Tips on applying screen protector

[joncolbert]

I have been trying to apply the Powersupport Anti-glare screen protector on my iPad for three hours without success. The best I could get was some bubbles that can't be rubbed out in the middle and around the edge.

The strange thing I was able to apply the same thing on my iPhone 3GS without much hassle.

 

[Ciclismo]

Taking a tip from a mate who installs giant vinyls, start at one corner an squegee that bad boy. I would use a credit card (or library card) but wrap a tissue or some toilet paper around it so the hard plastic doesn't scrach the screen-protector.

 

[ZipZap]

You probably now have dust particles where those spot appear. You can use some scotch tape to try and pull them off.

Otherwise, you may not be able to get rid of them.

 

[ntrigue]

You have two tries then the shield is dust. They sent two shields, right?

1. Run a hot shower for two minutes with door closed.
2. Clean screen with microfiber directly under overhead lighting (adjust angle to identify dust). Use finger in microfiber to attack single blemishes.
3. Peel bottom of plastic away, align with home button and sides.
4. Pull plastic off progressively until the last inch, ensure alignment at top then quickly yank and let shield drop naturally. Use credit card to squeegee.

 

[Fissure]

I picked up a Zagg Invisishield when I bought my iPad at Best Buy. I tried to install it myself but it was an epic failure. Best Buy let me return it and I ended up paying them $15 to put another one on. They did a fantastic job and it was well worth the coin. Take it to Best Buy, the mobile phone area, and let 'em do it.

 

[andsoitgoes]

I went through endless headache having BestBuy install my invisibleshield, when they finally got it on and I got home, I accidentally scratched the protector and I've got a bunch of marks on it.

I want to take it off, but if I do I KNOW the screen will get scratched (tons of sand around my house...) so it's a catch 22.

I hate, hate, hate the feel of the invisible shield, however, that I'm half tempted to take it off and get my warranty replacement, sell that and buy something like the PowerSupport or whatever...

Stupid screen protectors.

 

[saberahul]

I have been trying to apply the Powersupport Anti-glare screen protector on my iPad for three hours without success. The best I could get was some bubbles that can't be rubbed out in the middle and around the edge.

The strange thing I was able to apply the same thing on my iPhone 3GS without much hassle.

Speaking after trying over 20 screen protectors here lol. I would start at the top left corner (being a righty) and go right with a credit card to cover the top line (where the status bar comes). Make sure that part goes without bubbles (you shouldn't have any and new screen protectors like ZAGG won't be affected by credit card). Now go all the way down with credit card on one side and keep doing this all the way to the other side. Not sure how to explain in a better fashion but this should do the trick. If you still have trouble - buy the ZAGG protector which comes with a liquid you spray on screen protector and apply and then just wipe the screen protector bubble free with a soft cloth and let it dry (watch one video here). Also if you want try BB or the ZAGG booths in many malls they do the entire iPad body for about $80 including cost of material and labor and tax (at least in my state).

 

[Saturn007]

iPad Edge Bubbles?

We just applied ours. One trick is to put it on S-L-O-W-L-Y. This isn't emphasized enough and the protector simply wants to jump off the backing onto the iPad. We ended up with gobs of bubbles because I let it happen too fast. They came out with a cardboard "squeegee" we had left over from a Radio Shack camera screen protector kit.

Alas, we still have two on the edge at the top left that do not want to come out. Probably related to the quick application.

They move around some in response to the squeegee but don't vanish! We've seen this before on PDA protectors and just lived with it.

Any suggestions for removing these from the iPad?

 

[ngenerator]

Any suggestions for removing these from the iPad?

Just a piece of Scotch tape should do the trick and pull it off the Pad w/o damaging the protector

Edit: here's my regular application procedure for the antiglare screen protectors that I posted a few months back. https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=9955862&#post9955862

I just always make sure it's centered around the home button, if not it'll drive me insane

 

[Darth Maniac]

When i first got my old iPhone I tried some screen protectors. I went through 10 of them trying to get a dust free and bubble free application and in the end gave up. I can't imagine how much harder it would be on a larger surface area like the iPad.

Some people have the knack - I don't lol.

 

[testcard]

I can't hang wallpaper either.

 

[gigaguy]

Putting on the Power support was harder than I thought it would be. I read somewhere that small to medium bubbles will go away over time, (not the dust bubble ones), but not sure. I spent about 30 minutes with it, til I got it almost perfect. had to do the tape thing for a couple of dust spots. I kept getting bigger bubbles as I tried to lay down more of the screen. I thought it would go on easier.
For the poster that hates, the Zagg feel, I agree. The Power Support is slicker, not so tacky, sticky feeling like the Zagg.

 

[xraytech]

I have been trying to apply the Powersupport Anti-glare screen protector on my iPad for three hours without success. The best I could get was some bubbles that can't be rubbed out in the middle and around the edge.

The strange thing I was able to apply the same thing on my iPhone 3GS without much hassle.

Use the wet application.

 

[briankwest77]

Spray a little windex on the glass and screen protector... lower it down slowly and you'll be able to move it around before you squeegie out the liquid and air left and it'll be a perfect fit then. I have done that for iphone and ipad too.

/b

 

[xraytech]

Spray a little windex on the glass and screen protector... lower it down slowly and you'll be able to move it around before you squeegie out the liquid and air left and it'll be a perfect fit then. I have done that for iphone and ipad too.

/b

You have the right idea but don't use windex. Use regular tap water.

 

[MaxPower49]

Dust is your #1 enemy. Pick the most dust free area of your house to do it in. Go in and move everything you can off of the table of desk you are going to be working on. Then Dust the area with pledge, close the door and let everything settle for an hour or more. Close any air vents and turn off any fans that might stir up the dust.

Dust your ipad once before you take it in the room, then some more after you get in there. Use long strokes to wipe the dust away but don't make any fast or sudden movements that might stir up dust. Also a good idea to cover your mouth with your shirt so that your breath doesn't stir anything up.

Then just peel back a few inches of the protective cover and line up the home button... once you get it lined up simply continue to peel the protective cover and film should drop into place. If you get any bubbles that won't squeegee out, use the tape method to try to remove the dust. If you have already tried to apply is a couple of times you probably have dust stuck to the film, so you might need to soak it and let it dry before reattempting.

I know all of that sounds ridiculous, but that is basically what it takes to get one of these things on. I've never had much success putting these things on in the past, but thats what I did with my PS anti-glare film that I just applied and it worked great for me. I spent 30-45 minutes dusting and about 2 minutes actually applying the film. Those PS films are too expensive to waste and you only get one so it is better to err on the side of caution. If you take dust out of the equation (which is not easy) they are very simple to install.

 

[Saturn007]

Just a piece of Scotch tape should do the trick and pull it off the Pad w/o damaging the protector

Edit: here's my regular application procedure for the antiglare screen protectors that I posted a few months back. https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=9955862&#post9955862

Interesting. My brain's sluggish today (too much heat), but your pic looks opposite what seems to be the main way it's applied in those YouTube videos using Power Support. They show curling it back from underneath. Yours looks MUCH better.

I've read about that scotch tape trick for dust particle bubbles, but these are small edge areas that look as if the protector ran out of room or needed a slower application or is uneven. Sort of like tape that you need to reapply so that lays perfectly flat and has no crinkles or air pockets. Don't want to take it off and reapply, though! Plus, the Apple case hides it anyway!

The absolute key thing, I believe, is the very SLOW application. Plus, don't sweat a bunch of air bubbles, unless they are obviously around a dust bunny. We had the entire screen filled with air bubbles and the cardboard squeegee got them ALL out!

 

[Rooskibar03]

Use the wet application.

Power Support is a static cling product. Going wet with the intall will do nothing to help you.

The trick is slow, and dust free. I can lay an iPhone one on in a single shot with almost no bubble but the iPad one kicked my arse pretty good.

 

[mgg]

I posted this on another thread the other day:

I originally had the Zagg InvisibleShield and recently replaced it with the PS Anti-Glare shield. I didn't like the IS because it had a rubbery texture and I couldn't slide my finger across the screen.

I love the PS. The screen does seem a little fuzzier, but not enough to bother me. Fingerprints are pretty much non-existent (as was also the case with the IS).

To the poster who pointed out that the PS didn't come with any type of an installation kit: it's because there's no need for one. I think I've read the PS is held on by static cling.

I had mine installed at their Burbank store (for $5). The girl first cleaned the screen, then peeled off the entire backing off the PS. She lined it up at the bottom where the button is, then just slowly let it lay down on its own. When a bubble appeared, she just lifted the PS up and used a piece of Scotch tape to dab that spot. (Lint is what causes the bubbles.) She only came across one bubble when doing mine -- took less than a minute for her to do it from start to finish. (Mine had had the Zagg IS on since day one.)

Then she did my son's. She came across quite a few bubbles on his, one she couldn't get rid of no matter what. She ended up having to get a second shield, and that one went on without a hitch. (His hadn't had a shield.)

(FYI: Unless she could see something on the screen, all of the dabbing was done on the shield -- which probably picked up the lint off the screen.)

I have no idea how the SGP that you're comparing the PS to is installed, but if it's anything like how the IS is installed, there's absolutely no way I would even attempt it (what with all the liquid, squeegee-ing, etc.). As long as you can get the bottom lined up correctly on the PS, all you need is a piece of Scotch tape -- it pretty much installs itself.

 

[Ksane]

Installing screen protectors is surely what goes on in Hell.
I took my Zagg back to Best Buy today, I'd had it 3 days and HATED that thing. The girl at the return desk had the nerve to LAUGH and say, "Yea, everybody says that." Yet it's the only brand they sell (there anyway).
I've got a cheap one on now that I put on that feels smooth as glass. I can't see the bubbles until the screen if off. I'm just happy the Zagg is gone.

 

[xraytech]

Power Support is a static cling product. Going wet with the intall will do nothing to help you.

The trick is slow, and dust free. I can lay an iPhone one on in a single shot with almost no bubble but the iPad one kicked my arse pretty good.

I found when applying dry, the Home Button and the bottom edge look all lined up but as I progress upward the edges would be way off.

When you apply wet, the layer of water will allow you to slide the overlay into perfect position on the first try. 2mins and I'm done. Also I found that water on the screen for some reason repels dust. Something about increasing the humidity that helps with dust exclusion.

I need to post a YouTube video on this subject.

To each his own I guess.