How to Replace Samsung Galaxy S8 Motherboard Step-by-Step Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 25 Steps
Before you dive into phone surgery, discharge that power-packed battery to below 25%. Battery mishaps can be a downside, but keeping it low and slow reduces the risk. Stay safe out there, repair heroes!
Ready to tackle the challenge of swapping out a faulty motherboard? Let’s dive in! First up, say goodbye to the rear glass cover and make sure you have some replacement adhesive on hand to stick that back cover in place securely. Just remember, the motherboard and daughterboard specifics can vary a bit depending on whether you’ve got the North American Snapdragon (G950U) or international Exynos (G950F) version of the phone. This guide will walk you through the North American setup. Oh, and here’s a fun fact: you can’t mix and match motherboards between the two versions, so keep that in mind! Before you start digging into your phone, make sure that battery level dips below 25% to play it safe. Trust us, you don’t want any fiery surprises if that battery gets punctured! Let’s roll up those sleeves and get to work!
Step 1
It’s a good idea to give your microwave a quick clean before diving in. Trust us, that pesky gunk at the bottom might just stick to your iOpener, and nobody wants that!
– Pop that iOpener right in the middle of the microwave and let the magic happen!
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Step 2
Hey there! Just a quick heads-up: make sure not to overheat that iOpener while you’re getting your repair on. Too much heat might make it pop! Keep it below 100˚C (212˚F) for safety.
If your iOpener looks like it’s been hitting the gym too hard and is all swollen, give it a break and don’t touch it.
If the middle of your iOpener is still too toasty to handle, keep using it while you let it cool down a bit. A well-heated iOpener should stay cozy for up to 10 minutes. You’re doing great!
– Hey there! Keep the iOpener toasty for 30 seconds. And remember, as you progress through our clear, concise, and easy-to-read guide, if the iOpener starts feeling a bit chilly, just pop it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds. Don’t forget, we’re here for ya! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair!
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Step 3
Watch out for the iOpener—it’s going to be super toasty! Handle it with care, and don’t hesitate to grab an oven mitt if you need a little extra protection.
– Grab the iOpener from the microwave, making sure to hold it by one of its two flat ends to steer clear of the toasty middle.
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Step 4
No microwave? No worries! Just follow this step to warm up your iOpener using some good old boiling water.
– Grab a pot or pan and fill it with enough water to completely dunk your iOpener.
– Heat that water up until it’s boiling, then switch off the heat.
– Carefully place the iOpener into the hot water for 2-3 minutes, ensuring it’s fully submerged and getting all cozy.
– Use some tongs to fish out the warm iOpener from the hot bath.
– Give the iOpener a good towel dry, making sure it’s nice and ready to go.
– Your iOpener is all set for action! If it needs another warm-up, just repeat the process: boil the water, turn off the heat, and let the iOpener chill in the water for 2-3 minutes again.
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Step 5
Hey there! If you want to spice things up a bit, you can also consider using a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate. Just remember, like a delicate dish, don’t cook your phone for too long—the OLED display and internal battery might not appreciate the heat party. 😊🔥
Opening up your phone might let some water in, so it’s a good idea to have some replacement adhesive on hand before diving in. If you’re going to put it back together without new adhesive, just be extra careful to keep it away from liquids!
While you’re waiting for that adhesive to get nice and soft, why not take a peek at the next step? It’ll give you a sneak preview of where to pry!
– Warm up that iOpener and stick it to one of the longer edges of your S8 for about 2 minutes. You’ve got this!
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Step 6
– Alright, get ready to cut through that adhesive surrounding the rear glass panel.
– Take a look at the adhesive on the rear case in the first image.
– Follow the prying pattern from the outside of the phone like this:
Step 7
– Once the back panel feels warm to the touch, gently place a trusty suction cup near the toasty edge of your device, steering clear of the curvy sides.
– Give the suction cup a little lift and slide in an opening pick underneath the back glass.
Step 9
Take your time so the tool stays snug in the seam. If you find cutting a bit tricky, just give it a little heat and reapply the iOpener for a smoother ride.
– Gently glide the trusty opening pick along the side of your device, making the adhesive come undone.
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Step 10
– Give those other three sides the same warm hug and gentle slice you did before. They deserve it too!
– To keep things nice and open while you work your magic, stick an opening pick on each side before moving on. This way, the adhesive won’t sneak back in and seal up your progress.
Step 11
Hey there! When lifting the glass, take a quick peek to make sure the orange cable with a blue connector is unplugged.
If the fingerprint sensor cable seems stuck or tight, hold off on opening the phone further. Just gently disconnect the connector using a spudger tip before moving on.
The fingerprint sensor cable is like a tiny bridge connecting your phone to the rear glass by the main camera. It’s a little shy, so it tends to disconnect as soon as the rear glass gets lifted off. Just be gentle with it, and you’ll be good to go!
– Grab those handy opening picks and slide them through any leftover adhesive to gently pop the phone open a bit.
– When it’s time to put everything back together, angle the back cover just right until the fingerprint sensor cable’s connector lines up perfectly with its socket. Then, take the flat end of your trusty spudger and give that connector a gentle push straight down to snap it in place.
– Carefully lift the glass off your phone.
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Step 12
Feeling crafty? You can pop that back cover on without fussing over new adhesive! Just make sure to clear out any pesky bits of sticky stuff that might stop it from fitting snugly. Once it’s in place, give it a little heat and apply some gentle pressure to lock it down. It may not be waterproof, but trust us, that glue tends to be super reliable for holding things together.
– Alright, time to jazz up your device with a fresh new back cover!
– Check out this handy guide to slap on that new back cover like a pro. No sweat!
– Hey, you might need to shift that camera bezel over to your new buddy. If that’s the case, glide over to our camera bezel replacement guide.
Step 13
– Get ready to show those screws who’s boss! Remove the eleven 3.7 mm screws using a Phillips #000 screwdriver.
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Step 15
– Unscrew those three 3.7 mm Phillips #000 screws like a pro!
Step 16
– Carefully take out the loudspeaker assembly.
Step 17
– Get your SIM card opening tool and gently slide it into the tiny hole on the left side at the top of your phone. Don’t worry, it’s not a secret vault!
– Give it a little press to pop that tray out like it’s a surprise party.
– Carefully remove the SIM card tray from your phone, and just like that, you’re one step closer to success!
Step 22
– Grab your spudger and gently pry apart those two antenna cables connecting the motherboard to the daughterboard. You’ve got this!
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Step 23
– Whoa there, tech wizard! Unplug that antenna ribbon cable, connecting the motherboard to the daughterboard. Time for some tech magic! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
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Step 24
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently slide the flat end underneath the motherboard. Give it a little lift to disconnect it from the daughterboard. You’ve got this!
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