Installation / Preparation before pressure
Check the piece.
Then make it stick.
A good installation begins before the backing comes off. Choose the correct instructions, prepare the right surface and take your time with alignment.
1. Find the guide for your device
Start with our installation hub and the information supplied with the skin. Confirm the full device model, size and generation and identify the selected pieces.
A video for a similar device may illustrate a technique, but does not confirm identical coverage or alignment. Ask us if the matching guide or the position of a particular piece is unclear.
Leave unused sections on the backing. Check the kit against your order before applying anything, rather than deciding halfway through that the camera opening belongs to another model.
2. Prepare a stable, suitable surface
Work in a clean, well-lit space with clean, dry hands. Switch the device off, unplug it and let it cool. Detach removable accessories as appropriate, without dismantling the device.
Inspect the surface first. Do not apply vinyl to peeling material, raised damage or a loose panel. A skin is not a repair for a hardware problem.
Follow the manufacturer's care instructions for the exact surface and use any supplied preparation product only where suitable. Do not treat an alcohol wipe as permission to clean every screen, soft-touch covering or painted area. Keep moisture away from openings and let the fitting surface dry fully.
3. Establish the alignment before firm pressure
Check the orientation and compare the intended edges and cut-outs. Use the references shown in the fitting guide rather than centring the skin around one small feature and hoping the rest follows.
A small, even margin may be deliberate. Our edge-gap explanation helps distinguish an intended margin from incorrect positioning.
Do not stretch vinyl to make a camera hole, logo or outer edge reach a different position. If two reference points cannot line up at the same time, stop and confirm the model and piece.
4. Apply gradually
Use the backing and positioning method shown for your product, exposing only the adhesive needed for that step. Avoid unnecessary contact with the adhesive.
Smooth progressively with the light, controlled pressure and tool recommended in the supplied instructions. On suitable air-release vinyl, guide trapped air towards an available edge instead of sealing every edge first.
Some materials allow early adjustment, but repositioning is not unlimited. Repeated lifting or pulling can stretch the piece or contaminate the adhesive. Do not keep refitting the same section in the hope that its shape will change.
5. Finish curves only as instructed
Use gentle hairdryer warmth only where the fitting guide calls for it. The aim is to help suitable material conform, not to stretch a wrong template or make the device hot.
Do not use a heat gun or keep heating one area. Avoid bridging hinges, covering ventilation or obstructing buttons, microphones, contacts and other functional openings.
For more background, see why gentle warmth helps some vinyl. The instructions for the particular product take priority.
What if a bubble or wrinkle appears?
A smooth air pocket, a fixed contaminant and a crease are different problems. They should not all receive the same treatment, and there is no universal promise that they disappear in 24–48 hours.
Do not use a pin, blade or excessive pressure. Follow our bubbles, lifting and alignment guide and contact us when the cause is uncertain.
Air-release adhesive helps on compatible materials; it cannot remove dust or correct a badly positioned cut-out.
Check the completed setup
Follow any settling instructions supplied, then check normal use and accessory clearance. Do not force a tight case, keyboard or cover over a fitted skin. If an edge catches or a control behaves differently, stop and ask for fitting advice.
Once fitted, use our cleaning and aftercare guide. Routine care of vinyl is different from cleaning a bare device before installation.
Fitting questions
Can I trim the skin on the device?
No. Do not cut against the device. Send us a photograph of the alignment issue instead.
Do all skins need heat?
No. Follow the guide for your model and material. Extra heat is not a solution for an incorrect piece, contamination or damage.
What should I send if it does not fit?
Your order number, exact model and finish, a photo showing the whole piece and a close-up of the problem. Keep private device identifiers out of the image.
Can I remove the skin and start from scratch?
Ask before removing everything when a fitted photograph would help. Removed or stretched pieces are not assumed reusable. Use the removal guide if removal is needed.