Phone · Samsung · Galaxy S10
Samsung Galaxy S10 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Samsung Galaxy S10
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic prying tools
- Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Spudger tool
- Soft brush
- Tweezers
- Compressed air
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Pre-cut back cover adhesive
- Lint-free swabs
- Microfiber cloth
Safety
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap to prevent ESD damage during disassembly.
- Disconnect the battery immediately upon opening to prevent short circuits.
- Use 99% isopropyl alcohol in a well-ventilated area away from heat sources or open flames.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Eject the SIM Tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool or paperclip into the hole at the top edge of the device to pop out the SIM tray.
- 2
Heat the Rear Cover
3 minApply a heat gun set to low heat around all edges of the rear glass for 2 to 3 minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Attach the Suction Cup
2 minPress a suction cup firmly onto the lower third of the back cover and pull upward to create a small gap.
- 4
Slice the Rear Adhesive
4 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the gap and carefully slide along all four edges to slice the adhesive tape.
- 5
Remove the Back Glass
1 minLift the rear glass off the housing completely and place it on a clean surface.
- 6
Unscrew the Midframe
5 minRemove the 15 Phillips #00 screws securing the plastic midframe and wireless charging coil assembly.
- 7
Detach Wireless Charging Assembly
2 minPry up the midframe plastic housing along with the wireless charging pad using a spudger.
- 8
Disconnect the Battery
1 minUse the flat end of a plastic spudger to pry the battery connector straight up from its motherboard socket.
- 9
Disconnect Display and Flex Cables
3 minUnplug the display press connector, front camera, and secondary flex cables from the main board.
- 10
Remove Motherboard Screw
1 minUnthread the single Phillips #00 screw holding the top right section of the main board to the chassis.
- 11
Extract the Motherboard
2 minGently tilt the motherboard up from the bottom edge and lift it out of the chassis frame.
- 12
Soak Board in Isopropyl Alcohol
5 minSubmerge the motherboard entirely in a shallow tray filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes.
- 13
Scrub Corrosion with Soft Brush
5 minGently scrub corrosion, mineral deposits, and debris off board components using a soft-bristled brush dipped in alcohol.
- 14
Dry Board with Compressed Air
15 minUse short bursts of compressed air to clear alcohol from beneath metal shields, then let the board dry for 15 minutes.
- 15
Clean Internal Housing
4 minWipe away standing liquid and corrosion inside the empty phone housing using isopropyl alcohol and lint-free swabs.
- 16
Reinstall the Motherboard
2 minSeat the dried motherboard back into the frame and replace the single Phillips #00 retaining screw.
- 17
Reconnect All Internal Cables
3 minPress the display, front camera, flex connectors, and battery cable firmly back into their sockets.
- 18
Reassemble Midframe and Rear Glass
5 minReinstall the midframe, tighten the 15 Phillips screws, apply new adhesive, and press the rear glass firmly closed.
After your Samsung Galaxy S10 water damage repair
Power the Galaxy S10 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 S10 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 S10 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
