Samsung Galaxy S10 Back Cover Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 21

Samsung Galaxy S10 Back Cover Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 50 minutes

Introduction

Follow this guide to remove the glass back cover for replacement, or to access the Galaxy S10’s internals.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's right edge for two minutes.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
As you wait, take a look at the image of the removed back cover and take note of where the adhesive is located.

I think we should mention that the glass needs to be barely too hot to touch to determine when it's hot enough that a pick can be slid underneath.

Or we can mention a thermometer temperature, but most diy people probably don't have a thermometer to check.

A lot of people seem to have issues using the iopener to unglue phone parts like back glass (can Google it), likely because the glue didn't get hot enough, so mentioning the desired touch temperature can be helpful for DIYers to ensure that their glue is sufficiently weakened and they can begin working off the part.

(Just being hot isn't enough for glue to weaken, as you can probably attest to if you've ever had your phone get really hot but the back cover never came loose)

A X - 20/11/23

Step 2

Rest the heated right edge of the phone on something that is about 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick. This angles the phone for the opening tool.
Brace the left edge of the phone with your fingers so that the phone won't slide. Pull on the suction cup with firm pressure.
Press the edge of an opening tool into the seam between the back cover and the frame.
With the opening tool in place in the seam, slide it back and forth along the seam to loosen the back cover.

Will the Suction Cup work with a cracked back?

Red Royal -

Might be hard with the suction cup on a cracked back. I'd rather break it off and buy a new back (it's super cheap, around 10$ online).

Guenter -

Yes! Apply a layer of packing tape to the cracked back cover first, and the suction cup will adhere to the smooth tape surface.

Arthur Shi -

I will open the one that I am taking out of the computer now and then I will follow where it is

cabdi salaan -

Am besten 2 mal gut erwährmen. Danach geht das öfnen top.

Martin Thiel -

Step 3

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the same edge of the phone for two minutes.
Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the right edge as possible (where the adhesive is narrowest).
Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.
Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.
Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, your best bet is to apply more heat to the edge and try the previous step again. The glass is heated enough when it is barely too hot to touch.
You can try applying a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol into the seam to help loosen the adhesive.
Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you will risk cracking the back cover glass.

I had trouble lifting up to create a gap. What I did is watch Jerry rig everything's teardown and he said the back glass must be barely too hot to touch in order for the adhesive to weaken.

So I heated the iOpener till it was too hot to touch, but not so long that it would burst. Put on right edge for a few minutes. Then I lift with the suction cup, using my middle finger and thumb to grip the sides of the phone and my pointer finger to pull up on the suction cup .

I cleaned the glass with an alcohol wipe beforehand to make the suction cup stick better, though I'm sure any cleaning method that removes fingerprints will help.

I couldn't make as big a gap as shown in the picture, but I was able to stick my metal jimmy tool carefully into the crack between the glass and the metal frame and it was just enough to slide the tool a little. And I was very careful since it's a metal tool. After that I could stick the plastic pick in and slice the adhesive and then that gets you started removing the back cover. Reheat often to weaken and slice adhesive. STOP and reheat if it even gets a little harder to slice. DON'T risk cracking the glass.

A X - 13/04/23

I think we should add that they should treat the back glass as gently as a raw eggshell. That's because I thought I wasn't applying excessive force and caused the glass to crack, but I didn't understand what counts as "excessive force." (A bit vague)

What excessive force actually means is as soon as you feel any resistance at all when slicing glue with the pick, stop and apply more heat before continuing. The glass can crack very very easily, when pressure is applied in only a small section.

A X - 20/11/23

See for me it was weird, the glass was weirdly weak. I just put the iOpener in the microwave and put it on there until it was almost too hot to touch and went around, the gap was like 0.5cm already, so I just went around and it came all off in like 10 seconds, I was kind of happy how easy it was, but sadly I went around too fast and now there's a line crack at the top left of my back glass, it's not sharp so it doesn't bother me.

Oliver Fallon -

Step 4

Slide the opening pick along the edge of the phone, slicing through the adhesive.
Do not attempt to slice the adhesive holding the corners down before applying heat. If you do, you may crack the back cover.
Leave a pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 5

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the phone for two minutes.
Insert an opening pick into the right edge near the bottom right corner.
Carefully slide the pick around the corner. Continue cutting along the bottom edge and around the bottom left corner.
If the cutting feels difficult, re-apply heat to the edge before continuing.
Leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 6

Continue heating and slicing around the remaining edges of the phone.
When cutting around corners, be sure that the corner is thoroughly heated.

Step 7

Once you have sliced around the phone, twist an opening pick in one of the edges to help separate the back cover from the frame.
Lift the back cover slowly. Use opening picks to slice any remaining adhesive.
Remove the back cover.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before you seal the back cover in place. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
Follow this guide to reinstall the back cover, transfer and install the camera bezel, and replace the adhesive.
If desired, you may reinstall the back cover without replacing the adhesive. Remove any large chunks of adhesive that might prevent the back cover from sitting down flush. After installation, heat the back cover and apply pressure to secure it.

Thank's for the help I will try to repair my phone with a new battery all on my

ron hayes - 07/01/21

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

After you've completed the repair, follow this guide to test your repair.

Author

Arthur Shi

Member since: 03/01/18

248651 Reputation

11 comments

Will this ruin the waterproofing?

Håkon - 31/07/19

Hi Håkon,

Yes, opening the S10 will compromise its water resistance.

Arthur Shi - 31/07/19

So to fix this issue and retain water proofing I should send it back to Samsung for them to repair/replace?

Håkon - 02/08/19

That is an option. You can also try their authorized repair centers, or independent repair centers. Note that even if they say they will restore water resistance with the repair, they will most likely not guarantee it. That is because the IP68 water resistance rating test is verified on brand new phones. As the phone ages, it loses water resistance because the seals and adhesives break down.

Arthur Shi - 02/08/19

What about using a epoxy resin? it is only a small crack on the back, nothing major. I'll check out a service center as well.

Sorry for all the question!

Håkon - 04/08/19

Good luck on your repairs!

Arthur Shi - 05/08/19

My Gallexy 5 is easier. Pop off the plastic back, the battery falls out. Drop in a new battery.

Lifetime replacement batteries, from batteries plus.

Rick Tompson - 17/05/20

Glad you can find one at our stores, Rick.

loganpeacock98 - 09/02/21

OK Great, I have the back cover off. Where are the steps or links to to remove old adhesive, put the new adhesive on and install the back? Otherwise rename procedure to remove back cover vs replace back cover ;-)

Drew - 13/03/21

Hi Drew! Please follow the link in step 7, which has detailed instructions on how to do exactly that.

Arthur Shi - 16/03/21

It would be really useful to reference the rear camera bezel adhesive https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Android/Gal...

Replacement back covers don’t come with a preinstalled bezel, so you’re most likely going to have to remove the bezel from the old cover and glue it unto the new cover.

Sebastian Decianu -