Samsung Galaxy S21 Screen Replacement

Power off your phone completely.

• Apply heat to the bottom edge of the back cover using an iOpener for two minutes.
• Alternative heating methods include a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate; however, be cautious not to overheat the phone as it is prone to damage from excessive heat:

  Excessive heat can harm the display, internal battery, and plastic back cover.

• Attach a suction cup to the back of the phone near its center.
• Pull the suction cup with steady force until a gap forms between the cover and frame.

This step may be more challenging due to your device's age; if necessary, apply heat for assistance.

• Insert an opening pick up to 5 mm into the created gap.

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

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

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

Apply a suction cup to the phone's back near the left edge.

• Pull up on the suction cup with strong force to create a gap between the back cover and frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap, but not more than 5 mm deep to avoid damaging internal components.

Risk of damaging the camera shell: do not cut past its edge.

• Slide an opening pick along the left edge towards the bottom left corner to separate the adhesive.
• Leave the pick in place to prevent resealing.

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

Apply a suction cup to the phone's back, near the center of the right edge.

• Pull up on the suction cup with strong force until a gap forms between the back cover and frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap, but not more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the secondary interconnect cable.

Insert an opening pick at the right edge of the back cover and move it back and forth to loosen the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from 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 each corner, except the top-left where the rear-facing camera is located.

Position the top-most opening pick adjacent to the camera shell.

Move the left-edge pick into place, mimicking the top-most pick's alignment.

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

Rotate the back cover counterclockwise to create a gap.

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

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

Careful not to crack the plastic back cover when creating a gap.

• Slide the two picks under the corners of the back cover near the camera shell.
• Mov[e] the picks back and forth along the bridge until a gap forms between the camera shell and the frame.

Insert an opening pick between the camera shell and the frame.

• The adhesive holding the frame in place is quite strong, so multiple rounds of heat may be necessary to complete separation.

The pick may get stuck on a plate around the phone's flash; angle it downward to avoid damage.

• Cut through additional adhesive located to the right of the camera.

Align the opening pick's tip with your phone's flash.

• Slowly insert the pick, avoiding the flash's plate.
• The plate may feel like a resistive adhesive; angle the pick downward to prevent it from slipping in.
• Slice the adhesive to the right of the camera.

Remove the back cover.

• If still attached, slide a pick around the edges to release.
• During reassembly:
• Power on and test phone functions before sealing.

• Make sure phone is powered down completely

• Remove adhesive chunks with tweezers or fingers.
• Clean remaining residue with isopropyl alcohol (over 90%).

• Use Samsung custom-cut adhesives guide if applicable.

• Use double-sided tape guide if applicable.

Remove the motherboard bracket by unscrewing the five Phillips screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Ensure to keep track of each screw for proper reinstallation.

• Locate and remove the five 4 mm-long Phillips screws.
• Label or note the position of each screw for correct reassembly.

Avoid pulling too hard on the motherboard bracket — risk of damage.

• Use a pair of tweezers to gently lift the motherboard bracket.
• Unclip the bracket from the frame, leaving it attached to the wireless charging coil.

Hold the motherboard bracket out of the way using tweezers or your fingers.

Pry up the battery press connector with a spudger, carefully under its edge to avoid damaging the socket and surrounding components.

• To reattach, align and press one side down until it clicks, then repeat on the other.
• Avoid pressing the middle; misaligned connectors can bend pins, causing permanent damage.

Use a spudger to pry up the wireless charging coil's press connector.

• Hold the motherboard bracket aside as you work.
• Release the connector from its mount by prying it upwards with the spudger.

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

• During reassembly, refasten the motherboard bracket screws first.
• Properly align the wireless charging coil, then press it firmly down to adhere it.

Remove the six 4 mm Phillips screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

Locate the notch at the top-left corner of the loudspeaker.

• Insert the point of a spudger into the notch and gently pry up.
• The clips should release, allowing you to remove the loudspeaker.

Remove the display cable's bottom press connector with a spudger.

Disconnect the display cable's top press connector using a spudger.

Remove the display cable using tweezers or your fingers.

Apply a heated iOpener to the screen for at least 5 minutes.

• The adhesive is strong; you'll likely need to reapply heat and the iOpener multiple times before starting removal.
• Other heat sources, like a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate, can also be used, but avoid overheating the device.

Adhesive placement noted before prying:

• Screen perimeter secured by adhesive.
• Front camera area has additional adhesive requiring more insertion for cutting.
• Fingerprint sensor area also has adhesive.
• Miscellaneous adhesive may stick to screen post-removal depending on card usage.

Apply a suction handle to the left edge of the screen, as close to the edge as possible.

If your screen is badly cracked, apply a layer of clear packing tape for better adhesion.

• Lift the screen with the suction handle to create a gap between the screen and frame.
• Insert an opening pick into the gap between the frame and screen, leaving only 4-5 mm of tip exposed.
• Slide the opening pick to the top left corner of the screen to slice the adhesive.

Keep the opening pick in place to prevent resealing of the adhesive.

Insert a second opening pick at the top left corner.

• Slide it down to the bottom left corner of the screen to slice the adhesive.
• Leave the opening pick in place to prevent resealing.

When slicing near the front-facing camera, insert only 2-3 mm of the opening pick

• to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
• Insert a third opening pick at the top left corner of the screen.
• Slide the opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in place to prevent resealing of the adhesive.

Reheat the adhesive with your iOpener or heat gun for 1-2 minutes if it becomes hard to cut.

• Insert a fourth opening pick underneath the top-right corner of the screen.
• Slide the opening pick along the right edge of the screen to slice the adhesive.
• Leave the opening pick in place to prevent resealing.

Insert a fifth opening pick at the bottom right corner of the screen.

• Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge to slice the remaining adhesive.
• Do not remove the display all the way yet, as it is still adhered to the midframe by adhesive underneath the center of the screen.

Insert a plastic card into the gap between the frame and display at a long edge.

• Slice the adhesive underneath the screen using the plastic card.
• The Galaxy S21 has a layer of adhesive that needs to be cut first, located under the center of the screen.

Careful: do not touch adhesive until cleaned.

• Remove and set aside your old screen.
• Compare new replacement part to original; transfer any remaining components if necessary.

Risk of damage: use >90% isopropyl alcohol for cleaning.

• Clean areas with isopropyl alcohol and apply new adhesive as needed.
• Follow this guide for reassembly if using a precut adhesive card.