Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Battery Replacement

Written By: Tarun Thiruma

Comments: 3

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Battery Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

This guide shows how to remove and replace the battery for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.

The battery is held in place with strong adhesive. High concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol is necessary to loosen and release this adhesive.

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.

You'll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Unplug and power off your phone before you begin.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the back cover's bottom 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.

Step 2

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the bottom 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.
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 of reheating with the iOpener and separating with the suction cup before you get it right.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
Do not apply excessive force with the pick, or you risk cracking the back cover glass.

Step 3

Slide the pick back and forth along the bottom edge to slice through the adhesive.
Do not attempt to cut the adhesive near the corners of the phone where the glass is curved or you risk cracking the glass panel.
Leave your opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 4

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Step 5

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the left edge as possible.
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.
As the glass on this edge is curved, you won't be able to insert this pick very far. As long as the very tip of the pick is underneath the glass's edge, you will be able to proceed.
Due to tight tolerances, this may take multiple attempts.
If you are having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
You can try also 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 risk cracking the back cover glass.

Step 6

Once the pick is underneath the glass's edge, tilt it downward and insert it further to fully separate the back cover's adhesive.

Step 7

Slide the pick towards the bottom edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.
Leave your pick under the left edge of the glass near the bottom of the device to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 8

Insert another pick under the center of the left edge of the back cover.
Gradually slide the pick towards the top of the device to separate the back cover's adhesive.
Take care when sliding across the ridge in the frame surrounding the volume and power buttons—the cutout in the glass may make it more prone to cracking.
Leave your pick under the left edge of the glass near the top of the device to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 9

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back cover 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.

Step 10

Apply a suction cup to the back of the phone, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
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.
Like with the previous edge, you will need to tilt the opening pick downward to fully insert it underneath the back cover.

Step 11

Slide the pick towards the bottom edge of the phone to separate the back cover's adhesive.
Leave your pick under the right edge of the glass near the bottom of the device to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 12

Insert another pick underneath the center of the right edge of the back cover.
Gradually slide the pick towards the top of the device to separate the back cover's adhesive.
As you do this, the bottom edge of the back cover may release the three picks located there. If this occurs, set these picks aside as the bottom edge shouldn't reseal from this point onward.

Step 13

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the back cover for two minutes.

Step 14

The glass near the corners of the back cover is curved and very susceptible to cracking. Be gentle during this step to prevent damaging your back cover.
Gradually slide the pick from the right edge of the device around the top right corner.
Continue slicing along the top edge to fully separate the back cover adhesive.
If the slicing becomes difficult at any point, stop and reapply heat before continuing.

Step 15

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 sealing it up.
Remove any adhesive chunks with a pair of tweezers or your fingers. Apply heat if you're having trouble separating the adhesive.
If you're using Samsung custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
If you're using double-sided tape, follow this guide.

Step 16

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the wireless charging coil connector.
When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

Step 17

Use a pair of tweezers to gently peel the wireless charging coil away from the device.
Remove the wireless charging coil.
During reassembly, reconnect the wireless charging coil connector first to properly align it into place, then firmly press the rest of the coil down to adhere it.

Step 18

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the motherboard bracket.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Step 19

Use a pair of tweezers to unclip and remove the motherboard bracket.

Step 20

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery connector.

Step 21

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the five 3.9 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Step 22

Insert the point of a spudger or a pair of tweezers into the notch in the top left corner of the midframe and pry up to release the clips holding it in place.
Remove the loudspeaker and lower midframe.

Step 23

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the main and auxiliary flex cables from the daughterboard near the bottom of the device.
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.

Step 24

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the main and auxiliary flex cables from the motherboard.

Step 25

Gently peel up and remove the main and auxiliary flex cables.

Step 26

Pry up and disconnect the left 5G antenna cable from the motherboard.

Step 27

Pry up and disconnect the main display flex cable from the motherboard.

Step 28

Gently peel up and bend the display and left 5G antenna flex cables out of the way of the motherboard and battery.

Step 29

Apply high concentration (over 90%) isopropyl alcohol to the gaps in between the frame and the edges of the battery.
The battery is held in place with a large amount of adhesive, so a significant amount of alcohol may be necessary.
Tilt the device as you apply the alcohol help it penetrate the adhesive underneath the battery.
After you apply the alcohol, continue tilting the phone in all directions for two to three minutes to help the alcohol penetrate further.

Step 30

Apply a suction handle to the center of the battery.
Brace the top and bottom of the device against your work surface with one hand and firmly pull up on the suction handle with the other.
The battery will not budge the first time you do this. Repeat the process (add alcohol, wait 2-3 minutes, and pull with the suction handle) five or six times to gradually release the adhesive.
Continue lifting until the battery separates from the phone.

Step 31

Remove the battery.
Peel up and/or scrape away any remaining battery adhesive before cleaning the battery well surface with isopropyl alcohol and a lint free cloth.
During reassembly, if your new battery doesn't come with pre-applied adhesive, apply some to the well. Then, firmly press the new battery into place.
Caution: Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.

Conclusion

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 the above steps in reverse order.

Follow this guide to perform a battery cycle reset, and calibrate your newly-installed battery.

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

Tarun Thiruma

Member since: 20/11/19

32499 Reputation

3 comments

The new battery stays at zero percent when it’s charging

benjamin barlow -

But it charges or not?

Daniele Carminati -

Where did you buy this battery, avoid ebay only buy from trusted sources with warranty like ifixit

I bought a galaxy s7 battery on eBay claiming to be original quality it swelled up badly in 2 days

James middleton -