Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, are made with minimal gaps between parts to ensure maximum strength and protection from dust. However, this design feature makes the procedure of opening the case difficult and risky for the untrained user. If you need to replace a broken glass, battery or clean the charging connector, it is important to understand that disassembling the device requires not only a special tool, but also strict adherence to the sequence of actions.
The back of this gadget is made of hardened glass Gorilla Glass 5, which is attached to the frame with a powerful polymer glue. Unlike older models with plastic covers, you can't just tuck the back and remove it. Incorrect actions at the initial stage often lead to chipped faces, damage to the plumes or, worst of all, to the battery bloating when it is heated. It is critical not to start pulling the lid until the glue is completely softened around the perimeter.
In this guide, we will detail how to safely open the Redmi Note 7, what tools you will need and what hidden nuances to pay attention to. You will learn about temperature heating regimes, screw layout and methods of turning off plumes without damaging connectors. Even if you have never previously repaired electronics, following these instructions minimizes the risks.
Tools and workplace preparation required
Before you start to physically affect the body of the smartphone, you need to prepare specialized tools. The use of improvised tools such as knives, pins or ordinary screwdrivers is strictly not recommended, as they can damage the internal components or scratch the frame. For quality work, you will need a set of precision screwdrivers, in particular a cross PH00 and flat for cracking plumes.
Special attention should be paid to tools for working with the adhesive layer. The back cover is supported by a heat-resistant adhesive, which softens only under certain temperature exposure. A normal hair dryer here is not suitable because of the low flow temperature, so you need a building hair dryer with the ability to adjust the temperature or a special heating pad (separator).
Workspace organization is key to the success of the operation. Small screws tend to fly and get lost, so prepare a magnetic mat or use a piece of paper with painted sectors to fold the fastener in order of unscrewing. Good lighting and no drafts are also prerequisites for doing fine electronics work.
☑️ Preparation for disassembly
- 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-haired) PH00, flat-starred T5)
- 🌡️ Building dryer or heating platform (temperature) 80-100°C)
- 🧩 Plastic blades and mediators (minimum) 3-4 stuff)
- 🧲 Glass suction cup or special clamps
- 💧 Isopropyl alcohol or liquid B-7000 glue-residue
Primary steps: SIM extraction and housing heating
Start the process only after the device is completely turned off. The first step should always be to remove the tray for the device. SIM-If you try to warm a phone with a SIM card installed, the plastic of the tray can melt or deform, which will block the slot. Use the original paperclip or a thin sting, pressing perpendicular to the end of the device until the characteristic click.
Next comes the most critical stage of preparation, heating the perimeter of the back cover. Turn on the hair dryer and set the temperature in the range of 90-100 degrees Celsius. Don't keep the flow of hot air at one point longer than 3-5 seconds, constantly move the device or hair dryer to warm the glue evenly throughout the circuit. Pay special attention to the corners and areas around the main camera module, since there the glue layer is usually thicker.
⚠️ Warning: Never heat the central part of the back cover where the components are located. Local overheating of the glass in the center can cause it to crack instantly due to thermal expansion, as well as damage the display matrix.
The heating process usually takes 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the power of your equipment. Periodically check the temperature with your finger (carefully, do not burn) or with thermocouples - the glass should become hot, but not melt. After sufficient warming up, allow the device to lie on the table for about 30 seconds so that the heat is distributed inside the adhesive layer.
How do you check glue readiness?
Opening the hull and shutting down the plumes
Once the body is sufficiently warmed, attach the suction cup to the bottom third of the back panel, closer to the logo, but not too close to the edge. Pull the suction cup up slightly, creating tension, and insert a thin plastic blade into the resulting microscopic gap. Move the blade along the perimeter, cutting the adhesive layer. Do not insert the tool deeper than 2-3 mm, so as not to damage the plumes going under the glass.
Once the lid is successfully detached, don't try to remove it or put it aside. Inside, a fingerprint scanner plume is glued to the frame, which connects the back panel to the motherboard. A sudden movement will cause this thin wiring to break, after which the scanner will stop working forever. Gently bend the lid and find the connection of the plume.
The next step is to dismantle the metal protective plate that covers the connectors of the battery and the display, and it is attached with several screws that are often of different lengths. Remember or photograph the location of each screw, because screwing a long screw into a short hole can break through the board, causing a short circuit.
| Component | Type of screw | Number of | Risks of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection fee (top) | Cross PH00 | 11 pcs. | Breakdown of toll tracks |
| Battery attachment | Cross PH00 | 2 pcs. | Damage to the AKB cell |
| Lower charge (dynamics) | Cross PH00 | 4 pcs. | Breaching of the seal |
| Camera module | Cross PH00 | 1 pc. | Shifting focus |
Only after removing the metallic shield can the plumes be turned off. Use a plastic blade or nail to plug the battery connector first. This will turn off the device and protect the rest of the components from surges when the other plumes are disconnected. Then carefully disable the fingerprint scanner plume and the main plume going to the lower board.
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Use tweezers with curved ends to grab the connectors of the plumes if you can't get close with your fingers. Never pull the wiring itself, just the hard plastic or metal tip of the connector.
Dismantling of the battery and basic modules
In the Redmi Note 7, the battery is also planted on glue, which makes it much more difficult to extract. Under the metal plate, you'll see two screws holding the bottom of the battery. Unscrew them, but be prepared for the battery to hold tight even after that. Don't try to tamper with metal objects in any case - a puncture of the lithium polymer cell causes instant ignition.
To extract safely, use special suction cups or, in extreme cases, heat the bottom of the phone (from the screen side) to 60-70 degrees. This will soften the adhesive base under the battery. Insert a thin plastic card between the battery and the frame, making sawing movements. If the battery is swelling, you need to work with increased caution, trying not to damage the shell.
If your goal was to replace the display, then after turning off the plumes, you need to remove the frame with the motherboard attached. In the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, the display is often sold along with the frame, which makes it easier: you will only need to move the board, the camera and the speaker to the new module. When repositioning, make sure that all the holes under the screws match, and the plumes are not twisted.
- 🔋 Heating the lower part of the body to soften the glue under the battery
- 🚫 It is forbidden to use metal blades to remove the battery.
- 🔌 Check the condition of connectors before installing a new display
- 🧹 Cleaning the frame from old glue before assembly
⚠️ Warning: If the battery is damaged during the recovery process and starts to emit gas or smoke, immediately stop working, take the device out into the open space and fill it with sand or place it in a container of water to avoid fire.
Assembly of the device and verification of functionality
The assembly is done in reverse order, but requires a new adhesive layer to be applied, the old adhesive from the frame and the lids must be completely removed using isopropyl alcohol and scraper. The surface must be perfectly clean and fat-free, otherwise the new tightness will not be provided, and the phone will collect dust.
Apply a thin layer of special electronics glue (e.g., B-7000) around the perimeter of the frame or use a pre-prepared adhesive base (double-sided tape to the shape of the case). Set the battery (if changed), plug in the power plume and check the phone to turn on until full assembly. If the screen catches fire and the touchscreen responds, you can continue.
You can put the back cover tightly around the perimeter, and you can use money bands to fix it tightly around the perimeter. 15-20 Do not turn the device on for charging within the first hour after assembly to allow the glue to finally polymerize.
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Quality cleaning of the frame from old glue and degreasing the surface is 90% of the success in ensuring the tightness and strength of the case gluing.
Typical errors and precautions
One of the most common mistakes is to rush to unplug the lid. Users often underheat the body and start pushing the blade hard, leading to cracks in the glass coming from the edges. Another common problem is the loss of screws of different lengths. If you screw a long screw into the hole for a short one, you can damage the board or rest on components, which will cause local heating and breakage.
Also, the fingerprint scanner plume is often forgotten. Many people, when they open the lid, immediately pull it up, breaking the thin connection. Always visually monitor the connection between the part being separated and the main unit. Another mistake is the use of aggressive solvents (acetone, gasoline) for cleaning, which can melt the plastic elements of the case or damage the oleophobic coating.
When you're working with a display, it's important not to push the matrix. The screens in Redmi Note 7 are point pressure sensitive. If you drop your phone flat or push your finger with force, you may see black spots or vertical stripes. Keep the modules taken only in a protected place, screen up.