Introduction
Use this guide to replace the display assembly, which includes the front glass, digitizer, and home button cable.
Tools
Parts
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Insert a fingernail or plastic opening tool into the divot to the left of the rear-facing camera.
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Gently pry and twist the flexible rear cover off the back of the phone.
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Insert a fingernail or plastic opening tool into the recess in the bottom right corner of the battery and lift upward.
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Remove the battery away from the phone.
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Using a fingertip, pull the microSD card straight down out of its slot.
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Remove the microSD card from the phone.
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Use a plastic opening tool to pry up the plastic midframe connector panel.
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Remove the connector panel with a pair of tweezers.
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Use the sharp tip of a spudger to pry the home button cable connector straight up off its socket.
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Place a heated iOpener on the left side of the phone for at least 90 seconds.
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Reheat the iOpener and place it on the right half of the phone.
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Carefully slide the pick around the corner, stopping before the speaker grille at the top of the phone.
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Slide the opening pick across the top of the phone, being very careful not to insert the pick too deeply.
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Slide the opening pick down along the left half of the phone stopping at the lower left corner.
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Slide the opening pick all the way to the bottom left corner of the phone, making sure it is securely placed.
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Slide the very end of the opening pick across the bottom edge of the display to separate the last of the remaining adhesive.
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Insert an opening pick under the soft button icons on the display and pry the button cables down off the inside of the front panel.
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Use the sharp tip of a spudger to lift the front panel assembly cable connector straight up off its socket on the motherboard.
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Safely remove the front panel assembly from phone.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
36 comments
Be aware that the LCD is glued not just at the edges, but also in the middle (the orange areas in the photos for Step 20. These can adhere strongly enough to cause the LCD to crack. Don't ask how I know that.
I cracked it this way, so yeah. Any way to get the glue fluetly enough to get the LCD off the rest of the Phone? (the LCD and digitalizer is cracked anyway)
Onfortunately I read this to late. Many thanks anyway for confirming I'm not the only one ;)
Been there man. Had my Samsung Galaxy S5 Active pull one of those numbers. not a fun time.
Just found out about that, during my first time. Thanks for the tip.
Am I missing something?
How does it get re glued when you reverse the process? Doesn't it need to be re glued so water doesn't get into the hardware past the screen?
That would be my concern, the phone not being waterproof after the repairs are completed.
Thanks for your insight. Guide is done very well.
Bogdan.
I agree Bogdan Georgescu, the step of adding a new screen is not covered in these instructions but would be very helpful to know if anyone has experience? The instructions are wonderful to help you remove a screen, but the process of replacing is lacking for me. Has anyone had success replacing a screen that primarily has had surface damage? (I pay a monthly insurance fee on my galaxy s5 phone. But in addition, if I wanted to replace it, it will cost another $200 to get a replacement (refurbished - someone else's junk?) phone. I'd rather chance starting with replacing my screen myself, with the help from this online community if possible? Thank you!!! Karen
Karen -
They don't use glue, they use double sided adhesive that is not easy to find. 3M double sided tape works well but I have had screens come up when using the 3M adhesive. So yes you need to apply adhesive before install of new screen to keep it water resistant. The phone is and never was waterproof just resistant and I recommend using the best double sided tape you can get as you will fudge up the already adhered tape.
As mentioned above, the screens are held down by double sided tape, usually made by the 3M company. But most other good quality tape can do the same. The proper tapes are cut perfectly to fit all the little adge bits of the casing-to-screen, and that's all that makes it waterproof.
A thing to remember is, most people loose the charger cover anyway, so worrying about a perfect screen seal from water doesn't matter then I guess as water will just flow in anyway.
The screen isnt really waterproof, its just water resistant, so it's okay for the odd splash, but drop it in a bucket, and it's probably ruined :-( unless the bucket is empty of course ;-) When I refit a screen, i put a 5mm strip of my own tape down the centre (it MUST be the thinnest tape possible!!) and that helps keep the screens in place, but that idea varies from one phone model to another.
I replaced my midframe, but I cut the cables to the back and menu buttons. I also ripped some of the foil on the back of my screen, but that didn't seem to hurt anything.