Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2019, but even 5 years after its release, its owners are faced with the need to disassemble the device. The reasons can be different: replacing the battery, cleaning from dust, repairing the charging plume or installing additional modules. However, removing the back cover on this model requires caution - improper actions lead to cracks in plastic, damage to the glue layer or a break in the plume of the fingerprint scanner.
In this article, you'll find step-by-step photo instructions, tools, and hidden nuances that are not covered in the standard guides, both the classic mediator method and alternatives for those who are afraid of damaging the case, and at the end, answers to frequent questions and post-repair build tips.
Preparation for the analysis: what you need to know before the beginning
Before you start screwdriver, consider your strength. Redmi 7 is not a repairable smartphone like Fairphone or old Samsung Galaxy with removable covers. It has a perimeter-glued body and fragile plumes inside, and service center statistics show that 38 percent of self-assembly models end up in damage to a fingerprint scanner or flexible battery cable.
Here’s what to do before starting work:
- 🔋 Discharge the battery before 25-30%. Fully charged battery in case of accidental puncture can ignite.
- 📱 Back up the data. Even if you don't plan on touching the motherboard, the risk of an accidental plume breaking remains.
- 🛠️ Prepare your workplace: a clean desk, good lighting and an antistatic mat (or at least a piece of paper).
- 📸 Take a picture of the initial state of the lid and body - this will help in the assembly.
Pay special attention to the tools. Redmi 7 is good for:
- 🔧 Plastic mediator (0.5–0.7 mm) or guitar mediator – metal instruments scratch the body.
- 🔥 Building hair dryer (power from 1600 W) or thermal air station for softening glue.
- 🧲 Suction cup (diameter 4-5 cm) - helps to lift the cover after heating.
- 🔍 loope USB-Microscope for monitoring plumes (optional, but recommended).
⚠️ Note: If your Redmi 7 was in high humidity or fell into water, the disassembly may lead to corrosion of the contacts, in which case it is better to dry the device first in rice or silica gel for 24-48 hours.
How to open the lid: which one to choose?
There are three main methods of removing the back cover on the Xiaomi Redmi 7. Each has its pros and cons:
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediator + heating | Minimum risk of damage, suitable for beginners | It requires hair dryer and precision. | ⭐⭐ |
| Suction cup + lever | Quickly, if the glue isn't too old | The cover may crack with excessive force | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Discussion from the end (from the buttons) | No heat, less risk for plumes | Hard for beginners, high risk of latch damage | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
For most users, the first method is optimal (mediator). + It's versatile, and it's good even if the glue gets stiff over time, and it's good for emergencies, like when you need to get it out. SIM-The third method is used by experienced craftsmen to keep the sealed.
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If you don't have a hair dryer, you can use hot water in a bag: pour boiling water into a zip bag, wrap it with a towel and apply it to the lid for 2-3 minutes, enough to soften the glue, but not damage the electronic components.
Step-by-step: remove the cover with the mediator
This method is suitable for 90% of cases. Follow the instructions strictly in order to avoid errors:
- Heat the case. Turn the dryer on at medium power (temperature ~60-70°C) and evenly warm the back cover for 3-5 minutes. Keep the dryer at a distance of 10-15 cm so as not to overheat the battery. Pay special attention to the edges - there is a concentration of glue.
- Cap compartment. Take a plastic mediator and start gently pulling the lid from the lower left corner (near the USB-C connector). Insert the mediator no deeper than 2-3 mm to avoid hitting the plumes. If the lid does not respond, warm this area for another 1-2 minutes.
- Perimeter passage. Once you have a 1-2mm slit, slowly drive the mediator along the edge, separating the glue. Redmi 7 has 4 latches -- two at the bottom (near the connector) and two at the top (near the camera) -- and you need to carefully snap them off with the mediator.
- Remove the cover. When the perimeter is separated, lift the lid behind the bottom edge. Be careful, it can still hold on to the fingerprint scanner plume! Disable the plume by pulling the black tongue of the connector (it is to the right of the battery).
Is the fingerprint scanner's plume disabled?|Are there any cracks in the lid?|Are the metal latches bent?|All the clips are in place (they should be 4)?-->
If the lid doesn't lend itself to some place, don't force it. Go back to the hair dryer or try another angle. A common mistake of beginners is to try to tear off the lid, which leads to a break in the display plume or damage to the antenna contacts.
⚠️ Warning: Some Redmi 7 batches (especially those released in 2019) have an extra battery-operated protective film under the lid. Don't confuse it with the battery itself.
Alternative methods: when the mediator does not help
If the standard method didn’t work (e.g., glue too old or lid deformed), try these options:
Method 1: End-to-end analysis (from the button side)
This method is suitable if you have been damaged. USB-Or you're afraid of overheating the battery:
- Take the tray off for SIM-map.
- Insert a plastic card (for example, a bank card) into the gap between the lid and the case from the volume buttons.
- Carefully keep the map down until you hear the snap of the latch.
- Repeat on the other side (power button).
The disadvantage of the method: high risk of damaging the buttons if you press too hard.
Method 2: Use of thread or line
Suitable for highly glued covers. You will need a capron thread (0.3-0.5 mm thick) and adhesive tape:
- Stick the end of the thread with tape to the cover at the USB-C connector.
- Spend the thread around the perimeter, "saw" glue (as in cutting cheese).
- After passing on all sides, put the lid on the mediator.
What to do if the cover is broken when removed?
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when parsing Redmi 7.
- 🔥 Battery overheating if the dryer is too hot (over 80)°C, the battery may swell. Use a thermometer or hold your hand 5 cm away from the body -- if you're hot, so is the battery.
- 🔧 Using metal tools, knives, screwdrivers or scissors scratching the body and can make contact with the board!
- 📱 The fingerprint scanner plume breaks, it attaches to the lid, and it breaks easily when you're moving abruptly. Always turn it off until the lid is completely removed.
- 🧲 Redmi 7 has 4 plastic clips -- if one of them breaks, the lid will hang.
Another common problem is that the antenna contacts are damaged, and they're on the sides of the body, and they look like thin metal strips, and if you bend them, you'll get a bad signal from the network or Wi-Fi, and to avoid that, don't put a mediator deeper than 2 mm in and push the side edges of the lid.
1. whether the battery is connected (sometimes the plume departs when installing the cover).
2. integrity of antenna contacts (they should fit tightly to the body).
3. Correct connection of the fingerprint scanner plume (if it is in your modification).-->
Remodeling after repair: how to get everything back in place
Did you successfully change the battery or clean the smartphone? Now you need to put it back together correctly.
- Surface cleaning. Remove the residues of old glue from the lid and the case with alcohol or acetone. Don't use gasoline-based solvents -- they erode plastic!
- Apply new adhesive. Use 3M double-sided tape (.5 mm thick) or B-7000 adhesive to securely fix, and place it on the perimeter, avoiding the areas around the connectors.
- Connect the plumes. First, plug in the fingerprint scanner plume (if you have one), then the battery, make sure the connectors are clicked to the characteristic clicks.
- Closing the lid. Start at the top (near the camera), then snap the side clips and lastly the bottom. Press the lid evenly, without skewing.
After assembly, check:
- 🔋 Whether charging is working (plug the cable and make sure the charging icon appears).
- 📶 Is there a network (if there is no signal, check the antenna contacts).
- 👆 Will the fingerprint scanner recognize the fingerprints (if it was turned off).
- 🔊 Do speakers and microphones work (sometimes they are clamped down when assembled).
⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone gets overheated after assembly, you may have forgotten to remove the protective film from the battery (if you installed it) or you have pressed the heat paste on the processor.