Samsung Galaxy S4 Usb Board Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 - 45 minutes

Sections

Rear Case
2 steps
MicroSD Card
1 step
Battery
1 step
SIM Card
1 step
Midframe
6 steps
USB Board
6 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Rear Case

Pry with a plastic opening tool, or your fingernail, in the divot to the left of the rear-facing camera, near the power button.

Pry with a plastic opening tool, or your fingernail, in the divot to the left of the rear-facing camera, near the power button.

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Step 2

Lift the rear case by the corner nearest the divot and remove it from the phone.

Lift the rear case by the corner nearest the divot and remove it from the phone.

Step 3

              MicroSD Card

Use the flat end of a spudger, or your fingernail, to press the microSD card slightly deeper into its slot until you hear a click.
After the click, release the card and it will pop out of its slot.
Remove the microSD card.
For reassembly, push the microSD card into the slot until it clicks in place.

Use the flat end of a spudger, or your fingernail, to press the microSD card slightly deeper into its slot until you hear a click.

After the click, release the card and it will pop out of its slot.

Remove the microSD card.

For reassembly, push the microSD card into the slot until it clicks in place.

Step 4

              Battery

Insert a plastic opening tool, or your finger, into the notch of the battery compartment and lift the battery upward.
Remove the battery from your phone.

Insert a plastic opening tool, or your finger, into the notch of the battery compartment and lift the battery upward.

Remove the battery from your phone.

Step 5

              SIM Card

Use a plastic opening tool, or your fingernail, to press the SIM card slightly deeper into its slot until you hear a click.
After the click, release the card and it will pop out of its slot.
Remove the SIM card.
During reassembly, push the SIM card into the slot until it clicks in place.

Use a plastic opening tool, or your fingernail, to press the SIM card slightly deeper into its slot until you hear a click.

Remove the SIM card.

During reassembly, push the SIM card into the slot until it clicks in place.

Step 6

              Midframe

Remove the nine 4.0 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the midframe to the display assembly.

Remove the nine 4.0 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the midframe to the display assembly.

Step 7

The midframe is secured to the display assembly by several plastic clips behind the chrome bezel of the midframe. The next few steps will guide you through separating the clips to free the midframe.
Starting on the volume button side of the phone, insert your plastic opening tool between the chrome bezel around the display glass and the larger chrome border piece. Look for the seam between the two.
Slide the opening tool along the seam, separating the plastic clips as you go.
Be very gentle whilst prying, and pry only enough to separate the plastic clips—there are several thin points in the midframe bezel that may crack if you bend them too much.

The midframe is secured to the display assembly by several plastic clips behind the chrome bezel of the midframe. The next few steps will guide you through separating the clips to free the midframe.

Starting on the volume button side of the phone, insert your plastic opening tool between the chrome bezel around the display glass and the larger chrome border piece. Look for the seam between the two.

Slide the opening tool along the seam, separating the plastic clips as you go.

Be very gentle whilst prying, and pry only enough to separate the plastic clips—there are several thin points in the midframe bezel that may crack if you bend them too much.

Step 8

Continue prying around the corner of the phone.
Slide your opening tool along the seam between the midframe and display along the bottom of the device, releasing more of the plastic clips.

Continue prying around the corner of the phone.

Slide your opening tool along the seam between the midframe and display along the bottom of the device, releasing more of the plastic clips.

Step 9

Again, pry around the corner, to the power button side.
Slide the opening tool along the seam.

Again, pry around the corner, to the power button side.

Slide the opening tool along the seam.

Step 10

Continue sliding the opening tool around the top of the phone, releasing the last of the clips and freeing the midframe from the display assembly.
At this point, you may want to run your plastic opening tool along the entire perimeter of the device again, to make sure you’ve released all of the plastic clips.

Continue sliding the opening tool around the top of the phone, releasing the last of the clips and freeing the midframe from the display assembly.

At this point, you may want to run your plastic opening tool along the entire perimeter of the device again, to make sure you’ve released all of the plastic clips.

Step 11

Remove the midframe from the display assembly.

Remove the midframe from the display assembly.

Step 12

              USB Board

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the USB board cable connector from the motherboard.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the USB board cable connector from the motherboard.

Step 13

Gently insert the point of a spudger between the USB port and the USB port bracket to pry one side of the bracket off of its post.

Gently insert the point of a spudger between the USB port and the USB port bracket to pry one side of the bracket off of its post.

Step 14

Remove the USB port bracket from the USB port.
The bracket is slightly springy and should pop back into place on the two screw posts during reassembly.

Remove the USB port bracket from the USB port.

The bracket is slightly springy and should pop back into place on the two screw posts during reassembly.

Step 15

Disconnect the soft button cable from the USB board cable.
Disconnect the antenna cable connector from the USB board.
Depending on your carrier, you may have an additional antenna cable. If you can access it at this point, use a spudger to disconnect it from the USB board.

Disconnect the soft button cable from the USB board cable.

Disconnect the antenna cable connector from the USB board.

Depending on your carrier, you may have an additional antenna cable. If you can access it at this point, use a spudger to disconnect it from the USB board.

Step 16

              Free USB Board

The USB board is secured to the display assembly with light adhesive.
Depending on your carrier the USB board may have an additional antenna cable on the back side of the USB board. Pry very carefully and stop if you encounter resistance.
Gently insert the flat end of a spudger beneath the USB board to free it from the adhesive holding it in place.
Go slow and be careful not to bend the board.

The USB board is secured to the display assembly with light adhesive.

Depending on your carrier the USB board may have an additional antenna cable on the back side of the USB board. Pry very carefully and stop if you encounter resistance.

Gently insert the flat end of a spudger beneath the USB board to free it from the adhesive holding it in place.

Go slow and be careful not to bend the board.

Step 17

              Remove USB Board

Remove the USB board from the display assembly.

Remove the USB board from the display assembly.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Sam Goldheart

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Bryan - Mar 12, 2014

I found this guide excellent and it is very easy to do. I didnt have the plastic opening tool but I do have a long thumbnail. It worked very well.

Too bad the replacement board I got has a defective soft button connector. I had to disassemble the phone 3 times. I thought I did It wrong the 1st time. Opened the phone a 2nd time to check…. closed the phone… nada…. USB changer works but no soft keys… put my old board back in to check the soft buttons and they work. Sent an email to the company that I bought the board from… still no answer after 24hrs. If I still have no answer by the end of the week I will post which company sold me the defect board so no one else gets burned from them. I will then try to unsolder the USB from the new board to replace the USB on my old one.

rnbhays - Mar 31, 2014

This guide needs an update as it does not include the 4G antenna on the left side of the device that is under the USB cable and hooks up at the bottom left on the USB board up to just beside the USB connector above the battery. Pictures 12, 15, & 16 will need updated to show this cable.

Alex - Nov 1, 2014

I strongly suggest people to disconnect both left and right cables from the USB board prior to removing it. While doing so, my tool slipped and I accidentally broke the left cable. Thankfully I was able to crimp the connector back on the cable with tweezers and a magnifying glass ’til I get another cable ordered.

anonymous 1189 - Mar 20, 2015

It also applies to the Sprint version as well. I have an LTE cable on the left side, and had to be very careful purchasing a replacement part to make sure it was the right one.

matthew young - Jan 30, 2015

After replacement my microphone element isn’t working. Possible reasons?

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team