Q&A for How to Apply a Screen Protector

It depends on the case. If your case obstructs the screen, you will need to remove the case before installing. If your screen protector is able to lay flat against your screen with the case on, you will be able to install it. You may have issues lining the screen protector correctly if the case is bulky.

Guide stickers create a hinge to place your new screen protector properly. Without removing the backing, place the screen protector on your screen. Place the guide stickers on one edge of the placed screen protector to create a secure hinge. Lift the screen protector from the non-hinge side and peel off the backing. Gently press the screen protector onto your screen. Squeegee any air bubbles. Remove the guide stickers.

It depends on what is important to you. Glass protectors are typically tougher than plastic ones and will feel smoother to the touch, more like your original screen, but be more expensive. On the other hand, glass protectors are thicker than plastic and you may not like the way it looks. Also, sometimes cheap glass screen protectors will have a poor coating, which means that it might not feel as smooth as your original screen, attract fingerprints or sometimes not register your touches correctly at times.

Yes, an Apple Store employee can likely install any screen protector manually for you if you just ask. For certain screen protectors made by Belkin, Apple Stores actually have a machine that helps to align and apply the protector perfectly. There should be no charge for either service as long as you bought the screen protector from the Apple Store.

Use the original squeege-type tool that came with the protector to try to move bubbles to the nearest edge, and then lift up the edge of the protector a little to release the air. If you don't have that tool, often a credit card, or another similar piece of plastic can do the job. If there are many bubbles, and your screen protector can be easily re-applied, this may be your best shot.

The same way you apply a phone screen protector -- by aligning the edges and smoothing the protector onto the screen.

Thin plastic screen protectors can be easily custom-cut, preferably with a paper cutter so you can get straight edges. Try to cut the protector slightly undersize to prevent edge lifting.

The instructions will tell you. Also, there should be a sticker showing which side to remove.

You can use sticky tape to dab it off, but it doesn't always work and you can risk getting fingerprints on the glue.

This depends. As long as you don't push hard and make sure that the screen protector is all the way on the screen, you're fine.

By gently peeling up with an plastic spoon or fingernail. It should be something gentle that will get the job done

Peel it from the tab. If no tab is provided, use a piece of sticky tape to make a tab at the corner. Do not use your nails or a tool, as you may scratch the screen protector.

It really should fit from edge to edge. I would recommend getting a new screen protector and ensuring it's the proper fit before applying.

Of course you can! That soft cloth designed to clean eyeglasses is actually just a microfiber cloth.

Bubbles are formed on a device because of dust. If you clean your screen, you should not have any bubbles.

If the protector is tempered glass, don't worry. The gel on the bottom of the protector will absorb small dust particles, and no bubbles will be present. If the protector is a film, avoid buying it.

There is no way to do that without removing the screen protector, unfortunately. It might be best to just apply a new screen protector.

You can take it off and try again.