Phone · Samsung · Galaxy S9
Samsung Galaxy S9 Water Damage Repair
Water Damage Repair guide for the Samsung Galaxy S9
Before you begin
Tools
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Suction cup tool
- Plastic opening picks
- Phillips #000 screwdriver
- Spudger tool
- Tweezers
- Soft-bristle brush
- SIM eject tool
Parts / materials
- Isopropyl alcohol (99%)
- Replacement back cover adhesive
- Lint-free microfiber cloth
Safety
- Power off the device immediately and disconnect the battery as soon as possible to prevent electrical short circuits.
- Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes against heated glass splinters.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using high-concentration isopropyl alcohol.
- Do not bend or puncture the lithium-ion battery during disassembly.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Eject the SIM card tray
1 minInsert a SIM eject tool into the hole at the top of the device to pop out the tray. Remove the SIM and microSD card tray completely.
- 2
Heat the rear glass panel
3 minApply heat along the edges of the back cover for two to three minutes using a heat gun to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Attach suction cup and lift glass
2 minPlace a suction cup on the lower portion of the back cover and pull upward gently to create a small opening edge.
- 4
Slice the rear panel adhesive
5 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the gap and carefully slide it around the perimeter to cut through the perimeter tape.
- 5
Disconnect the fingerprint sensor
2 minSlightly lift the rear glass and use a spudger to disconnect the short fingerprint sensor flex cable located next to the camera assembly.
- 6
Remove upper midframe screws
4 minUnscrew the fifteen Phillips #000 screws securing the wireless charging coil, upper midframe, and lower loudspeaker housing.
- 7
Remove the wireless charging assembly
2 minGently pry up and unclip the wireless charging pad along with the upper protective cover from the chassis.
- 8
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minPry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard socket using a plastic spudger to cut all power.
- 9
Disconnect display and camera flex cables
3 minUse a spudger to detach the front camera, display, touch screen, and lower sub-board connectors from the main board.
- 10
Lift out the motherboard
3 minRemove the single retaining screw near the top left corner, then carefully tilt and lift the motherboard out of the phone.
- 11
Scrub corrosion with isopropyl alcohol
10 minSubmerge damaged areas of the motherboard in 99% isopropyl alcohol and gently scrub away corrosion using a soft brush.
- 12
Dry the motherboard thoroughly
15 minUse compressed air to blow away residual alcohol and dislodged debris, then leave the board to dry completely.
- 13
Clean chassis and port connectors
5 minDip a brush or cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol to clean oxidation from the internal housing connectors and charging port board.
- 14
Reinstall motherboard and flex cables
5 minSet the dry motherboard back into the frame, secure its screw, and firmly snap all flex cables back onto their sockets.
- 15
Reseal and reassemble the phone
6 minReattach the wireless charging midframe with screws, reconnect the fingerprint sensor, and press the back cover tightly onto fresh adhesive.
After your Samsung Galaxy S9 water damage repair
Power the Galaxy S9 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 S9 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 S9 repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
