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Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement

What you need

Video Overview

  1. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Rear Case: step 1, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Rear Case: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Pry with a plastic opening tool, or your fingernail, in the divot to the left of the rear-facing camera, near the power button.

  2. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Lift the rear case by the corner nearest the divot and remove it from the phone.

  3. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, MicroSD Card: step 3, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, MicroSD Card: step 3, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, MicroSD Card: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

  4. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Battery: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

  5. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, SIM Card: step 5, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, SIM Card: step 5, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, SIM Card: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

  6. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Midframe: step 6, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the nine 4.0 mm Phillips #00 screws securing the midframe to the display assembly.

  7. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  8. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  9. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Again, pry around the corner, to the power button side.

    • Slide the opening tool along the seam.

  10. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  11. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3
    • Remove the midframe from the display assembly.

  12. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 12, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 12, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the USB board connector.

    • Disconnect the front-facing camera cable connector.

    • Disconnect the earpiece speaker assembly cable connector.

  13. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 13, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 13, image 3 of 3
    • Disconnect the headphone jack assembly cable connector.

    • Disconnect the display/digitizer cable connector.

    • Disconnect the antenna cable connector.

  14. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 2.4 mm Phillips #00 screw from the motherboard assembly.

  15. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Gently remove the motherboard.

    • Hold the motherboard by its edges to prevent ESD damage. Be careful not to snag it on any cables as you extract it from the display assembly.

  16. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Headphone Jack: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the single 2.4 mm Phillips #00 screw securing the headphone jack assembly to the display assembly.

  17. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the headphone jack assembly.

  18. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Display Assembly: step 18, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement, Display Assembly: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • If present, remove the 2.4 mm PH #00 screw securing the upper display assembly bracket.

    • Remove the upper display assembly bracket from the display.

  19. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the front-facing camera from the display assembly.

  20. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the earpiece speaker assembly from the display assembly.

  21. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3
    • Insert the tip of a spudger under the vibrator to free it from the adhesive holding it to the display assembly.

    • Be careful not to immediately remove the vibrator, as its cable is also adhered to the rear of the display assembly.

    • Use the tip of a spudger to pry the vibrator cable up from the display assembly.

    • Heat works as a great "persuader" here to soften the adhesive. Liberal application of heat from a heat gun will soften the adhesive. If you pry carefully, you can save and re-use the adhesive.

  22. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the vibrator from the rear of the display assembly.

  23. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  24. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 1
    • 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.

  25. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 2 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 25, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect the soft button cable from the USB board cable. Be extra careful here, once you have removed the cable, carefully peel it away from the USB board

    • Disconnect the antenna connector cable from the USB board.

  26. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 26, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 26, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 26, image 3 of 3
    • The USB board is secured to the display assembly with light adhesive.

    • 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.

  27. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the USB board from the display assembly.

  28. Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 28, image 2 of 3 Samsung Galaxy S4 Display Assembly Replacement: step 28, image 3 of 3
    • Peel up and remove the antenna connector cable from its channel in the rear of the display assembly.

    • Other carrier models may have an additional antenna cable on the opposite side of the phone. Remove this antenna from the display assembly as well.

    • On reassembly, it will be helpful to reinstall the USB board first, and reconnect the antenna connector cable before routing it back into its channel.

Conclusion

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

597 other people completed this guide.

Sam Goldheart

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28 Comments

HELP! step 28 just ends how do I insert the new one, how do I resemble the parts that used adhesives to stick?

Tom - Reply

Nearly all the guides end like this, you just need to work backwards through the steps using the new hardware.

Dave Davidson -

Just work backwards like Nick stated. I usually reverse assemble the parts I take off so I know the order in which I need to put them back in.

Sturgis Baxter -

Just run it along its track. Use a plastic spudger to push it down. Use 3m double sided adhesive tape to re-attach parts that require adhesive.

Fausto Lebron - Reply

What is the difference between an AT&T digitizer and a Verizon digitizer? How interchangeable are they?

Martin - Reply

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