Xiaomi Redmi 5A, despite its budget-grade, often requires intervention in its design to replace the battery or restore the plumes. Owners face the need to access internal components when the battery loses capacity or after a fall, the speaker ceases to work. However, the procedure for dismantling the rear cover has its own nuances that distinguish it from disassembling more expensive models.
The main difficulty is that the manufacturer used a combined method of attachment: screws and glue, which means that simple snapping of the plastic here will not work and can lead to breakage of the case. Before starting any manipulations, you need to carefully prepare the workplace so that you do not lose small parts and damage fragile elements.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how to safely open the device body, and we will look at the tools, sequences, and common mistakes to avoid, and the right approach will help to preserve the integrity of the plumes and avoid cracks in the plastic frame.
Tools and workplace preparation required
The quality disassembly of any electronic device begins with the right tool. For the Redmi 5A, you will need a minimum set that can be found in any radio parts store or ordered online. Using inappropriate items such as knives or needles increases the risk of damage to internal components.
First of all, make sure you have a hair dryer or thermophen to soften the glue. A regular household hair dryer may not give you enough temperature, so it's best to use professional equipment or at least a powerful temperature-adjusted building hair dryer. You'll also need a suction cup to gently tear the lid off.
- 🔧 A set of screwdrivers with interchangeable bits (necessarily cross-haired) PH000 or PH00)
- 🔥 A hair dryer or thermophen to heat the adhesive layer
- 🎴 Plastic spatula (mediator) or thin metal scalpel
- 🧲 Magnetic mat or screw sorting container
Pay special attention to the organization of space. screws in Xiaomi can vary in length and thread, so their chaotic storage will lead to problems when Assembly, recommended to use a magnetic card or simply to arrange the parts in the order in which you twisted them.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting work, be sure to turn off the smartphone. Attempting to disassemble the enabled device can lead to a short circuit and failure of the motherboard.
The process of heating and primary separation of the housing
The first step is to soften the adhesive that holds the back panel, and the adhesive becomes plastic when exposed to temperature, allowing parts to be separated without brute force, and the heating must be uniform throughout the perimeter of the device.
Turn on the dryer at medium power and direct a jet of hot air to the ends of the smartphone. Keep the tool at a distance of 3-5 centimeters from the surface, constantly moving it so as not to overheat one point. The optimal heating temperature is about 80-90 degrees Celsius.
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Check the temperature of heating with your hand: if the body is hot, but the hand tolerates heat for 2-3 seconds, the temperature is sufficient.
The heating procedure usually takes 2 to 4 minutes depending on the power of your equipment, and then you can start creating a gap. Carefully suck the suction cup to the bottom of the back cover, closer to the Mi logo, and pull up, while inserting a plastic blade into the resulting gap.
If there's no gap, don't use excessive force. It's better to repeat the heat again than risk the integrity of the plastic. A cracked back cover is a common problem in impatient disassembly.
Unscrewing screws and removing decorative elements
Once you've successfully separated the bulk of the lid around the perimeter, you'll have access to the screws, and in the Redmi 5A, they're placed under decorative plugs or directly in the slots of the plastic frame, and most often you need to remove the plastic lining to get to the fixture.
Use a thin screwdriver or a spatula to fit the screws. There are only a few of them, and they fix the basic structure. Be very careful when you twist them out, because the threads in the plastic racks break easily when the tool is skewed.
☑️ Check before charge is withdrawn
It is important to note that sometimes screws can be hidden under stickers or warranty seals. If you see that the lid is not removed after you unscrew the visible fasteners, carefully examine the surface for hidden elements. In some versions, the fasteners may be under the logo.
Once all screws are removed, the back should be free to separate, but don’t pull it sharply, as it can be followed by the plumes of buttons or other modules, although in the Redmi 5A, the main electronics are on the lower board.
Working with internal plumes and components
When you open the case, you'll see the battery, the motherboard, and the plumes, and even if your goal was to just remove the lid, you're now able to replace other components, but you need to intervene with the utmost care.
To turn off the battery or other modules, special connectors are used, they can not be pulled by wires, you need to carefully tuck the connector with a plastic blade or nail to push it out of the groove, sudden movements can damage the contact paths.
| Component | Location. | Difficulty of access | Risk of damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Central part | Low. | Medium (puncture risk) |
| Display plume | Top of the pay | Tall. | Tall (very thin) |
| Camera module | Upper corner | Medium | Medium (lens scratches) |
| Dynamician | The bottom part | Low. | Low. |
If you're planning to replace the battery, remember that it's also glued, and you'll need to reheat the battery case and use a plastic card to tamper with the battery, and you're not allowed to use metal tools because of the risk of lithium burning.
⚠️ Warning: Never penetrate or bend the battery; damage to the lithium polymer battery's inner lining can cause it to ignite or swell.
Common mistakes in the Redmi 5A disassembly
Many users make mistakes that lead to additional repair costs, and one of the most common problems is ignoring the heat, and trying to pull the lid off "cold" is almost guaranteed to break the plastic latches, after which the phone stops holding the lid without glue.
Another common mistake is to use too long screws in the wrong holes, and it's easy to confuse screws of different lengths when you build them, and if you screw a long screw into a short hole, it can pierce the body or hit the board, causing a crack.
What to do if the lid is cracked?
Also worth mentioning is static electricity: When working with electronics, especially in dry rooms, it is easy to accumulate a static charge that can disable sensitive chips, and it is advisable to touch a grounded metal object before working.
Keep it clean. Dust and villi that are caught under the display or on the camera when assembled open will be very noticeable when in use. Do the work in a clean room, away from carpets and pets.
Assembly of the device and verification of functionality
After you've done all the necessary manipulations inside the smartphone, you've got the assembly phase, which requires carefulness and reverse sequence, and first make sure that all the plumes are sitting tightly in their connectors and are fixed with the pins on them.
Then, gently place the back cover in place. Make sure all the protrusions match the grooves of the case. Only then can the screws be twisted. Don't tighten them too much - Redmi 5A plastic doesn't like overpressure.
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Final check: Before the final sealing of the case, turn on the phone and check the touchscreen, speakers and cameras so as not to disassemble the device again.
To fix the lid, it is recommended to use a special glue sealant for electronics (for example, B-7000) or bilateral tape for smartphones. Apply a thin layer of glue around the perimeter, avoiding getting inside the camera and speaker.
Once assembled, allow the glue to dry for several hours, placing the phone under a light load (such as a book), but not too heavy to deform the screen.