Galaxy S23 Ultra Screen Replacement

Written By: Spencer Day

Comments: 2

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

2 - 3 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace a broken, cracked, or non-responsive screen on your Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Note: This guide shows how to replace the screen by itself. If your replacement part is a screen that's pre-installed on a frame, follow this guide instead.

Warning: This process will destroy your old screen. It requires delaminating the front glass from the display panel. Don't use this guide if you're trying to harvest a screen.

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.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Let your phone's battery drain below 25% before starting this repair. A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.
Unplug all cables from your phone and completely power it down.

Step 2

Heat an iOpener and apply it 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 susceptible to heat damage.

Step 3

While you wait for the adhesive to soften, note the following:
There's adhesive securing the back cover around the perimeter of the frame.
The adhesive is strongest in the bottom right and top left corners.

Step 4

Apply a suction handle to the back cover, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the 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.

Step 5

Slide the pick back and forth along the right edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted near the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 6

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

Step 7

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom right corner.
Angle the pick upward to match the curved edge and rotate it around the bottom right corner.
Be careful while working around the corners, as the glass is very fragile here. Work slowly to avoid cracking the glass.

Step 8

Slide your opening pick to the bottom left corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave the pick in the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 9

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

Step 10

Insert a third opening pick at the bottom left corner.
Angle the pick upward to match the curved edge and rotate it around the bottom left corner.
Be careful while working around the corners, as the glass is very fragile here. Work slowly to avoid cracking the glass.

Step 11

Slide your opening pick along the left edge to separate the adhesive, stopping when you reach the power button.
Only insert the pick up to 5 mm, as you may damage the antenna flex cable or the power button cable.
Leave the pick in the left edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 12

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Step 13

Insert an opening pick in the gap at the top right edge.
Angle the pick upward to match the curved edge and rotate it around the top right corner.
Be careful while working around the corners, as the glass is very fragile here. Work slowly to avoid cracking the glass.

Step 14

Slide the pick to the top left corner to separate the adhesive.
Only insert the pick up to 4 mm, as you may damage the cameras or sensors.
Leave the pick in to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 15

Insert an opening pick in the gap at the top left edge.
Only insert the pick up to 4 mm, as you may damage the cameras.
Angle the pick upward to match the curved edge and rotate it around the top left corner.

Step 16

Slide the pick toward the bottom camera to separate through the remaining adhesive, stopping before you reach the power button.
Only insert the pick up to 4 mm, as you may damage the cameras.

Step 17

Grab and remove the back cover.
If your cover is still sticking to the frame, slide an opening pick around the perimeter until the cover completely separates.
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. Apply heat if you're having trouble separating the adhesive.
If you're using custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
If you're using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Step 18

Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the NFC antenna press connector from the motherboard.
Repeat for the wireless charging coil press connector.
To re-attach press connectors, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

Step 19

The wireless charging coil is lightly adhered to the battery.
Insert an opening pick between the right edge of the wireless charging coil and the battery.
Slide the pick along the right edge to separate the adhesive.

Step 20

Insert an opening pick between the top edge of the wireless charging coil and the frame.
Slide the pick toward the right edge to separate the remaining adhesive.

Step 21

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.5 mm-long screws securing the NFC antenna and charging coil.

Step 22

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the six 3.5 mm screws securing the loudspeaker.

Step 23

Insert the pointed end of your spudger between the upper right corner of the loudspeaker and the frame.
Pry up to unclip the loudspeaker from the frame.
Don't pry against the battery. Use protrusions in the frame for leverage.
During reassembly, press around the perimeter of the loudspeaker to clip it to the frame.

Step 24

Grab and remove the NFC, wireless charging coil, and loudspeaker from the frame.

Step 25

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector.

Step 26

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the secondary interconnect cable press connector from the motherboard.
Repeat for the primary interconnect cable.

Step 27

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the secondary interconnect cable press connector from the charging board.
Repeat for the primary interconnect cable.

Step 28

Grab and remove the interconnect cables from the frame.

Step 29

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the earpiece speaker press connector.

Step 30

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.5 mm-long screws securing the motherboard cover.

Step 31

Insert the point of your spudger between the bottom right corner of the motherboard cover and the frame.
Pry up on the cover to unclip it from the frame.
Remove the motherboard cover.
During reassembly, press down on the cover to secure its clips to the frame.

Step 32

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the front-facing camera press connector.

Step 33

Use your spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint reader press connector.

Step 34

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen press connector from the motherboard.

Step 35

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen press connector from the display cutout near the bottom of the phone.

Step 36

Grab and remove the screen cable from the frame.

Step 37

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the right 5G mmWave antenna press connector.

Step 38

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the stylus press connector.

Step 39

Use the point of your spudger to pry up and disconnect the left 5G mmWave antenna press connector.

Step 40

Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the single 4 mm-long screw securing the motherboard.

Step 41

Insert the point of your spudger between the top left of the motherboard and the frame.
Pry the motherboard up until you can grab it with your fingers.
Grab the motherboard and remove it from the frame.
Be careful not to snag any loose cables.
During reassembly, make sure the cables are above the motherboard when reinserting it.

Step 42

Place the back cover back on the frame to protect the battery and your phone's internals from damage.
Flip your phone over so the screen is facing up.

Step 43

Use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the top edge of the screen just until it's hot to the touch.
Be careful not to heat the phone any hotter than this—the battery is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 44

If your screen is badly cracked, lay overlapping strips of packing tape over the glass to protect yourself and make disassembly easier.
Make sure there's a smooth area near the top edge big enough for a suction cup to stick to.

Step 45

Apply a suction handle to the center of the screen's top edge, as close to the edge as possible.

Step 46

The gap between the front glass and frame is extremely small. You'll need a thin, rigid tool such as an iFlex to create the initial gap.
The display panel and display glass will remove separately—although destructive, this is the best method. The display glass will usually lift away from the strongly-adhered panel first.
Take the following safety precautions while removing the front glass during the next few steps:
Don't grip the iFlex or similar metal tools by the edges—they're very sharp.
The front glass can shatter and throw shards of glass around your workspace. Consider wearing gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself.

Step 47

Insert the iFlex at a downward angle into the earpiece speaker gap between the top edge of the front glass and frame.

Step 48

Lift the suction handle with strong, steady force and lower the iFlex so it slides under the front glass, between the glass and the display panel. A large portion of the front glass may separate—that's fine. You may see the tip of the iFlex under the glass.
The iFlex only needs to be inserted just enough to separate the front glass and create an initial gap. If inserted too far, it may damage the front-facing camera.

Step 49

Insert the tip of an opening pick under the front glass and remove the iFlex.

Step 50

Slide the opening pick around the perimeter of the back glass to separate the adhesive securing it to the display panel.
If you're having trouble, use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the edges.

Step 51

Lift and remove the front glass.

Step 52

Slide an opening pick under the bottom corner of the display panel and lift to separate the adhesive.
This adhesive is very strong. If you're having trouble separating it, use a hair dryer or heat gun to heat the display panel and soften the adhesive.

Step 53

Continue sliding your opening pick under the perimeter of the display panel to separate the remaining adhesive.

Step 54

Slowly peel up the display panel, making sure you thread the cable near the top left corner through its cutout in the frame.
If you're having trouble, go back around the perimeter of the screen with an opening pick and separate any adhesive you may have missed.

Step 55

You're left with the screen panel and front glass.

Step 56

Check the bottom half of the frame for pieces of thin plastic left behind by the screen.
Use a spudger and tweezers to scrape up and remove the plastic.

Step 57

In order for your new screen to adhere properly, you'll need to thoroughly remove all of the old screen adhesive and its residue.
Use a spudger to scrape up and remove all of the old screen adhesive from the perimeter of the frame.
Once all of the old adhesive is removed, use high concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth to remove any remaining adhesive residue.
Allow the alcohol to dry completely before continuing.

Step 58

Before applying the larger piece of replacement adhesive, it's helpful to see how it will be oriented.
There's a second, smaller piece of adhesive that'll be applied later on.
Hold the adhesive so the clear liner is on the bottom and test-fit it against the frame to find the proper orientation.

Step 59

Peel down the top half of the larger, clear liner to expose the adhesive—don't remove the whole liner yet.

Step 60

Take your time aligning the adhesive with the frame—it's very sticky and can't be moved after it's applied.
Keep the larger, clear liner folded towards the bottom of the phone during this step.
Carefully place the top edge of the adhesive onto the frame.
Once the top edge is aligned and applied, slowly lay the rest of the adhesive onto the frame, peeling the clear liner down and away as you go.

Step 61

Use your fingers to firmly press the adhesive into place on the frame.
Use the flat end of a spudger to further secure the adhesive.

Step 62

Peel off the larger, more rigid clear‑liner on the second piece of adhesive.
With the adhesive's remaining liners facing up, carefully lay the adhesive into place along the bottom edge of the frame.

Step 63

Use the point of a spudger to firmly press along the entire piece of adhesive to secure it to the frame.

Step 64

Remove the two remaining liners (one clear, one green) from the small, bottom‑edge adhesive.
If any of the adhesive starts to peel up with the liner, gently lay it back on the frame and use the flat end of a spudger to secure it.

Step 65

Use the pull tab in the top right corner to peel and remove the remaining liner from the main adhesive.
If any of the adhesive starts to peel up with the liner, gently lay it back on the frame and use the flat end of a spudger to secure it.

Step 66

Carefully check the underside of your replacement screen for any liners or tabs and remove them.
Thread the screen cable through its cutout near the top left corner of the frame and lay the screen into place.
Press firmly around the perimeter of the screen to secure it.