Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Motherboard Mid Cover Replacement

Step 1

Switch off your phone.
Use an iOpener to loosen the adhesive beneath the rear glass. Apply the iOpener for at least two minutes. You might want to repeat this step several times during the back cover removal.
The adhesive of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is very strong. A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used if you aren't able to open the device with the iOpener. Be careful not to overheat the phone—the AMOLED display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

I don't know how much longer should I use for the min heat gun.

Only heat it up so you can still handle the phone. That depends on your heat gun. Wearing (ESD-)gloves might give you some extra degrees.

Tobias Isakeit - 27/02/20

It is very very hard to remove the back glass due to the adesive… I don't know if it is possibile (at least for everyone) to remove it wothout broking the glass

Luigi - 09/12/20

This is nearly impossible without breaking the glass or risking overheating. I would say apply heat repetitively for 6-8 minutes. The very most adhesive is across the bottom so push the pry stick way in. I generally start on the rear side.

Thomas Hayes - 04/02/21

Whoah NO. It will damage the camera and other sensitive electronics.

D Harlo -

Heating the back is essential, challenging, frustrating and, for first-timers such as myself, seemingly impossble, but I will say don't give up...I'll have another comment later.

cbclistener -

I tried with the iopener but I gave in after three attempts. I then used a hairdryer and a pizza oven infrared thermometer, heating in increments. 60C did the trick and I was able to get the first pick in. Further heating was necessary to ease the rest of the back off, all to 60C.

Chris Harrison -

Step 2

In the following steps, you'll be cutting through the adhesive securing the back cover.
The adhesive in the inside of the back cover is laid out as seen in the image.
You'll be slicing through the adhesive in the areas shown:
Thick portions of adhesive
Thin areas of adhesive
Avoid prying or slicing in this area, to protect the fingerprint sensor flex cable.

The yellow portion labeled "Avoid prying in this area" is also pretty heavily glued. I had luck using heat to soften it, but I messed up my fingerprint sensor because the image above is mirrored - I sliced through the right side because the image says it's on the left. The fingerprint sensor cable is actually on the right (when viewing the back side of the phone) on the same side as the phone's volume control.

Nick Tipton -

Step 3

If the phone's rear glass is cracked, the suction cup may not stick. Try lifting it with strong tape, or superglue the suction cup in place and allow it to cure so you can proceed.
Press a suction cup onto the back cover.
Lift the back cover's bottom edge with your suction cup, opening a slight gap between the back cover and the frame.
This may require a significant amount of force, but you only need to open a very slight gap with the suction cup to insert your tool. If you have trouble, apply more heat to further soften the adhesive, and try again. The adhesive cools very fast, so you may need to heat it repeatedly.
Insert an opening pick in the gap and slide it to the bottom right corner.

This is the most challenging part. The suction cup can barely hold for the amount of force required...but here's a tip, especially for the first-timers like me. It's not obvious in this image, but the back, curved as it is as it attaches to the frame, is curved because the surface under the back is also curved. Therefore, using an angle for the pick that's a bit tilted up will help to get under the back, and get the cutting of the adhesive started.

Don't let that give you too much confidence, though. Sufficient heating of the back, to make the adhesive soft enough to yield to the several picks, is essential. Go slow, if you go too fast, or don't have enough heat, you WILL break the glass...as I did. Replacements, fortunately, are easy to find and not too expensive.

cbclistener - 27/02/23

Step 4

Insert a second opening pick and slide it to the bottom left corner.
Insert a third opening pick at the bottom end of the phone. This opening pick stays there during the rear glass removal procedure to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 5

Start to slide the tip of the opening pick from the bottom left corner along the side of the S9 Plus.
Leave the opening pick in its place after you cut the adhesive half way up the left side of the phone.
Slide the opening pick from the bottom right corner half way up the frame and leave it there.

Step 6

Insert a fourth opening pick at the right side of the frame and slide it to the top right corner.
Slide a fifth opening pick along the left side of the phone to the top left corner.
Use the opening pick to cut the remaining adhesive under the upper part of the rear glass.
Don't open the phone all the way yet. The flex cable for the fingerprint reader is still connected to the motherboard.

Step 7

Carefully lift the side of the rear glass where the volume button is located.
Use the edge of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint sensor flex cable.

On my G965U, the fingerprint reader remained in the phone, and instead of disconnecting the flex cable from the motherboard, it was only necessary to disconnect the flex cable from the back glass where it was glued lightly

lyellread - 31/03/21

I also have a G965U model S9+, and its fingerprint read also remained in the back glass.

Nick Tipton -

It's easier to pop the button up than it is to reattach it when reassembling the phone. Well, I sure hope it goes better for you than it did me. (:

Daylen Westwood -

Step 8

Remove the rear glass.
When reassembling follow this guide to replace the adhesive and reinstall the rear glass.
In case you want to replace your rear glass follow this guide to transfer the rear camera bezel including the fingerprint.

Is it necessary to replace the rear glass adhesive? I have given up on water resistance, just want it to hold in one piece.

Zachary Shaw -

Hi Zachary,

in order to assure that the rear glass sticks to the rest of the phone assembly you have to replace the rear glass adhesive once you removed the rear glass. However you can use a narrow and strong double sided tape, tesa tape or our precut adhesive card. All of these will do their job however as you just mentioned you will lose the water protection of your phone. Before installing all of these it is very important to remove the old adhesive backings (for example with high isopropyl alcohol 90% or higher).

Sadly it's not possible to replace the rear glass without new adhesive.

Dominik Schnabelrauch -

Is the L shaped stocker with the three holes(first pic in step 2) in it essential? It came off when i was using iso to get the adhesive off. Just wanna know before i put the phone back together.

Thanks

Bob

Bob Erto -

Step 9

Remove the nine 4 mm Phillips #00 screws.

Don´t forget to unscrew the two screws on the left side (one near the battery, and one near the edge).

Janny 4real - 12/04/21

My s9+ NFC screws in this step are different sizes most are the same except one is shorter and coloured black and another is just shorter. The phone will not charge now, how can you find out which screws go where?

H8redflip -

11 screws need to be removed here. Watch the video to confirm the remaining 2.

Nick Tipton -

The 9 screws shown won't let the bracket up unless you finish with the 2 more screws. (near edge and bottom of the bracket).

Daylen Westwood -

Step 10

Insert an opening pick under the right side of the plastic cover containing the NFC antenna and charging coil.
Flip the opening pick sideways to lift the cover out of its plastic clips.
Work your way around the plastic cover, prying up to release the remaining clips.