The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 are cutting-edge foldable smartphones that offer a unique and futuristic experience to the users. As foldable smartphones were big innovations back in 2020, Samsung was one of the first manufacturers who successfully launched their first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold. However, the latest foldable smartphones from Samsung are the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5. Most users have reported that their Samsung Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 is not opening all the way, believing that there may be hardware damage of some sort.
However, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 not opening usually occurs because of the broken or rusted hinges. Generally, a foldable smartphone has several parts and components that are actually movable, and for some time they can wear and tear down due to friction, heavy pressure, or even dust and debris particles.
Also Read
This issue doesn’t happen with a specific user only, there are multiple cases that have been registered, providing a bad user experience that can be fascinating. Well, if you are one of those users and have the same issue, don’t worry. If there is no hardware issue to the hinge, you can fix the problem by following the solutions mentioned in this article. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 Not Opening All The Way; How to Fix?
Although, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 not opening all the way is mainly caused due to hardware defense which can be fixable through professional assistance. According to reports, numerous users have fixed their hinge problem by not opening all the way by visiting nearby Samsung stores or contacting support teams. Therefore, if the hinge is damaged, it is suggested you contact the support team for expert help. But before, try the below solutions.
Solution 1: Check for Dust and Debris Particles
Since foldable smartphone components are movable, and it’s easy for the dust and debris particles to take place in the hinge. However, such dust and debris particles are tiny, but they can easily accumulate in the foldable hinge which may cause several issues in the future.
According to sources, there is no official way to clean the foldable hinge. However, you can easily clean the hinge by using a piece of sticky tape or slime. As usual, this is one of the most workable methods, where the majority of users have fixed their problem by applying this method only, which will fix the issue.
Note: Please do not use any type of hot air gun or hot air blower to clean the dust and debris particles. This will push the dust and debris particles inside the smartphone, which will cause more issues not present but in future.
Solution 2: Check for Signs of Corrosion
It is possible that rust has occurred in the hinge sections of your Galaxy foldable smartphone and that’s why it’s preventing it from fully opening. However, moving parts in a smartphone isn’t a good idea because the parts may corrode over time and dust and debris particles may take over. Sadly, there is no solution to prevent corrosion, especially if you live in a place full of moisture. But you can easily check for any signs of corrosion and use earbuds or cue tips with acetone solution to clean it.
Solution 3: Vacuum Clean Hinge
If cleaning the hinge fails to work for you in fixing the problem, then it could be possible that dust & debris particles might be deep inside the foldable hinge mechanism. For such a case, you need to clean it and you can use any hair dryer/blower for this purpose.
You can also try using a vacuum cleaner to suck out the dust and other particles from your Galaxy smartphone. Make sure to do this method carefully while removing the dust and other particles from the hinge. The majority of users on official Samsung forums and Reddit have tried the vacuum cleaning methods, which fixed the problem in most cases.
Solution 4: Remove Phone Cover
Generally, Galaxy foldable smartphones are not designed to be used with back case including Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5. However, most of the manufacturing companies claim that their covers will work perfectly with the smartphone and that’s not true at all. In today’s generation, there are some companies like OPPO and Samsung who started to produce foldable smartphones in the market.
However, the case that they are producing is not suitable for their foldable devices. Even though the case wasn’t perfectly fitted, many customers chose phone coverings in the local market, which are cheapest as compared to original covers. Therefore, if you are using your foldable phone with covers, make sure to remove it and check if the Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 not opening all the way is fixed.
Note: Many screen guards are available in the market to claim to be the best foldable smartphones. However, these screen guards apply force to the screen, which doesn’t let the phone un-fold completely, leaving a small gap in the end. So, it’s better to remove such screen guards in case you are using any for your Galaxy foldable phone.
Solution 5: Clean Stuck Threads & Particles
Despite your best efforts, there is always a good potential that hair or other thread obstacles will become lodged in the hinge mechanism of your smartphone. It’s one of the common issues from the old foldable or flip-flop smartphones in the past, which may cause several issues. Make sure to use a magnifying glass and torch to check for any stuck threads and hair strands. Once you find such strands and threads, ensure to remove them or pluck them out.
Solution 6: Hinge Rubber is Tight
All foldable smartphones use rubber hinges to protect the phone from moisture and water. Oftentimes, this rubber can get tight and begin to tighten, which causes the issue while opening all the way. Well, the only way to fix the problem is to contact the support team or visit a nearby service center to replace the rubber hinge.
Solution 7: Seek Professional Help
If none of the above workarounds helps you fix the “Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 Not Opening All the Way” issue, then it is likely that the issue might be due to a hardware fault. In that case, you won’t be able to claim a hardware warranty until you purchase Samsung Care+ with the device. Contact the Samsung customer support team or visit the nearest Samsung care official for expert assistance. They will probably fix the problem if it’s related to hardware faults.
Wrapping Up
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 / Z Fold 5 not opening all the way is generally caused by a hardware components issue. However, in some cases, the problem is due to dust & debris particles, preventing the hinge from opening. In case there are no hardware faults, try the solutions we have listed in this article.
Remember that the smartphone foldable hinge is a very compact piece of hardware that is easily prone to damage. So, it’s better to take proper care of your foldable smartphone by cleaning the hinge on a regular basis. If the above solutions don’t work at all, you should definitely visit the nearby Samsung official store for help. Let us know in the comments section below if you have any other queries.