Did your screen protector recently come off your phone, and you want to reapply it?
If the screen protector is no longer sticky, this can be a bit challenging. Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to help make it sticky again, and the entire process only takes a few moments to carry out.
In this article, I’ll be sharing tips not only on how to reapply your screen protector, but also what you can do to ensure it stays stuck for good.
Without any further ado, let’s get to it!
How To Make Your Screen Protector Sticky Again, So You Can Reapply It
In order to ensure that your screen protector stays on your phone permanently, there are two factors that you’ll need to keep in mind.
The first is dust. If there is any dust, dirt or debris on the screen protector or your phone’s screen, this can cause a poor contact between the two of them, making the adhesive harder to bond.
This can also cause air bubbles to form that don’t go away after 1-2 days, like most do.
The second factor to keep in mind is the adhesive material on the screen protector. As you continue to reapply the screen protector, some of this will be lost.
So, it’s important to ensure that you align the screen protector perfectly the first time.
How To Make Your Screen Protector Sticky Again, So You Can Reapply It
Let’s now look over the instructions on how to best reapply your screen protector:
- Begin the process in as dust-free of a room as possible. Some people prefer doing this in the bathroom, after a hot shower. This is because the steam and humidity in the air helps prevent dust from floating around.
- Gently wipe down your phone screen with a microfiber cloth, to remove all dust from it. Alternatively, use clear, residue-free tape against your phone’s screen, and peel it off to remove any dust or dirt.
- Run the sticky side of your screen protector under warm – but not hot water.
- Use soap if necessary to remove any fingerprints or dirt from the screen protector.
- Use a hairdryer to dry the screen protector on both sides. DO NOT use a washcloth or rub anything against the screen protector to dry it, as this can remove the adhesive that helps the screen protector stick to the screen.
- Once there is no longer any dirt or dust on the phone screen or your screen protector, gently align the screen protector, and press it onto the screen.
- Remove any air bubbles that have formed underneath the screen protector.
- Wipe away any extra adhesive residue that has formed on the side of the screen protector.
- Continue pressing the screen protector against the screen, and focus on the sides and corners as well. For screen protectors that have been reapplied, this is often where the issues occur.
Once the screen protector has been placed, it should remain attached securely, without peeling or sliding around. For more tips on ensuring your screen protector stays on, keep reading!
Will It Ever Be As Sticky As When You First Got It?
If you’ve followed the above instructions carefully, your screen protector should now be securely attached to your phone – it shouldn’t slide around when you apply pressure, nor should it peel from the sides or corners.
However, is it truly like new, or will you have to repeat this process again in the future?
Unfortunately, a screen protector that has been reapplied – especially more than once, will never be as strong as it was when you first got it.
Screen protectors have a sticky adhesive that helps them bond and remain stuck to the screen. As time goes on and you reapply the screen protector, some of this adhesive is lost.
This means that as you reapply the screen protector more and more, you can expect issues to pop up increasingly frequently.
So, it may be worth it to just buy a new screen protector if the issue gets too bad – and consider the above instructions a temporary fix.
Tip: Buy A Screen Protector With A Guide
It’s important to keep in mind that this is a temporary solution.
While following the above instructions should ensure that your screen protector stays on your phone for a considerable period of time, it still isn’t likely to last as long as it did originally.
After all, once the adhesive that keeps it stuck to the screen is lost, it’s impossible to get it back. Therefore, you should consider purchasing a brand new screen protector sometime soon.
Thankfully, we have more options for screen protectors than ever, and some of them have gotten seriously advanced!
For example, I use the Spigen EZ fit on my iPhone, and it comes with a fancy tool to ensure that the screen protector is aligned perfectly.
As long as you get it aligned right (so you don’t have to reapply it) and you make sure everything is free of dust, the screen protector should be able to last throughout the life of the phone without needing to be replaced.
Conclusion
By gently washing and reapplying your screen protector, you can help restore some of the stickyness and improve its bond with your phone’s screen.
However, this should be considered a temporary solution, and will not be as good as a brand new screen protector.
Therefore, in the future you should ensure that you apply your new screen protector correctly, in a room without dust or debris floating around.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful, and that you’ve managed to get your screen protector back on. If you run into any issues or you have any questions, please ask them using the comment form below and I’ll be happy to help.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister