Accessory Assistant
Remove a tempered glass screen protector
Would you like to remove a glass screen protector? We show you how to detach the screen protection from your mobile phone and remove it without leaving any residues.
6 min read
At a glance: Remove a tempered glass screen protector
- Glass screen protectors can be removed by hand
- To do this, warm the glass screen protector to loosen the adhesive
- Lift the glass screen protector and remove it evenly
- Fingernails, toothpicks and credit cards can be used to lift and remove a glass screen protector
- Quickly replace the removed glass screen protector to ensure you have the best possible screen protection
- Only remove the screen protection completely and reapply the glass screen protector if its manual positioning is incorrect on the first attempt
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How do I remove a glass screen protector from a mobile phone?
You remove the glass screen protector from the mobile phone extremely carefully. This is possible both with fingernails and with a toothpick and credit card. It is important to warm the glue slightly beforehand.
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Can a glass screen protector be reused?
Yes, you can reuse a glass screen protector. However, this is usually only possible shortly after you have applied it for the first time. If a glass screen protector is to be removed and reused after being used for a long time, it does not usually adhere optimally anymore.
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How often should a glass screen protector be replaced?
You should not replace a glass screen protector often. The screen protection is generally very resilient and lasts for the life of the smartphone. You should only remove and replace the glass screen protector if it is damaged.
Remove a tempered glass screen protector: Here's how it's done
If you want to remove a glass screen protector from a mobile phone, this can be done in just a few steps. It doesn’t matter whether you want to remove a glass screen protector from an Android smartphone or an iPhone.
There are generally two ways in which a glass screen protector adheres to the display. In most cases, this takes place electrostatically, so you can get started straight away.
However, some tempered glass models adhere with the help of a special glue. If you want to easily remove this type of glass screen protector from a mobile phone, you should first treat the adhesive with heat. A hairdryer is the best choice for this. Set it on the lowest setting and warm the screen protection for around 20 to 30 seconds. This makes the adhesive become supple and the glass screen protector can be removed more easily.
If you don’t have a hairdryer to hand, hold the mobile phone a sufficient distance away from a hot oven or hot hob for a short time so that the heat can slightly warm your device.
Caution: Under no circumstances should you heat your mobile phone for too long. Excessive heat can damage your smartphone.
Remove a tempered glass screen protector with fingernails
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Step 1: Lift the glass screen protector
If you would like to remove a glass screen protector that is affixed with glue, warm the glue as described above. Once the glue is prepared, you can remove the glass screen protector. If your glass screen protector adheres electrostatically, you do not need to do anything in advance, but can simply remove the glass screen protector straight away.
To do this, lift a corner of the screen protection using your fingernail. This isn’t successful on the first attempt? Then ideally try it at each corner. Particularly for models with glue, the adhesive mass often comes away particularly well at a certain corner. If the glass screen protector still cannot be removed, warm the glue again with the hairdryer.
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Step 2: Loosen the glass screen protector carefully
Once you have lifted a corner, carefully slide your finger under the glass screen protector. Take care that it doesn’t break. This is because, strictly speaking, what you are removing is not an elastic glass screen protector or tempered glass film, but rather a rigid, thin piece of glass that can easily break with improper handling. The huge protective effect and stability only come into play when it is firmly attached to the display.
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Step 3: Remove the glass screen protector
You can now completely remove the glass screen protector by pulling it away evenly. Be extremely careful so as not to damage the screen protection. If the glass screen protector breaks as you are removing it, repeat the process with the remaining pieces of glass until the protective glass has been completely removed.
Remove a glass screen protector with a toothpick and credit card
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Step 1: Lift the glass screen protector
If your glass screen protector is fixed in place with glue, start by warming the glue, as described above. Once the glue has become sufficiently flexible due to the heat, you can begin. If your glass screen protector adheres electrostatically, you do not need to prepare it any further, but can simply begin straight away.
Use a toothpick to lift a corner of the glass screen protector. Pay attention to achieving a good angle that is steep enough not to slip but also shallow enough to slide the toothpick under the screen protection so that you can then remove the glass screen protector.
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Step 2: Loosen the glass screen protector at the edges
Once you have pushed the toothpick under the glass screen protector, loosen the glass screen protector with your fingers around all of the edges of the display. This step requires a great deal of finesse so as not to damage the glass screen protector. Allow plenty of time and proceed with extreme caution.
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Step 3: Remove the tempered glass screen protector
Use a credit card as a second tool and slide it into the gap to completely remove the glass screen protector. Proceed with care so as not to damage the glass screen protector. If the protective glass has broken during this or you want to remove a glass screen protector that has already broken, continue in this way piece by piece until all of the pieces of the glass screen protector have been removed without leaving any residue.
Remove and reuse a glass screen protector
Particularly when you want to apply a glass screen protector and the first attempt did not produce the desired result, the glass screen protector will need to be removed again. A glass screen protector that has only just been applied can also be reapplied if it is removed carefully. For a glass screen protector that adheres to the display with glue, the glue will not yet have hardened if the protector has only just been fitted. You can reapply it easily.
However, make sure that there are no dust particles between the glass screen protector and display when you reapply it. If you want to quickly fit the glass screen protector in the correct position, we recommend screen protection with an Easy-On® adapter from Hama.
Glass screen protectors and foil differ when it comes to removal and reapplication. While it is extremely difficult to reapply screen protector foil, a glass screen protector is comparatively easy to reuse. We show you the differences in the screen protection in detail in the guide Tempered glass screen protector or film.
