How to Replace A Tempered Glass Screen Protector Cracked

By Carrie Tsai, Last Updated: September 11, 2020HOW TO

From screen to in-core processor, smartphones today are changing and upgrading at all times. The most noticeable change is the increasingly larger and thinner phone screen for more excellent visual effects and use experience. However, this also increases the risk of phone screen or the covered tempered glass screen protector being cracked during the phone dropping.

Smartphone itself nowadays is prone to dropping. You can see your phone in your hand one moment and at the other moment bear down onto the ground in a nosedive. Also, as the phone is becoming larger, you may find that the screen on your dropped phone becomes much easier to be broken.

However, when there is a crack on the screen of your phone, you may find it hard to fix it exactly since sometimes it’s just the external tempered glass screen protector that is broken while sometimes it’s the screen itself. Then how to identify whether your phone screen or the phone’s screen protector is smashed?

And in fact, if you find that the crack only occurs on the tempered glass screen protector, you should have a breathing spell since replacing a screen protector is much easier than repairing a broken phone screen. However, replacing a tempered glass screen protector is still a hassle due to the difficulty in removing bubbles and combining perfect placement. Don’t fret though. Continue to read the following which will guide you how to remove and install a tempered glass screen protector with foolproof approaches.

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How to Identify Whether Your Phone Screen or the Tempered Glass Screen Protector Cracks

Identifying the exact broken part of the screen after a sudden drop of your phone can help you make the right replacement and repair decision, keeping your phone well protected and work properly. Actually, the simplest and easiest way is to remove the screen protector to identify.

However, the fact is that most individuals are more apt to identify the broken part without having to tear off the tempered glass screen protector. This is because removing a covered screen protector is quite a nuisance, let alone applying it again onto the screen. Well, since that, the following will help you identify the cracked part without having to remove the tempered class screen protector.

It’s Your Phone Screen That Is Broken

Due to the fact that a phone screen is composed of both an external screen and an inner screen, there are three cases when your phone screen is broken after a sudden phone drop.

External Screen is Broken

The external screen included in an entire phone screen is called the touchscreen. Just as the name suggests, this layer of phone screen is for touching operation such as typing and drawing. Hence, if you notice that the touch isn’t sensitive in the cracked place after your phone drops, then it’s the external screen of your phone’s screen that is broken.

Important Note:

Once there is breakage occurring on the external screen, there will be potential damage on the inner screen since the two layers of phone screen are overlapped. Therefore, it’s advisable of you to replace the external screen with a new one whenever and wherever it is broken.

Inner Screen is Broken

The inner screen of the phone screen is the innermost screen layer which is named display screen or liquid crystal screen. It’s in charge of image displaying. Thus, if there is any jumping screen, black block screen, non-content or incomplete display or watermark flickering on the entire screen, it can be reckoned that the inner screen is broken.

Important Note:

If the inner screen of your phone screen is confirmed to get cracked, you need to replace the entire screen with a new one. But replacing the entire screen by yourself is extremely difficult, you’d better go to the near phone store to seek help from the professional servicing personnel.

Both the External and Inner Screen Are broken

There is another case when the screen of your phone is broken – both the external and inner screens are smashed. If you find that both the display and the touch cannot function regularly after a sudden drop of your phone, it’s most likely that both the external screen and the internal screen are broken. In this case, you have no choice but to replace the entire screen.

It’s the Tempered Glass Screen Protector That Is Broken

If all the above cases of screen damage don’t occur on your phone screen but there is still a crack on the screen after your phone drops, then the crack is all about the padded tempered glass screen protector. Of course, there are several simple ways for you to confirm that the crack on your phone screen is led by the tempered glass screen protector.

Way 1. Run Your Fingernail over the Cracked Part

If you run your fingernail over the cracked part and feel there is a rough indentation, it’s the tempered glass screen protector on your phone’s screen that is fragmented rather than your phone screen itself.

Way 2. Check If the Image Display and the Touch Work

Another method is to check if the image display and the touch work functionally since they represent the external screen and the inner screen respectively. As to the screen protector, it just plays a protective role in the screen. Hence, if the result is that they still work normally, then the crack is on the upper tempered glass screen protector.

Way 3. View the Crack from the Side

You can also tilt your phone at a certain angle to identify whether the crack is led by the tempered glass screen protector. By looking at a certain angle, if there is only one crack and the crack floats on the surface, it can be reckoned that the tempered glass is shattered.

Actually, when there is a crack in the screen protector, the screen protector has done its job since it’s meant for protecting the phone screen which is underneath from being broken or somewhat too broken when dropping.

And your should be relieved if you find it’s the tempered glass screen protector that is shattered rather than the phone screen. After all, replacing a screen protector is far more affordable and much easier than replacing an entire phone screen.

Nevertheless, replacement of a tempered glass screen protector can be ruined if there are bubbles produced and imperfect placement during the installation process. Don’t worry though. The following will guide you how to remove and install a tempered glass screen protector with foolproof methods, leaving you with a phone screen free of bubbles.

So if you find that it’s the tempered glass screen protector that is busted after your phone drops, follow the guide below to replace the screen protector with a new one with little hassle.

How to Remove the Current Tempered Glass Screen Protector from Your Phone

Replacing the cracked tempered glass screen protector with a new one requires removing the old one. Here are three methods for you to remove. Before you get started, use a hair dryer on a low setting to warm up the tempered glass for around 15 seconds. This helps to loosen the adhesive behind the screen protector, making it easier to peel off.

Warning:

The tempered glass screen protector should be slightly and briefly heated to avoid damaging any components behind it.

Method 1. Peel the Screen Protector off by Hand

Step 1. Start by gently and carefully lifting up one corner of the tempered glass screen protector with your fingernail. But don’t attempt to peel off the rest. Also, the process should be gentle to avoid a screen protector in pieces.

Step 2. Once a corner starts coming up, you should stop pulling from just the corner and slide your hand to move further along the screen protector to support the glass, preventing it from falling into pieces.

Step 3. Now you can peel the tempered glass screen protector off. But keep remember to peel it off along the sides slowly and evenly to prevent it from fragmenting.

Method 2. Use A Toothpick and A Credit Card to Remove

Step 1. Use a toothpick to pry up one corner of the tempered glass screen protector. Please make sure the tip of toothpick should end up toward the glass instead of down toward the screen to avoid scratching the screen underneath it.

Step 2. Once a corner comes up, lift it up with your fingers gently and carefully.

Step 3. Then if possible, you can slide a credit card underneath the screen protector to pull the screen protector away from the phone screen. Again, the whole process should be gentle and slowly to prevent the screen protector from breaking into pieces.

Method 3. Use A Piece of Duct Tape to Remove

Step 1. Wrap a piece of duct tape tightly around two of your fingers. Make sure the sticky side of the tape faces outwards.

Step 2. Press the tape to a corner of the tempered glass screen protector.

Step 3. Roll the duct tape slowly towards the opposite side of the tempered glass and then lift up your fingers. Then the tempered glass screen protector should pull away coming with your fingers.

How to Install A Tempered Glass Screen Protector on Your Phone

By following the above several methods for removing, you must have successfully peeled off the old tempered glass screen protector from your phone screen. Now it’s time to apply a new one. The following will introduce you two major installation approaches.

Prior to the installation process, you should make sure your hands are clean so as not to leave dust or dirt on your phone screen, avoiding causing bubbles. Then follow the instructions below to apply a new tempered glass screen protector with free of bubbles to protect your phone screen. Follow the dry mounting cleaning method if your tempered glass screen protector doesn’t come with any special solution. If it does, use the wet mounting cleaning method.

Note:

During the whole installation process, make sure your phone is turned off.

Method 1. Dry Mounting

Step 1. Clean Your Phone Screen

Due to the fact that this method is for tempered glass screen protectors which don’t come with any special solution, all you are able to do first is use a lint-free microfiber cloth or an alcohol pad to wipe away any residue and dust to prevent bubbles and scratches on your phone screen. Then use the provided dust sticker to remove any fingerprints or dust particles.

Step 2. Place the Alignment Frame

Now line up the tempered glass screen protector with your cleansed out phone’s screen and place it perfectly aligned with the phone screen from all sides.

Step 3. Place the Guide Stickers to the Side of the Screen Protector

Use the provided guide stickers which function as a hinge to keep the edges of the tempered glass screen protector perfectly and stably aligned with your phone’s screen. Place them (usually two pieces) onto the side of your phone’s screen at one end and onto the screen protector at the other end.

Step 4. Remove the Film of the Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Now turn over the tempered glass screen protector along the side of the placed guide stickers. Then take the film on top of the screen protector off on its sticky side.

Step 5. Place the Screen Protector onto Your Phone’s Screen

After peeling off the film, slowly place the tempered glass screen protector onto your phone’s screen aligning with the alignment frame fixed by the guide stickers. During the placement, you should use a credit card or any installation card to gently and slowly smooth any bubbles out toward the edges of your phone’s screen.

Method 2. Wet Mounting

This method is for the tempered glass screen protectors which come with a special solution (usually alcohol) to use during the installation process. Hence, you should check if your screen protector is equipped with the special solution. If it is, then follow the guide below.

Step 1. Use the Special Solution to Spray the Screen Protector

Prior to using the special solution, make sure you’ve cleaned your phone’s screen by using a lint-free microfiber cloth. Then all you need to do is spray the special solution on both the front and back of the tempered glass screen protector, keeping it moist during the installation process.

Step 2. Place the Screen Protector onto Your Phone’s Screen

Carefully and gently place the tempered glass screen protector onto your phone’s screen, balance one end and slowly apply it to the other end. You can use a credit card for help.

Step 3. Use the Squeegee to Squeeze out the Excess Solution

After placing the screen protector onto the screen, you should use the provided squeegee to squeeze the excess solution out from under the tempered glass screen protector.

Step 4. Leave the Wet Screen to Dry

Before using your phone, you need to wait at least half an hour to let the screen protector dry, allowing it to perfectly adhere to your phone’s screen.

Final Words

As smartphones are becoming larger, they are more prone to crack on screen during a sudden drop. As tempered glass screen protector is covered above the phone screen, it isn’t easy to identify whether the crack is on the screen protector or on the phone screen.

However, on the whole, if the image display and the touch don’t work properly, it’s the phone screen that is broken. On the contrary, the tempered glass screen protector just plays a protective role so it’s shattered when the phone screen functions run normally. Anyway, replacing a screen protector is far easier than replacing an entire screen. You can follow the above instructions to replace your cracked tempered glass screen protector with a new one with foolproof experience.

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