Galaxy S21 Ultra Screen Replacement | Teardown Guide | Frame Assembly Replacement

Another disclaimer, because somebody decided to try and yeet their back glass off and blamed me. It's attached, listed as non-removable, and made of glass. Be smart, if it isn't opening, find any one of my other videos that shows how to remove a backglass. This video is intended for people who have a marginal amount of experience taking phones apart.
*Since there seems to be some confusion, the screen is replaced at 2:16. The part used is a frame assembly with the display pre-installed. If you are using the digitizer and OLED only without a frame, you are shooting yourself in the foot. The phone would lack water and dust resistance, and everyday heat would eventually cause the screen to fall off unless you are a professional refurbisher. Not to mention that the framed part is $5 more expensive, it would be foolish to use display only replacement parts.*
Did I help you out? Buy me a coffee!
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Parts used in this repair:
www.injuredgad...
Or, save $5 and have a lower quality repair with this display only:
www.mobilesent...
Tools:
Technik Tweezers (Almost the only kind I'd recommend)
amzn.to/3KPS6EB (out of stock? look below)
Hakko Tweezers (Made to last!)
amzn.to/3wRk6mI
Precision Screwdriver Set w/ Security Torx for consoles/phones
amzn.to/33SEPuV
Get my silicone work mat here:
amzn.to/3Cr7ofO
Curved Pry Tool (for separating adhesive):
amzn.to/3RSkWqt
Need something else? Leave a comment below with what tools you're looking for and I might just have a recommendation for you!
(Some links such as Amazon are affiliate links which support the channel, see the channel's About page for more information regarding affiliate links)

[@AttiCseh]

What are you using to take out the back? I already stock that process? Is using a heatgun/hair dryer during the process is required in any point?

[@TapticDigital]

You can definitely use either of those, I use a silicone heating pad that goes up to about 120C, though I only use it at 60c for removal

[@SpoonerTuner]

You're the Bob Ross of repair guys! haha A soothing calm voice. You should quote him in your videos. It would be hilarious. "There are no mistakes, just happy accidents." -Bob Ross

[@TapticDigital]

Yesss! "And here we have some nice little Phillips screws, aren't they amazing" haha Thank you so much!

[@Bmxjoe26]

You skipped on how to remove the back glass, selfie camera without damaging anything, skipped swapping whatever the piece is that has an "M" on it. Yours switched to a "J" also didn't mention battery swap. But other than that it was informative video. Thank u.

[@ta6847]

It's the vibration motor. Mine just had a bit of glue on the right side, it was pretty easy to pry up.

[@srenee333]

did i miss something watching this 3 times? When did you replace the screen?

[@TapticDigital]

The first line in the description has a timestamp. The new screen is built into a replacement frame. The entire chassis is swapped. Doing the display only is possible, but won't have any water resistance and typically falls apart.

[@bloopbloop9687]

Yeah so I accidentally put my phone through an industrial shredder but then what came out fell into the blender that was under it, which then tipped over pouring the contents into my unfiltered Cummins x15 air intake flowing the entire phone through the engine all the way to the exhaust, do you think you would be able to put it back together? I had some pretty cute cat pictures on there I'd like to keep

[@TapticDigital]

Shoot, I hate when these kinds of things happen. It sounded totally fixable until you said it went through that unfiltered air intake, then it was really lights out for that phone. It's a shame JerryRigEverything doesn't have more in-depth durability testing, I feel like he definitely has an industrial metal grinder and that he's just holding back on us. Try rinsing the phone with raw diesel, seems to fix most problems.

[@bloopbloop9687]

@@TapticDigital alright, I'll try that too, do I ignite the fuel after a while too? I did the same thing to my earbuds, do you think those will still work?

[@TapticDigital]

@@bloopbloop9687 earbuds are RIP m8. Though I'd love to hear the sound of those rattling through a fuel injector

[@zaphenath6756]

seriously man, just use a little duct tape and you're good to go

[@therealrando]

putting it in rice should do the job

[@mikeyellen362]

Just ran mine over with the lawn mower today on accident. Caught the bottom right corner of the frame and screen. Wondering if I can live with the frame damage if I got the screen replaced. It'll prolly rip off

[@TapticDigital]

Lawnmower damage can be pretty wild! Thankfully most replacement parts include the entire frame along with the screen, so you may be in luck! If you choose to contact professional repairs be sure to ask if the part they use includes the frame, I know stores like CPR Cell Phone Repair and UBreakIFix uses the framed parts!

[@emmvee1678]

300 bucks to get this done where I live right now.

[@TapticDigital]

Wow! That's a really good deal considering the cost of the parts, and the cost of the phone

[@sscraic]

Thought I'd check to see if I could fix it myself rather than using my insurance and paying £100 for a new phone... but yeah the replacement frame is £211 alone

[@TapticDigital]

It's super expensive, but it is one of the best displays on the market still. If you have insurance, that's the way to go

[@xFeloxX]

Thanks for your nice video, mate. What are your thoughts about replacing the screen WITH frame and the quality of LCD vs OLED? All parts we can find as OLED are usually the screen only, and I agree with you on your comment, that it's so risky and the results are not the best when doing OLED screen only. But when wanting to buy a screen with frame for any S20, S21, etc usually they're just LCD with frame. Is it worth compromising a downgrade from OLED to LCD to preserve the integrity of the frame? Or maybe is there not such a huge difference? I'm a bit lost here, as honestly I've done a lot of LCD with Frame replacements and I find the quality quite good, but I've been challenged recently to why we don't OLED screens instead of LCDs... Any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks :)

[@TapticDigital]

How on earth did I miss this comment? My bad @xFeloxX. It's really a matter of personal opinion. If it's for a customer there were times I'd offer LCD instead of OLED for certain devices. I'd explain there would be differences, the LCD was a cheaper repair, but it wouldn't be as bright and colorful. It also may use more battery power. I find that OLED is a much nicer experience, but some customers don't care and just want a cheaper repair that will get them back up and running.

[@BOGITO_officialytchannel]

Great

[@ReviewsAndHowTos]

Great vid. Thanks for the link to the parts. I couldn't find anything I trusted searching on Google/Amazon.

[@imgzgomode5482]

I got my screen replacement yesterday, but now my service doesnt work.. It shows E service instead of 5g, my Sim isn't being recognized, I've taken it to t-mobile to get a different Sim card nd nothing change I get 4g here n there but still every slow, i got 3 month warranty with the people who repaired my screen, but im wondering why it doesn't work that good now? Does the Sim piece that was removed similar to the camera where it has to be the original?

[@TapticDigital]

I believe so, that little antenna in the top right of the phone needs to be moved over. Though currently there are issues with sprint and t-mobile S21's losing service after a repair of not done properly. One we encountered actually had to be sent to Samsung directly for replacement because the carrier was either unable, or not trained enough to figure out how to activate it. This only happens with sprint or t-mobile for some reason

[@zhainali6325]

Do you lose any data from your phone whilst replacing the screen?

[@TapticDigital]

Nope, you should never lose data from any kind of screen, battery, or charge port repair.

[@zhainali6325]

@@TapticDigital cheers buddy also where are you from?

[@TapticDigital]

@@zhainali6325 eastern US!

[@savanngim4826]

Where can you order the new screen and for how much? I would like to try replacing it myself as the repair shop was looking at around $500

[@TapticDigital]

Parts can be bought from MobileSentrix or Mobile Defenders or Injured Gadgets, they are roughly $330

[@taeshaunhodge-maroney2770]

@@TapticDigital if I dropped my phone and it just has a small circle of green/red where the 1st point of contact was I should just need a new screen right?

[@TapticDigital]

@@taeshaunhodge-maroney2770 yup! New screen will fix you up, sadly there's no "unbreaking" a cracked OLED or LCD (at least not easily)

[@taeshaunhodge-maroney2770]

@@TapticDigital so my glass screen isn't cracked at all thanks to my screen protector so I'll just need a new digitizer? I'm not sure if thats what it's called lol I was looking at one of the websites you gave to use

[@TapticDigital]

@@taeshaunhodge-maroney2770 hey no worries. The digitizer is basically the same as the "glass", so if that isn't cracked it's probably the display layer below (OLED). The downside is, trying to separate the glass from the display is incredibly hard. Kind of like trying to separate two potato chips that are stuck together without breaking either. Most places will use the whole replacement assembly that comes with the metal frame already attached to the screen, it's expensive, but cheaper than breaking one the other way. So far MobileSentrix seems to have the best prices on that part.

[@billytubes]

Great work. I broke mine n sent it for repair. I hope someone like you repairs it :/

[@Donbarbz]

Hi, I broke my S21 screen too recently. Can I ask u a question on the screen replacement? Did u send your phone in to Samsung? Or did u have an outside repair shop do it? I got a quote of $450. Does that sound correct?

[@mrluwid172]

@@Donbarbz not $450 - if you send it to Samsung should be around $300

[@Donbarbz]

@@mrluwid172 thank you.

[@younotlying]

I have TMobile, and it's supposed to be $30 for a screen with insurance, but they don't repair in store anymore in my city of Omaha, so I have to pay $99 and they'll send me a new phone... I feel that's bs because I paid insurance to pay $30 for a new screen... But hey , a new phone will at least has no wear and tear on the motherboard

[@teamparups]

Cool video, makes me slightly easier to feel about the repairs after my phone also fell out of the pocket while running and even though protected with a case, the screen got a white line, and after a day started flickering badly, so sent it to the official local Samsung repair center. However, they just listed, that they changed also the battery (which was great, went as far as 3 days with careful usage). Any ideas, why would be that? From the video, it doesn't look like it is integrated with the screen anyhow.

[@TapticDigital]

Yes! Actually some of the OEM replacement parts that you can get from Samsung include small parts already installed (volume/power) and some even include the battery.

[@artistoblivion]

This is the exact thing that's happened to me! This video fixes that, right?

[@thecommoncarpenter6544]

Do you suggest a brand or specific company that makes a hi quality screen replacement for this phone? Thanks appreciate the video.

[@TapticDigital]

Sure you can find OEM parts on Mobile Defenders and MobileSentrix

[@mikeotoole6015]

.

[@mattjacko08]

Sooo i dropped my s21 ultra yesterday, it landed face down flat and most of the damage is the bottom right hand side of the phone with some spider webbing across the rest. The middle to right hand side of my keypad isn't working to type letters but i can swipe and select apps :/ Also my finger print reader isn't working now, will a screen replacement sort all this out or is there more 2 it?? I had a spigen case on and tempered glass but obv didnt help at all :( cheers!!

[@TapticDigital]

That's not too out of the ordinary for screen damage. Thankfully a replacement screen will fix all of the issues you described. The replacement screens include a new fingerprint sensor and unlike Apple, it will still work fine after replacement! The cost isn't pretty, but still cheaper than a new phone!

[@mattjacko08]

@@TapticDigital Awesome i dont mind paying for a replacement if the issues will be sorted, like you say...cheaper than a new phone! Samsung do a doorstep repair service in the UK which im gonna do...they just rock up in a van and sort it out there and then! Anyway nice 1 fella, thanks for the response.

[@tedkaczynskiamericanhero3916]

Hey at 2:10 you have a little black box with an "M" printed on it, my original phone has the exact same one. Your new screen has one with an upside-down "J" on it. Mine has nothing in that place, only raised lettering on the plastic where that piece goes "S21U" Do you know what that little box is? I'm just concerned I'll be short a feature (not too big of a concern) or my (wifes) phone will not function correctly. Thanks, I purchased the replacement screen on Amazon and can provide an item number if you're interested in checking it out.

[@TapticDigital]

Those are the vibration motors. There’s no real difference between the M and J versions, just whatever Samsung felt like printing that day. If you need to move it to the new frame it can be pried out pretty easily, it’s only held in with double sided tape on the bottom. Just try not to pry from the gold contacts, that’s the weakest spot.

[@tedkaczynskiamericanhero3916]

@TapticDigital my man idk how you responded so quickly but thank you so much! I was just going to leave it but I'm pretty sure my wife would be pissed if her vibrate mode didn't work anymore lmoa Thank you so much!!

[@itsjustmecedric3263]

How much should this cost

[@TapticDigital]

Given the cost of the parts, you'd be looking around $300 at the absolute cheapest-but-still-properly-done point. Any less and I doubt the person out much work into doing it right. Most places I've seen run about $350.

[@mr.looneytune9222]

Hi can anyone let me know if its worth getting AMOLED replacement screen from china legit or USA lcd screen is way to go??? What is recommended?

[@TapticDigital]

The S21 uses an OLED display, so I'd recommend sticking with that. The LCD version is not as bright, colorful, or energy efficient.

[@omarmanzo8034]

Hi. I have a Samsung s21 ultra SM G998B/DS. I replaced the LCD screen and after that the phone has not cellular signal. Only a circle with a diagonal line. I did hard reset• Update software to android 12. Partition reset. Changed battery and charging port. Moved the gammel gps antenna to the new screen. Nothing work. Could be the signal flex cable or logic board or a automatic system to turn off radio signal? Need help

[@TapticDigital]

Hi I would recommend watching my newer S21 Ultra video, there is an antenna in the top right corner than needs to be moved over in order for service to work

[@Rudynicolas]

hey how do you troubleshoot if the screen that doesn't take any inputs i have tried forcing the phone off and unplugging the battery however there is no touch available

[@TapticDigital]

No touch, but does it display? If it does you can connect a USB mouse through the charge port and control it with that! Otherwise sounds like a bad screen.

[@mathieu784]

what is the module with an upside down ''J'' on it?

[@liamtayler498]

I Know this is a year late. I've got the British version to this phone which states is 5g. I have had Samsung replace the screen when in warranty. I have come to open my phone and replaced the screen myself. It seems to be missing the 5g antenna u have pointed out on this video. Is this normal for the British version or have Samsung messed up on my original repair?.

[@TapticDigital]

Sounds normal for a European model, the reason the US ones have those big radio antennas is to communicate with the 5G Ultra Wideband that US carriers use. European models work off a different type of 5G.

[@UncleRuckus7600]

Dude what is going on? All videos show taking apart the phone without mentioning the screen or showing it they just start putting it back together.

[@TapticDigital]

Check the video description, this is a common question I see. Replacement parts for Samsungs come as a new display pre-adhered to a replacement frame. This allows the phone to retain water and dust resistance. Peeling off the old screen isn't advised, it gets messy and can lead to problems with it falling off the frame after a few months. So it ends up looking like somebody just disassembled and reassembled, but it's because the parts have an entirely new body. You can briefly see the two frames side by side at 2:18

[@lincoln6981]

Just bought a used one. She told me no cracks or issues. Smh I didn't a bad job of inspecting it because the screen has a slight Crack. And the Sim card slot is hard to open. Has any one ever replaced one of those slots ?? Should I replace the screen because of the Crack. It doesn't bother me because it's at the very edge. But I wouldn't want the Crack to spread

[@TapticDigital]

Financially, I wouldn't replace it over a single crack if it doesn't hurt anything. It'll probably be fine unless it takes another hard drop. The SIM isn't a huge issue as long as it fully closes and reads, chances are the rubber gasket around it is slightly warped, or the pushpin inside is a bit too rigid. I will say that water resistance is significantly reduced with the crack, but shouldn't otherwise cause issues.

[@lincoln6981]

@@TapticDigital thanks for the response ! I was mainly concerned about the sim tray but yeah it's closing fine and reading the sim. And yeah screen Crack isn't too big just have to be more careful

[@phyrounphay8934]

Do you know what happened to my s21 ultra ? The screen is black but I can feel it on.

[@TapticDigital]

The OLED panel likely cracked under the glass, unfortunately replacement is your only option for that

[@benjaminmlakar4463]

My screen died today on my s21ultra. I took it to offical repair center and they said that when they change screen all data is lost on phone and need then transfere all data back and pay 30E. My question is does the data realy delete affter screen change or some other component repair?

[@TapticDigital]

Nope, turn and run right now, don't go to that repair shop, ever! Data is never lost unless the technician damages your board beyond repair. It sounds like this place is just sending your phone off and giving you a refurbished one as a replacement. This is just lazy corporate junk. Find a local repair shop with decent reviews, call them and ask about data loss and set up an appointment for an actual repair. I've never heard of anybody losing data from a simple screen replacement.

[@benjaminhawk8280]

@@TapticDigital the problem is that this service is an official repair service from my phone company where i bought my phone and it is stil under waranty repair.. But i am angry becouse they say that all is deleted and i have many 2fa pascodes there from many crypto services that i will need all manualy replace with service providers. Plus the 30E for data transfere. So if you change the screen no data is lost from phone?

[@TapticDigital]

@@benjaminhawk8280 correct, I would take it somewhere not official, they'll keep you're data

[@iforgot1801]

Is there any reason my s21 ultra overheats after screen replacements. Problem persisted even after the tech replaced it for 2nd time. Is there some thermal material or paste that needs to be replaced lile between screen and board? TIA

[@TapticDigital]

Yes, the tech may be forgetting to remove the plastic protectors that are over the heatsink pad and graphite pad in the new frame. They can look like they are meant to be there if you aren't too experienced with replacement frames, but they will absolutely overheat eventually if you forget to remove them. Otherwise something isn't right with the parts being used, depending on if they are factory or aftermarket frames, some companies like to skimp on the thermal pads.

[@iforgot1801]

@@TapticDigital thank you for responding. :) Would the material be on the bottom between the frame and board? So I'd have to remove the board from the frame to verify? I also noticed there was a lot of black rubber material over the silver traces on the board. I don't know if that had some effect as well. I appreciate the feedback.

[@richardprydden2851]

the small connector next to the S pen long one ( 56 sec ) , what is that for , my screen didnt have it or the square box tbh , i damaged the ribbon on the connector as i didnt have the right screw driver . seems to be working ok though

[@TapticDigital]

@@richardprydden2851 that’s for one of the 5G antenna blocks. Yours is likely a non-US version or from a carrier that doesn’t use that part.

[@richardprydden2851]

@@TapticDigital mine doesnt have any on the 5g antennas on the side of the case either , i havnt put a sim in it yet to see if it connects tbh

[@richardprydden2851]

@@TapticDigital i should add it was the new screen that didnt have it , i know i need to get another one , cheap enough just time .

[@LordSiah]

How can I get my phone to you and how much would you charge to fix it

[@TapticDigital]

I don't offer mail-in repairs just yet, check around for some local shops with decent reviews. UBreakIFix is partnered with Samsung for repairs, and should have parts available.

[@alexlawyer9325]

You didn't even show the screen replacement just the tear down and put back together

[@TapticDigital]

The replacement screen is sold with a new frame attached already, the entire housing of the phone is replaced with the screen. If you do it as the display only, you risk it falling off eventually and a significant reduction in water and dust resistance.

[@1mantisco]

Am I missing something? Wtf did that have to do with a screen replacement?

[@TapticDigital]

Like the title and description say, it's replacing both the screen and housing of the phone. Parts from Samsung come assembled as one piece, this helps the phone retain water resistance, and keeps the screen from falling off due to improper gluing like you'd see on a screen-only repair. Plus parts with a frame are about the same price as a display only, it would be silly to use just a screen.

[@chrisraff8590]

do you not need to transfer the original front camera & vibrator to new frame even if it comes pre-fitted?

[@TapticDigital]

Only the selfie camera needs to be moved over due to most replacements including an international version that won't play nice with the US board, the vibrator works off of only positive and negative gold contacts so there aren't compatibility issues with it.

[@AsRelaxLounge]

Pls help which triwing screw driver for the antenna up right

[@E_di_txoz]

Wait intill he sees mine 💀

[@SJCMARK]

Thanks for this.

[@FrostyGorillaYT]

is that the cheapest place to find these replacement parts?

[@TapticDigital]

The prices go up and down a lot for Samsung parts, I've had good luck cycling between Mobile Defenders, Mobile Sentrix, and Injured Gadgets

[@youngstunna4311]

Where can I get an s21 ultra screen and how much would it cost

[@TapticDigital]

I recommend Injured Gadgets or Gadgetfix, though many vendors sell the parts. They are usually around $240 for the replacement part.

[@saullozano542]

Question did you replace battery or transferred? Noticed new part is only frame

[@TapticDigital]

This one was strange, for a time the Samsung S21 Ultra service kit included a preinstalled replacement battery. It’s possible they designed this to make it easier for Samsung certified employees to replace screens on the fly while minimizing the risk of ever having another Note 7 fiasco.

[@saullozano542]

@@TapticDigital would you recommend I find a battery included part or transfer

[@ahedyemen]

Ita a nice acent

[@marvicchristophergonzales589]

Is it worrying to lay down the s21 ultra in table without case? I see that camera bump is a metal material and meant to offer a protection in camera module?

[@TapticDigital]

No worries, the bump lifts it enough that nothing will hit or scratch the camera. You are right that the part it touches is not glass, it is well protected. The metal of the frame even comes up to almost wrap around it, offering even more protection.

[@marvicchristophergonzales589]

@@TapticDigital thank you for the info. Sometimes I"m being paranoid to lay down my s21 ultra in a flat surface that it might hurt the camera module when the bump hits the surface HAHA More power to your channel

[@TapticDigital]

@@marvicchristophergonzales589 same! I treat my S21 Ultra like a baby. It has a case, screen protector, and I still lay it down like it's some kind of bomb that will go off if I put it down too hard.

[@kriptic_17]

I got my screen replaced at a repair shop, and now the selfie camera is blurry whenever i put that backplate on it, any tips on how to fix that?

[@jimbymondero]

Nice vid, brother. My S21 ultra suddenly got the infamous line on the screen. Almost perfectly in the center. I can still use it but do you think it's worth replacing the original parts to fix this? Is the quality the same? Sharpness, touch and fingerprint scanner responsiveness, glass quality, etc.

[@TapticDigital]

The parts used are Samsung official parts, so it would be the exact same quality as the original. I'm not sure it's worth replacing because of how expensive they are, but that's more of a personal thing.

[@jimbymondero]

@@TapticDigital thanks to my location, I can't get the parts from your suppliers. I found some who can ship but you're right they're expensive and I'm not even sure if they're official parts. I guess I'll have to see if this gets worse over time before I decide to buy. Thank you!

[@josephlabosco3063]

thanks for the video and the link to the framed display! I did notice yours came with a battery and the pictures in the link do not. is it a gamble if it will have a battery or not?

[@TapticDigital]

At first the OEM service packs I was getting included a battery, then they started coming without one after a few months. And now the new S22 parts I'm getting in don't have the battery or the volume and power buttons either.

[@josephlabosco3063]

@@TapticDigital my broke ass is just about to order the screen finally.... lol is this still your best option for the s21 ultra?

[@TapticDigital]

@@josephlabosco3063 MobileSentrix has been kinda difficult lately, I went ahead and updated the link to point to Injured Gadgets, and it'll save you a huge $2 too! 😂

[@josephlabosco3063]

@@TapticDigital 😂😂😂 thanks man I appreciate it lmao

[@Streetzlegend]

Fantastic video thank you very much for this. I see in the parts listing they mention: "comes with an international GSM antenna. Transfer of the original antenna is required for the device to get full cellular service in the U.S." Would you mind sharing at what point in the video do you show this antenna being swapped, is it at the 2:08 or the 2:20 mark?

[@TapticDigital]

It's the one at 2:08 for the international antenna swap, the only one that has triwing screws holding it. Very strange design. The 2:20 is the 5G radio. I'm glad this video helped!

[@Streetzlegend]

@@TapticDigital thank you very much

[@moheepfaisal5705]

After repaired still the phone waterproof ? Please someone answer because my phone screen is broken 😢

[@TapticDigital]

The phone isn't waterproof to begin with sadly, only water resistant. Any cracks in the front or back make it less-water resistant. Depending on the parts used in the repair it can get very close to the factory level of water resistance. But if you know you're going somewhere the phone could get wet, it's best to put it in a dry bag.

[@moheepfaisal5705]

@@TapticDigital when the phone wasn't broken i put the phone on the water and nothing happen but now when the screen is broken after repair it with an original screen can it be as it was

[@TapticDigital]

@@moheepfaisal5705 it can be, just depends on the shop who does the repair, I'd ask to make sure they are using Samsung parts, and ask if the frame is replaced with the screen (this gives a better chance of being water resistant)

[@yujirohanma2715]

Hey is it worth replacing the screen after it broke down . Will the replacement insure no others damages??

[@TapticDigital]

I say it's worth it, it's much cheaper than a new phone, and the S22 Ultra is almost a downgrade from the S21 Ultra in terms of specs. You won't know for sure if anything else is broken until you take it apart, but 9/10 times a new screen is all you need.

[@yujirohanma2715]

@@TapticDigital In the screen replacement is the screen only replaced or are there others components replaced too???

[@TapticDigital]

@@yujirohanma2715 most shops are using a display with frame replacement like my video, so you'd be getting new power and volume buttons, new fingerprint scanner, new metal housing. Possibly a new vibration motor, but everything else would be the original.

[@BrookshirePhoneRepair]

Help!!! I’ve stripped the screws for the antenna. Idk what to do. I know the antenna is irreplaceable

[@TapticDigital]

Nah, the antenna can be replaced, it just has to be a match for your region (US/EU). Those triwings have a decent sized head on them, I'd bet with some careful grinding with a dremel or file you could put a straight cut in the head of the screw and make it into a flathead screw for removal! The antenna will work fine with even just screw holding it in.

[@BrookshirePhoneRepair]

@@TapticDigital Ok so i purchased mine from Verizon. that would make it a US based phone right? Reason i ask is because on one of the flex cables, it reads G998B, and if i researched correctly, that is the international version. Am i missing something here?

[@TapticDigital]

@@BrookshirePhoneRepair the designation is on the flat top of the Lego connector for that antenna, it should read NA on it if you purchased it from Verizon. Some of the flex cables are used between international and US, it's really just the antenna that has compatibility issues.

[@scottloudermilk427]

Why not mention in the video that the back glass needs to be heated?

[@TapticDigital]

@@scottloudermilk427 yeah this was back when I was mostly making videos to train other technicians still and not expecting them to blow up, getting into a back glass was unfortunately a separate tutorial. My newer videos are more inclusive, not that it really helps you in this situation. 🤷‍♂️

[@scottloudermilk427]

​@@TapticDigital makes sense. Thanks

[@joeleedale5143]

Does this repair need a heat gun/any adhesives or just screwdrivers & prying tools?

[@TapticDigital]

It very much needs heat to remove the back panel, and replacement adhesive.

[@TheRealKirkHammett]

.... And this is why the video shouldn't be labeled "Tear down guide"

[@robertpeterson6845]

Why would you not show how you separate the phone?

[@TapticDigital]

Unfortunately at this point in my KZbin-ing career I wasn't the best at making fully in depth guides. I've since released another S21 Ultra video that should cover anything I missed

[@KidRomeo31]

Great video, I was able to replace the screen but now I'm having a problem with the camera , It says camera failure . I went back to make sure everything was connected but still can't get the camera to work . Have you had this happen after a screen repair?

[@TapticDigital]

Is it the main camera or the selfie? The most common thing I see are new parts including a selfie camera but it's for the international version and won't work on the US variant of the phone, it will always give a "camera failed" message.

[@KidRomeo31]

@@TapticDigital Thank you so much for the reply . It won't let me choose front or back It says camera failure as soon as I open the app . Once in a while it will show a small camera icon but the screen stays black.

[@TapticDigital]

@@KidRomeo31 what I've run into is that if I switched to the non-working selfie camera it would not let me switch back. I had to go to the app info in settings and force stop it, as well as clear cache/data. You could try that, but unfortunately it sounds like it may need the camera module replaced.

[@hendrixvirus]

Ifixit sell the screen replacement with a battery attached the links you provided do not, but ifixit don't do international delivery. Any other suggestions?

[@TapticDigital]

You can always purchase the parts separately, a new battery is not required when changing the screen. As far as non-US vendors, I'm not familiar with any of them unfortunately as I only work in the US.

[@damagecontrol7604]

How do I order a new screen for S21 Ultra?

[@TapticDigital]

Find a good vendor like Injured Gadgets, Gadgetfix, iFixit or others and order the screen.

[@pokesuko]

Will all the data be transfered over?

[@TapticDigital]

Data is stored on the main board, since you’re using the same main board and just moving it to a new housing there will be no data loss. You can think of it like taking an Xbox to a different TV, the display is different, but the Xbox is the same.

[@jaymzmustache4383]

Does the color matter if i order the replacement? I have the phantom black s21 ultra but wouldn't mind the silver.

[@TapticDigital]

Not at all, it's just the outside metal frame that will be a different color. Personally I think the silver frame goes really well with a black back panel, and makes your phone stand out a bit more.

[@jaymzmustache4383]

@@TapticDigital Okay. Thank you. I also have another question. I was looking through the sites you recommended and wondering what "service pack" means on some of the replacements?

[@TapticDigital]

@@jaymzmustache4383 service packs are basically OEM parts from Samsung themselves, they are the highest quality option, and the same parts Samsung service centers use

[@jaymzmustache4383]

@@TapticDigital So could I just order that instead of the ones that say refurbished?

[@TapticDigital]

@@jaymzmustache4383 you bet! It'll cost a bit more, but it will be a very good quality part that has gone through official factory inspection.

[@FLAEagleWT]

yup those antena screws never came out

[@jadencamargo7757]

Same, even after trying the solder method I couldn't get them out.

[@jadencamargo7757]

Did your phone work without the antenna?

[@xZiWeix]

At 2:12 what screwdriver bit is being used I'm trying to fix my S21 and the screwdrivers im using aren't able to loosen them. Any help appreciated, thanks

[@TapticDigital]

Triwing driver, believe it's a Y00 size

[@scrubnurseadventures]

How much does this roughly cost if I take my phone to a repair shop?

[@TapticDigital]

You're looking on average around $350-$420

[@WatAboutRin]

Hi, what is the reason my front camera blur after lcd replacement? Hope can help what should i do

[@TapticDigital]

If the protective plastic in the new lens housing wasn’t removed it can be blurry. Overheating the camera can also cause it to look distorted.

[@qwerty-dm8gr]

Where's the screen replacement?

[@TapticDigital]

The replacement screen comes preinstalled in a new frame. This is the most efficient way of replacing the screen as it saves the time of scraping a frame clean, and helps maintain some extra moisture resistance.

[@noelhagustin23]

Where you located? I need my phone to get fix like that because my screen has a long line in it 😩

[@TapticDigital]

I don't offer mail in repairs just yet, I'd recommend looking for local shops with good reviews. Even franchises in the US like CPR or UBreakIFix have pretty decent reputations.

[@JosephTheApologetic]

My phone slipped off my jeans and dropped right on top of a sharp rock now I have a big crack and a permanent white line...

[@TapticDigital]

Ouch, glass is not forgiving, and OLED panels are like potato chips and can crack easily. The parts are expensive but still cheaper than a new phone by a lot.

[@michaelhood8661]

Great video, unfortunately I’m having trouble sourcing a replacement screen for my S21ultra plus. Any helpful links or places to look would be greatly appreciated.

[@TapticDigital]

Sure thing, I've got some links in the description but I usually rotate between MobileSentrix, Mobile Defenders, and Injured Gadgets for parts. Just depends on price and availability

[@benbailor2229]

@@TapticDigital Is there any reason to spend 20 more dollars to get a new one rather than a refurbished one? thank you

[@TapticDigital]

@@benbailor2229 not really to be honest, as long as that refurb is from somewhere reputable.

[@albertmoreno6947]

I wish I had found this video before I "downgraded" to the S23 ultra - 8GB of ram vs. the 16GB of ram in my old S21😐 - I wasn't advised before I did the deal

[@TapticDigital]

I'm still using my S21 Ultra because Samsung still hasn't made a single improvement worth mentioning

[@jd2161]

Why didn't you take 5 seconds to research before buying? That's your fault. "I wasn't advised." Why would they mention that to every customer? Lazy af

[@younotlying]

The screen is weird because it will crack in one spot and make other parts randomly crack

[@TapticDigital]

The joys of curved tempered glass, it's got a lot of pressure points across it!

[@diegocruz5824]

Mine have the front camera 2mm down, so.ebody with the same issue?

[@WatAboutRin]

My front camera blur after lcd replacement

[@JANTH]

Hey Taptic digital, i took my s21 Ultra to a ubreakifix and they tried to replace my screen but unfortunately not as professional as you and now my phone is completely dead. Do you have any idea on how i would be able to turn it back on? Maybe he messed up on connecting the battery back or something

[@TapticDigital]

Ouch, I would definitely call back and request a manager, they should have a warranty or guarantee on their services, especially since they are an "Authorized Samsung Provider". Leaving something disconnected on the phone would be super hard because of how everything is screwed down under that wireless charging shield. It's possible they cut part of the display ribbon, but they would have noticed that immediately. I know for a fact they are using the same parts I am as well so that shouldn't be the issue. Does your phone show any signs of life? Vibration when powering on or off? Or ringing even with the screen blacked out? Does the charger block get warm when plugged in for about 10 minutes? If you're getting absolutely nothing from those, some serious issue has occurred. Definitely call them back, and if that fails try getting a second opinion from another store like CPR if you have one locally. Let me know what you end up doing!

[@JANTH]

@@TapticDigital yea its been a long process to get this resolved, but when i went to pick it up they deemed it "ireparable" The phone is completely dead and doesnt respond at all, it doesnt get hot when charging with a cord but i tried charging wirelessly and i did feel some heat. I tried to get them to let me use another technician but since the first one already deemed it ireparable i can only get a replacement. (Theyre in backorder) I also made the mistake of not backing up my data so thats why im trying to see if I can even maybe DIY it back on. I also wanna mention that you're very responsive to the comments and the youtube channel is amazing. You really deserve more recognition.

[@TapticDigital]

@@JANTH thank you so much, it's comments like yours that keep me motivated to keep making videos, hoping they'll be useful to somebody! You're best bet here is to contact either STS Telecom (he also has a youtube channel!) or iPad Rehab for data recovery. I'm not sure if STS works on them, but I know iPad Rehab would probably at least attempt it. I don't offer mail in services yet due to some contracts unfortunately, but those other folks do. Sorry I can't be more help just yet!

[@JANTH]

@@TapticDigital tysm

[@jonathantalusan8442]

Is it true that they need to put a special type of glue for the back part of the phone?

[@TapticDigital]

Yes and no. The adhesive from Samsung is actually just double-sided tape cut to fit the glass. You can use some silicone based glues as a replacement, but glue gets very messy and can soften with heat, so I always recommend a thin double-sided tape.

[@luislopez8660]

The screws on mine are super tight and I’m stripping them, any help?

[@TapticDigital]

Try a slightly larger Phillips driver, and use a decent bit of downward force when turning. Some drivers have too much angle to grab the screws

[@pxlshader]

URGENT: nearly done with the transfer, but just realized the selfie camera is glued in -- how can I transfer it over? heat, cut it out, dissolve it?? Thanks for any suggestions!

[@pxlshader]

Heat worked. After heating screen to remove battery, selfie came loose too. Thanks for the video.

[@TapticDigital]

@@pxlshader I was just about to say, a little heat will soften that hot glue right up and you can safely pick it out!

[@samuraijose817]

Will it be waterproof after still?

[@TapticDigital]

Water resistant yes, as long as the adhesive is done correctly. Always treat your phone like it isn’t waterproof though, much safer

[@samuraijose817]

@@TapticDigital alright thank you

[@Subin_Khan]

Does s21ultra display services pack come with battery?

[@TapticDigital]

Some do and some don't, lately none of the ones I've ordered include it anymore, but the first couple service packs I received had them in it.

[@HondaTech69]

So you can't just replace the screen you have to replace the frame as well?

[@TapticDigital]

It's the best way to do it and still retain some dust and moisture resistance. I've done screen-only in the past and the glue seems to almost always fail.

[@captainAwesome78]

Gorilla glass my ass

[@TapticDigital]

Glass is glass, no matter what fancy name they want to put in front of it

[@YoursTrulyThe1Pony]

I thought a screen protector was to protect the screen, but somehow it bypass it and I got my screen cracked

[@TapticDigital]

Screen protectors are made to absorb kinetic impacts, but too much impact or at just the right angle and all that energy goes straight through, and pow! There goes the glass. As Jerry Rig Everything says, glass is glass, and glass breaks. 😥

[@oldnite3414]

Why does the replacement glass have a ring around the selfie camera?

[@TapticDigital]

The part had the included scratch protector pre-installed, so it's just a layer of plastic over the new display with a cutout for the camera in case customers want to leave it on

[@kescha1995]

Good job

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

Is it the same for the s21 plus? And I'm wondering if buying new bottom speakers might be a good idea for different reasons

[@TapticDigital]

Almost the exact same steps with the Plus model. Might I ask what reasons you'd want a new bottom speaker? Unless yours is blown or rattling there's not much need to replace it

[@TheZaibs]

Is it still an original LTPO panel?

[@TapticDigital]

Yes it is is, the replacement part used was an OEM from Samsung. I've only used OEM, so I'm not sure if aftermarket would use LTPO since it's relatively new, or just use a normal one like the S20.

[@TheZaibs]

Oh wow, I mean the LTPO would be so bad to loose for a broken screen as it's quite a game changer considering that it also saves battery.

[@TopDasher-d5b]

How difficult is this phone and model?

[@th3_purpl3_p3n9]

So this happened to me but i havent been able to get mine repaired. Can you repair mine or where can I get a screen??

[@TapticDigital]

I don't offer mail in repairs just yet, check some local shops with decent reviews. The parts are pretty expensive, most of mine come from Mobile Sentrix and Mobile Defenders

[@th3_purpl3_p3n9]

@@TapticDigital thanks very much. If/when you start mail in repairs then let me know.

[@dragonknight8815]

The way you repaired it in the video, is it still water resistant? Or do I need to replace the back glass adhesive

[@TapticDigital]

The way I replaced it and used adhesive primer does maintain some water resistance, but replacing the adhesive is usually the best route. If you do, you'll need to make sure it's completely sealed against both the glass and the frame of the phone, using clamps, or preferably a vacuum sealer

[@dragonknight8815]

@@TapticDigital thanks for the tip, I'll make sure to replace the adhesive

[@Reaper139139]

Very cool!

[@jacobhoffman1550]

Can you not just repair glass, my lcd is fine.

[@TapticDigital]

It is incredibly difficult without very specialized tools. The cost of the tools outweighs the benefits, and it usually comes out cheaper to replace the entire assembly. The OLED layer is thin as paper and more fragile than a potato chip.

[@eriklopez3554]

nice video but having problems removing the little screws on the athenna any adivice? i have a set of mini screw divers none of it work with it.

[@TapticDigital]

Unfortunately since they are triwing screws you won't be able to grab them with a Phillips or a flathead. And being so small I doubt temporary drivers (like melting plastic into it) would work. Best bet would be visiting your local hardware store for a set of precision drivers, and make sure they include the triwing bits. I found sets ranging from $8-$15

[@otomoto258]

Heat up edge slightly w/heatgun ..glue will release

[@alexnunez4019]

Thanks a lot for the video and link to parts. Parts are costly **sigh**

[@TapticDigital]

It's also an expensive phone! Kind of how a Ford is cheaper to fix than a Ferrari. But my wallet definitely hurts every time 🙁

[@TapticDigital]

As far as I know those are different phones, so no

[@selfmadetjh8889]

Will I keep my broken phones data after the replacement?

[@TapticDigital]

Of course, there's no reason data should be deleted or reset during nearly any repair. If a company says your data will be lost, they aren't repairing the phone, they are replacing it with a refurbished one.

[@selfmadetjh8889]

@Taptic Digital thanks for the reply. I see cheap used ones on ali express. You think they're trust worthy?

[@TapticDigital]

@@selfmadetjh8889 they might be alright, I would highly recommend one that comes with the frame already installed, that way you can move all the internal parts over to a new body

[@selfmadetjh8889]

@Taptic Digital I appreciate it man. 🙏🏽

[@selfmadetjh8889]

@@TapticDigital Hey! I replaced followed all the steps you did in the video and everything went smoothly! The only problem im having is my service is now off. I checked the sims card slot and everything seems to be fine. Yk what else it could possibly be?

[@sontran6828]

what’s the tripoint tool size u use to open the 5G block antenna ?

[@TapticDigital]

The triwing is one size up from the iPhone, the 2.0 size seems to work best

[@bisho0059]

Help bro my s21 ultra fell it had a vertical green line and one day after its became all black screen, i went to samsung and they want 400€ to change the screen, im not a pro but if it worked for an hour i think the screen dont have a problem, so my theorie is that the screen cable disconeccted and acctually i geusse im going to try to open it and try to repair it, do think that its may be some cable disconnected?

[@TapticDigital]

You got a crack in the OLED layer, once oxygen gets in the pixels slowly die. We call it bleed out, it will slowly go purple and dark until it's completely black. The display ribbon is more or less screwed down under shields so disconnects can't happen. Unfortunately you need a whole new screen.

[@bisho0059]

@@TapticDigital should i try to replace it by myself?, Like i buy a new screen and replace it, and btw my phone is a livedemounit so even if i want to pay samsung i dont think they gonna accepte😂

[@TapticDigital]

@@bisho0059 hey if you feel confident enough, it's worth a try! Otherwise I'd go to a local repair shop that isn't partnered with Samsung. My shop isn't, but we still use OEM Samsung parts and we don't care where it came from.

[@bisho0059]

@@TapticDigital i live on france :(

[@TapticDigital]

@@bisho0059 I've never been to France, but taking a look there appear to be some decent shops in Rennes and Paris. "France Phone" has some pretty good reviews. If you try it yourself just go slow, and follow the steps!

[@SethVN20]

Mines getting fixed soon. Does front screen replacement still ensure water protection

[@TapticDigital]

Definitely still some water resistance, definitely wouldn't submerge it.

[@pinnnkyton]

I have a s21 ultra 5g , I cracked the front glass but the digitizer and oled are fine Is there an easier way to repair this besides paying 500 Canadian?

[@TapticDigital]

Unfortunately the only way to get cheaper than that would be buying your own part and doing the repair. The parts themselves are incredibly expensive, so is the phone, which is why the repair quotes are so high.

[@Sp00kySpaghet]

How much does it cost to replace the sceen??

[@TapticDigital]

Quite a bit, my store does them for about $360, parts alone cost $300.

[@ashleyleonard673]

best how to video for thisphone out there thz

[@ashleyleonard673]

One quick quetion, my phone didn't have the 5G area around the outside that you undone, but my phone is 5G obviously. Maybe different to UK models?

[@Chonk92]

How did you remove the back part? You made it look so easy lol. Sorry, new to this repair stuff.

[@TapticDigital]

I go a bit more in depth in other videos, but more or less it's a lot of heat and patience prying around the back panel to remove it.

[@Chonk92]

@@TapticDigital can I use a hairdryer to heat it?

[@TapticDigital]

@@Chonk92 you sure can, just set it on high. You'll want the back "almost too hot to touch" and start cutting, carefully!

[@unpredictabel]

what size of triwing screw is it?

[@TapticDigital]

Y0 and once or twice I've gotten a Y00 to work I believe

[@enriquefuentes7697]

I had my 21U recording me in landscape mode and it fell forward flat and just cracked :(

[@TapticDigital]

Ouch, the replacement screen isn't cheap, but it might be worth it!

[@enriquefuentes7697]

@@TapticDigital Yeah I figured it would be a pretty penny, I want to replace it but need to save up for it first

[@2tonels1]

Where can I buy this?

[@TapticDigital]

The replacement screen is available from many vendors, the choice is yours. I use mostly Mobile Defenders and MobileSentrix