Exact model-family answer directory
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra family troubleshooting
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra family (SM-G988* (S20 Ultra), SM-G985/SM-G986* (S20+), SM-G980/SM-G981* (S20)): an old battery is the main fault; charging stops when the cell swells; six-year-old screens, and a fix for each symptom below.
- An old battery is the main faultA phone from 2020 fails mostly through its battery: drain, unexpected shutdowns and, in some cases, a swollen cell that pushes the back panel out. A swollen battery should not be charged or pressed and needs a replacement at a Samsung-authorized repair point.
Confirm the model first
Which units this covers, and how to tell yours is one of them
- Model numbers and patterns
- SM-G988* (S20 Ultra), SM-G985/SM-G986* (S20+), SM-G980/SM-G981* (S20)
Published specification
What is true of this model and changes how you fix it
- Charging stops when the cell swellsCommunity posts describe wired and wireless charging stopping once the battery swells, so a dead charger on a bulging phone is the battery, not the port.
- Six-year-old screensA Galaxy S20 Ultra from 2020 may show green lines or a faint burn-in on the AMOLED screen after years of use; a line that stays is a display replacement, and the price is worth weighing against a newer phone.
Manufacturer support for this product line. Samsung Support — Mobile device support. Official Galaxy model manuals, diagnostics, updates and repair support.
Also read for this model. Samsung Community — Note 20 ultra swollen battery.
Exact questions
Questions that only have an answer for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra family
Is a bulging Galaxy S20 Ultra safe to charge?+
No. Stop using it and have the battery replaced by an authorized repair agent.
Can I still get a screen or battery replaced on a Galaxy S20 Ultra?+
Samsung-authorized and independent repair shops still stock parts for it, but the phone no longer gets regular software updates, so weigh the cost against replacing it.