Samsung Galaxy S10 Front-Facing Camera Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 5

Samsung Galaxy S10 Front-Facing Camera Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

40 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the front-facing camera module in the Galaxy S10.

The hardest part of this guide is getting the back cover off.

Tools

Parts

Galaxy S10 Front Camera

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

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front-facing camera connector from its motherboard socket.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.