Samsung Galaxy S21 Rear Camera Replacement

Power down your device completely.

• Apply an iOpener to the back cover's bottom edge for two minutes.
• Alternatively, use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate — but be cautious not to overheat the phone:
• The display is prone to heat damage.
• The internal battery may also be affected.
• The plastic back cover can warp.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, centered at the bottom edge.

Use strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame, be cautious of difficulty due to age.

• Insert an opening pick into the gap up to 5 mm only, as excess insertion may damage internal components.

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

Make sure not to remove the pick, as this will allow the adhesive to reseal.

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

• Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, centered on the left edge.
• Pull up on the suction cup with strong force to create a gap between the back cover and frame.

Be careful not to insert the pick too far (no more than 5 mm) — internal damage risk.

• Insert an opening pick into the gap, taking care to limit insertion depth.

Do not cut the adhesive past the camera shell

• Slide a precision opening pick along the left edge towards the bottom left corner.
• Stop cutting when you reach the area where the camera shell meets the back cover to avoid damaging the plastic.
• Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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

• Attach a suction cup to the phone's back, positioning it near the center of the right edge.
• Pull up on the suction cup with firm, steady pressure to create space between the cover and frame.

Do not insert the opening pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the secondary interconnect cable.

• Insert an opening pick into the created gap, taking care not to over-insert and harm the sensitive cable.

Insert an opening pick into the right edge of the back cover.

• Moving the pick slowly, work it back and forth to break the adhesive bond.
• Once loose, carefully remove the pick but leave one end in place to prevent resealing.

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

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

Place the top-most opening pick near the camera area.

• Move the left-edge pick to its corresponding position.

Apply heat from an iOpener to the camera shell for 2 minutes.

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

• Insert the opening pick up to 5mm only, being careful not to scratch the camera.
• Insert the opening pick into the created gap.
• If this method is unsuccessful, proceed to the next step; otherwise, skip it.

Careful: risk of cracking the plastic back cover.

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

Slide an opening pick between the camera shell and the frame to break the adhesive.

Multiple rounds of heating may be necessary due to significant adhesive securing the frame to the camera shell.

The pick may catch on the plate surrounding the phone's flash, so angle it downwards carefully.

• Use a tool to cut through additional adhesive located to the right of the camera.

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

• Insert the pick slowly, making sure to avoid the flash's plate.
• The plate may feel similar to adhesive, angle the pick downward to prevent slipping.
• Slice the adhesive to the right of the camera.

Remove the back cover.

If the back cover remains stuck to the frame, gently 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 your phone is powered down completely before proceeding.

Remove any remaining adhesive chunks with tweezers or fingers.

Use high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any adhesive residue.

• If using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, refer to a separate guide for instructions.
• If using double-sided tape, refer to the relevant guide for reassembly procedures.

Remove the motherboard bracket using a Phillips screwdriver. The five 4 mm-long screws will need to be stored separately for later reassembly.

• Carefully remove each of the screws and set them aside.
• Mark or label the location of each screw so it can be easily replaced during reassembly.

Use tweezers to carefully lift and unclip the motherboard bracket from the frame.

Do not fully remove the bracket at this time, as it remains attached to the wireless charging coil.

Hold the motherboard bracket aside using tweezers or your fingers.

• Pry up the battery press connector with a spudger, applying pressure only under its edge to avoid damage.

Never press down on the middle of the connector, as misalignment can cause bent pins and permanent damage.

• To reattach, align carefully and press one side until it clicks into place; repeat for the other side.

Hold the motherboard bracket aside using one hand.

• Use a spudger to gently pry up the wireless charging coil's press connector.
• Disconnect the wireless charging coil's press connector once it is pried loose.

Remove the wireless charging coil by gently peeling it away from the phone with your fingers.

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

Use the point of a spudger to gently pry up the earpiece speaker cable's press connector, then disconnect it.

Remove the 7 x 4mm screws securing the earpiece speaker using a Phillips screwdriver.

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

• Pry up and release the clips holding the earpiece speaker in place using the spudger.
• Remove the earpiece speaker with tweezers or your fingers.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front camera's press connector.

Locate the orange press connector near the 5G antenna cable.

• Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect it.
• Repeat for the adjacent green 5G antenna cable's press connector.

Use a spudger to release the press connector of the 5G antenna cable.

• Pry up on the connector using the spudger.
• Gently lift the connector off the cable's terminal.

Use the spudger tip to carefully pry up and release the power button cable's press connector.

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the display cable's press connector.

• Pry gently to release the connector.
• Disconnect the press connector once loose.

Use a spudger to release the secondary interconnect cable's press connector.

• Release the connector by gently prying it up.
• Disconnect the main interconnect cable's press connector using the same method.

Use a spudger or your fingers to gently bend the power button cable away from the phone.

• Bend the left-edge 5G antenna cable using the same method.
• Avoid folding or sharply bending the cables, as this may cause them to tear.

Avoid folding or sharply bending the cables as this may cause damage.

• Bend the orange 5G antenna cable away from the phone using tweezers or your fingers.
• Repeat for the green 5G antenna cable.

Remove the 4 mm screw using a Phillips screwdriver.

Insert spudger at bottom-right edge of motherboard assembly.

Careful not to damage clips or frame when prying up with spudger.

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

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

• Position the point of a spudger near the connector and pry it loose.
• Remove the ultra wide camera using tweezers or your fingers.

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the press connector.

Careful not to damage the motherboard.

• Pry up on the press connector until it releases.
• Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the wide and telephoto camera.