You won’t get very far without a screen protector. Installing one, however, can be harder than it seems. Bubbles, dust, and confusing instructions can make the entire process more stressful than it needs to be.
Every installation is slightly different — some screen protectors come with a tomb-like installation guide, while others leave you to your own devices.
This guide cuts through all the jargon, providing a simple, intuitive walkthrough on how to apply a screen protector to your iPhone. Keep an eye out for the troubleshooting tips throughout — they’ll tell you what to do if you mess up.
What you’ll need before you start
Like we said before, every iPhone screen protector is different. But as a rule of thumb, you’ll need these tools to achieve a seamless installation.
- Screen protector of your choice
- Wet wipe or alcohol pad
- Microfiber cloth
- Dust-removal sticker or tape
- Alignment frame*
- Credit card or a similar item
This is optional, but it’s a good idea to install your iPhone screen protector in a dust-free environment. If you want to take it a step further, you can install the protector in your bathroom after a shower. Bear with us here — the steam from your shower will cause dust in the air to settle, reducing the chance of trapping dust underneath your screen protector.
👉 *Good to know: Not all iPhone screen protectors come with alignment frames, but Fresh Coat does. Simply position the frame and drop your screen protector into place.
Step-by-step: How to apply a screen protector
Now we can get to the meat of the issue: how to apply a screen protector to your iPhone. The good news is that these tips will work for almost any screen protector, so whether you’ve got an old screen protector, a new one, or something in between, we’ve got you covered.
👀 Looking for more protective gear for your iPhone? We’ve compiled a list of all the best MagSafe phone cases.
0. Remove old screen protector (if you have one)
If you have a brand-new phone with a bare screen, you can go ahead and skip this step. However, if you’re like me, you need to remove your old iPhone screen protector before you can add a new one.
It’s tricky to pry the adhesive away from your screen, so many people use a credit card or something similar as leverage. Slide the card underneath the corner of the protector — you might need to use your fingernail to lift stubborn corners — and apply gentle pressure until the entire thing has lifted (or you can peel the rest off).
Good to know: You should never use a metal tool to lift your screen protector, because it could scratch your bare screen. So if you’ve got any fancy metal cards, avoid them at all costs.
1. Prepare the new screen protector.
Now is a good time to do some basic prep work.
- Clear a flat surface*
- Grab the box with your iPhone screen protector
- Lay out everything, including any installation tools
*Remember what we said about installing your screen protector in the bathroom? If your protector is tricky to install, you might want to clear some space and create a workstation now.
👉 Did you know? It’s not possible (or practical) to recycle most screen protectors, but some brands — like Nimble, RHINOSHIELD, and Samsung — offer mail-back services that recycle them for you. That said, you have to meet specific requirements to be eligible for one of these services. A good example is Samsung, which offers a mail-in program for replacing screen protectors on certain Galaxy Z foldable phones, but only if the old protector was applied at the factory.
2. Review the manufacturer’s instructions.
The fine print can reveal problems you never dreamed about. Before even trying to apply a screen protector to your phone, you need to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
In most cases, there’s a small leaflet inside the box with the screen protector. If you’ve bought a brandless protector to save a few dollars, you might only have the protector and the box it came in.
Anyway, back to the manufacturer’s instructions. If there’s anything really pressing or complicated, you can read about it on that leaflet.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly.
Look at your hands — they look clean enough, right? We’re not here to judge; we’re just here to tell your hands (and surroundings) need to be as clean as possible when installing an iPhone screen protector.
I skipped this step when I installed my most recent screen protector and, let me tell you, it wasn’t a pretty sight.
Besides bits of debris, you need to worry about static electricity. When you remove and install protectors, you may create static electricity, which attracts dust and debris. You can carry static on your hands, but washing them eliminates the problem.
Washing your hands can solve a bunch of problems, so it’s worth doing.
4. Clean your screen.
Did you guess this step already? It’s no surprise that cleaning your screen is a good idea.
At this stage, we’re not removing dust from the screen; we’re focusing on smudges and dirt. Here are some cleaning tools you can use:
- Wet wipe
- Alcohol pad
- Approved cleaning solution
Good to know: If your old protector has left glue-based residue on your screen, you might need to work a little harder to remove it.
5. Do a test application.
Feel free to skip this step, but it’s a good idea to do a test run.
You want to avoid exposing the adhesive or doing anything that could ruin the installation. Still, you can determine how to position the protector on the screen, and if you don’t have enough space, now is a good time to move your setup elsewhere.
Some screen protectors (like Fresh Coat) come with a frame or alignment tool. The tool holds the protector in the perfect position, so all you need to do is drop it into place. There’s zero guesswork.
While we’re here, we’ll share some tech information. We’ve got a fully-fledged guide to focus mode and how to set time limits on iPhone apps.
6. Use tape or dust removal stickers.
Dust gets everywhere — believe us, we’ve read every guide on how to apply a screen protector to iPhones.
It’s not enough to brush the dust off your bare iPhone screen. To get all those little bits of evasive dust, you need to use some adhesive. We recommend using tape or adhesive stickers to pull all the bits of dust off the screen.
Good to know: Once this is done, you need to move straight onto the application process. Don’t wait up — otherwise, dust could settle on your screen.
7. Align and apply the new protector.
Here’s how to apply a screen protector to your iPhone.
- Remove the backing (the film covering the adhesive) from the screen protector
- Line it up or place it on the application frame (just like we practiced earlier)
- Gently apply the protector to your iPhone
8. Remove bubbles and air pockets.
Before you walk off into the sunset with your new iPhone screen protector, we need to walk you through some troubleshooting basics.
The most common problem is air pockets. If you spot any under the surface of your protector, you’re in trouble. Not only are they an eyesore, but they make it difficult to use your phone properly. Many bubbles can work themselves out naturally over a few days. Otherwise, here are two methods for getting rid of them:
Method 1: Press and Push. Grab the cleaning cloth and give the spot a good press. Gently press the bubble toward the border until it slips out.
Method 2: Lift and Release. Don’t worry if a bubble sticks around. Just lift a corner of the screen protector with your fingernail to let it out, then smooth it back down—it should settle nicely.
9. Final inspection.
What now? Well, we think you should do one final check before you throw away your instructions and alignment tools.
Hold your phone at eye level and check the surface of the screen protector. Is it flat? Does it have any bumps, scratches, or bubbles? These are the sort of things you need to consider before the job is complete.
Let’s face it, a lot can go wrong when you’re learning how to apply a screen protector to your iPhone. We know the struggle, so we’ve got a bunch of troubleshooting tips and tricks to help you get a perfect install every time.
Tips and tricks
- Stubborn air bubbles are likely caused by dirt. To solve your bubble problem, lift your protector and use a sticker to remove the dust. Even if you can’t see any dust, it’s worth checking for it anyway.
- Time is on your side, so go slow! After all, it’ll take far more time (and money) to buy another screen protector if you damage the first one.
- Misaligned screen protectors are frustrating, and unfortunately, removing and reinstalling your protector can render the adhesive useless. It might work, but it’s much easier to choose a screen protector that comes with an alignment tool, like Fresh Coat.
Tried and tested methods
At Astropad, we’re familiar with how to apply a screen protector to an iPhone. Some people are so occupied with the best way to do it that they’ve come up with a bunch of methods. To save you the Google search, we’ve compiled the best ones here.
The Bathroom Method is one of the most effective techniques to add to your toolkit. Remember what we said before? After a shower, the dust in the air settles, giving you a dust-free environment for a seamless install.
The Hinge Method attaches the screen protector to your phone using stickers that form a temporary hinge. Once the hinge is in place, you can remove the backing film and align the protector without ever touching the adhesive.
There’s one final installation method you need to know about: the Suction Cup Method. Essentially, you attach a suction cup to the back of your screen protector. When you’re ready to align the protector with your phone, you can use the suction cup for a hands-free experience. In theory, this should reduce the likelihood of smudges and dirt beneath your screen.
FAQs
What’s the best way to apply a screen protector without bubbles?
- Make sure your screen is as clean as possible. You can use a microfiber cloth and a sticker to remove all debris and dust.
- Set up camp in your bathroom after a shower. The steam will help any lingering dust in the room settle.
- Use an alignment frame or the Hinge Method to position the protector easily and accurately.
- Apply slowly from one edge, allowing the adhesive to naturally settle.
- Use a plastic card or similar tool to press out bubbles as you go.
Should I use an alignment frame when applying a screen protector?
The answer is always yes. An alignment frame makes the whole process so much easier. It also reduces the likelihood of crooked installation, so you can get it right the first time.
Fresh Coat comes with an alignment frame, making installation as easy as can be.
If your iPhone screen protector doesn’t come with a frame, you can create one using tape. This is the Hinge Method we talked about earlier.
Are there screen protectors that are easier to install?
Yes.
Some phone protectors use adhesive to stick to your device. If you’re an iPad user, you can get a screen protector like Rock Paper Pencil that uses static cling. Static cling has no adhesive; it simply attaches to your iPad.
Do bubbles under a screen protector go away on their own?
Sometimes. Small air bubbles can disappear within a few days.
However, if a speck of dust causes the air bubble, it won’t go away on its own. You can usually tell if this is the case because you can feel the speck of dust beneath the protector.
Here’s how to get rid of it:
- Use tape to gently lift the protector
- Use an adhesive sticker or a bit of tape to remove the dust
- Gently place the screen protector back down
- Use a plastic card to smooth out any bumps
Can I remove and reapply a screen protector if the application is wrong?
This is a tricky question.
Adhesive protectors can sometimes be lifted and repositioned, though, as a rule, you should avoid this as much as possible. Lifting the protector will make the adhesive less effective and less likely to stick back in place when you’re ready to lay it down flat.
If you’re going to lift your adhesive screen protector, you need to do it as quickly as possible. Once the adhesive bonds to the screen, attempting to lift the protector could cause the whole thing to come off.
A better screen protector for your everyday kit
Fresh Coat is an anti-reflective glass screen protector designed specifically for iPhones.
Optical-grade AR coating eliminates 75% of reflections, giving you vibrant colors every time. And Fresh Coat has one of the easiest installation methods. It comes with an alignment tool and a QR code that launches the Fresh Coat App. You get short, animated instructions that lead to a bubble-free installation each time.
You’ll never have to Google how to apply a screen protector to your iPhone again.
