Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Screen Replacement
If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
- Ensure that your Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra's frame isn't deformed. If so, replace it to ensure proper screen mounting.
- Battery discharge: Reduce the charge below 25% before disassembling the device.
This guide only replaces the screen, leaving the original frame and motherboard intact.
- Verify that your replacement screen is correct for your model. Some screens come pre-installed in a new frame; follow the specific procedure for those parts.
- Interconnect cables: Although not required, we recommend disconnecting them to simplify motherboard removal and reassembly.
- Replace adhesive seals during reassembly to maintain water protection. You'll need replacement adhesives for the rear glass and screen.
Step 1 | Heat the back cover
Unplug your phone and power it off.
- Apply an iOpener to the back cover for at least three minutes to loosen the adhesive.
- Alternatively, use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate, but be cautious of overheating, which can damage the display or internal battery.
Step 2 | Insert an opening pick
Attach a suction handle to the back cover's bottom edge, as close to the edge as possible.
- If the back cover is severely cracked, apply clear packing tape over it for better suction cup adhesion.
- Alternatively, use strong tape instead of the suction cup or superglue the suction cup directly to the broken cover if necessary.
Be cautious not to overheat when applying heat; follow iOpener instructions to avoid damage.
- Lift the back cover using the suction handle, creating a small gap between the cover and frame.
- If needed, apply more heat to further soften the adhesive.
Insert an opening pick into the created gap and gently slide it towards the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent re-adhesion of the adhesive.
Step 3 | Slice the adhesive
Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone.
- Slide the pick to the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.
- Leave the opening picks in place to prevent resealing.
Step 4
Reheat the iOpener for 2-3 minutes if the adhesive becomes hard to cut.
- Insert a third opening pick at the bottom right corner of your phone.
- Slide it along the right edge, slicing the adhesive.
- Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to keep the adhesive from resealing.
Step 5
When slicing near the camera assembly, insert only 4-5 mm of the opening pick tip.
- Insert another opening pick underneath the top right corner of your phone.
- Slide this opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.
- Leave one opening pick in the top left corner, as removing it may cause the adhesive to reseal.
Step 6
Insert a fifth opening pick at the top left corner.
- Slide it along the left edge, slicing the remaining adhesive.
- Near the power button, use only the tip (~3-4 mm) to avoid damaging the flex cable.
Step 7 | Remove the back cover
Remove the back cover.
- Power on your phone and test all functions before reassembling.
- Use tweezers or fingers to remove any adhesive chunks.
- Clean the area with high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol and wipe away residue.
Be sure to power down completely before continuing.
If using custom-cut adhesives, follow additional guide.
If using double-sided tape, follow separate instructions.
Step 8 | Slice the adhesive
Insert an opening pick under the left bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
Careful not to damage the assembly or surrounding components.
- Slide the opening pick along the bottom left edge to separate the NFC antenna and charging coil from the battery.
Step 9
Insert a opening pick under the bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
- Slide the pick along the bottom of the assembly, separating it from the loudspeaker.
Step 10 | Disconnect the charging coil
Disconnect the charging coil by gently prying the connector straight up with a spudger.
Step 11 | Disconnect the NFC antenna
Remove the NFC antenna connector by gently prying it straight up with a spudger.
Step 12 | Unfasten the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly screws
Remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly using a Phillips screwdriver.
- There are five screws, each measuring 3.9 mm in length.
- Be sure to secure them in a safe place for later reassembly.
Step 13 | Remove the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly
Remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly using either a pair of tweezers or your fingers.
Step 14 | Disconnect the battery cable
Disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up using a spudger.
Step 15 | Unfasten the loudspeaker assembly screws
Remove the four Phillips screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Each screw is approximately 3.9 mm long.
Step 16 | Pry up the loudspeaker assembly
Insert a spudger into the gap between the top edge of the loudspeaker assembly and the midframe.
Use the spudger to pry up the loudspeaker assembly, tilting it downwards.
Step 17 | Remove the loudspeaker assembly
Remove the loudspeaker assembly.
When reassembling, ensure a clean and dry environment before applying new adhesive to cleaned areas.
- Clean affected areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).
- Apply new adhesive where necessary during reassembly.
Step 18 | Disconnect the display flex cable
Check if removal of motherboard or battery is planned.
- Display flex cable: Use a spudger, pry the connector straight up from its socket.
Step 19 | Disconnect the main & interconnect flex cables
Disconnect the main and interconnect flex cables using a spudger. Prying upwards, carefully lift the upper connectors out of their sockets.
Step 20 | Remove the interconnect flex cable
Disconnect the interconnect flex cable's bottom connector from its socket using a spudger.
- Use your fingers or a tweezer to carefully remove the interconnect flex cable.
Step 21 | Remove the main flex cable
Disconnect the main flex cable from the daughterboard by prying its bottom connector straight up with a spudger.
- Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the main flex cable.
Step 22 | Unfasten the earpiece and laser AF module assembly screws
Remove the four 3.9 mm Phillips head screws with a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 23 | Disconnect the laser AF module and earpiece speaker flex cable
Disconnect the laser AF module and earpiece speaker flex cables using a spudger, prying the connectors straight up from their socket.
Step 24 | Remove the earpiece speaker and laser AF module assembly
Use blunt nose tweezers to grasp the earpiece speaker and laser AF module assembly from its bottom right corner.
- Lift the assembly upwards, taking care not to damage any internal components.
- Remove the earpiece speaker and laser AF module assembly.
Step 25 | Disconnect the in-display fingerprint and antenna flex cables
Bend the in-display fingerprint and antenna flex cables carefully.
- Disconnect the in-display fingerprint and antenna flex cables by prying their connectors straight up from their socket using a spudger.
- Bend both connectors to one side to release the motherboard.
- Avoid folding the cables sharply to prevent damage.
Step 26 | Disconnect the front facing camera
Disconnect the front-facing camera cable using a spudger.
- Pry the cable connector straight up from its socket.
Step 27 | Disconnect the power button flex cable
Disconnect the power button flex cable using a spudger and pry the connector straight up.
- Bend the connector to one side to release tension on the motherboard.
Step 28 | Unfasten the camera module screw
Remove the Phillips screw with a Phillips screwdriver.
- The screw is secured by a 3.9 mm-long distance.
Step 29 | Pry up the motherboard
Be careful not to damage the flex cables surrounding the motherboard.
- Insert an spudger underneath the top edge of the motherboard next to the vibration motor.
- Pry up the motherboard by tilting it downwards and twisting it to the side while using your spudger.
Step 30 | Remove the motherboard
Avoid sudden movements when removing the motherboard to prevent damage.
- Disconnect any flex cables from the motherboard before lifting it out.
- Remove the motherboard carefully and smoothly, taking care not to entangle or pinch any of the remaining cables.
Step 31 | Loosen the display adhesive
Be cautious of overheating the device.
- Apply a heated iOpener to loosen screen adhesive for at least 5 minutes.
- Reheat and reapply as needed, especially with Galaxy S21 Ultra displays due to strong adhesive.
Alternative heat sources (hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate) may be used, but exercise care to avoid overheat damage.
Step 32 | Insert an opening pick
Apply a suction handle to the left edge of the screen, as close to the edge as possible.
If your screen is badly cracked, cover it with clear packing tape for better adhesion or use strong tape instead of the suction handle. As a last resort, superglue the suction cup to the screen.
- Lift the screen with the suction handle to create a small gap between the screen and the frame.
- Insert an opening pick into the gap between the midframe and the screen.
- Slide the opening pick to the top left corner of the screen, using only the tip (~4-5 mm) to avoid damaging the in-display fingerprint cable.
- Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 33 | Slice the adhesive
Insert a second opening pick at the top left corner, sliding it down to the bottom left corner of the screen to separate the adhesive.
Ensure this pick remains in place to prevent the adhesive from reattaching.
Step 34
When slicing near the front-facing camera, only insert the tip of the pick (~2-3 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing it.
- Pick tip, carefully slice near the front-facing 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 pick in place to prevent resealing of the adhesive.
Step 35
Check if the adhesive has cooled down.
Use your iOpener or heat gun for 1-2 minutes to reheat it, as hard adhesive is a sign of low temperature.
- Insert an opening pick underneath the top right corner of the screen.
Slide the pick along the right edge to slice the adhesive, then leave it in place to prevent resealing.
Step 36
Insert the fifth opening pick at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge to slice remaining adhesive.
- Do not remove display all the way yet, as the display and fingerprint cable are still threaded through the frame.
Step 37 | Free the fingerprint cable
Be cautious not to pinch or damage the fingerprint flex cable when threading it through the gap.
- Identify the small opening in the midframe.
- Thread the fingerprint flex cable gently through this opening.
Step 38 | Remove the screen
Thread the display flex cable through the gap in the midframe.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part carefully – you may need to transfer remaining components from your old screen.
- Clean the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%) before applying new adhesive where necessary.
- Apply new adhesive after cleaning.
During reassembly, refer to this guide if you're using a pre-cut adhesive card for correct installation.