Samsung Galaxy S10 Battery Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 22

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

This guide shows how to remove and replace the battery in a Samsung Galaxy S10.

The battery is held in place with strong adhesive. Using iFixit’s adhesive remover or high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol will make the battery removal process significantly easier.

Be sure to have replacement adhesive or Tesa tape at hand in order to re-adhere the battery and back cover.

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions and do not heat your phone.

For your safety, discharge your battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair.

Some steps may show the lower midframe/loudspeaker assembly removed. You do not need to remove it for the battery procedure.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's right edge for two minutes.
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.
As you wait, take a look at the image of the removed back cover and take note of where the adhesive is located.

Step 2

Rest the heated right edge of the phone on something that is about 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick. This angles the phone for the opening tool.
Brace the left edge of the phone with your fingers so that the phone won't slide. Pull on the suction cup with firm pressure.
Press the edge of an opening tool into the seam between the back cover and the frame.
With the opening tool in place in the seam, slide it back and forth along the seam to loosen the back cover.

Will the Suction Cup work with a cracked back?

Red Royal -

Might be hard with the suction cup on a cracked back. I'd rather break it off and buy a new back (it's super cheap, around 10$ online).

Guenter -

Yes! Apply a layer of packing tape to the cracked back cover first, and the suction cup will adhere to the smooth tape surface.

Arthur Shi -

Step 3

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the same edge of the phone for two minutes.
Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center 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.
Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, your best bet is to apply more heat to the edge and try the previous step again. The glass is heated enough when it is barely too hot to touch.
You can try applying a few drops of high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol into the seam to help loosen the adhesive.
Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you will risk cracking the back cover glass.

I had trouble lifting up to create a gap. What I did is watch Jerry rig everything's teardown and he said the back glass must be barely too hot to touch in order for the adhesive to weaken.

So I heated the iOpener till it was too hot to touch, but not so long that it would burst. Put on right edge for a few minutes. Then I lift with the suction cup, using my middle finger and thumb to grip the sides of the phone and my pointer finger to pull up on the suction cup .

I cleaned the glass with an alcohol wipe beforehand to make the suction cup stick better, though I'm sure any cleaning method that removes fingerprints will help.

I couldn't make as big a gap as shown in the picture, but I was able to stick my metal jimmy tool carefully into the crack between the glass and the metal frame and it was just enough to slide the tool a little. And I was very careful since it's a metal tool. After that I could stick the plastic pick in and slice the adhesive and then that gets you started removing the back cover. Reheat often to weaken and slice adhesive. STOP and reheat if it even gets a little harder to slice. DON'T risk cracking the glass.

A X - 13/04/23

Step 4

Slide the opening pick along the edge of the phone, slicing through the adhesive.
Do not attempt to slice the adhesive holding the corners down before applying heat. If you do, you may crack the back cover.
Leave a pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 5

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom edge of the phone for two minutes.
Insert an opening pick into the right edge near the bottom right corner.
Carefully slide the pick around the corner. Continue cutting along the bottom edge and around the bottom left corner.
If the cutting feels difficult, re-apply heat to the edge before continuing.
Leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 6

Continue heating and slicing around the remaining edges of the phone.
When cutting around corners, be sure that the corner is thoroughly heated.

Step 7

Once you have sliced around the phone, twist an opening pick in one of the edges to help separate the back cover from the frame.
Lift the back cover slowly. Use opening picks to slice any remaining adhesive.
Remove the back cover.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before you seal the back cover in place. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
Follow this guide to reinstall the back cover, transfer and install the camera bezel, and replace the adhesive.
If desired, you may reinstall the back cover without replacing the adhesive. Remove any large chunks of adhesive that might prevent the back cover from sitting down flush. After installation, heat the back cover and apply pressure to secure it.

Thank's for the help I will try to repair my phone with a new battery all on my

ron hayes - 07/01/21

Step 8

Remove the eight 4 mm Phillips screws securing the top midframe to the phone.

Step 9

The midframe is still held in place by a few plastic clips around the edge.
Insert the point of a spudger into the notch on the right edge of the midframe, near the volume up button.
Pry up to loosen the midframe from the phone.

Step 10

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 that happens, slowly peel it off.
To reinstall the top midframe:
Align the midframe's top edge to the phone and lay the frame down on the phone.
Use fingers to apply pressure along the midframe perimeter to snap the midframe clips back into place. The edges should sit flush against the phone edge.

Step 11

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery connector, which is attached to the motherboard below the rear-facing camera.
Pry upwards to disconnect the connector from its socket.
When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.
Gently push the battery's flex cable away from the motherboard socket to prevent accidental contact.

Step 12

The battery is heavily glued in place. Note the marked areas under the battery:
The frame, where the battery is held by strong adhesive.
A cutout in the frame, exposing the fragile display assembly underneath. Be careful when prying in this area, or you may damage the display.

Step 13

Applying adhesive remover or high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to the battery will make the battery removal significantly easier.
If you are using adhesive remover, follow these preparation steps first.
Apply a few drops of adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol in each battery corner.
Wait for a minute to allow the liquid to weaken the adhesive.
Alternatively, heat an iOpener and apply it to the right side of the front of the phone for two minutes.

Was passiert wenn trotz des Adhesive Removers der Kleber am Akku sich einfach nicht lösen will?

leowider -

Erstmal, Zeit lassen und nichts erzwingen. ;) Am besten erhitzt du dein Gerät nochmal, um den Kleber zu weich zu bekommen und versuchst es dann nochmal. Das ist leider sehr zähe Arbeit, die nur in Ruhe funktioniert.

Fabian Neidhardt -

Destroyed my display by applying too much alcohol since the battery wouldn't come off. Beware! Display died 4 hours afterwards during use.

oromis995 -

Thank you for the warning. sorry that happened! :/

A X -

Step 14

Insert the corner of an opening card into the crevice between the battery and the bottom midframe.
Pry the battery out of its recess.
If the battery does not budge, the adhesive is not sufficiently weakened.
Try using an opening pick, an opening tool, or a spudger to pry the battery out. Do not use metal tools.
Repeat the adhesive remover/isopropyl alcohol application step and try again.
Try applying more heat with an iOpener.

This is the only real challenge in changing the battery.

My steps:

1. add isopropyl alcohol and let it soak for a min or two

2. use the blue opening tool to see if there is any movement (I guess it is not moving)

3. use the card (really the card - which is not a part of the battery replacement kit, or cut out a thing plastic card from the packaging yourself)

4. use the card to get under the battery. cut through the battery on the bottom side and the lower half of the left side. you should see that glue is coming up (even if just a bit) - make sure youre only a few milimeters under the battery

5. check if the blue opener allows you lifting the battery (maybe use a sudger too)

6. If not movement, add a bit more alcohol and WAIT

7. cut through the glue around the left lower edge again. use the opener again

repeat 6 and 7 if still no success

do not add alcohol everywhere, dont use too much of it

dont use other tools or any extensive force on the battery

Guenter - 05/12/22

Thanks for the helpful advice!

A X -

Step 15

Remove the battery.
Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.
To install a new battery and adhesive, follow this guide.

Conclusion

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

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Author

Arthur Shi

Member since: 03/01/18

218160 Reputation

11 comments

Selbst als Selbständiger muss man ab und zu nachforschen, dank dieser Webseite-Info habe ich mich vergewissert dass ich alles genau so richtig wie beschrieben und auf den Bildern machen wollte.

Danke dem Autor dieser Information.

MFG

AK Computer Service

Alfred K. - 22/02/21

Sehr gut. :) Dafür gibt’t diese Seite.

Fabian Neidhardt - 23/02/21

You need to screw the midframe down again before trying to do a power on test, not just reconnect the battery. If you don’t, you’ll get an overheat error icon (red thermometer in yellow warning triangle) when trying to power it on because the NFC sensor is on the midplate and the pogo pins connecting it need screw down pressure to make a solid connection. (No I don’t know why NFC is needed to power the phone on, or why its absence shows as an overheat error.) After figuring this out (shut out to Go Cell Phone Repair on Youtube) the battery repair worked fine.

Dan Neely -

The iFixit kit to replace the battery in S10 worked fine, including the heating sausage. Jus need to take your time and take great care to follow the instructions in order. The most stressful bit was getting the new adhesive in the correct spot to achieve a flawless finish. It is brilliant that these phones are repairable and that there is so much support for same. Shame on you Apple. We have to stop throwing repairable things away, both to save money and to save the planet. Thanks iFixit.

Bill Green -

Don't do what I did and flood the battery with isopropyl alcohol because it seeped into the screen and after a few hours the screen stopped working altogether. Very costly mistake!

monty plt -

Same, wish I had read the comments beforehand.

oromis995 -

thanks for that pointer. I read it before I started the replacement and I only used a bit of alcohol which did no harm. thanks a lot!

Guenter -

Hallo zusammen,

insgesamt hat es geklappt, wobei sich der Deckel des S10 fast zwei Stunden geweigert hat sich zu öffnen. Trotz des Wärmekissens und dem Einsatz eines Heißluft-Föns. Letztlich hat es dann doch ohne Beschädigungen zu verursachen funktioniert.
Allerdings ist der von iFixit gelieferte Akku nicht besser als der alte Akku. Der alte Akku hatte 82 % und der von iFixIt gelieferte neue Akku hat (trotz Kalibrierung) nur eine Kapazität von 85 % (2800 mAh). Maßnahmen wie Akkuschutz-Laden auf 85 %. haben nichts gebracht.
Es wäre ein voller Erfolg gewesen, wenn das Ersatzteil auch die gewünschte Qualität gehabt hätte. Ich habe extra den teureren Akku von iFixIt gekauft, statt anderer Alternativen.
Zurückschicken bringt nichts, denn dann muss ich das Handy wieder zerlegen. (: Insgesamt bin ich sehr enttäuscht von IFixIt.

Gruß Michael

Michael Lorenz -

After replacing the battery, the battery will not charge anymore. What to do?

jacquelineslavenburg -

I was ultimately successful with this repair but don't make the same mistake as me: I was so focused on removing the back panel that I didn't realize I was actually removing the screen, so of course I broke it while doing so. Luckily I was able to replace that as well, but would have preferred not to pay for a new one!

Melissa L -

Great instructions and nothing that doesn't work as explained. My advice on a few steps:

* I didn't use the iOpener, a hairdryer did the job in NO time. I see absolutely no risk of breaking the glass when heated properly and using the plastic openers as shown. make sure you cut through the glue properly and you should be fine.

* You WILL NEED the adhesive removal / softener because that battery glue is nasty! I used isopropyl alcohol to soften the glue (there is this plastic thing that allows you to add alcohol in smaller doses. LET IS SOAK for a min or two! However, to really remove the battery, I just cut the flat plastic case (in which the battery shipped). This is a typical packaging plastic which is very flexible and flat and perfectly bends to reach below the battery and cut through the plastic ( you could also use those flat plastic cards shown and sold here on ifixit too).

Great product!

Guenter -