Samsung Galaxy S21 Motherboard Replacement

Completely power off your phone before starting.

• Apply a preheated iOpener to the bottom edge of the back cover for two minutes.
• Alternatively, use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate but be careful not to overheat the device and risk damage to the display, internal battery, or plastic back cover.

Apply a suction cup to the phone's back, near its center.

• Pull up with strong force to create a gap between the cover and frame.
• If necessary, apply heat for easier separation.

Only insert an opening pick 5 mm deep to avoid damage.

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

Do not remove the pick yet — leave it in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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

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

• Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap, but only go in up to 5 mm to avoid damaging internal components.

Insert an opening pick into the left edge and slide it towards the bottom left corner.

Do not cut past the camera shell – you risk damaging the plastic.

Leave the pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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

Apply suction cup near center of right edge.

• Pull up with strong force to create gap between back cover and frame.
• Insert opening pick up to 3 mm into the gap, being careful not to damage the secondary interconnect cable that runs parallel to the right edge.

Insert an opening pick into the right side of the device and gently move it back and forth to loosen the adhesive.

Do not remove the pick as this can cause the adhesive to re-seal.

Exceeding 5 mm insertion depth can cause permanent internal component damage.

• Rotate a right-edge opening pick around the top-right phone corner.
• Insert the pick carefully, not exceeding 5 mm in depth.

Repeat this process for all corners except the top-left, where the rear-facing camera is located.

• Position the top-most opening pick near the camera shell.
• Repeat with the left-edge pick

Apply iOpener to the camera shell for 2 minutes.

Rotate the back cover counterclockwise to create a gap between the camera shell and the frame.

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

If this method does not work, proceed with the next step for alternative instructions. Otherwise, skip the subsequent steps.

Risk of damage to the plastic back cover.

• Slide the picks under the corners of the back cover adjacent to the camera shell.
• Move the picks back and forth along the bridge between the covers until a gap is created.

Multiple rounds of heating may be necessary due to the significant adhesive holding the frame in place.

• Insert an opening pick between the camera shell and frame to separate them.

Be careful not to scratch the flash plate

• Cut through adhesive to the right of the camera lens.
• Angle the pick downward to avoid damage to the flash plate.

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

• Suite slowly, making sure to avoid the flash's plate.
• Angle the pick downward to prevent it from sliding into the plate.
• Slice the adhesive to the right of the camera.

Remove the back cover.

• If the back cover is still stuck to the frame, slide a pick around its edges until it separates completely.
• During reassembly:
• Power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up.

• Ensure the phone is powered back down completely before continuing work

• Use tweezers or fingers to remove any adhesive chunks, then wipe away remaining residue with high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol.
• If using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
• If using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Remove the motherboard bracket using a Phillips screwdriver.

• There are five screws, each 4 mm long.
• Keep track of each screw and its location for easy reassembly.

Make sure to replace each screw in its original position.

Do not completely remove the bracket — it is still attached to the wireless charging coil.

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

Careful: prying under the edge only prevents socket and component damage.

• Use a spudger to pry up the battery press connector, holding the motherboard bracket out of the way with tweezers or fingers.
• Pry only under the connector's edge to avoid damaging the socket and surrounding components.

Never press down on the middle: this can bend pins, causing permanent damage.

• To reattach, align carefully and press one side until it clicks into place.
• Repeat on the other side; misalignment risks bent pins.

Hold the motherboard bracket aside with one hand.

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

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

• Ensure the motherboard bracket screws are refastened first for proper alignment and secure the wireless charging coil in place.

• Firmly press the remaining portion of the coil down to adhere it to the phone.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger between the connector and its base.

• Push gently until the press connector releases from the earpiece speaker cable.

Remove the earpiece speaker using a Phillips screwdriver.

• Securely hold the motherboard
• Loosen the seven 4 mm screws

Insert a spudger into the gap between the right edge of the earpiece speaker and the phone.

• Pry up and release the clips holding the earpiece speaker in place using the spudger.
• Use tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the earpiece speaker.

Disconnect the front camera's press connector using the flat end of a spudger.

Locate the orange press connector next to the 5G antenna cable.

• Pry up and disconnect the orange press connector using a spudger.
• Next, locate and repeat the process for the green 5G antenna cable's press connector.

Use a spudger to carefully pry up and release the press connector of the 5G antenna cable.

Using the pointed end of a spudger, carefully pry up and disconnect the press connector of the power button cable.

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully disconnect the display cable's press connector.

• Pry up and disconnect the secondary interconnect cable's press connector using a spudger.
• Pry up and disconnect the main interconnect cable's press connector using a spudger.

Reposition the power button cable using a spudger or your fingers, bending it away from the phone.

• Bend the left-edge 5G antenna cable in the same manner.
• Avoid folding or sharply bending the cables to prevent damage and tears.

Use tweezers or your fingers to carefully bend the orange 5G antenna cable away from the phone.

• Bend the green 5G antenna cable away from the phone in the same manner as the previous step.
• Avoid folding or sharply bending the cables, as this may tear them.

Remove the 4mm Phillips screw holding the camera bracket and motherboard in place using a Phillips screwdriver.

Insert spudger between bottom-right edge of motherboard assembly and frame.

• Pry up with spudger to release clips securing motherboard assembly.
• Use fingers to remove motherboard assembly.

Disconnect the ultra-wide camera's press connector from the motherboard using a spudger.

• Remove the ultra-wide camera using tweezers or your fingers.

• Insert the flat end of a spudger to pry up the press connector for the wide and telephoto cameras.
• Disconnect the press connector from the motherboard.
• Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the wide and telephoto camera.

Remove and set aside all other components, exposing only the motherboard.