Samsung Galaxy S10 Screen Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 17

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to remove and replace a broken screen for your Samsung Galaxy S10. This involves removing the back cover in order to disconnect the screen from the motherboard.

This guide shows how to destructively remove the screen while retaining the original frame.

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

Step 8

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the top midframe to the phone.

ネジが堅くて回らず、緩める方法はありますか？

win1683 -

ネジロックが原因である可能性があるため、iOpener で熱を加えてみてください。

Oliver Fallon -

Step 9

The midframe is still held in place by a few plastic clips around the edge.
Insert the point of a spudger into the notch on the right edge of the midframe, near the volume up button.
Pry up to loosen the midframe from the phone.

Bei mir war die Kerbe durch den Klebstoff komplett verdeckt. Am bestern den Kleber vorher entfernen. Dann geht es einfacher.

Martin Thiel -

Step 10

Lift the midframe from the top corners and remove it from the phone.
The top midframe may stick to the lower midframe at its bottom right corner. If that happens, slowly peel it off.
To reinstall the top midframe:
Align the midframe's top edge to the phone and lay the frame down on the phone.
Use fingers to apply pressure along the midframe perimeter to snap the midframe clips back into place. The edges should sit flush against the phone edge.

Step 11

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery connector, which is attached to the motherboard below the rear-facing camera.
Pry upwards to disconnect the connector from its socket.
When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.
Gently push the battery's flex cable away from the motherboard socket to prevent accidental contact.

Step 12

Remove the seven 4 mm Phillips screws securing the lower midframe.

Step 13

The midframe is still held in place by a few plastic clips around the edge.
Insert the point of a spudger underneath the top right corner of the lower midframe.
Pry up to release the midframe from the phone.

Step 14

Grasp the loosened end of the midframe with your fingers and lift upwards slowly.
Wiggle the midframe slightly to help release the remaining edge clips.
Remove the lower midframe. The loudspeaker is built into the lower midframe.

Step 15

Use the flat edge of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display connector from its motherboard socket.

Step 16

Flip the phone over so that the display is facing up.
Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the screen for two minutes.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the internal battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 17

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the display.
Pull up on the suction up with strong, steady force to create a gap.
Depending on the age of your device, this may be difficult. If you have trouble, apply more heat and try again.
Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 18

Slide the opening pick along the right edge to slice through the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 19

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the display for one minute.

Step 20

Slide an opening pick along the bottom edge to slice through the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 21

Repeat the heating and slicing procedure for the remaining display sides.

Step 22

Use an opening pick to pry open and slice through any remaining adhesive.

Step 23

Thread the display panel connector through the frame.
If you're having trouble, you can choose to cut the display panel cable in order to remove the display.

Step 24

Remove the screen.
If you are using a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide for instructions on how to remove the old adhesive and attach the replacement screen.
If you're using Tesa tape to reattach the screen, follow this guide.

Where do i add the tesa tape

Amir Arisha -

Conclusion

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

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

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Author

Arthur Shi

Member since: 03/01/18

248651 Reputation

3 comments

Bonjour, est ce que le téléphone retrouve sa norme ip68 après le changement de l’écran ? merci d’avance

Bastian - 23/03/21

Hello! The repair will not restore IP68 resistance. You normally need specialty presses in order to seal a phone to IP ratings.

Bonjour! Ça ne sera pas. Vous avez besoin de machines spéciales pour restaurer le téléphone sur IP68.

Arthur Shi - 26/03/21

Can the rear lens cover be removed without having to remove the entire back? I have a foggy lens that needs cleaning.

Pasith Phommarath - 17/04/21