Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

22

Time Required

                          30 - 40 minutes

Sections

5

  • Back Cover
  • 7 steps
  • NFC Antenna & Charging Coil Assembly
  • 6 steps
  • How to Disconnect the Battery in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • 1 step
  • Laser AF module
  • 4 steps
  • Earpiece Speaker
  • 4 steps

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Introduction

This guide was performed on the SM-G998B/DS (international) model. Other models have an additional antenna cable sitting in the edge of the midframe.

If you do not replace the adhesive seals when reassembling, your device will function normally, but will most likely lose its water protection.

You’ll need replacement adhesive to reattach components when reassembling the device.

What you need

Step 1

              Heat the back cover
  • Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the back cover for at least three minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
  • 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.

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the back cover for at least three minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.

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.

1024

Step 2

              Insert an opening pick
  • Secure a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.
  • If the back cover 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 cover.
  • Lift the back cover with the suction handle to create a small gap between the back cover and the frame.
  • If you have trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to further soften the adhesive. Follow the iOpener instructions to avoid overheating.
  • Insert an opening pick into the gap you created.
  • Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Secure a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.

If the back cover 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 cover.

Lift the back cover with the suction handle to create a small gap between the back cover and the frame.

If you have trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to further soften the adhesive. Follow the iOpener instructions to avoid overheating.

Insert an opening pick into the gap you created.

Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 3

              Slice the adhesive
  • Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick to the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening picks in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone.

Slide the opening pick to the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening picks in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 4

  • If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Use your iOpener for two to three minutes to reheat it.
  • Insert a third opening pick at the bottom right corner of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Use your iOpener for two to three minutes to reheat it.

Insert a third opening pick at the bottom right corner of your phone.

Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 5

  • When you slice near the camera assembly, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 4-5 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
  • Insert a fourth opening pick underneath the top right corner of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

When you slice near the camera assembly, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 4-5 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.

Insert a fourth opening pick underneath the top right corner of your phone.

Slide the opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 6

  • Insert a fifth opening pick underneath the top left corner.
  • Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the back cover to slice the remaining adhesive.
  • When you slice near the power button, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 3-4 mm) to avoid damaging the power and volume button flex cable.

Insert a fifth opening pick underneath the top left corner.

Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the back cover to slice the remaining adhesive.

When you slice near the power button, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 3-4 mm) to avoid damaging the power and volume button flex cable.

Step 7

              Remove the back cover
  • 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.
  • Use some high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any adhesive residue.
  • If you’re using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
  • If you’re using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

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.

Use some high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any adhesive residue.

If you’re using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.

If you’re using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Step 8

              Slice the adhesive
  • Insert an opening pick underneath the left bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
  • Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom left edge of the assembly to separate it from the battery.

Insert an opening pick underneath the left bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom left edge of the assembly to separate it from the battery.

Step 9

  • Insert an opening pick underneath the bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
  • Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom of the assembly to separate it from the loudspeaker.

Insert an opening pick underneath the bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom of the assembly to separate it from the loudspeaker.

Step 10

              Disconnect the charging coil
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the charging coil by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the charging coil by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 11

              Disconnect the NFC antenna
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 12

              Unfasten the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly screws
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Step 13

              Remove the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly
  • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Step 14

              Disconnect the battery cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 15

              Disconnect the laser AF module
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the laser AF module cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the laser AF module cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 16

              Loosen the laser AF module adhesive
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen where the front facing camera is located for at least two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
  • 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.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen where the front facing camera is located for at least two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.

Step 17

              Pry up the laser AF module
  • Slide an opening pick underneath the laser AF module to separate it from the earpiece speaker assembly.
  • Use your opening pick to pry up the laser AF module.

Slide an opening pick underneath the laser AF module to separate it from the earpiece speaker assembly.

Use your opening pick to pry up the laser AF module.

Step 18

              Remove the laser AF module
  • Use a pair of blunt tweezers to remove the laser AF module.
  • During reassembly apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

Use a pair of blunt tweezers to remove the laser AF module.

During reassembly apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

Step 19

              Unfasten the earpiece speaker assembly screws
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.9 mm-long screws securing the earpiece speaker assembly.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.9 mm-long screws securing the earpiece speaker assembly.

Step 20

              Disconnect the earpiece speaker
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the earpiece speaker cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the earpiece speaker cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 21

              Pry up the earpiece speaker assembly
  • Slide the flat end of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the earpiece speaker assembly.
  • Use your spudger to pry up the earpiece speaker assembly.

Slide the flat end of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the earpiece speaker assembly.

Use your spudger to pry up the earpiece speaker assembly.

Step 22

              Remove the earpiece speaker assembly
  • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the earpiece speaker assembly.
  • During reassembly apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the earpiece speaker assembly.

If possible, turn on your device and test your repair before installing new adhesive and resealing.

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 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.

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                    Dominik Schnabelrauch

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