Disassembly Xiaomi Redmi 8: how to open the case without damage

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2019, but even 5 years after its release, its owners are faced with the need for repairs: from replacing the battery to cleaning the charging connector. The main problem when disassembling yourself is a fragile plastic case and a glue layer under the back cover, which is easily damaged if unguarded opening.

This instruction will help you to open the Redmi 8 gently at home, avoiding typical errors: broken latches, torn plumes or damaged display. We will analyze the three official methods (with a mediator, a hairdryer and a sucker), list the necessary tools and warn about critical nuances that are not mentioned in 90% of guides – for example, about a hidden latch near the latch. SIM-tray.

Important: If you're planning to replace your battery or display, after disassembly, you'll need to re-adhesive the case — the original Xiaomi adhesive is not regenerated. At the end of the article, you'll find a comparison of bonding methods and tips for choosing a replacement.

Preparation: what you need to disassemble the Redmi 8

Before you start, check for all tools. Without one, the risk of damage to the body increases in the body. 3-4 Here's the minimum set:

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (0.38–0.76 mm) – metal blades scratch the frame.
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station (temperature 60-80)°C) - for softening the glue.
• 🧲 Suction cup (diameter 40-50 mm) - helps to lift the cover after heating.
• 📏 Thin screwdriver T3 — for unscrewing 6 screws under the lid.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-cleaner.
• 📦 Container for screws - so as not to lose small details.

If you do not have a hair dryer, you can use hot water in the bag (temperatures 50–60).°C) applied to the back cover for 2-3 minutes, but this method is less reliable: the glue softens unevenly, and the cover may crack when you try to remove.

💡

Don't use a knife or credit card instead of a mediator! the plastic of the Redmi 8 body is thinner than it looks and easily cuts through with sharp objects.

Also prepare the workplace:

• 📱 Put your smartphone on a soft fabric (microfibre) screen down.
• 🔦 Lighting should be bright – it is better to use a table lamp.
• 📸 Take a picture of the location of the screws and plumes before disassembly (in useful during assembly).

Step 1: Removing the back cover – methods and risks

The back cover of Redmi 8 is attached to a two-component glue (3M 9448A + It's a very tight layer, and it's a very strong one at room temperature, and it's a soft one when you heat it up, and the first mistake that newcomers make is to try to tear the lid off cold, and that leads to a very cold one:

• 💥 Cracks at the location of the antenna lines (upper left corner).
• 🔌 Damage to the fingerprint scanner plume (if you pull the lid up).
• 🔋 Battery deformation (at uneven pressure).

We recommend a combined method: heating + sucker + Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Heat the cover with a hair dryer around the perimeter for 2-3 minutes, keeping it at a distance of 5-7 cm.°C (if there is no thermocouple, focus on the sensation: the body should be hot, but not burning).
2. Place the suction cup closer to the lower edge (where the Redmi typography is located). Press and pull up, a gap of 1-2 mm should appear.
3. Put the mediator in the gap and carefully guide it along the side frame, separating the glue. Don't try to immediately remove the lid - the glue goes away gradually!
4. Pay special attention to the corner near SIM-tray: there's a hidden latch. If the lid doesn't lend itself, heat that section again.

Heat the body around the perimeter.|Attach the suction cup at the bottom edge|Carefully insert the mediator into the gap|Check the separation of glue in all corners|Don't pull the lid.-->

If the lid does not lend itself, do not increase the force - it is better to repeat the heating. The glue under the battery is the most durable: it needs to be softened longer (up to 4-5 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: Don't use acetone or solvents to remove glue! they will damage the plastic and can get onto the motherboard, causing contact corrosion.

Step 2: Unscrew the screws and remove the metal plate

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 Battery (stick to the body).
• 📱 Metal plate with 6 screws (covers the motherboard).
• 📶 Antenna modules (black and silver stripes at the edges).

First thing you do is unscrew all the screws with a screwdriver. T3. Pay attention:

• The length of the screws varies: 4 short (fix plate) and 2 long (fix board).
• The screws near the chamber have threads with the opposite direction - they need to be unscrewed clockwise.

Take the metal plate off and gently put it aside.

• 🔌 Battery connector (red/orange).
• 📞 Camera plumes and speaker (black, with latches).
• 🖥️ Motherboard (green, with Snapdragon 439 processor).

⚠️ Attention: Don't touch the motherboard with your bare hands! Static electricity can damage the chips. Use an antistatic bracelet or at least touch a grounded metal object before work.

Step 3: Disconnect the battery and plumes

Before you continue disassembling, be sure to turn off the battery.

1. Take a plastic mediator and gently dent the orange connector (located to the right of the battery).
2. Pull the connector up, it should come out of the nest effortlessly, and if it doesn't, check if the glue is in the way.

Once the battery is turned off, you can start to disconnect the plumes. There are five in Redmi 8:

1. Main camera (black plume, latch on the right).
2. Front camera. + sensors (gray plume, latch on top).
3. Dynamic (white plume, latch on the left).
4. Fingerprint scanner (thin black, latch below).
5. Display module (wide white, latch in the middle).

To detach the plume:

1. Carefully lift the black latch (it fixes the plume) with a mediator or tweezers.
2. Pull the plume parallel to the board (not up!).
3. If the plume does not come out, do not use force - check if the latch is fully open.

Once all the plumes are disconnected, you can remove the motherboard, and then you can gently put it on the left side with the mediator (where the antenna modules are located) and raise it at an angle of 30.°. Don’t try to pull the board out completely – it’s connected to the case with a flexible Wi-Fi antenna cable.

Step 4: Removing the battery – safe methods

Battery in Redmi 8 (model) BM47, It's 5,000 mAh, and it's glued to the body with double-sided tape, and you can't just pull it out, it's fraught with risk:

• 🔥 Battery puncturing (fire risk!).
• 💥 The stained stains will be broken (there will be a stain of stains).
• 📉 Damage to the charging controller (on the board).

Safe extraction algorithm:

1. Heat the battery with a hairdryer (60)°C) for 3-4 minutes. This will soften the glue.
2. Tap the battery from the upper left corner (there are no critical elements) with a plastic blade.
3. Carefully pull on a special black tape (traction tongue) if you have one. In Redmi 8, it often breaks off - in this case, use a thin guitar mediator (0.38 mm).
4. Do not make an effort if the battery does not respond - repeat the heating.

If the glue is too strong, you can use isopropyl alcohol:

1. Apply a few drops of alcohol under the battery with a syringe (without a needle!).
2. Wait 1-2 minutes - the alcohol will dissolve the glue.
3. Carefully apply the battery to the mediator.

⚠️ Warning: If the battery is swelling (as seen from the bulge of the lid), don't try to remove it yourself! Bloated batteries are prone to spontaneous combustion.

💡

Never use metal tools to retrieve the battery! even a micro-crack in a lithium-ion battery can lead to short circuits and fire.

Step 5: Disassemble the display module and camera

If you need to replace your screen or camera, follow the following steps after removing the battery:

To replace the display:

1. Unscrew 4 screws. T3, metal-frame.
2. Heat the screen edge with a hair dryer (temperature 50)°C) - this will soften the glue around the perimeter.
3. Insert the mediator into the gap between the frame and the display and gently guide it along the edge.
4. After separation of the glue, raise the display module (it is connected to the board with a plume - do not pull too much!).

To replace the main camera:

1. Unscrew 2 screws. T3 metal-plate.
2. Remove the plate and gently disconnect the plume (black latch on the right).
3. Put the camera module on the left side of the mediator and remove it.

Redmi 8 uses a dual camera:

• 📷 Core module: 12 MP, Sony IMX363, diaphragm f/1.8.
• 📷 Auxiliary module: 2 MP, depth of field.

When replacing, buy a module assembled - individual lenses are not sold.

Building and cleaning: how to avoid mistakes

After repair, you need to assemble your smartphone and seal the case tightly.

Surface cleaning:

• Remove the remnants of the old glue from the case and cover with isopropyl alcohol.
• Wipe the contacts of the battery and plumes with a lilaless napkin.

Applying new glue:

There are three options for Redmi 8:

Assembly procedure:

1. Stick the battery (if replaced).
2. Connect all the plumes (starting with the display, then the camera, speaker, scanner).
3. Set the motherboard and twist the screws (starting with the long ones).
4. Apply the glue on the lid and gently press it, starting at the top edge.
5. Twirl the metal plate screws.

⚠️ Warning: After assembly, check all modules until the final sealing of the case! especially test the fingerprint scanner - its plume often departs during assembly.

Frequent problems after disassembly and their solution

Even with a careful disassembly, there can be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• 🔋 Smartphone won't turn on: Check battery connection (orange connector). Make sure all plumes are tightly seated in the connectors. If it doesn't work, check the multimeter battery voltage (should be 3.7–4.2V).
• 📵 Touchscreen does not work: Disable and reconnect the display plume. Check if the contacts on the plume are damaged (clean them with alcohol if necessary).
• 📷 The camera makes an error: Reconnect the camera plume (the black connector near the top of the board). If the image is blurry, check if dust has hit the lens.
• 🔊 Speaker not working: Make sure the speaker plume (white connector) is connected correctly. Check if the speaker hole is clogged with dust (clean with a toothpick).

If the smartphone overheats or discharges quickly after assembly, the probable cause is a loose fit of the battery or damage to the thermal paste on the processor.

1. Take the smartphone apart again.
2. Check if the battery is flat (there should be no gaps).
3. Apply a new thermal paste to the processor (e.g. Arctic) MX-4).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions