Fix Your Stuff Community Store

Repair and disassembly guides for iPhone accessories.

34 Questions View all

Options

Removing a hardened glass screen protector?

Hi,

Two friends have hardened glass screen protectors (stick-on) on their phones that have cracked. The phone's screen glass appears fine, it's just the protectors that have cracked, and need to get removed.

Attempting with a fingernail to get underneath a corner of the protector shows that they are very firmly stuck on...

I was thinking about a heat gun - very gently - to soften the adhesive. But I haven't tried it yet, nor anything else.

Anybody have any luck with these ?

If I have to experiment, the good news is that one of the phones in question is about to be replaced anyhow, so it might be a good guinea pig.

Cheers

Neil

Answer this question I have this problem too

Is this a good question?

Yes No
Score 3
Add a comment

3 Answers

Filter by:
Most Helpful Newest Oldest
Most Helpful Answer

Options

Use a razor blade to get underneath the screen protector. Once you get it under you can remove with your hands. But I recommend holding the screen down because it sounds like fairly strong adhesive used for the screen protector.

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 3

1 Comment:

Using a razor blade risks scratching the permanent screen underneath. Bad idea IMHO, unless as a LAST RESORT.

Not to mention the risk of injury if slipping with the razor blade. Perhaps an Xacto knife instead?

by

Add a comment

Options

https://youtu.be/jXmggAgojIY….follow my link to get your answer

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

Options

I generally lift screen protectors with a looped piece of tape to the surface to break the adhesion and lift up so that I can remove a speck of dust from the underside. Using a fingernail or other soft plastic tool to dig underneath a protector risks bending/distorting the protector (bad if you are trying to reuse the protector, and just remove a dust mote). But a soft device/tool is preferrable to a razor blade or other metal that can gouge or scratching the device screen underneath.

If the adhesion is strong, you can move up from weak to stronger types of tape: 3M Scotch tape, packing tape, thin loop of duct tape....

If the protector has become "welded" to the screen, I would use a hair dryer (NOT a heat gun) to warm it up. You might also try the iFixit remover tool that you heat up in a microwave then lay over the screen to warm/soften adhesive.

Some screen protectors are (or were) applied with the help of water. I would NOT apply water directly to the device to try to loosen a protector. Perhaps just use a damp cloth? Try laying a damp cloth over the device, then the iFixit removal tool warmed up, then try in 10-15 minutes. Good luck!

Was this answer helpful?

Yes No
Score 0
Add a comment

Add your answer

Neil will be eternally grateful.
View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 8

Past 7 Days: 69

Past 30 Days: 329

All Time: 23,086