How to Open Xiaomi Mi 5: A Complete Disassembly Guide

Xiaomi Mi 5 has become a landmark device for the company, setting new standards for performance in its class. However, time spares the equipment, and owners often face the question of how to open the Xiaomi Mi 5 to replace the battery or repair connectors. The process of dismantling this smartphone requires care, since the design involves the use of glue and screws hidden under decorative elements.

Unlike more modern models, where disassembly often boils down to unscrewing two screws at the charging port, you will have to be patient.The device body is made of glass and metal, which makes it aesthetically pleasing but difficult to maintain. Wrong actions can damage the plumes or cracks on the back, so it is important to follow the algorithm of actions clearly.

Before you start the action, you need to prepare the workplace, you need a clean surface with good lighting, so that the small details do not get lost, and it is also critical to completely discharge the battery before starting work, if possible, as damage to the battery can cause ignition.

To do this successfully, you'll need tools, and without them, the risk of damage to the body or internal components increases many times over.

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers with a cross-shaped sting (size) PH000)
• 🔥 Hair dryer or heater plate for heating glue
• 🛠️ Plastic shoulder blades and suction cup for opening
• 🧲 Magnetic screw-sorting mat

You don't have to use knives or sharp metal objects to smack the lid, because it's guaranteed to cause chipping, the glass in the back is very fragile when hit, and it's better to spend more time warming up than risking the integrity of the body.

Disassembly preparations and security measures

The first step before opening the Xiaomi Mi 5 is to remove the tray for the SIM-This is a standard procedure that allows you to depressurize the case a little bit and prevent accidental damage to the contacts.

⚠️ Warning: Do not start disassembly if the battery is more than 25% charged. Damage to the lithium polymer battery with sharp tools can lead to instant fire or chemical burn.

Then there's the heating of the adhesive layer, the back cover is glued all around the perimeter, and without thermal exposure, it's almost impossible to remove it whole. Use a hair dryer, evenly warming the edges of the device for 2-3 minutes. The temperature should not be extreme, 80-90 degrees Celsius is enough.

Check the heating with your finger, the glass should become hot, but not burning. If you overheat the screen on the front side, there is a risk of damaging the display module or defusing the polarization film. Act carefully and constantly check the surface temperature.

Dismantling of the rear glass panel

After enough warming up, take the suction cup and attach it to the bottom of the back cover, closer to the Mi logo. Carefully pull the suction cup upwards, creating a small gap between the glass and the frame. Insert a thin plastic blade into the resulting slit.

Don't try to remove the lid with a single jerk. The glue in the Xiaomi Mi 5 is unevenly distributed, and a sharp movement can break the glass. Slowly drive the blade along the perimeter, periodically warming up the places where the glue still holds the parts.

Pay special attention to the area around the camera and the fingerprint scanner, and there are plumes that can be glued to the inside of the lid, and if you feel resistance, you've hit the connection, and you need to stop to assess the situation.

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If you don't have a suction cup, you can use a thin line or a string, and you can pass it around the corner of the lid and you can seep through the perimeter, cutting off the glue.

When all the edges are free, gently lift the lid. Don't put it far away, because it may have a fingerprint scanner plume attached to it (in some versions), and if you have a plume, you have to unplug it from the motherboard by putting a plastic blade on the connector.

Disconnection of the battery and removal of the protective frame

When you remove the back cover, you'll see the inside of the smartphone, and you'll see a big black bezel that covers most of the electronics, and the first thing you need to do is find the battery connector.

Carefully disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard, a critical step that shuts down the device and makes it safe to operate, and use a plastic blade to keep the contacts on the board intact.

Now you have to unscrew all the visible screws that attach the metal safety frame. In Xiaomi Mi 5, they can be as many as 10-12 pieces, and they can be of different lengths. It is recommended to lay out the screws in the order in which you twisted them, or sign their location on a piece of paper.

• 🔩 The perimeter screws are usually longer than the central frame.
• 🔌 Some screws may be hidden under stickers or plumes
• 📱 The frame can be further fixed with glue in the corners

Once you've twisted all the screws, the frame won't be removed immediately. It's also put on glue. Warm up the edges of the frame with a hairdryer and shovel it over, and act without fanaticism to keep the thin metal from deforming.

Access to motherboard and modules

When you take the safety box off, you get full access to the motherboard, and it's where the main components are located: the processor, the memory, the communication modules, but you don't have to remove the board if you're only changing the battery or the bottom plume to replace most of the elements.

If you want to replace a charging connector or microphone, you have to remove the board, and to do that, disconnect all the remaining plumes: the display, cameras, buttons and antennas. Antenna contacts are often just pressed with screws, they need to be carefully bent.

The motherboard in the Mi 5 is compact enough to sit tightly in its nest. When you extract it, make sure that nothing is clinging to the body. Often, a plume passes down the board, going to the bottom board, and you need to release it from the locks.

When working with a board, try not to touch open contacts with your fingers, as static electricity can disable electronics. Use an antistatic bracelet or periodically touch a grounded metal object.

Replacement of the battery and lower plume

The most common reason for disassembling Xiaomi Mi 5 is to replace the worn battery. The battery is glued to the body with double-sided tape. To remove it, use a hairdryer again, warming the area under the battery through the back of the case (if it is still in place) or directly on the battery, using caution.

You can slip a plastic card or a spatula under the battery, don't use metal tools, pierce the battery, and it'll break down and fire, and move the tool slowly, cutting the adhesive layer.

⚠️ Warning: Never bend or squeeze a new battery when installed.Mechanical deformation of the lithium cell's inner layers irreversibly damages it.

The bottom plume, which includes a USB connector and microphone, is mounted with multiple screws and plastic locks. When you replace it, make sure that the new plume has a quality contact pad. Cheap analogues often fail after a month of use.

After installing a new battery or plume, take your time to close the case, plug the battery in and check if the device is charging and seeing the network, and avoid re-disassembly in the event of a defect in the spare part.

Assembly of the device and verification of functionality

The assembly is done in reverse order. First, you put the safety frame in place and screw it up, make sure all the screws are twisted evenly, without any distortion, and then you plug in the battery plume.

The back cover requires a new adhesive. Use a special glue B-7000 or E-8000 for electronics. Apply a thin layer around the perimeter, avoiding getting into the camera and sensors. Let the glue dry slightly (2-3 minutes) before pressing.

Tightly press the lid and hold the smartphone with rubber bands or a weight for 15-20 minutes for primary glue polymerization. Complete drying takes about 24 hours, but you can use the phone in an hour.

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Quality assembly depends not only on the correctness of actions, but also on the use of good consumables, such as special glue and high-quality screws.

Once assembled, turn the device on and perform a full diagnostic: check the sensor, cameras, speakers, microphone and communication modules, if everything works correctly, the repair can be considered successful.

Frequent errors and expert recommendations

Beginners often make the mistake of ignoring the heat of the glue. Trying to rip the lid off "cold" 90 percent of the time ends in cracked glass. Patience is the master's main tool.

Another common problem is losing screws or getting them mixed up, screws of different lengths screwed in the wrong holes can damage the board or keep the lid from closing. Keep a record of each screw.

• 🚫 Do not use superglue (cyanacrylate) to fix the lid, it emits vapors settling on the camera.
• 🚫 Don’t pull the plumes by the middle, just the thickened connector.
• 🚫 Do not leave your phone on charge immediately after replacing the battery without supervision.

If you are not sure of your abilities, it is better to contact a specialized service. Repair Xiaomi Mi 5 requires accuracy, but if you follow the instructions, it is quite feasible at home.