OEM Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

22

Time Required

                          45 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

4

  • SIM Card Tray
  • 1 step
  • Back Cover
  • 8 steps
  • NFC Antenna & Charging Coil Assembly
  • 7 steps
  • USB-C Charging Port and Daughterboard
  • 6 steps

Flags

2

Provided Hardware

A manufacturer provided iFixit with this device or component.

OEM Guide

iFixit collaborated with the manufacturer to make this guide.

  • BackSamsung Galaxy S21+

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Introduction

Before you begin, refer to the Samsung Self-Repair document for safety information.

Note: Retaining water resistance after the repair will depend on how well you reapply the adhesive, but your device will lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the SIM card tray
  • Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole on the top edge of the phone.
  • Press the SIM eject tool into the SIM card tray hole to eject the SIM card tray.
  • Remove the SIM card tray.
  • If you accidentally inserted the SIM eject tool into a microphone hole, don’t worry! You most likely didn’t damage the microphone.

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole on the top edge of the phone.

Press the SIM eject tool into the SIM card tray hole to eject the SIM card tray.

Remove the SIM card tray.

If you accidentally inserted the SIM eject tool into a microphone hole, don’t worry! You most likely didn’t damage the microphone.

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Step 2

              Heat the back cover
  • Be sure to power off your device before you begin your repair.
  • 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.

Be sure to power off your device before you begin your repair.

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.

Step 3

              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 cracked, the suction handle may not stick. Try lifting it with strong tape, or superglue the suction handle in place and allow it to cure so you can proceed.
  • 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.

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

If the back cover is cracked, the suction handle may not stick. Try lifting it with strong tape, or superglue the suction handle in place and allow it to cure so you can proceed.

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.

Step 4

              Separate the adhesive
  • 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.

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 5

  • 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 6

  • If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Apply a heated iOpener to the edge 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. Apply a heated iOpener to the edge 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 7

  • 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 8

  • Insert a fifth opening pick underneath the bottom 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 bottom 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 9

              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 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 custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.

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

Step 10

              Slice the adhesive
  • Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.
  • 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.

Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.

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 11

              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 12

              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 13

              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.
  • If you’re reassembling with the Samsung Self-Repair kit, be sure to replace the screws with new ones labeled #3427.

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

If you’re reassembling with the Samsung Self-Repair kit, be sure to replace the screws with new ones labeled #3427.

Step 14

              Unfasten the loudspeaker
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six 3.9 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.
  • If you’re reassembling with the Samsung Self-Repair kit, be sure to replace the screws with new ones labeled #3427.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six 3.9 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 15

              Disconnect the loudspeaker
  • Insert the tip of a spudger between the frame and the upper-left notch in the loudspeaker.
  • Pry up with the spudger to release the loudspeaker from its plastic clips.

Insert the tip of a spudger between the frame and the upper-left notch in the loudspeaker.

Pry up with the spudger to release the loudspeaker from its plastic clips.

Step 16

              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 17

              Disconnect the battery
  • Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery’s press connector.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery’s press connector.

Step 18

              Disconnect the interconnect cables
  • Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the primary and secondary interconnect cables’ press connectors on the motherboard.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the primary and secondary interconnect cables’ press connectors on the motherboard.

Step 19

  • Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the primary and secondary interconnect cables’ press connectors on the daughterboard.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the primary and secondary interconnect cables’ press connectors on the daughterboard.

Step 20

              Remove the interconnect cables
  • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the interconnect cables.
  • Set the cables aside. You’ll reuse them during reassembly.

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the interconnect cables.

Set the cables aside. You’ll reuse them during reassembly.

Step 21

              Unfasten the daughterboard
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 3.4 mm-long screws securing the charging board.
  • If you’re reassembling with the Samsung Self-Repair kit, be sure to replace the screws with new ones labeled #3428.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the three 3.4 mm-long screws securing the charging board.

If you’re reassembling with the Samsung Self-Repair kit, be sure to replace the screws with new ones labeled #3428.

Step 22

              Remove the daughterboard
  • Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the left edge of the daughterboard and pry up to release it from its recess.
  • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull the daughterboard up and away from the bottom of the device and remove it.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the left edge of the daughterboard and pry up to release it from its recess.

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull the daughterboard up and away from the bottom of the device and remove it.

To reassemble your device, follow the instructions in reverse order and perform the opposite actions, e.g., “reattach” instead of “removing.” Skip steps that use heating and prying, and pay close attention to the 📌 bullets as you work through the steps.

After you’ve completed the repair, download the Samsung Members App from the Galaxy Store or the Play Store, and follow the Samsung Self-Repair document (beginning page 10) to make sure your device is fully functional.

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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