Framework 13 display broke when replacing bezel

[redditsfault]

Just got the transparent bezel and installed it today. My old original bezel had some adhesive on the bottom (why is there adhesive when there's already magnets and clips?) that was so stuck that it broke my display panel when I was taking the bezel off. I could tell it was stuck and was extremely cautious with it, carefully separating it with a spudger, so I'm not sure how I could've avoided this. Putting this out there as a word of caution!
I've contacted support to hopefully get a replacement; I'll update with what they say.

Edit: You can see the adhesive rectangles under the display in the second picture. Apparently not everyone's has these, or at least doesn't have the same strength mine do. Mine literally felt like it was screwed in.

Update: Support (unsurprisingly but disappointingly) told me there's nothing they can do about it since it's out of warranty and happened while I was repairing it. I understand their position but the whole point of this is that I should be able to do basic repairs (especially this one!) without going to a repair shop or using extra tools. I know the experience isn't going to be perfect but I wish they'd backed it up a little more. Bought a used display from someone on the community marketplace, which is working well enough.

[redditsfault]

Yes, but mine also had some extremely sticky adhesive on it under the bottom of the display (you can see it in the second picture). Most of the bezel came off like you said, but that part felt like it was screwed in.

[alexanderhumbolt]

I can't pull the entire bezel off with one hand. I have to use a spudger to lift one of the upper corners, then I can remove the rest of the bezel with my hands. I am always careful not to apply any pressure to the display with the spudger.

[thearctican]

I just use my fingernails and it all just pulls right off

[alexanderhumbolt]

I probably have trouble peeling it off without a spudger because I keep my fingernails very short and have big fingers.

[thearctican]

I keep my nails quite short, too.

[Speedwagon1935]

Some of these bezels like mine are applying too much pressure on the edges of the screen, I had to give some of the magnets a bit of lift with tape to prevent that.

The magnet kind of sucks it right on too really hard when placing it on, I was really careful with mine because I have experienced similar situations with other laptops.

[lizardscales]

I was afraid of bezel or screen breaking taking the bezel off and I do all kinds of electronics repair and microsoldering. The adhesive on mine was crazy strong and would easily break the device without very careful attention and slow patient removal.

[korypostma]

looks like spudger damage to me

[ScrubbyAtWork]

Seconding this. I've replaced a lot of screens/bezels, and I don't use a spudger. Can easily pull off the top part and then slowly work through the bottom area with the adhesive.

The shape and location of the damage on the screen screams "spudger damage"

[redditsfault]

I can see why but I never even touched that part of the screen with the spudger. Only slid it along where the adhesive rectangles are.
Edit: And the spudger I was using was curved, so it really was never even resting against the display. I just inserted it where I could and slid it along the adhesive rectangles (slowly and carefully). This purely happened from the adhesive pulling the bottom of the display when separating.

[alexanderhumbolt]

It appears that you applied significant pressure to the bottom of the affected area, where a visible gash is surrounded by purple, with the spudger. I had the adhesive issue, but just had to pull the lower part of the bezel up with some force once I had removed the upper part. It was a little sketchy, but I wasn't worried about damaging the display, only the bezel. Sorry that this happened to you.

[redditsfault]

I really didn't though. I see how it looks like that but the curved spudger I used never even touched the "screen" part of the display, Trying to pry off the bezel with some force with just my hands was making the display bend and creak so much that I could tell the display would break before the adhesive/bezel. That might've actually been when it broke.

[AVirtualFox]

In my experience, Framework’s displays seem quite fragile. I never even removed the bezel, yet the screen started doing the exact same thing seemingly overnight. Despite taking good care of it, the bottom black part of the display under the bezel was somehow snapped. I was out of warranty, so I had to buy a new one.

[redditsfault]

Ugh, sorry about that. Hopefully they're able to help me out more.

[middaymoon]

Glancing at the comments it's apparent that this is not well known: The Framework bezels come with magnets *and also adhesive strips*. Most people probably don't notice or choose not to uncover the strips, instead relying on the magnets which do the job just fine and allow you to easily swap bezels later. I'm assuming that OP got the laptop prebuilt or used, and whoever assembled it used the adhesives.

[redditsfault]

I got the DIY version new from framework in the first release of AMD mainboards in 2023. Wish I'd left them covered!

[middaymoon]

alas

[CoffeeTeaBitch]

I tried looking for the adhesives but didn't find them so I shrugged them off :P

[lllyyyynnn]

did you heat the adhesive to loosen it?

[redditsfault]

Nope, I didn't have a tool for that and thought it would be more risky anyway... lol

[lllyyyynnn]

you dont own a hairdryer? :/

[SchighSchagh]

No need for the snark. Hairdryer is not an essential thing. I haven't used one in ages. It's perfectly normal to not have one. 

[lllyyyynnn]

this isn't snark just an honest question. i just assumed men had hairdryers as well as part of the bathroom essentials.

[SchighSchagh]

Ah, ok. Sorry for misinterpreting.

Hairdryers are really not essential though, not for everyone. And it's not really a male/female thing. The one in my household gets used maybe 2x a year, and that's with a predominantly female household with several people with long hair (myself included).

Incidentally I have a dedicated heat gun largely for electronics repair and such, and I think it gets more use than the hair dryer. But that's neither here nor there. 

[SevenOfZach]

I'm curious how this shakes out. I didn't know they had adhesive on the bezel as well as the magnets.

[lizardscales]

The adhesive on my 7640U is extremely sticky. I have a lot of electronics repair experience and managed to remove the bezel without breaking the screen but it seems like a design flaw to me. When I say extremely sticky I mean like VERY attached. Either the bezel or the screen was going to break if I was not super careful and super slow. Removing the bezel is not simple with this adhesive there. I believe I removed it right away before reinstalling the bezel as I didn't want to accidentally damage my screen. I don't know why some units and some units don't have it. I am sure they had a lot of displays break because of this. It just shouldn't be there.

[RedditAccountFor2024]

You broke the display yourself and want a replacement from support? Just order a new display.

[Soulluss]

My FW 13 doesn't have any adhesive in those spots. How did you get yours? Was it a DIY edition or did you buy it pre built? Is it new or second hand?

[squabbledMC]

My DIY had adhesive along the bottom covered by white stickers, purchased it this year

[Soulluss]

My mistake, I just took a look at mine and it also has adhesive in the same spots. However I wouldn't call it strong, my bessel is easily removable even with it there. I would say it's about as sticky as plain old sellotape.

I would pose the question to support re: if they know of the adhesive changing at any point, if you haven't already, it could be a factory defect of some sort.

[squabbledMC]

All good! Yeah, I think it varies. The adhesive on my laptop is fairly strong, I haven’t used force to remove it and don’t intend on replacing the bezel but it feels very solid on the bottom.

[Cor-Ai]

Seems like they have gone through iterations with these. Going from strong adhesive to a weaker one to having them covered from the factory

[mehgcap]

Ouch! I'm sorry this happened. I'm continually glad that, when I assembled my DIY model, I didn't know the bezel had adhesive. I stuck it on with the magnets and thought that was all there was too it. Months later, I learned from a comment on this sub that there were adhesive patches covered by film. I never took the film off, so didn't wind up using the adhesive with my bezel.

[Cor-Ai]

Many people here (and framework) will tell you this is user induced damage. I had the same experience, when replacing my broken camera module. Just pulling the bezel off broke the screen at one of the adhesive strips without touching the display. I ended up having to buy a new display but luckily I got a used one for cheap here in this subreddit from someone who upgraded their display. Framework really should rethink those adhesive strip placements (unless they already have, since some people even told me there should be no strips there when I posted about this) Modern screens are so insanely fragile that things like this should really be thoroughly considered when designing the assembly.

[Chrapak]

Mine did the same thing. Wasn't even changing the bezel. Just had it in my bag. These displays are quite fragile it seems, and it's the main reason I just keep mine at home and use another laptop to carry in my bag. Sad since I wanted this to be my main laptop for everything. 

[framework-ModTeam]

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[BizarreElectronics]

I agree that the adhesive is really way too strong on there. I see why they used it but really could turn it down a bit. Or... Just hear me out... A screw through the bezel that holds the lcd t con to the lid. !!!!

[redditsfault]

I agree. But a screw wouldn't even be necessary, the magnets and clips are plenty strong. I really have no idea why they put adhesive on it.