Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

21

Time Required

                          45 - 55 minutes

Sections

6

  • Back Cover
  • 7 steps
  • NFC Antenna & Charging Coil Assembly
  • 6 steps
  • How to Disconnect the Battery in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • 1 step
  • Loudspeaker
  • 3 steps
  • How to disconnect the Interconnect Cables in the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • 2 steps
  • Interconnect Cables
  • 2 steps

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Introduction

This guide was performed on the SM-G998B/DS (international) model. Other models have an additional antenna cable sitting in the left edge of the midframe.

Use this guide to remove the interconnect cables on a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

What you need

Step 1

              Heat the back cover
  • Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the back cover for at least three minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
  • 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.

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the back cover for at least three minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.

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.

1024

Step 2

              Insert an opening pick
  • Secure a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.
  • If the back cover 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 cover.
  • Lift the back cover with the suction handle to create a small gap between the back 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 you created.
  • Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Secure a suction handle to the bottom edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.

If the back cover 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 cover.

Lift the back cover with the suction handle to create a small gap between the back 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 you created.

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

Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 3

              Slice the adhesive
  • Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick to the bottom right corner to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening picks in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge of your phone.

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

Leave the opening picks in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 4

  • If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Use your iOpener for two to three minutes to reheat it.
  • Insert a third opening pick at the bottom right corner of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Use your iOpener for two to three minutes to reheat it.

Insert a third opening pick at the bottom right corner of your phone.

Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 5

  • When you slice near the camera assembly, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 4-5 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
  • Insert a fourth opening pick underneath the top right corner of your phone.
  • Slide the opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.
  • Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

When you slice near the camera assembly, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 4-5 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.

Insert a fourth opening pick underneath the top right corner of your phone.

Slide the opening pick along the top edge to slice the adhesive.

Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 6

  • Insert a fifth opening pick underneath the top left corner.
  • Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the back cover to slice the remaining adhesive.
  • When you slice near the power button, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 3-4 mm) to avoid damaging the power and volume button flex cable.

Insert a fifth opening pick underneath the top left corner.

Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the back cover to slice the remaining adhesive.

When you slice near the power button, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~ 3-4 mm) to avoid damaging the power and volume button flex cable.

Step 7

              Remove the back cover
  • 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 tweezers or your fingers.
  • Use some high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any adhesive residue.
  • If you’re using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
  • If you’re using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

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 tweezers or your fingers.

Use some high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to wipe away any adhesive residue.

If you’re using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.

If you’re using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Step 8

              Slice the adhesive
  • Insert an opening pick underneath the left bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
  • Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom left edge of the assembly to separate it from the battery.

Insert an opening pick underneath the left bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom left edge of the assembly to separate it from the battery.

Step 9

  • Insert an opening pick underneath the bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.
  • Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom of the assembly to separate it from the loudspeaker.

Insert an opening pick underneath the bottom end of the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Carefully slide the opening pick along the bottom of the assembly to separate it from the loudspeaker.

Step 10

              Disconnect the charging coil
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the charging coil by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the charging coil by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 11

              Disconnect the NFC antenna
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 12

              Unfasten the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly screws
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Step 13

              Remove the NFC antenna & charging coil assembly
  • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to carefully remove the NFC antenna and charging coil assembly.

Step 14

              Disconnect the battery cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 15

              Unfasten the loudspeaker assembly screws
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.9 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 3.9 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 16

              Pry up the loudspeaker assembly
  • Insert a spudger into the gap between the top edge of the loudspeaker assembly and the midframe.
  • Use your spudger to pry up the loudspeaker assembly by tilting it downwards.

Insert a spudger into the gap between the top edge of the loudspeaker assembly and the midframe.

Use your spudger to pry up the loudspeaker assembly by tilting it downwards.

Step 17

              Remove the loudspeaker assembly
  • Remove the loudspeaker assembly.
  • During reassembly apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

Remove the loudspeaker assembly.

During reassembly apply new adhesive where it’s necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).

Step 18

              Disconnect the display flex cable
  • If you’re not planning to remove the motherboard or to replace the battery, you can skip this step and continue with the next one.
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the display flex cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

If you’re not planning to remove the motherboard or to replace the battery, you can skip this step and continue with the next one.

Use a spudger to disconnect the display flex cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 19

              Disconnect the main & interconnect flex cables
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the main and interconnect flex cables from the motherboard by prying their upper connectors straight up from their sockets.

Use a spudger to disconnect the main and interconnect flex cables from the motherboard by prying their upper connectors straight up from their sockets.

Step 20

              Remove the interconnect flex cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the interconnect flex cable from the daughterboard by prying its bottom connector straight up from its socket.
  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the interconnect flex cable.

Use a spudger to disconnect the interconnect flex cable from the daughterboard by prying its bottom connector straight up from its socket.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the interconnect flex cable.

Step 21

              Remove the main flex cable
  • Use a spudger to disconnect the main flex cable from the daughterboard by prying its bottom connector straight up from its socket.
  • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the main flex cable.

Use a spudger to disconnect the main flex cable from the daughterboard by prying its bottom connector straight up from its socket.

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to carefully remove the main flex cable.

If possible, turn on your device and test your repair before installing new adhesive and resealing.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

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

After you’ve completed the repair, follow this guide to test your repair.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

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                    Dominik Schnabelrauch

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Rahul Manayath - Sep 27, 2022

Reply

Hi,

One month ago I dropped my phone in pool and I took it to the service center where they have dried out the phone. Everything was working fine but later only I was able to find out that the primary microphone is not working and also sim doesn’t get detect. So couple of times I did resetting the phone pressing the volume down and power button and that fixed the SIM related issue. After couple of weeks again there was an error saying SIM can’t be detected and I tried the same solution , after several attempts it detected again. Then again after two days the issue pops up once again. So I was able to find out that primary microphone and SIM card slot is in the same daughter board and thought of replacing it by myself. I got the new board and replaced it yesterday and still my microphone is not working. What would be the solution ? Is there anything I need to check/replace further like flex cables and all ? Please advise. Appreciate your help.

Thanks