Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Water Damage Repair

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.

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.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.

If your display 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 glass.

Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts of reheating with the iOpener and separating with the suction cup before you get it right.

If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you risk cracking the back cover glass.

Slide the pick back and forth along the bottom edge to slice through the adhesive.

Do not attempt to cut the adhesive near the corners of the phone where the glass is curved or you risk cracking the glass panel.

Leave your opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the left edge as possible.

Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

As the glass on this edge is curved, you won't be able to insert this pick very far. As long as the very tip of the pick is underneath the glass's edge, you will be able to proceed.

Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts.

If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

You can try also applying a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol into the seam to help loosen the adhesive.

Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you risk cracking the back cover glass.

Once the pick is underneath the glass's edge, tilt it downward and insert it further to fully separate the back cover's adhesive.

Slide the pick all along the left edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.

Take care when sliding across the ridge in the frame surrounding the volume and power buttons—the cutout in the glass may make it more prone to cracking.

Leave your pick under the left edge of the glass to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back cover for two minutes.

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.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.

Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Like with the previous edge, you will need to tilt the opening pick downward to fully insert it underneath the back cover.

Slide the pick all along the right edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.

Leave your pick under the right edge of the glass near the top of the device to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

As you do this, the back cover may release one or both of the other picks and allow them to fall free. If this occurs, set the pick(s) aside as the bottom edge shouldn't reseal from this point onward.

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the back cover for two minutes.

The glass near the corners of the back cover is curved and very susceptible to cracking. Be gentle during this step to prevent damaging your back cover.

Gradually slide the pick from the right edge of the device around the top right corner.

Continue slicing along the top edge all the way around to the left edge to fully separate the back cover adhesive.

If the slicing becomes difficult at any point, stop and reapply heat before continuing.

Lift the back cover slowly. Use opening picks to slice any remaining adhesive.

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 [product|IF145-020|tweezers] or your fingers. Apply heat if you're having trouble separating the adhesive.

If you're using custom-cut adhesives, [guide|152862|follow this guide|new_window=true].

If you're using double-sided tape, [guide|113604|follow this guide.|new_window=true]

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the six 4 mm-long screws securing the motherboard bracket.

Throughout this repair, [https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Magnetic-Project-Mat/IF145-167-4|keep track of each screw|new_window=true] and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Use a pair of [product|IF145-020|tweezers] to gently pull up and unclip the motherboard bracket from the plastic midframe.

Do not completely remove the bracket yet, as its still attached to the wireless charging coil.

Gently tilt up the motherboard bracket so the orange battery connector is accessible.

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

When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil connector.

Use a pair of [product|IF145-020|tweezers] to gently peel the wireless charging coil away from the device.

Remove the wireless charging coil.

During reassembly, first reconnect the charging coil and battery connectors and refasten the motherboard bracket screws to properly align everything into place, then firmly press the coil pad down to adhere it.

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 4 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Insert the point of a spudger or a pair of [product|IF145-020|tweezers] into the notch in the top left corner of the midframe and pry up to release the clips holding it in place.

Remove the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the display cable.

In the next several steps, you will heat and separate the black adhesive around the perimeter of the device.

The adhesive surrounding the long edges of the device is thin and will only require you to insert the pick 5 mm to separate.

Note that along the top edge of the phone, the adhesive runs significantly farther from the device's edge. You will need to insert your pick deeper here to fully seperate the adhesive.

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.

Apply a suction cup to the display glass, as close to the center of the top edge as possible.

If your display 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 screen.

Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the display glass and the frame.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap in the center of the earpiece speaker notch, working it downwards underneath the display.

Ensure the pick slides '''over''' the front-facing camera and is not pushing against it.

Due to the stubborn adhesive, this may take multiple attempts of reheating with the iOpener and separating with the suction cup before you get it right.

If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

Leave your pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from reasealing.

Insert a second pick into the same gap and slide it to the top left corner of the display to slice the adhesive.

Leave your opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a third pick into the center gap and slide it to the top right corner of the display to slice the adhesive.

Leave your pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Slide the center pick further into the device's top edge to slice the adhesive surrounding the earpiece and front-facing camera.

If the adhesive becomes difficult to separate, apply more heat and try again.

Don't insert the pick too far or you may "lose" the pick under the screen assembly.

Remove the center pick.

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for two minutes.

Insert another pick into the gap at the top right corner of the display.

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

Insert a pick underneath the center of the screen's right edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the display for two minutes.

Insert a pick into the gap at the top left corner of the display.

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

Insert a pick underneath the center of the screen's left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

In this step, you will apply isopropyl alcohol behind the screen to release the clear adhesive towards the bottom center of the device.

Apply high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol behind the display as close to the clear adhesive (marked red) as possible.

Tilt the device as you apply the alcohol to help it penetrate the adhesive underneath the lower portion of the display.

After you apply the alcohol, continue tilting the bottom of the phone down for two to three minutes to help the alcohol penetrate further.

Slowly insert a spudger under the top edge of the screen to separate the clear adhesive.

Insert the spudger until the clear adhesive is completely separated.

Remove the display from the frame.

There still may be a small strip of adhesive at the bottom edge of the phone, but it should release easily.

Take care to thread the display cable through the frame.

During reassembly, you will need to insert the display cable through the hole in the frame before pressing the display into place. Do not insert the display cable before the new screen adhesive is applied.

Use [product|IF145-020|tweezers] to remove any remaining adhesive from the frame.

Use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to thoroughly clean the frame's surface and prepare it for new adhesive. Wipe in one direction to avoid smearing.

During reassembly, [guide|126585|follow this guide|new_window=true] to install custom-cut adhesives for your device.