Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement

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Dec 01, 2016 - 03:31:32

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Introduction

Here is a Nokia Lumia 520 with a broken front glass. It is possible to purchase just the glass, but I opted against this. Nokia refers to the front assembly (Glass and Digitizer) as the Touch Window, it is around $10 and it is easy to replace. I previously tried unsuccessfully to separate the digitizer from the glass.

This guide is also applicable to the Nokia 521. The Nokia 521 has a 4th M1.5x3 screw in the lower left corner of the battery compartment, as shown in Step 3.

What you need

Step 1 Touch Window

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement, Touch Window: step 1, image 1 of 3

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement, Touch Window: step 1, image 2 of 3

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement, Touch Window: step 1, image 3 of 3

The damage to the digitizer is clearly visible. Nokia refers to the glass/digitizer combo as the "touch window"
Turn the phone over,
and release the back cover by pushing it off the phone from the top

Step 2

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3

With the back cover removed, the battery becomes visible.
Lift up the battery from the bottom and remove it.
Unscrew the five Torx+4 screws.

Step 3

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

These five screws are 5mm in length
Next remove the three Torx+4 screws
Those screws are machine screws M1.5x3
The Nokia 521 has a 4th screw in the lower left corner of the battery compartment.

Step 4

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

Release the two clips on the bottom of the phone by using a guitar pick or similar opening tool
Simply insert the tool in the gap between the case halves and slightly rotate the tool to free the clips.
Continue to work the tool all the way round.

Step 5

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

The last clip should be on the top of the phone.
Once those are released, the case will simply open up. With the cover (Nokia calls it the D-cover) removed, the logic board will be visible.

Step 6

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3

Remove the digitizer flex cable by using an opening tool, or spudger, from the connector
Here is the flex cable removed from the connector
Next remove the display flex with an opening tool, or spudger, from the connector.

Step 7

Nokia Lumia 520 and 521 Touch Window Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

Display flex removed from the connector
Use an opening tool, or a spudger, to remove the logic board from the case. It is simply held in by two clips.
Remove the logic board from the front assembly

Step 8

Use a guitar pick or similar opening tool to unsnap the touch window assembly from the support frame.
This will separate the touch window from the rest of the phone.