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The display panel is one of the most crucial parts of any phone. Thus, it is no surprise that many people want to protect it. Although most manufacturers use strong glass panes, you can still add another protective layer around your phone screens.
One of the easiest things you can do is add a simple screen protector to your phone’s front display. These accessories come in different materials, but their primary purpose is still the same — resist scratches or cracks.
Some protectors use another layer of glass or film. In any case, a protector might start to lift or peel over time. We’ll discuss why this happens and apply some solutions for it.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Screen Protector Stick?
Different manufacturers use different material compositions in making glass protectors. Let’s look at some of the most common types of protectors and their adhesives here.
PET Protectors
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) protector is a thin, light plastic screen guard. It uses static electricity to get to stick it to the phone display.
PET-based screen protectors rest smoothly on your phone. You can lift them off, clean them, allow them to dry, and replace them on the surface of your phone once more. However, not all PET protectors are the same.
Cheaper ones use a weak adhesive. If you have this type, you might be unable to remove and replace them easily. It is a good idea to read about which plastic film you are getting before you make your purchase.
Tempered Glass
Also called glass adhesive shields, these are popular screen protectors. These are strong glass panels tempered for extra wear resistance.
One kind of tempered glass screen guard uses a special adhesive with a silicone base. Additionally, the adhesive itself is sensitive to pressure. To use it, remove a layer covering this adhesive.
After that, lay the bare panel on your phone’s display. Then, apply a bit of pressure so the protector can stick to the phone’s surface.
Liquid Adhesive Guards
These are similar to tempered glass. However, it uses a specific adhesive to stick on the phone’s surface. It is often a special feature in new phone versions in the market.
If you haven’t noticed, phone displays today have unique curves. Therefore, they need a screen protector that adapts to their shape. It is where clear liquid adhesives come into play. It uses ultraviolet light to set it on your phone display.
Why Does My Screen Protector Keep Lifting? (3 Factors)
No matter the type of screen protector you have, most of them are prone to lifting from the surface of the display. Usually, this tends to happen if you use the phone for a long time.
However, there are situations or conditions where it happens sooner than you expect. Below are some of the causes:
1. Friction
Your typical screen protector will smoothly sit on top of your phone’s display. Provided you applied it correctly, it becomes unnoticeable. However, no screen protector makes a seamless connection with any phone screen. There are still edges to contend with, and these points become problematic.
If your phone rubs against other surfaces constantly, particularly at any of these edges, they start to peel. It looks as though the guard is lifting off the surface of the phone’s front panel.
Although you could stick it back, it depends on how much wear and tear the adhesive compound has gone through already. Similarly, the screen guard could start peeling at multiple points due to this friction.
2. Compounds
Your phone is constantly exposed to dirt, debris, and other things. Because of this, some chemicals or compounds it comes into contact with affect the screen protector.
Although most things should not impact the screen guard negatively, some have properties that wear out the screen protector adhesive. Certain alcohols or solvents are an example of these. If they get underneath the guard, they dissolve the bond that keeps the protector in place.
3. Time
Most screen protectors of decent quality should last for a long time. However, some chemicals could start to break down over long periods.
The same holds for some adhesive compounds, and your screen guard could become less sticky over time. If this happens, you’ll notice that your old display protector peels away from the phone’s screen much more than it used to when it was new.
How Do You Stop a Screen Protector From Lifting? (3 Ways)
Some screen protectors may start to lift inevitably. We have a few tips to mitigate this issue in your screen guard.
1. Tuck the Edges
Any screen guard should have some noticeable edges once you finish the installation. The edges along the sides or corners are most likely where the peeling starts.
You could tuck these edges, so they don’t start to peel. However, this won’t work with every phone. You will need a case or cover that goes over the corners and edges of the phone’s frame.
If you can put the phone inside the case this way, it may be able to hold tight to the edges of the display protector. If you could do this, there is a good chance to stop the protector from lifting.
2. Check the Contours
Some screens have curves or contours that make it challenging to add protectors. For some models, you may need a specific or semi-custom screen guard that will work within those curves.
To prevent premature lifting, pay close attention to these contours. Take extra care to ensure the edges of the screen guard go around the edges of the phone’s frame firmly. It could mitigate any peeling.
3. Use Firm Pressure
No matter your screen protector, you need to apply pressure to set it on display. However, the pressure should be moderate. If it’s too lax, the adhesive layer may not bond with the surface of the phone’s display properly.
Can You Reapply a Screen Protector? (Reuse or Buy New One?)
It depends on the screen protector you’re using. If you used static electricity, it is possible to take them off and reuse them. Be careful when you do so, however. If you want to clean or dust the protector, let it dry completely before replacing it.
Other adhesives will usually lose effectiveness once you peel them off the phone. Dust and other particles will compromise it, and it will probably lose more of its sticky properties over time.
For screen guards like this, you can replace some of the adhesives. However, you need to know the suitable compounds. Ordering and installing a new replacement may be much simpler and quicker.
Can Apple Change My Screen Protector?
Typically, Apple can change screens under warranty, but they do not do the same for protectors. That’s because another company provides the screen protector. And you would need to contact that business to discuss replacement options.
If you get a new screen guard under the warranty of the second business, an Apple technician may help you install the replacement.
Conclusion
Screen protectors are nice accessories that offer inexpensive protection. However, they don’t always work. If you have a problem with your screen protector peeling up from the front display of your phone, you can try some of our tips here to eliminate the issue. In some cases, you may need to purchase a new product.
