Removing The Galaxy S10 Plus Camera Glass: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you're looking to replace the camera glass on your Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, you've come to the right place. This process involves prying off the old broken glass, cleaning the area, and sticking on a new piece of glass. You can easily find replacement glass on sites like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress. Before beginning, power off your phone and remove the SIM tray. Then, heat the back cover and use an opening tool to create a gap between the back cover and the frame. Be careful not to apply excessive force, as you could crack the back cover glass. With the gap created, you can insert an opening pick to slice through the adhesive holding the back cover in place. Once the adhesive is loosened, you can lift off the back cover and replace the camera glass.

Pry off the old glass

To pry off the old glass on your Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, you'll need to be careful and take your time. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Start by powering off your phone completely and removing the SIM tray. You can do this by inserting a SIM card eject tool, a SIM eject bit, or a straightened paperclip into the hole on the SIM tray, located at the top edge of the phone next to the plastic antenna band. Press firmly to eject the tray, then remove it.

Now, you need to heat the back cover to weaken the adhesive. You can use an iOpener, a hairdryer, a heat gun, or a hot plate for this. Apply heat to the back cover's right edge for about two minutes. Be careful not to overheat the phone, as the display and internal battery are susceptible to heat damage.

With the right edge heated, it's time to create an opening gap. Rest the heated edge on something that's about 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick to angle the phone for the opening tool. Brace the left edge of the phone with your fingers to prevent sliding. Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, close to the centre of the right edge, and pull on it with firm pressure to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

Insert an opening pick into the gap you've created. You may need to try multiple times due to the tight tolerances and strong adhesive. If you're struggling to create a gap, reapply heat to the edge until it's barely too hot to touch, and try again. You can also apply a few drops of high-concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol into the seam to help loosen the adhesive. Just be careful not to apply excessive force, or you'll risk cracking the back cover glass.

Slide the opening pick along the edge of the phone to slice through the adhesive. Leave the pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing. Reapply heat to the bottom edge of the phone for two minutes, and then insert an opening pick into the right edge near the bottom right corner. Carefully slide the pick around the corner and continue cutting along the bottom edge and around the bottom left corner. If you're having difficulty cutting, reheat the edge before continuing. Leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent resealing, and continue heating and slicing around the remaining edges of the phone.

Once you've cut through the adhesive around the entire phone, twist an opening pick in one of the edges to help separate the back cover from the frame. Slowly lift the back cover, and use opening picks to slice through any remaining adhesive. With the back cover removed, you can now access the camera glass.

Before prying off the old camera glass, it's recommended to remove the back cover completely to protect the cameras. If the glass is shattered with shards everywhere, this step is especially important. Take care not to touch or damage the cameras or their lenses during this process.

Now, you can finally pry off the old camera glass. Gently pry around the edges of the glass with a tool like a spudger to loosen it. Be careful not to damage the cameras or their lenses while doing this. Once the glass is loosened, remove it carefully and dispose of it safely.

With the old camera glass removed, you can now clean the area carefully and prepare to install a new piece of glass. Remember to handle the new glass with care and avoid touching the adhesive side.

Clean the surface

To clean the surface of your Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, you must first power off your phone and remove the SIM card tray. Use a SIM card eject tool, SIM eject bit, or a straightened paperclip to press firmly and eject the tray. Once the tray is removed, you can access the surface beneath it for cleaning.

Use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe down the surface of the phone, including the SIM card tray and the surrounding area. Be gentle and avoid applying too much pressure to avoid damaging any internal components. Ensure that you are cleaning in a dust-free environment to prevent any foreign particles from entering the phone during the cleaning process.

If there are any stubborn stains or marks, you can dampen the cloth slightly with distilled water or a specialised screen cleaning solution. Avoid using any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning agents as they may damage the device. Gently wipe the surface with the damp cloth, taking care not to let any liquid enter sensitive areas such as the charging port or headphone jack.

Once you have finished cleaning, use a dry, soft cloth to wipe away any remaining moisture. Ensure that the phone is completely dry before proceeding with any further steps in the camera glass removal process. It is important to maintain a clean surface throughout the repair process to prevent dirt or dust from affecting the performance of your device.

Additionally, it is worth noting that you should avoid using compressed air or any form of compressed gas to clean your device, as this can potentially damage the phone's delicate components. By following these steps, you can effectively clean the surface of your Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus before proceeding with the camera glass removal.

Stick on a new piece of glass

Once you have pried off the old broken glass and cleaned the surface carefully, you can stick on the new piece of glass. You can buy the replacement glass for the camera lens on major sites like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, among others. Make sure you have purchased the correct glass for your model of the Samsung Galaxy S10.

Before sticking on the new glass, ensure the surface is clean and free of debris. Carefully peel off the adhesive covering on the new piece of glass and place it over the camera lens. Apply gentle but firm pressure to ensure the glass is secure.

It is important to note that the camera lens glass is sensitive and prone to damage. When replacing the glass, be cautious not to touch or damage the camera lens or its surrounding components. Additionally, avoid using excessive force when applying the new glass to prevent cracking or damaging the lens.

After successfully adhering the new glass, you can reassemble your device by following the disassembly steps in reverse order. Ensure to test your repair before sealing the back cover.

Remove the back cover

The back cover of the Samsung Galaxy S10 is held in place by strong adhesive, so you will need to apply heat to soften the adhesive before attempting to remove it. Before you begin, ensure that your phone is unplugged and powered off.

Use a hairdryer, heat gun, or hot plate to heat the back cover's right edge for two minutes. You can also use an iOpener, applying it to the same area for the same amount of time. Be careful not to overheat the phone, as the display and internal battery are susceptible to heat damage.

Rest the heated right edge of the phone on something that is about 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick. This will angle the phone for the opening tool. Brace the left edge of the phone with your fingers so that it doesn't slide.

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the centre of the right edge as possible, where the adhesive is narrowest. Pull on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back cover and the frame.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap. You may need to make multiple attempts, as the adhesive is strong and the tolerances are tight. If you're struggling to create a gap, reapply heat to the edge until it's barely too hot to touch, and try again.

You can try applying a few drops of high-concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol into the seam to help loosen the adhesive. Be careful not to apply excessive force with the pick, as this may crack the back cover glass.

Slide the opening pick along the edge of the phone to slice through the adhesive. Do not attempt to slice the adhesive holding the corners down before applying heat, as this may crack the back cover. Leave a pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Apply heat to the bottom edge of the phone for two minutes, then insert an opening pick into the right edge, near the bottom right corner. Carefully slide the pick around the corner, continuing to cut along the bottom edge and around the bottom left corner. Reapply heat if necessary, and leave a pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Continue heating and slicing around the remaining edges of the phone, taking care to thoroughly heat each corner before slicing. Once you've sliced around the entire phone, twist an opening pick in one of the edges to help separate the back cover from the frame.

Lift the back cover slowly, using opening picks to slice through any remaining adhesive.

Remove the midframe

To remove the midframe, you will first need to remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws that are securing the top midframe to the phone. After removing the screws, the midframe will still be held in place by a few plastic clips around the edge.

Next, insert the point of a spudger into the notch on the right edge of the midframe, near the volume up button. Gently pry up to loosen the midframe from the phone. Once it is loosened, lift the midframe from the top corners and remove it from the phone.

The top midframe may stick to the lower midframe at its bottom right corner. If this happens, slowly and carefully peel it off.

Reinstall the midframe

To reinstall the top midframe, align the midframe's top edge with the phone and lay the frame down on the phone. Use your fingers to apply pressure along the midframe perimeter to snap the midframe clips back into place. The edges should now sit flush against the phone edge.

Frequently asked questions