Bubbles under the protective coating of the screen is a common problem for owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, which not only spoils the aesthetics of the device, but can also interfere with the normal operation of the touch screen, often caused by a poor-quality sticker or dust during installation.
In most cases, you can fix this on your own without going to the service center, you need a minimum set of tools and patience, and it's important to be careful not to damage the display itself or the oleophobic coating.
There are several proven ways to eliminate air pockets, from simple map manipulation to complete gluing, depending on the size of the defect and the type of adhesive layer used.
Causes of the appearance of air pockets
The main cause of bubbles is the microscopic dust particles between the screen and the glass, even one villi creates a gap where air enters, and the problem is also relevant for low-cost models of glasses with poor adhesive base.
Sometimes the defect is due to the design of the body, and if the glass has no edge bending (2D) and the smartphone screen has rounding (2.5D), the perimeter inevitably produces rainbow swelling and air cavities, which is the physical contact of two different planes.
And the human factor is also important: if you stick it wrong, if you're in a hurry, if you don't degrease it, it causes it to fit unevenly, and if you're left behind, it can also evaporate and create new bubbles.
- 🌫️ Infection of dust and villi during installation
- 💧 Residual moisture or greasy spots on the screen
- 📐 Disparity between glass and display geometry
- 📉 Poor quality of the adhesive layer at the accessory
Understanding the reason will help you choose the right strategy, if the dust is to blame, you need to re-address, if it's geometry, you can use special compounds or change the accessory.
Required tools for repair
To make good repairs, you need to prepare your workplace, you need a bright light source to see the small specks of dust, and without good lighting, you're at risk of leaving pollution on the screen.
The main tool will be a plastic card or a special rackel. Metal objects can not be used, they can scratch the glass or damage the matrix when pressed, and prepare microfiber and tape.
☑️ Preparing for bubble elimination
In difficult cases, when the bubbles are caused by bad glue, a liquid may be required. UV-This is a more advanced method that requires an ultraviolet lamp, but it guarantees perfect fit even on rounded edges.
Extrusion method for fresh bubbles
If the bubble appears immediately after the sticker and it's small, you can try to kick it out mechanically, and this method works if there's no solid dust inside.
Take a plastic card wrapped in a soft cloth or a microfiber napkin. Start squeezing air from the center of the bubble to the nearest edge of the glass. Movements must be confident, but not too strong to break the glass.
⚠️ Note: Do not press too hard on the bubble with your finger without pad, otherwise you can damage the display matrix under high local pressure.
If the air is not coming out, try to slightly lift the edge of the glass next to the bubble using a thin needle or blade, and repress it with the card, often helping to tear the air pocket.
Sometimes it helps to heat up. You can warm up the bubble area with a hair dryer (not hot air, but warm air) for 10-15 seconds, the glue becomes more elastic, and the bubble will go away faster.
- 🔥 Slightly warm the area with a hair dryer to soften the glue
- 👉 Move the card from the center of the defect to the edge
- 🛑 Do not use sharp objects for puncture without experience
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If the bubble is close to the edge, try to gently pull the edge of the glass with your nail, release air and press again.
Dust removal with Scotch
When you see a black dot inside a bubble, it's dust. You can't squeeze it out, you have to mechanically extract it, and you need a thin tape or a special sticky tape.
Carefully raise the edge of the protective glass above the contamination site, use a blade or needle to do this, but be extremely careful not to damage the touchscreen. You need to lift it minimally, just enough to get through the tip of the tape.
Stick a piece of tape with a sticky side upwards right on the inside of the protective glass where the dust is. Press and pull sharply. The dust should stick to the tape and stay on it.
| Tool. | Appointment | Risks. |
|---|---|---|
| Thin scotch | Fine dust collection | Maybe leave the glue. |
| Needle/Blade | Glass lifting | High risk of scratching |
| Air-traffic | Blowing particles | Could drive the dust deeper. |
| Band-Aid | Scotch analogue | Leaves the villi |
After removing the dust, gently lower the glass and smooth the surface from the center to the edges. If there are many dust particles, the procedure will have to be repeated for each of them.
Use of liquid glue and UV-lamp
For Xiaomi models with highly rounded screens (such as the Mi Note series or the flagship Mi), conventional glass holds poorly. Here, liquid adhesive technology saves.
The idea is to fill the space between the display and the glass with a transparent polymer, so you remove the old glass, thoroughly clean the screen of the old glue with alcohol, and apply a new liquid composition.
Safety Techniques When Working with UV-Glue
After applying the glue and laying the new glass, the excess will protrude at the edges. They need to be quickly removed with a napkin, then the surface is illuminated with an ultraviolet lamp for 2-5 minutes for polymerization.
The result is a monolithic construction where bubbles cannot physically form because there is no air in it, and this is the most reliable, but also the most time-consuming way.
- 💧 Complete filling of space with glue
- ☀️ Required. UV-dryer
- 🛡️ Maximum protection of the screen from impacts
- 🧹 Difficulty cleaning from old glue
⚠️ Attention: UV-It's very hard to remove glue from your clothes and skin, work in gloves and old clothes.
Prevention and selection of quality glass
The best way to fight bubbles is to prevent them, and choose full-cover or 3D/5D-labeled security glasses that have a black frame and rounded edges, which are better at resembling the screen geometry of Xiaomi smartphones.
Pay attention to the thickness of the glass. Too thick specimens (more than 0.33 mm) can conflict with the covers and fit worse. Quality glass always has an oleophobic coating, which is checked by a drop of water (it must roll).
Before the sticker, make sure to do a wet cleaning in the room. Dust in the air is the main enemy. You can use an air humidifier or perform a procedure in the bathroom after taking a shower when all the dust has settled.
Rub the screen regularly with an alcohol napkin before applying new protection. Fat spots reduce adhesion of the glue, which leads to detachment of the corners and the appearance of new bubbles over time.
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The quality of surface preparation and the absence of dust are more important than the brand of the protective glass itself.