Phone · Samsung · Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S21 Back Cover Replacement
Back Cover Replacement guide for the Samsung Galaxy S21
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic prying tools
- Spudger tool
- Tweezers
- Clean workspace mat
Parts / materials
- Replacement back cover with pre-cut adhesive
- Isopropyl alcohol (99%)
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
Safety
- Power down the phone completely before starting the repair.
- Keep heat gun temperatures moderate to avoid damaging internal components or overheating the battery.
- Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from accidental glass shards if the back cover cracks.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power Off the Phone
1 minPress and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons, then tap Power Off on the screen. Ensure the device is completely powered down before starting.
- 2
Heat the Back Cover Edges
2 minApply warmth from a heat gun or hair dryer around all four edges of the back cover for two minutes. This softens the factory adhesive securing the glass panel.
- 3
Attach Suction Cup
1 minPlace a suction cup near the bottom edge of the back cover. Press firmly to create a tight seal against the rear glass.
- 4
Create an Opening Gap
2 minPull up gently on the suction cup to lift the rear cover slightly away from the frame. Look for a small seam opening near the USB port.
- 5
Insert Opening Pick
1 minPush a plastic prying tool or pick into the gap created by the suction cup. Do not insert the tool deeper than 3 mm to avoid internal components.
- 6
Slice Bottom Adhesive
2 minSlide the prying tool slowly along the bottom edge of the phone to cut through the adhesive seal.
- 7
Heat the Left Edge
1 minWarm the left side of the back cover for one minute using the heat gun. Keep the heat source moving constantly.
- 8
Slice Left Adhesive
2 minGuide the opening pick around the bottom-left corner and slide it all the way up the left edge to sever the adhesive.
- 9
Heat the Top Edge
1 minReapply heat across the top edge of the rear cover for one minute.
- 10
Slice Top Adhesive
2 minSlide the plastic pick across the top edge to separate the adhesive securing the top portion.
- 11
Heat the Right Edge
1 minWarm the right edge of the rear panel with the heat gun for one minute.
- 12
Slice Right Adhesive
2 minCarefully slide the pick down the right edge, taking extra caution around the side button flex cables.
- 13
Lift Off the Back Cover
1 minGently lift the back cover off the chassis and remove it completely from the phone.
- 14
Remove Old Adhesive
3 minUse tweezers and a spudger to peel away remaining adhesive strips from the metal frame. Clean the perimeter with a microfiber cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
- 15
Prepare the New Back Cover
1 minPeel off the protective film liners to expose the pre-installed adhesive strips on your replacement cover.
- 16
Position the New Cover
2 minAlign the new back cover precisely over the frame, using the camera module cutout as a reference point.
- 17
Seal the Back Cover
2 minPress firmly along all edges of the new back cover to seat the adhesive. Warm the edges for one minute with a hair dryer and press again for a firm seal.
After your Samsung Galaxy S21 back cover replacement
Power the Galaxy S21 back on and test the back cover replacement 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 S21 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 S21 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
