Removing the back cover of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a challenge that owners face when replacing a battery, repairing plumes or cleaning dust. The model, released in 2017, has a solid design with adhesive attachment, which makes it difficult to disassemble without special tools. Many users risk damaging the latches or display by using force or improvised means. This article will help avoid mistakes: here you will find step-by-step photos, a list of necessary tools and key warnings from service engineers.
Unlike newer Redmi models like the Redmi Note 10, where the lid is clipped, the Redmi 5 uses a combination of glue and plastic latches, which means that it will take not only a mediator or a suction cup to open safely, but also patience. If you're planning a battery replacement, consider that the original battery has a capacity of 3,300 mAh and is attached to double-sided tape, which will also have to be carefully removed.
In this instruction, we will consider:
- 🔧 What tools are needed (and what can not be replaced by professional devices)
- 📱 Step-by-step algorithm for removing the lid, taking into account the location of the latches
- ⚠️ Typical errors that lead to a breakdown of the display plume or cracks in the body
- 🔄 How to assemble the device back so that there are no gaps
Preparation: tools and modalities
Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need. Don't use knives, screwdrivers or metal blades, they scratch the body and can damage the internal components.
- 🧲 Plastic mediator (or a special blade for smartphones with a thickness of 0.2-0.4 mm)
- 🧲 Suction (diameter 3-5 cm, with a ring for easy grip)
- 🔥 Hair dryer or thermo-air station (for softening the glue, the temperature is not higher than 60)°C)
- 🧰 Screwdriver. T3 or T4 (screw-off)
- 📦 Container for screws (so as not to lose small parts)
If you don't have a suction cup, you can replace it with a wide tape tape tape that's cross-painted on the lid, but this method is less reliable: Scotch can tear the paint off the Xiaomi logo or leave sticky marks.
Conditions of work:
- 💡 Good lighting (use a desk lamp or flashlight)
- 🧹 Clean table surface (no debris or small items that can get inside your phone)
- ⏱ Time: Take at least 30 to 40 minutes to take your time.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone has been in water or has been hit, disassembly may result in a short circuit when turned on.In this case, first dry the device in rice or silica gel for at least 24 hours.
Step-by-step instructions: how to remove the cover
Start by turning off your phone and retrieving it. SIM-cards and memory cards (if installed) will prevent accidental closure of contacts:
- Heat the case. Turn the dryer on to the minimum power and evenly warm the back cover for 2-3 minutes, keeping it at a distance of 10-15 cm The glue will become elastic, and the latches will be easier to disconnect. 💡If the body gets hot to the touch, pause 1-2 minutes.
- Unplug with a suction cup. Place the suction cup closer to the bottom edge of the phone (where the charging connector is), smoothly pull up to create a gap between the lid and the body. If the suction cup falls off, repeat the heating.
- Separate with a mediator. Put a plastic mediator in the gap, and carefully guide it along the edge, snapping the locks. Start at the bottom, then go to the sides. Where are the latches? You'll feel the greatest resistance in the corners of the cover and next to the volume buttons. There are additional plastic locks.
- Final removal. When all the latches are disconnected, remove the lid by pulling it upwards. Be careful, it may be stuck to the fingerprint plumes or antennas.
If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't force it. Go back to the hair dryer or check if there are any unconnected latches. Redmi 5 has 12 latches: 4 on the sides, 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom.
Hair-dryer|Check the suction cup attachment|Prepare a mediator|Turn off the phone from charging|Clean up. SIM-map-->
What to do if the cover is not removed
Even with the right actions, the lid can stick to the body, and here are the possible causes and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The cover doesn't go away despite the heat | The glue is too old or dried | Increase the temperature of the hair dryer to 70 ° C (not higher!) and warm up longer (5-7 minutes) |
| The mediator gets stuck. | Latch not cracked. | Pull the mediator back and try from the other corner. |
| There were cracks on the lid. | Too much pressure. | Stop disassembling and use a thinner mediator (0.15 mm) |
| The fingerprint plume came off. | The cover is glued to the plume | Carefully separate the plume with tweezers and fix it with scotch |
If you feel that the lid is "tight", do not continue. Better contact the service center - the cost of repairing the case (about 1500-2000 rubles) will be lower than replacing the display due to a torn plume.
⚠️ Note: In Redmi 5, the fingerprint scanner plume is under the battery, and if you're planning to replace it, first disconnect the plume from the motherboard, or you risk damaging the connector.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Experience of masters shows that 80% of breakdowns in self-disassembly occur due to three errors:
- 🔨 Using metal tools, knives and screwdrivers scratching an aluminum frame and can puncture the battery.
- 🔥 Overheating of the hull.
- 🤏 Too much pressure on the mediator, which leads to cracks in the lid or latches torn off. In Redmi 5, the latches are fragile, and they will cost 800-1,200 rubles to replace them.
Another common problem is the loss of propellers, and Redmi 5 only has 10 of them, but they're different sizes.
- 4 screws under the cover (fix metal plate)
- 6 screws on the motherboard (3 short and 3 long)
If you confuse them in places, the board can be deformed during assembly.
💡
The most vulnerable part of disassembly is the plume of the display, which is on the right, and it's attached to the board with a thin connector, and you can only touch it with plastic tweezers!
How to Get Your Phone Back
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 build requires as much accuracy as the disassembly.
- Check all the plumes. Make sure they're not bent and tightly inserted into the connectors. The battery plume should be the last one to connect.
- Apply new glue. The old glue loses its properties after heating. Use 3M double-sided tape or B-7000 special glue (a thin layer applied around the perimeter of the lid).
- Twisting the screws in the right order. Start with the metal plate, then lock the motherboard. Don't tug the screws over, it can damage the thread.
- Warm up the lid before fixing. Light heating (up to 40°C) will help the glue grip better. After assembly, put the phone under a press (for example, a heavy book) for 10-15 minutes.
After assembly, turn on the phone and check:
- 📶 The work of the sensor and display (are there no broken pixels)
- 🔊 Speaker and microphone sound
- 🔋 Charging the battery (make sure the connector is not luftite)
- 👆 The operation of the fingerprint scanner
If something's not working, don't panic. It's possible that the plume has gone off during assembly. Take the phone apart carefully again and check all connections.
When is the best time to contact the service
Despite the apparent simplicity, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 takes experience.
- 🛠 You’ve never taken out smartphones before.
- 💥 The phone fell into the water or was deformed (risk of short circuit).
- 🔧 You need to replace the chips on the board (for example, the power controller).
- 📱 The display is cracked – its replacement requires special equipment to peel off.
The cost of dismantling in the service varies from 500 to 1500 rubles, depending on the complexity of the work. For example, replacing the battery will cost 1800-2500 rubles (including the original battery), and repairing the plume of the display – 2000-3500 rubles.
If you do decide to do it yourself, take a picture of each step of the dismantling, which will help you not to confuse the details during the assembly, and it is also useful to watch video instructions on YouTube - for example, the Xiaomi Repair channel publishes detailed disassemblies with the comments of the masters.