Galaxy S21 FE 5G - Replacing the screen

Use our checklist to test the basic functions of your Galaxy S21 FE 5G before repairing. This way you can check afterwards if your repair was successful.

1. Press and hold the side and volume down button simultaneously for a few seconds. You can also switch off your Galaxy via quick access.
2. Tap on Power off in the displayed menu.

1. Press a pointed object into the small opening of the SIM tray to push it out of the device frame. We use a SIM tool for this purpose.
2. Then pull the tray completely out of the frame.

Once you open your device its specified IP68 certification will expire.

1. Heat the edge of the back cover by running the hot air device evenly over it.

As an alternative to the suction cup, we can recommend the iSclack, which requires less force to lift up the back cover.

The iFlex can be inserted particularly well between the back cover and the screen unit due to its sharp edges.

1. Attach a suction cup to the lower edge of the back cover and pull it upwards to create a narrow gap.
2. At the same time, insert a flat tool into the gap between the back cover and the screen unit.

To avoid damaging the camera module, you should not insert your tool too far.

In order to prevent the glue of the back cover from bonding again, we recommend sliding flat plastic picks under the back cover at regular intervals.

1. Drive your tool completely around the edge of the back cover to loosen it piece by piece.
2. Put the detached back cover aside.

• 9 × 3.8 mm Phillips

We recommend using a screw storage to keep all disassembled parts and screws safe and organized. Our magnetic pad has the additional advantage that nothing can move on it.

A small arrow as well as a notch show you where you can place your levering tool best.

1. Loosen the nine Phillips screws that secure the plastic cover above the motherboard.
2. Then carefully lever the cover out of its guide with a spudger.

• Connector

To avoid a potential short circuit during the repair, you should always detach the battery connector first.

1. Fold the loosened board cover around.
2. Carefully disconnect the orange battery connector and black charging coil connector with a spudger from the motherboard.
3. Pull the glued end of the cover off the speaker.

• 6 × 3.8 mm Phillips

1. Loosen the six Phillips screws that hold the speaker in place.
2. Carefully lever the speaker out of its guide and set it aside.

• Connector

The screen cable of the S21 FE 5G can be fully removed. The lower part of the cable is connected to a separate slot that sits somewhat recessed in the screen unit.

1. Carefully separate the two connectors of the screen cable with a spudger.
2. Take the disconnected cable out of your device.

• Connector

1. Separate the two connecting cables from the motherboard and the USB board with a spudger.
2. Put the disconnected cables aside.

The battery of the S21 FE 5G is heavily glued into the display unit. In order to loosen it safely, you need to heat up the glue in advance.

Never heat the sensitive battery directly, but only from the display side.

1. Heat the battery by running a hot air gun evenly over the corresponding opposite area on the screen.

The battery can be loosened particularly well if you move the iPlastix under the battery with a knife movement.

1. Place a battery spudger on the lower edge of the battery and carefully lift it upwards.
2. Remove the detached battery from the device.
3. Insert the flat iPlastix under the battery at the lifted edge and detach the battery bit by bit from the bottom of the screen unit.

• Connector

1. Separate the two remaining connectors from the motherboard. These belong to the front camera and the volume buttons.

• 1 × 3.3 mm Phillips

Be careful when removing the motherboard, to avoid damaging the still connected main camera as well as the connector of the front camera.

1. Loosen the single Phillips screw that secures the motherboard.
2. Then use a spudger to carefully lever the loosened board out of the device.

The vibration motor is slightly glued. To make it easier to remove, you can heat it briefly with hot air.

A small notch in the guide of the vibration motor shows you where to place your tool.

1. Carefully slide under the vibration motor with ESD tweezers and detach it from the bottom of the screen unit.
2. Put the detached vibration motor aside.

The front camera is heavily glued in the screen unit. Therefore, you should heat it for a sufficiently long time to be able to remove it more easily.

1. Carefully lever the camera out of its guide by gently running ESD tweezers between the adhesive layer and the camera guide.
2. Put the detached camera aside.

• Connector

1. Disconnect the fingerprint sensor by carefully levering its connector off the USB board.

• 3 × 3.3 mm Phillips

Be careful not to damage the flex cable of the fingerprint sensor when removing the USB board. If necessary, hold it aside.

1. Loosen the three Phillips screws that secure the USB board.
2. Then lever the loosened board out of the device.

The fingerprint sensor is slightly glued. To make it easier to remove, you can heat it briefly with hot air.

1. Carefully slide under the fingerprint sensor with ESD tweezers and detach it from the bottom of the screen unit.
2. Put the detached sensor aside.

1. Prepare your replacement screen by removing all protective films from the screen's inside.
2. In order to protect the screen from scratches, you can leave the film over the screen glass on until the end of the repair.

1. Place the fingerprint sensor in its guide in the screen unit and press it firmly.

• 3 × 3.3 mm Phillips

When inserting the USB board, make sure that the charging jack is properly inserted into the edge of the case.

1. Put the USB board back in the screen unit.
2. Fix it with the three Phillips screws.

• Connector

Never press down connectors with force. Damage can lead to the failure of an entire component.

1. Reconnect the fingerprint sensor by gently pressing its connector onto the board. It should click into place audibly and perceptibly.

1. Put the front camera back into its guide and press it firmly.

1. Put the vibration motor back into its guide and press it lightly.

• 1 × 3.3 mm Phillips

Make sure not to pinch any connectors when inserting the board. If necessary, hold them aside with a pair of tweezers.

1. Put the motherboard back into your device. It must sit level all over.
2. Fix it with the single Phillips screw.

• Connector

1. Reconnect front camera and volume buttons by gently pressing their connectors onto the board.

1. Put the battery back into its guide and press it firmly. The remaining glue on the back of the battery is usually enough to securely reattach it.

• Connector

The cable labeling will help you align them in the device.

1. Align the two connecting cables one after the other in the device and attach their two connectors on the USB and motherboard each.

• Connector

The cable labeling will help you align it in the device.

1. Align the screen cable in the device and attach its two connectors on the motherboard and the separate slot in the screen unit.

• 6 × 3.8 mm Phillips

1. Put the speaker back in its original position.
2. Screw it in place with the six Phillips screws.

• Connector

Always connect the battery last to avoid a potential short circuit.

1. Align the charging coil above your device.
2. Connect the black charging coil connector and the orange battery connector to the motherboard.

• 9 × 3.8 mm Phillips

1. Place the board cover in its guide. It must sit level all over.
2. Reattach its glued end to the speaker.
3. Screw the cover in place with the nine Phillips screws.

Before you close your Galaxy S21 FE 5G for good, we recommend testing the replacement screen as well as other basic functions of your phone. This way, you can make sure that your repair was successful. Again, use our checklist for this or the internal Samsung test menu, which you call up via the code *#0*#.
If something doesn't work properly during testing, double-check that everything is installed and attached correctly.

1. Switch on your Galaxy again.
2. Test the touch function by dragging an app across the screen.

If the adhesive frame is still in good condition, you do not need to install a new one. However, if it has defects or no longer sticks properly, we recommend that you use a new adhesive frame. On our YouTube channel you can find a detailed video on the topic.

1. Peel off the carrier film from the bottom of the adhesive frame and press it onto the edge of the back cover. A spudger can help you with this.
2. Now carefully peel off the remaining protective film from the top of the adhesive frame.

We recommend that you run hot air over the edge of the back cover again, so that the glue bonds properly. You can also weigh down your device with books for a few minutes.

1. Close your Galaxy S21 FE 5G after the repair by pressing the back cover back onto the screen unit.

Make sure to insert the SIM tray the right way around.

1. Re-insert the SIM tray once the back cover is properly and firmly in place. It has to click in place audibly and perceptibly.