Phone · Samsung · Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Samsung Galaxy S23
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or iOpener
- Suction cup
- Plastic opening picks
- Phillips #00 screwdriver
- Plastic spudger
- Soft anti-static brush
- SIM eject tool
Parts / materials
- 99% Isopropyl alcohol
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
- Replacement rear glass adhesive strip
Safety
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using high-purity isopropyl alcohol.
- Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from alcohol splashes.
- Disconnect the battery immediately after opening the device to prevent electrical shorts.
- Never apply direct heat directly to the lithium-ion battery.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the device
1 minTurn off the Galaxy S23 immediately to prevent further electrical short circuits.
- 2
Eject the SIM card tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool into the hole on the bottom frame and remove the tray.
- 3
Heat the rear glass
3 minApply a heated iOpener or heat gun along the outer edges of the rear glass for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 4
Apply a suction cup
2 minPlace a suction cup near the bottom edge of the back glass and pull upward to create a small gap.
- 5
Slice through the adhesive
5 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the gap and slide it carefully around the perimeter to sever the glass adhesive.
- 6
Remove the back glass
2 minLift the rear cover straight off the chassis and set it aside on a clean surface.
- 7
Unscrew the wireless charging coil
4 minRemove the Phillips #00 screws securing the plastic upper bracket and wireless charging pad.
- 8
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minPry the battery press connector straight up from the motherboard using a plastic spudger.
- 9
Remove the loudspeaker assembly
3 minUnscrew the lower bracket screws and lift out the speaker module to access the daughterboard.
- 10
Disconnect interconnect flex cables
3 minDetach the display cable, main board-to-board flex cable, and antenna connectors from the logic board.
- 11
Remove the motherboard
3 minCarefully pry up the main logic board using a plastic tool and extract it from the phone frame.
- 12
Remove the daughterboard
2 minPry up the lower charging port board gently from the frame housing.
- 13
Clean corrosion with isopropyl alcohol
10 minSubmerge board components in 99% isopropyl alcohol and scrub away visible mineral deposits using a soft toothbrush.
- 14
Dry the components
15 minWipe the motherboards with a microfiber cloth and allow them to air dry completely for at least 30 minutes.
- 15
Reassemble and test the device
10 minReinstall the circuit boards, reconnect all ribbon cables, and power on the phone to test functionality before final adhesive sealing.
After your Samsung Galaxy S23 water damage repair
Power the Galaxy S23 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 S23 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 S23 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
