Phone · Samsung · Galaxy Note 20
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Before you begin
Tools
- Precision Phillips #00 Screwdriver
- Heat Gun or iOpener
- Suction Cup
- Plastic Opening Picks
- Plastic Spudger
- ESD Tweezers
- Soft Antistatic Brush
- Magnifying Glass
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Lint-Free Microfiber Cloth
- Replacement Rear Glass Adhesive Strips
Safety
- Disconnect the battery immediately to stop liquid corrosion and short circuits.
- Wear eye protection when brushing isopropyl alcohol off components.
- Avoid heating the phone above 80°C (176°F) to prevent battery damage.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Eject the S Pen and SIM Tray
2 minPress in on the S Pen to pop it out, then insert a SIM eject tool into the SIM tray hole at the top of the device.
- 2
Heat the Rear Glass Panel
3 minUse a heat gun or iOpener along the outer edges of the back cover for 2 minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Attach Suction Cup and Create a Gap
4 minPlace a suction cup on the lower back glass, pull up gently, and insert a plastic opening pick beneath the glass frame.
- 4
Slice the Rear Glass Adhesive
5 minSlide opening picks around all four edges of the phone to completely cut through the perimeter adhesive, then lift off the back cover.
- 5
Unscrew the Upper Midframe and Coil
4 minRemove the 10 Phillips #00 screws securing the upper motherboard bracket and wireless charging pad assembly.
- 6
Peel Back the Wireless Charging Coil
3 minGently unclip and lift off the wireless charging pad and midframe bracket to reveal the motherboard beneath.
- 7
Disconnect the Battery Connector
2 minUse a plastic spudger to pry the battery flex cable straight up from its socket to prevent further short-circuiting.
- 8
Disconnect Interconnect Cables
4 minDisconnect the main display flex cable, digitizer flex, and sub-board interconnect cables from the motherboard using a plastic tool.
- 9
Unscrew and Remove the Loudspeaker
3 minRemove the 5 Phillips #00 screws holding the lower speaker enclosure and lift the speaker module out of the case.
- 10
Extract the Motherboard Assembly
5 minRemove the remaining Phillips retention screw on the motherboard, unclip any remaining antenna leads, and lift the board out gently.
- 11
Remove the Charging Port Board
3 minRemove the retention screws holding the bottom daughterboard and carefully detach the USB-C charging assembly.
- 12
Inspect Components for Corrosion
5 minExamine the liquid damage indicator (LDI) stickers and check all circuit components under a magnifying glass for white or green corrosion deposits.
- 13
Scrub Boards with Isopropyl Alcohol
10 minSubmerge or heavily submerge the disconnected motherboard and daughterboard in 99% isopropyl alcohol, scrubbing corrosion away with a soft brush.
- 14
Dry the Circuitry Completely
15 minAllow all washed components to air-dry thoroughly for at least 30-60 minutes before reassembly to ensure no moisture remains under chips.
After your Samsung Galaxy Note 20 water damage repair
Power the Galaxy Note 20 back on and test the water damage repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Samsung Galaxy Note 20 job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Samsung Galaxy Note 20 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
