Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones come with quality displays that, alas, remain extremely vulnerable to mechanical damage. Even the Gorilla Glass used by the manufacturer does not guarantee 100% protection against falling on asphalt or keys in your pocket.
The process of sticking is often feared by gadget owners, as it seems a difficult engineering task. However, with straight hands, clean space and understanding the physics of the process, you can do it yourself in 10-15 minutes, the main thing is not to rush and strictly follow the algorithm of actions to avoid dust or distortion.
In this article, we will take a look at all the nuances of preparation, select the right tools, and Step-by-step go from unpacking the accessory to the perfect result, you will learn why the silicone layer self-aligns and how to correct errors if they occur in the process.
Choosing a high-quality protective glass for Xiaomi
The first and most important step is to buy the right accessory. The market is oversaturated with offers, but not all of them are worth considering. For Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, it is important to choose glass with a hardness of 9H, which means high scratch resistance. Cheap counterparts often have only a plastic base, which is quickly covered with a grid of microcracks.
Notice the oleophobic coating: high-quality glass has a fat-resistant layer, which makes the finger slide easily and fingerprints erase in one movement. You can check for the coating by dripping water on the surface: if the droplet is shaped like a sphere, there is a coating; if it spreads out, you have a low-grade product; the adhesive base should also be uniform, without visible defects at the edges.
There are two main types of glass: flat (2D) voluminous (3D/5D). For modern Xiaomi models with curved edges of the display (2.5D) choose 3D-Glasses that have a black frame and completely overlap the work area, flat glass may not stick around the edges or create a "rainbow" detachment effect.
- 🛡️ Firmness 9H — basic indicator of protection against sharp objects and scratches.
- 💧 Oleophobic coating – provides comfortable use and no traces.
- 📱 Full coverage — 3D Glasses are better suited for screens with rounded edges.
- 🏭 Brand manufacturer - well-known brands guarantee the quality of glue and transparency.
Don’t skimp on this accessory, as cheap glass can not only protect worse, but also worsen the sensitivity of the touchscreen. Touch sensor in Xiaomi smartphones is very accurate, and a thick or poor-quality layer of glue can disrupt its operation.
Tools and workplace preparation required
The success of the operation depends on preparation, 90%, you don't need a professional service center, you don't need a clean desk, you don't need a good lighting, and the main problem with the sticker is the microscopic dust that only becomes visible after the glass is installed, so wet cleaning the room before you start work is not superfluous.
Usually, a high-quality safety glass kit is already included, including a wet wipe, a dry wipe and a dust remover. If any of these are not available, prepare the analogues in advance. Alcohol can be replaced with a special tool for screens, and sticky tape with regular stationery tape, although the latter may leave a pile.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use paper towels, toilet paper or clothing to wipe the screen, leaving micro-scratches and villi that will then appear as black dots under the glass.
You'll also need a bright light source, and a table lamp will help you see the smallest specks of dust that you can't see in normal room light, make sure your hands are clean and dry, and your fingers don't have cosmetic creams that can stain the adhesive layer of glass.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Stages of cleaning the display before the sticker
The most critical thing is cleaning the screen. Any grain of sand left on the display will create an air pocket or, worse, can squash and leave a scratch. First, use a wet wipe from the kit to remove the greasy spots and the underlying dirt. Movements should be soft, without much pressure.
Then wipe the screen thoroughly with a dry wipe. Your goal is to have perfect smoothness and no stains. The display should be shining clean. Then turn on the bright light and examine the surface from different angles. If you see specks, use dust remover to glue and peel it off over the problem areas.
The process of removing dust can take longer than the sticker itself. Don't be lazy to use Velcro many times. Often dust particles appear from the air or fall from clothes, so work carefully. Static electricity can attract villi, so you can slightly moisten the air in the room or use an antistatic.
After the final check, go through the dry napkin again to make sure there are no traces of sticky tape left on the screen. Now the surface is ready to contact the glue layer of glass. Remember, after that moment, you can no longer touch the screen with your fingers.
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If you don't have a special sticky tape, use a regular transparent tape, twisting it sticky side out into the ring and putting it on your finger, which will help to spot the dust.
Step-by-step instructions: how to glue glass
Now, to the main thing, remove the protective film from the protective glass on the adhesive side, usually marked with a number "1" or the words "Back", and do this carefully, trying not to touch the sticky layer with your fingers and not let it "walk" in the air, collecting dust.
Hold the glass to your smartphone, orientate the speaker and camera holes. Many of the Xiaomi windows have a custom template frame that fits on the phone and guarantees perfect alignment. If there's no template, align visually by looking strictly perpendi-cular to the screen.
Once you've made sure the glass is flat, you can touch the center part with your finger, and from that point on, the process will go automatically, and the silicone adhesive will start to spread from the center to the edges, pushing air out. Don't push hard, just a little touch.
If the glass is crooked, don't panic. Until it's completely glued, you can gently lift it over the edge (using a suction cup or nail) and fix it, but do it only once, because the glue loses its properties when you come into contact with air again.
What to do if the glass is stained?
Once the glass has been “grabbed”, take a dry napkin or plastic card wrapped in fabric, and carefully swipe from center to edge, expelling the remnants of air. Pay special attention to the corners and edges where air can get stuck most often.
Eliminating bubbles and dust under glass
Even the skilled craftsmen sometimes have small air bubbles or dust, and the easiest way to deal with air bubbles is by themselves, they usually come out during the course of the day. 24-48 If you don't have time to wait, try to squeeze them gently with your finger or a map towards the nearest edge.
It's harder to fight with a speck of dust under a glass, but it's possible. You'll need a thin needle or blade, and you'll need a sticky tape. You'll need to tuck the edge of the glass over the dust, creating a small gap, and then with sticky tape, try to pull the motif out of the glass or stick it to the tape.
| Type of defect | Cause of the occurrence | Elimination method | Probability of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bubble | Uneven fitting | Extrusion to the edge | Tall. |
| Dust | Poor screen cleaning | Needle and scotch extraction | Medium |
| Rainbow spots | Edge gap (for 2D) | Not eliminated (feature) | Low. |
| White stripes | Damage to the matrix | Replacement of the display is required | 0% |
If a large villi is trapped under a glass that cannot be removed, it is better to accept it than risk breaking the glass when trying to extract it. Microscopic particles may become less noticeable over time as the glue fills the space around them.
It's important to understand the difference between a bubble of air and an unpaved zone. The bubble has clear boundaries and shimmers. The unpaved zone (often on the edges of curved screens) looks like a matte spot and doesn't disappear over time. UV-This is a great thing, but it’s a procedure for advanced users.
Features for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models
Different smartphone lines have their own design features, like the Xiaomi Mi and Xiaomi series (digital flagships) often have heavily curved edges of the screen, and they don't fit flat glass, they'll only stick in the center. 3D-black-framed glass or UV-glass that is glued to liquid glue.
Redmi budget models and POCO More often have flat screens or minimal rounding 2.5D. They are perfectly suited to standard 2D-However, you should be careful with the front hole camera, which can be centered or left/right-shifted in different models, and make sure that the notch on the glass matches the camera module of your device.
Another nuance is compatibility with covers. Some protective glass has an increased area and can conflict with thick protective covers, peeling off at the edges. If you wear a massive armored case, choose glass marked "Case Friendly".
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner (usually flagships), thick glass can reduce the unlock speed.
And private windows are also worth mentioning, which darkens the screen when viewed from the side, hiding the contents from prying eyes. However, they reduce the brightness of the display and can make it difficult for the fingerprint scanner to work. For budget models with a less bright screen, this can become critical.
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For curved screens flagship Xiaomi use only 3D or UV-glass, otherwise you will get unattractive air gaps on the sides.