camera shell for 2 minutes.

Rotate the back cover counterclockwise to create a gap.

• Insert the pick up to 5 mm to avoid scratching the camera.
• Place an opening pick in the created gap.

If this method doesn't work, proceed with caution and follow the next step for an alternative method.

Risk of cracking the plastic back cover — be cautious.

• Slide the two picks under the corners of the back cover adjacent to the camera shell.
• Move the picks along the bridge, creating a gap between the camera shell and the frame.

Heating may require multiple rounds due to strong adhesive holding the frame in place.

• Slide an opening pick between the camera shell and the frame to cut the adhesive.
• Heat the area as necessary until the adhesive is loosened, repeating this process if needed.

Remove excess adhesive from the right side of the camera lens.

Beware of the flash plate on the back cover, as it may catch the pick; angle it downward to prevent damage.

Line up the opening pick's tip with your phone's flash.

• Insert the pick slowly, avoiding the flash's plate.
• The plate may feel like adhesive; angle the pick downward to prevent it from sliding in.
• Slice the adhesive to the right of the camera.

Remove the back cover.

If stuck, slide a pick around edges until it separates completely.

• Power on phone and test functions before sealing.
• Ensure phone is powered down before continuing.

Remove adhesive chunks with tweezers or fingers, then wipe with high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol.

For Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow separate guide.

For double-sided tape, follow separate guide.

Remove the five 4 mm screws using a Phillips screwdriver.

• Keep track of each screw for reinstallation.
• Ensure each screw is returned to its original location.

Use a pair of tweezers to gently pull up and unclip the motherboard bracket from the frame.

Do not completely remove the bracket yet, as it's still attached to the wireless charging coil.

Prying the battery press connector requires caution to avoid damaging surrounding components.

• Hold the motherboard bracket out of the way using tweezers or your fingers.
• Use a spudger to carefully pry up the battery press connector from under its edge.

Do not press down on the middle section — misalignment can cause permanent damage to the pins.

• To re-attach, align and press down on one side until it clicks into place.
• Repeat the process for the other side; do not press in the middle.

Hold the motherboard bracket aside.

• Pry up the wireless charging coil's press connector using a spudger.
• Disconnect the press connector.

Peel the wireless charging coil away from the phone using your fingers.

• During reassembly, refasten the motherboard bracket screws.
• Firmly press the rest of the wireless charging coil down to adhere it properly.

Remove the 3.5 mm screws using a Phillips screwdriver.

• Screw type: 3.5 mm Phillips head
• Number of screws: three
• Location: Securing the 5G antenna brackets to the frame.

Use a spudger with the flat end to carefully release the press connector on the 5G antenna cable.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up on the left 5G antenna bracket's bottom screw tab.

• Remove the left 5G antenna using tweezers or your fingers.

Disconnect the 5G antenna cable's press connector using a spudger.

Locate the right 5G antenna bracket.

• Pry up the right 5G antenna bracket's top edge using a spudger.
• Alternatively: Remove the right 5G antenna with tweezers or your fingers.