Samsung Galaxy S20 Screen Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim

Comments: 6

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

45 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the screen assembly for the Samsung Galaxy S20. The display glass, OLED panel, and digitizer comprise the screen assembly and will need to be replaced together.

Note: Some replacement screens for this phone come pre-installed in a new frame (a.k.a. chassis), which requires you to transplant all of your phone's internals and install a new battery. Make sure you have the correct part before starting this guide.

There is a significant chance that you may break the unreinforced and fragile display panel during this procedure. If you plan on reusing the screen assembly, be sure to apply plenty of heat and be extremely careful during the prying stage.

You'll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's bottom 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.

Found that using the iOpener did not provide enough heat to weaken the adhesive, went with a hairdryer instead. Make sure to never keep the hairdryer still, and apply heat on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side did the job for me. iOpener just did not get hot enough

Phil R -

Step 2

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.
If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.
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 of reheating with the iOpener and separating with the suction cup before you get it right.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you risk cracking the back cover glass.

I have found it easier to use an iFlex on the camera side to get in enough to get an opening pick in. Then work the pick towards either end slowly and down the ends, making sure it’s warm to the point of being almost to hot to hold. Slow, gentle pressure t open it like a clam ;)

Stow - 13/01/21

While pulling on the back glass with the suction cup, I found it helpful to use something like the opener tool to press down on the frame. Made it easy to pull open even with the iOpener.

Ryan Sammons -

Step 3

Slide the pick back and forth along the bottom edge to slice through the adhesive.
Do not attempt to cut the adhesive near the corners of the phone where the glass is curved or you risk cracking the glass panel.
Leave your opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 4

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Step 5

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the left edge as possible.
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.
As the glass on this edge is curved, you won't be able to insert this pick very far. As long as the very tip of the pick is underneath the glass's edge, you will be able to proceed.
Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
You can try also 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 risk cracking the back cover glass.

Step 6

Once the pick is underneath the glass's edge, tilt it downward and insert it further to fully separate the back cover's adhesive.

Step 7

Slide the pick all along the left edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.
Take care when sliding across the ridge in the frame surrounding the volume and power buttons—the cutout in the glass may make it more prone to cracking.
Leave your pick under the left edge of the glass near the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 8

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back cover 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.

Step 9

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
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.
Like with the previous edge, you will need to tilt the opening pick downward to fully insert it underneath the back cover.

Step 10

Slide the pick all along the right edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.
Leave your pick under the right edge of the glass near the top of the device to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
As you do this, the back cover may release one or both of the other picks and allow them to fall free. If this occurs, set the pick(s) aside as the bottom edge shouldn't reseal from this point onward.

Step 11

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Step 12

The glass near the corners of the back cover is curved and very susceptible to cracking. Be gentle during this step to prevent damaging your back cover.
Gradually slide the pick from the right edge of the device around the top right corner.
Continue slicing along the top edge all the way to the top left corner to fully separate the back cover adhesive.
If the slicing becomes difficult at any point, stop and reapply heat before continuing.

Step 13

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 sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
Remove any adhesive chunks with a pair of tweezers or your fingers. Apply heat if you're having trouble separating the adhesive.
If you're using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
If you're using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Step 14

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 4 mm-long screws securing the motherboard bracket.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Step 15

Use a pair of tweezers to gently pull up and unclip the motherboard bracket from the plastic midframe.
Do not completely remove the bracket yet, as its still attached to the wireless charging coil.

Step 16

Gently peel the wireless charging coil away from the device.
Remove the wireless charging coil.
The coil is connected to the rest of the device via spring contacts, so there is no need to disconnect any connectors.
During reassembly, refasten the motherboard bracket screws first to properly align the charging coil into place, then firmly press the rest of the coil down to adhere it.

Step 17

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery connector.
When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

Step 18

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 4 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Step 19

Insert the point of a spudger or a pair of tweezers into the notch in the top left corner of the midframe and pry up to release the clips holding it in place.
Remove the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Step 20

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable.

Step 21

In the next several steps, you will heat and separate the black adhesive around the perimeter of the device.
The adhesive surrounding the long edges of the device is thin and will only require you to insert the pick 5 mm to separate.
Note that along the top edge of the phone, the adhesive runs significantly farther from the device's edge. You will need to insert your pick deeper here to fully seperate the adhesive.

Step 22

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top edge of the display 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.

Step 23

Apply a suction cup to the display glass, as close to the center of the top edge as possible.
If your display is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.
Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the display glass and the frame.
Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap in the center of the earpiece speaker notch, working it downwards underneath the display.
Ensure the pick slides over the front-facing camera and is not pushing against it.
Due to the stubborn adhesive, this may take multiple attempts of reheating with the iOpener and separating with the suction cup before you get it right.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
Leave your pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from reasealing.

Step 24

Insert a second pick into the same gap and slide it to the top left corner of the display to slice the adhesive.
Leave your opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 25

Insert a third pick into the center gap and slide it to the top right corner of the display to slice the adhesive.
Leave your pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 26

Slide the center pick further into the device's top edge to slice the adhesive surrounding the earpiece and front-facing camera.
If the adhesive becomes difficult to separate, apply more heat and try again.
Don't insert the pick too far or you may "lose" the pick under the screen assembly.
Remove the center pick.

Step 27

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for two minutes.

Step 28

Insert another pick into the gap at the top right corner of the display.
Slide the pick down to the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.
Insert a pick underneath the center of the screen's right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 29

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the display for two minutes.

Step 30

Insert a pick into the gap at the top left corner of the display.
Slide the pick down to the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.
Insert a pick underneath the center of the screen's left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 31

In this step, you will apply isopropyl alcohol behind the screen to release the clear adhesive towards the bottom center of the device.
Apply high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol behind the display as close to the clear adhesive (marked red) as possible.
Tilt the device as you apply the alcohol to help it penetrate the adhesive underneath the lower portion of the display.
After you apply the alcohol, continue tilting the bottom of the phone down for two to three minutes to help the alcohol penetrate further.

Step 32

Slowly insert a spudger under the top edge of the screen to separate the clear adhesive.
Insert the spudger until the clear adhesive is completely separated.

Step 33

Remove the display from the frame.
There still may be a small strip of adhesive at the bottom edge of the phone, but it should release easily.
Take care to thread the display cable through the frame.
During reassembly, you will need to insert the display cable through the hole in the frame before pressing the display into place. Do not insert the display cable before the new screen adhesive is applied.

Step 34

Use tweezers to remove any remaining adhesive from the frame.
Use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to thoroughly clean the frame's surface and prepare it for new adhesive. Wipe in one direction to avoid smearing.
During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your device.

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps 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? Check out our Answers community or review our S20 black screen and S20 touchscreen unresponsive wikis for troubleshooting help.

Author

Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 10/03/20

110978 Reputation

3 comments

Is there no connector for the loudspeaker? Just reviewing the guide before I do a repair but I do not see anything or any connector for the loudspeaker.

Jenna Williams -

Bonjour ou trouver cet écran svp je ne le trouve pas sur le site merci

pamlemaire -

I see you remove the old adhesive. Is there new adhesive strip in the "new screen" pack for when you put the phone back together again?

ROB BARTELINK -