For a lot of us, screen protectors are a necessity. A smartphone with a sophisticated display costs several hundred dollars, therefore it only makes sense to safeguard your investment.
However, screen protectors can form unpleasant bubbles that impair the viewing experience on your smartphone, especially if you don’t apply them properly. It might seem easy enough to install a screen protector, but it’s still good to be equipped with the right instructions to do it correctly.
In this guide, we’ve provided you with the best way to install a screen protector on your cell phone, if you want the best results.
Materials Needed to Install a Screen Protector on Your Cell Phone
You’ll need several different materials depending on how you decide to install a screen protector on your smartphone. Some people just apply the screen protector straight but typically, that’s what generates the bubbles that look unpleasant on the screen’s surface. Whatever installation method you choose, you’ll need a few things to install a screen protector, especially if you’re trying to avoid bubbles forming.
- Caseless phone/tablet
- Clean, flat, non-dusty area
- Microfiber cloth
You may also need to use your fingers or a plastic card such as a credit card to install a screen protector, depending on what’s convenient for you. Some manufacturers include a card alongside your screen protector for this purpose.
The Best Way to Install a Screen Protector on Your Cell Phone- The Tape Method
There are different popular ways to install a screen protector, but the tape method is by far the best. Follow the instructions we’ve provided below carefully to properly install it via the tape method.
Set the screen protector in place first. Make sure the screen protector’s size and shape fit your phone and that the right side is facing down (it’s typically denoted by blue letters).
Add a strip of tape to the side of the screen protector with the tag facing the phone once you’ve positioned it properly. Then, add another three pieces of tape: one in the center and one on each end.
This tape can be folded beneath the phone using a really ingenious technique. Make sure the tape is already partly adhered to the phone’s side before applying it to each piece individually. Hold the phone flat and horizontally, then swiftly pull it in your direction. The tape will tuck under and adhere to the phone’s back.
Flip the screen protector over and re-clean the phone’s and screen protector’s surfaces after that. Start the installation after that.
Don’t completely rip off the screen protector when you pull it away. Instead, just slightly remove it along the entire length of the screen protector. Pull it evenly across as you remove it, then press the sticky side against the screen with a card or your fingers.
You need to be patient at this point because you don’t want to rush the process. Take your time, but once the procedure has begun, make sure you keep going.
You will notice bubbles initially, but you can remove them with your fingers or a card, according to what you prefer. A card seems to work better, but there’s a method to this: simply angle your push to the nearest outside edge, and make sure to start in the center because bubbles in that region are the hardest to get rid of.
All that is left to do is grab the second tag and pull the screen protector’s top layer back. Then search for and eliminate any remaining bubbles. You shouldn’t see any except perhaps the odd one along your phone’s edge.
Alternative Ways to Install a Screen Protector
Using one of these two methods we’ve described below, you can also install a screen protector without creating any air bubbles. One method is definitely trickier, but it might provide superior results and function better with thicker screen protectors. The other method is considerably simpler but might produce a crooked screen protector. We’ve described both below.
The End-to-End Method
The end-to-end method is another way to install a screen protector on your cell phone, but the concept and method are extremely comparable to the tape method. The only difference is that, to attach the screen protector with this option, you start from either the top or bottom of the phone, depending on your desire, and gently peel the bottom layer off.
Pull the bottom layer down further to reveal more of the screen protector’s sticky side after it has firmly adhered, and then push down with your finger or a card while doing so. It’s crucial to use both simultaneously, just like with the tape approach. Finally, push out the bubbles and peel the top layer off, and you’re done.
The Water Method
This is another way to install a screen protector which is quite unique, but appears to work. Apply a few drops of water to your phone’s screen using a dropper or another applicator before covering it with the screen protector. There will be no bubbles since the water will spread between the screen and the protector.
Summarily, depending on how skilled you are, it might not seem so easy or complicated to install a screen protector. Still, it’s always good to be equipped with helpful instructions. We recommend that you pay close attention to this guide so that you can install your screen protector properly without any bubbles forming.
