Phone · Samsung · Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S21 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Samsung Galaxy S21
Before you begin
Tools
- Precision Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Plastic opening picks
- Suction handle
- Heat gun or iOpener
- Plastic spudger
- Soft ESD-safe brush
- SIM eject tool
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Pre-cut rear cover adhesive
- Microfiber cloth
Safety
- Disconnect the battery flex cable immediately after removing the midframe to avoid electrical short circuits.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using high-concentration isopropyl alcohol.
- Wear safety glasses while brushing liquid or debris off delicate micro-components.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the device
1 minPress and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons, then tap Power Off. Do not plug the phone into a charger.
- 2
Remove the SIM card tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool into the hole at the bottom of the frame and press firmly to eject the tray. Set the tray and SIM card aside.
- 3
Heat the rear glass panel
2 minApply a heat gun or iOpener around the edges of the back panel for 2 minutes to soften the underlying adhesive.
- 4
Attach a suction cup
1 minPlace a suction handle near the bottom edge of the back panel and pull upward firmly to create a slight gap.
- 5
Slice through the rear adhesive
4 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the gap and slowly slide it around all four perimeter edges to separate the glue.
- 6
Remove the back cover
1 minGently lift the back glass cover clear of the phone chassis and place it on a clean work surface.
- 7
Unscrew the top midframe cover
3 minRemove the 5 Phillips #00 screws securing the top plastic cover and wireless charging coil assembly.
- 8
Detach the wireless charging pad
2 minUse a plastic spudger to pry up the edges of the wireless charging coil and peel it off the battery.
- 9
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minPry the battery press connector straight up from the motherboard with a plastic spudger to prevent short circuits.
- 10
Unscrew the lower speaker housing
3 minRemove the 6 Phillips #00 screws holding the loudspeaker module at the bottom of the phone.
- 11
Remove the loudspeaker assembly
2 minInsert a spudger under the loudspeaker housing edge and lift it out of the case frame.
- 12
Disconnect internal display and interconnect flexes
3 minUse a spudger to detach the main screen connector, daughterboard interconnect cables, and upper antenna leads.
- 13
Extract the main motherboard
3 minRemove the single retaining screw near the top left, then carefully lift the motherboard out from the phone chassis.
- 14
Extract the daughterboard
2 minPry up and remove the bottom daughterboard containing the USB-C port and SIM socket.
- 15
Submerge circuit boards in isopropyl alcohol
10 minPlace both the mainboard and daughterboard into a shallow container filled with 99% isopropyl alcohol for 10 minutes.
- 16
Scrub corrosion from circuit components
5 minUse an anti-static soft brush to scrub away corrosion, mineral crust, or residue around chip leads and connectors.
- 17
Dry all cleaned components
10 minBlow excess alcohol off the boards using compressed air, then allow them to air-dry completely for at least 30 minutes.
- 18
Reinstall components and seal the device
8 minReassemble the boards, connect all cables including the battery, reinstall internal covers, and secure the back glass with new adhesive.
After your Samsung Galaxy S21 water damage repair
Power the Galaxy S21 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 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.
