How To Replace Nokia N73 Faceplate Cover

Now that more eBay sellers have Nokia N73 faceplates and covers available, curious Nokia N73 users can now change the color of their phone. Johnh_21 from HOFO recently tried it and shows off the successful result. Here’s how he did it.

There are 2 excellent tutorials which can be found here by digisnacks and here by elcapitan. They complement each other perfectly. Here it is in combined and summarized version.

Tools Needed: 2 credit cards and T6 Screwdriver.

1. Take front faceplate off by inserting credit card 1 between housing and silver key. As you pull up, take credit card 2 and slide it on the side of the phone prying the clips off.
Credit Card Nokia N73 Keypad Corner Nokia N73 Front Cover Off Nokia N73

2. Unscrew these 6 screws at the edges with the T6 screwdriver and release the 4 clips surrounding the LCD screen.
Cover off Nokia N73 Screen LCD Clips Nokia N73

3. Slip the little black frame off of the LCD screen, and lift the screen. You should now see a screw. Removing this screw removes the back cover.
Lift LCD Nokia N73 Separate Nokia N73

4. That’s it! Put your new faceplate or housing in and figure out how to put things back by following the directions here in reverse order.

Enjoyed this post?

Consider subscribing to our full feed RSS. You can also subscribe by Email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox. For more updates, follow Mark on Twitter.

There are 8 articles linking to this post

  1. Replacing Nokia N73's faceplate cover
  2. How To: Update Original Nokia N73 Firmware to Music Edition at the Nokia blog
  3. Francesco Biacca blog: riflessioni sul mondo della tecnologia e sulla sfera personale » N73: cambiare la cover
  4.   How do I change the housing/fascia on the Nokia 6300? by AlphaWu’s Blog@WordPress
  5. Transform the Nokia N73 to N73 Music Edition « Kenneth’s Weblog
  6. links for 2007-10-06 « Schedelbeuk
  7. How To: Update Original Nokia N73 Firmware to Music Edition « Gritos de Expressão…
  8. Mobilen är som ny! « I huvudet på Madde

There are 112 comments so far. »

  1. Thank You!

    I got water inside my new N73 today in heavy rain.
    I was quite impossible to figure out how to open covers and then I just search from Internet.
    Luckily I found your Nice instructions how to open covers. Now I got water dried out and lence cleaned and I can enjoy my N73 again

    Thank you for wery informative site and nice instructions

    Erska from Finland

  2. You’re welcome! I’m glad you found the instructions helpful.

  3. Anyone wanting a Black Fascia for your N73 go on to ebay.co.uk an you can buy a full fascia for about £14.00 an there superb an make your phone look like the music one you get the front,back an battery cover all in Black an now you buy the same keypads as well i got mine for £6.00 an can”t wait to get them,then if you want you can send your mobile with the fascia to the nokia care centre cell-tech.co.uk an they will fit it you for £10 an just call them at 01925860444 an ask them if its o.k to send to them by special delivery an you get back the next day,they couldn”t believed it when they saw mine but they really liked it an when i got it back it was unbelievable,an you know its been fitted properly i am sure

  4. Somebody Please Help!!!

    I brought the N73 ME a week ago.
    i am not able to add new songs to the music player.
    i transfer the songs from my PC to the 2GB mini SD card by using a card reader.After inserting the card in the cell and starting the music player when i click on update the music player nothing happens no songs are getting added.
    Also explain in detail how to add music to the Mini SD card of N73 ME.

  5. hi brooke..you just need to use pc suite that comes with the phone to transfer music..that all..

  6. Hey all,
    Just before you get a cheap replacement Black cover for your N73 be careful. I got one about 2 weeks ago, fitted it and after 2 days the new keypads silver has already started to rub off, the silver coat on the mini camera is starting to rub off.
    Also, the keypad is of really low quality.
    Just so yea all know. A real OEM cover is about 50-70euro at-least. Don’t buy them from eBay, just ask your local Nokia Center to purchase one and fit it for yea.

    -Kerb

  7. Also depends on the seller. Check the feedbacks first. I’ve bought replacement covers before and had no problems. Of course, the OEM are better quality, but a lot more expensive.

  8. Hey Guyz

    Could Ne1 of yaah be kind enough and post a video of you changing the Faceplate on YouTube

    Thanks

  9. hi ahave cracked my n73 screen:-(
    am going to buy one off ebay as it is not on warrenty:-(
    i was just wondering is it easy to replace the screen…
    i have managed to remove the front cove but dont want to go further than that just yet as i dont have the screen yet…
    do i jus unclip the screen cover and unplug the screen or sumting

  10. fuck you ppl!!!

    i broke my ‘c’ button because of this stupid procedure!!

    screw u all!

  11. I broke ma button n cover!

  12. oh yeh today i broke ma screen 2!!! Thanks for the stupid procedure u cunt1

  13. Just finished changing my faceplate to black music edition. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who never changed any complicated faceplate before. It is hard and easy to break. With the firmware I flashed last week from this blog, now my phone is really a ME. Thanks Mark and everyone else for all the tips.

  14. hey can any1 help with changing n80 faceplate pls???

  15. Thanks to this site.

    I made my standard n73 to ME. Would you recommend to update also my N73 ME updated to Internet Edition? I am concern about the language. Will there still be english?

    Thanks….

  16. Hi peeps,

    i have a little prob wiv ma nokia n73 screen. A few weeks ago i damaged it and had a new one fitted but since got the phone bak it seems lyk the screen is not bright enough, its quite dull 2 b honest! Ive selected maximum brightness on the display nenu but it still seems pretty dull! Does any1 knw bou this prob? How can this prob b solved? plz help guyz

  17. People like th IE because you retain the multimedia button. English is on all of the language packs.

  18. guys ne idea wot myt b the problem wiv ma screen?

  19. software

  20. hey this guy seems to be selling the genuine music edition keypad at a very good price, check it out:
    http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZswitchkickflip

  21. Yeah! It’s great! Screen is clear! xD Im not good at this stuff, but it was easy! You guys are stupid if you brake your glass… It’s YOUR fault! It was YOUR decision and YOUR risk.

  22. Can any one tell me that how to degrade if i update my n73
    to me
    how to flash any software will help
    call me @09867058934.com
    can i use the nemesis suite
    i am from india
    and what code should i use
    please help

  23. I changed my n73me.its great.thankyou very much

  24. to tanky and n73 lover… well maybe you dumb fucks should of been careful and followed the instructions in a proper way… dont start giving it cause your to retarded to follow a couple of easy steps.

    pricks!!

    p.s mark keep the cool info coming mate

  25. Guys you gotta be careful when taking out the cover. I suggest buying the right tool because it helps a lot. By the way I opened mine successfully. I have to say that the most challenging part was taking out that four frames on the lcd. I know that looking at these pictures weren’t enough so I watched the video to make sure, search it somewhere in google.

  26. Hey thx for the nice tutorial, everything worked perfect just my camera does not work anymore.
    If I open the back to start the camera…nothing happens…anyone knows what I have done wrong while changing my cover? :-(

  27. you are all a bunch of cunts, why don’t you just BUY the ME loool

  28. Same problem here as Daniël.. Anybody any idea?

  29. My goodness I’m having the same problem as Daniel and Vera too. WE NEED HELP IF ANYBODY KNOWS PLEASE HELP US.

    I think it has something to do with the internal. I’m not sure but I’ve read it somewhere that the circle rubber inside has to be centered. I will try to fix mine. I will give you any updates later.

  30. Listen Daniel and Vera

    I found out what’s wrong with it, first make sure that the little circle part inside (Little rubber circle with little spring metals) is centered right.

    Second, make sure that that SCREWS ARE TIGHT because the contacts wouldn’t touch.

    Goodluck on fixing your phone.

  31. Thank you very much! I was busting my brain trying to work out how to open it. As i dropped my phone & cracked my screen. Thank you again.

  32. Could someone please help me? I’ve broken the side button on my N73 that takes photos, and Don’t know how to get to it.Thanks

  33. ·ͲԺû䣡

  34. 不错,路过支持一下

  35. I Also broke my screen, its pretty easy to mistake, the side of the screen for the clip your supposed to unclip, take it from me and take a good look at the useful pictures posted, at second glance you will realise the bit you have in mind to tugg on are probably the wrong one, i now have a new screen and the cover has be succesfully put on so all is well, apart from my mistake, these instructions are very usfull. Thanks.

  36. can anyone help me with changing a nokia 7373 face plate please?

  37. I am interested to know why my n73 wont work annymore
    i did everything wth caution yet nothing works now and and i didnt even get the back off the phone. after releasing the last screw my ohone stayed stuck in the casing! wtf someone please help me

  38. jacko you have to open it agian you v miss something!

  39. i 2 am interested in how to change a nokia 7370 faceplate.someone please help me

  40. hi anybody help me to know how nokia 6230i mobile phone face/cover is replaced regards,

  41. Top work mate… I bit my phone in a drunken rage.. and managed to crack the screen.

    Having bought a new screen I fitted it.. bastardising the instructions above.

    A blessing on all your beer!

  42. i got the cover popped off on the c button side but other side seems very stingy and wont pop off i tried every way i dont wanna brake it am i do something wrong or my fone just doesnt like me :).. thx

  43. wankersi fuckin broke my cover cause of this shit

  44. Help… I have changed whole case to black but when close everything work, except main camera… It seems that it not sees that back cover is open… What to do___

  45. u bastards u made me brake my phone fuk u allll!!!!!!!

  46. Just want to say thanks for the article. Just tested on my phone and could clean the dust inside the phone.

    And greetings from the hot sunny Finland :)

  47. Just wanted to say the instruction’s are very good, i just changed the full housing of mine to pink… but you have to be very careful when you opening it and when you closing it. When i closed mine.. the cam was not working it was giving me an error.. for the memory card.. i opened the front cover and tighten the screws put the cover back on.. and its working fine, try this website got more info..
    http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=8155657

  48. I must say thank you for your pics and tutorial as it helped me fix my sons N73. I can normally pull anything apart, yet with this phone, it felt like it would have broken. Thankfully your way is perfect, keep up the great work. Mac

  49. hey i have a probleme i left my mobile in the rain by accident and i did what you said and now eerything works except for the backlight of the fone any idea?? thanks

  50. hi
    these instructions are great , someone sat on my n73 and cracked the lcd. i found this link on youtube ‘http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_jOLMEE1YY’
    shows how to take the whole phone apart, not that i would want to!
    hope this helps too, :-)

  51. lol… Those of you who cannot read intructions carefully i suggest you go back to school and serves you right for breaking your phones…FKN NOOBs… Anyways enough about noobs.
    This article it awesome and very informative i certainly will be using this to guide myself when i get my back housing with face plate, battery cover & keypads which are oem covers for my std N73.
    Well thnks again and great tips!!!

  52. Hi

    thank you… iv been wondering how to open the phone to dry it out, as it fell out my pocket and into the loo.. yeah.. lovely… but any way, i got it off easily, strange how some people broke it, idoits…. cant blame other people. do so at your own risk….

    hopefully it still works once its dried….

  53. Hi guys, i feel embarressed to ask a simple question but how do you get the date up on the screen!! i have tried everything and looked everywhere and can’t find the option…..

    can someone please show me i think its right infront of my eyes but keep missing it…

    thanks

  54. Hi,
    It was a real nice article on how to replace the faceplate of the n73.
    However I have a query which comes prior to beginning the procedure..
    I live in Bangalore, India and would like to know where I can get a faceplate and back housing assembly along with the keypad for my n73.
    Also how much it would cost for the same.
    Regards.

  55. This was very informative. Helped very much, thanks.
    Althought there are a few more parts to change after you`ve removed the body of the phone.

  56. Hello Everyone,

    I am a golfer myself and I like to play whenever I get a chance.
    A short while ago, a very good friend of mine told me about a great golfing equipment and accessories website that has discounted prices on all their products, same day shipping in most cases and there is no state sales tax, they are paying that.
    So if any golfer here is ready to save some money on quality products at highly discounted prices, you might want to check out their site at; http://hoffmangolf.com

  57. change the cover ok
    open phone no prbolem
    closed phone and picture upside down
    any help….

  58. thanks you man

    i opent now and i’m going to close it back

  59. Sub : To add songs into your music library.
    Hi,
    After adding the songs in the mini.. memory card…
    just press the music edition button… In options u will find refresh music library… jusss press it all the songs will come into ur music library.
    Ravi

  60. Can anybody know how to assign a tone to a specific contact.
    I would like assign diff ringtones to my frds….
    plsss

    – Ravi Shankar

  61. Hey , hope you still check this blog,
    Thanks for the procedure, I managed to disassemble my N73 no problems. Didn’t break anything ha ha :D
    However, my N73 fell out of my pocket into a pond (yes I’m stupid) n i managed to dry it b4 it died, but the calcium residue or soemthing got into the keypad and caused a short circuit or something. So now the left option key and the green button dont work and numbers and joystick are screwed (when i press 3 it dials 3 and sometimes it’s 7) So I was wondering…

    1. What’d happen if i would remove the white sticker from the keypad contacts and tried to clean it.

    2. Is it possible to change the keypad (not just the mask) or do i have to get a new phone.

    Feel free to answer via e-mail. Thanks alot if you find something out.

    Ivor

  62. thanx everyone for all your help it helped me alot

  63. hahahahahahahaha you lot are all stupid then!!! i got a full nokia housikng in white of ebay the over day its the official nokia case and all i done is uise my old buttons and it works fine!!! you just have to be careful not to stab your screen when removing the phones plate out of the case… all you people getting angry and screwing at the people near the top can fuck off! they gave good advice its just you thick cunts in here that dont have a fucking ounce of common sence cant fit a phone cover!!!!

  64. Ravi,

    Instead of going into the playlist, you have to go to gallery and then tracks, from there you have the option of assigning a song toe each contact.

    Dynamac

  65. yo my i changed my housing but now ma camera aint working i put the gold clips in aswell but it still aint any1 now wat i can do plz

  66. also guide here that i wrote…

    http://www.geocities.com/b_bez

  67. Just successfully replaced the front cover (the plastic screen cover was cracked). Didn’t try to change the back but delighted with the new screen.

  68. Hey there…

    does anyone here know how to change the housing on a Nokia 3250?? or at least a website where I can find a guide on how to change the housing for it?

    please contact me on the e-mail listed above.

    thank u

  69. ^^^ bad_boyz_4_life_1@yahoo.com

  70. hey guys i have a question , ive just changed my n73 housing and theres a problem with the bottom speaker it sounds very bad , i dunno what i did wrong, could any1 help me??

  71. hey guys i broke the screen on my girlfriends 7370. ive got a replacement cover but havent got a clue how to change the faceplate. ne ideas would be great!

  72. someone help me after i changed my housing wen i make a call no1 can hear me??? lol what did i do wrong i did every step carefully..
    please i really need help

  73. Hi, Just wanted to say a huge Thanks to u guys. I’m a useless female who usually cant do anything technical (usually get hubby to help in that dept), but my new pink covers arrived and hubby away for 5 days - I couldn’t wait, so used your instructions and managed it all by myself. Absolutely brill!!

  74. thanks a lot to this forum there was some gunk on the underside of my screen and i could not get it off, thanks to u guys i have opened the inside and got it cleaned with a non dust cloth…

    thanks a lottttttt my screen looks really clean now…

    regards 2 u

  75. hi,thanks 4 this nice web i had like many in and out scratches which made my moblie look very bad but because of ur site am having it just as new.

  76. Hi
    I have a nokia 7373 and i was hoping you would be able to guide me as to how I could get the screen cover off.

  77. Our watch replica price is cheaper than other website, and the watch replica is the good watch. you can choose any watch replica to placed order, Once we receive your payment, we will handle the watch replica shipment.

  78. HI I HAVE JUST CHANGED MY N73 AND NOW IT IS SAYING OFF LINE?!!?

    EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE WORKING, CHANGING THE COVER WAS HARDER THAN U THOUGH WISH I HADNT NOW!!

    PLS HELP ME URGENTLY

    THANKS X

  79. Hi,
    I replaced the cheap cover that came with my phone to an original silver one.
    Took a while but all working again.
    Only (huge) problem is now people can’t hear me.
    I assume I’ve messed up the mic - can anyone describe where it is?
    Cheers

  80. To be honest changing body of the n73 is a big hassle especially if you have to move all the parts from one body to the other. The hardest bit was opening the charger port, it just refused to open.

    I think that using a card to open the face is a bad idea and you should use the tool intended to open cases. Using other tools other than the proper one will put you at a higher risk in breaking your phone people.

    One thing for certain is that if you’re considering opening the fascia, you should consider the risks such as the face or keypad popping out and maybe getting broken because of too much force you put in.

    BTW great ‘How To’ on opening the fascia of the Nokia N73

  81. Hi there.. I just wanted to say that this isn’t anything you just do like that and think it’s will work after.. DAMN it is hard!! :O

    Anyway, I have discovered that my camera works sometimes and sometimes not.. And it’s because wich battery cover case I have.. WEIRD.. but yes.. Something to think, if you all people have som problems with your camera..

  82. urgh i followed everything but now my microphone wont work!!
    and when i put the back cover on it wont accept my pin =(
    anyone good at all the technical stuff?

  83. If you buy a decent new cover it should come with a new keypad. So if you damage the C button its not a problem. Replace the keypad with the one that comes with new cover. Its better to use one of the plastic tools you can get with the covers though rather than the front.

    Upgrading to music edition is easy and didn’t damage my already unlocked phone. It has newer firmware now as a result and bluetooth works more reliably. Plus the font is much nicer on the eye than the antiquated font used on previous versions.

  84. Faaar Out!!!!!!!!!1

    great tips, had to change a cracked LCD for my son.

    managed to get the phone apart, and put back together within an hour, including finding the instructions, without breaking anything.
    and the nokia people wanted over 100 Euros for the job. wait till he sees the bill. :-)

  85. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_jOLMEE1YY

    its so easy :)

  86. Thanks for this tip! An easy thing to do, and the result was great!

  87. Screw you guys

  88. very simple
    just gave it a good clean cuz it was that easy and in need of cleanin
    cheers

  89. HAHAHA THIS THREAD IS HILARIOUS, PEOPLE BREAKING THEIR PHONES, THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR USING THESE GHETTO INSTRUCTIONS. YOU SHOULDVE STOPPED READING THIS WHEN IT SAID “Take front faceplate off by inserting credit card” HAHAHA, A CREDIT CARD?

  90. i was very happy that i got insturction bto replace the faceplate cover,but unfortunately there isnt any photos to see.please help me in this case as soon as possible.
    thank you

  91. Mark,
    I found your site through Google and it seems pretty informative. I also wanted to know how to remove the faceplate without damage which I have through your blog info. Thanks for that.

    My problem:
    I had the misfortune of dropping my N73ME out of my shirt pocket and the phone landed squarely on its face. It looks like I’ve damaged the joystick as now it stays depressed and now there are erroneous command inputs coming from the joystick if it is even slightly touched. I tried to see if it will pop back out (I have forced nothing) but of no luck.
    Do you have any ideas on how I can fix this or is it Nokia Care Center time?
    Thanks in advance,
    Garry

  92. Thanks for the words, but links to pics fail.

  93. I’m having problems with the camera button on the back cover? Find it impossible to fit the spring! Tried putting the button in first than the spring and vica versa but just ended up bending the spring out of shape! Can someone help?
    Cheers

  94. Sum1 deleted t pics sad :(((

  95. how do you get the back plate (not the camera slide part) off? i just cant seem to get it

  96. hey thnks 4 the easy to follow instructions, everything is good except that my camera doesnt work! plz help!

  97. Thanks for this guide, worked like a charm!

    I put together a post of my own, complete with IMAGES! :) for the needy of you.

    http://www.1on1.ro/2008/03/12/replacing-the-lcd-screen-on-a-nokia-n73-7-steps/

    However I managed to replace the screen without removing any screws, and without the need for a T6 screwdriver.

  98. everything went wrong all phone broke

  99. I have broken the screen of my N73. Not the cover but the inner panel. Is it possible for me to replace the panel? If yes will I get the same clarity?

  100. somebody please help me!!!

    My n73 mobile some stuck it will come on after 3 times remove battery this it sort it out because i was installed google map software. after some days my mobile again hang when I tried to transfer music file from my pc then i remove my battery again tried many times. it shows only Nokia white back ground.

    please heap…

  101. Yeh good work mark keep new information posted thnx

  102. can any1 help me my play button on the side of my n73 is stuck and does not work any ideas thanks!

  103. i have n73m and when i
    instal a sis or sisx files on it in the instal
    the phon tell me (unabel to install) and i cant now install im trying to may times but im not install software in my phone
    plz tall me how to instyall any sis file pleas help meeeeeeeee…….

  104. I have sis file and i want to install and test on N73.I am getting
    certificate error.
    Please any one give me some idea or suggestion, how I will install sis file on N73.
    Waiting for your valuable reply.

  105. Make sure that when you replace the microphone you place it so that the 2 gold contacts are on the right hand side.

    It kind of looks like this when it is in the correct position.

    ( - -)

    If you do not replace it correctly your microphone will either not work or will not be clear.

    Good luck and thanks for this guide.

  106. i try any rotateme software n 73 music. but not working.pleaes sand me screen rotate me software or tips.

  107. what is going on, why I can not see the photos!!

  108. what are the steps to upgrade a normal N73 cellphone to a Music Edition…???
    plz lemme knw thankie you guys!

  109. Hey! The pics are down ! Only empty spaces!

  110. bhuwan

    try to change your date and time to a bit earlier … about 2000 something, install it, then change the date back.

  111. hey arolaser
    u say make sure the microphone contact things are on the right, do u mean wen the microphone is nearer the botom of the phone or vice versa
    thnks x.

  112. thnks

Post a Response

Note: If you want a photo or avatar with your comments, upload it on Gravatar.