How to replace the broken screen on Xiaomi Redmi 4X

Xiaomi Redmi 4X, despite its age, remains a reliable device, but its glass case and screen often suffer from falls. Broken glass or broken touchscreen is not the end of the world, but a completely solvable problem that can be solved at home with a minimum set of tools. Self-replacement module saves a significant amount of money compared to the treatment center, where the cost of the master can be up to half the price of a new display.

Before you start dismantling, you need to clearly understand what exactly you will change. In modern smartphones, including the Redmi 4X, the screen is a single module consisting of a matrix (LCD), touchscreen (touchscreen) and frame. Changing the glass or matrix separately at home is almost impossible without professional equipment for vacuum gluing, so we will consider replacing a single display module with a frame, which is the most reliable and quick way to restore the device to work.

The process requires precision, because the internal plumes are fragile and the adhesive bases require the right temperature. In this article, we will examine each step in detail, from the preparation of the workplace to the final check of the functionality of the touchscreen and image. It is important to observe the sequence of actions so as not to damage other components, such as the main camera plume or speaker, which are located in the immediate vicinity.

Tools and workplace preparation required

The quality of the work is directly dependent on the preparation. You don't need expensive professional equipment, but a basic set of tools is mandatory. Lack of the right screwdriver or sucker can damage the body or even injure the finger if the tool slips. Prepare everything in advance so that you don't interrupt the process in the middle when the hands are already in glue.

For a successful replacement, you will need the following items:

• 🛠️ Set of screwdrivers (necessarily cross) P2 flat).
• 🔥 Hair dryer construction or household (for heating the glue base).
• 💳 Plastic card or mediator (to open the case).
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or screw container.
• 🧪 Isopropyl alcohol and wipes (for cleaning).

Pay special attention to the cleanliness of the desktop. Fine dust caught between the new glass and the frame will create an indelible stain that will callouse the eyes. It is also important to ensure good lighting: in poor light, it is easy to miss microscopic latches or confuse the length of the screws, which can lead to a breakdown of the board during assembly.

Dismantling of the back cover and battery

The first step is to extract SIM-cards and memory cards, if installed.Then the smartphone must be turned off.The back cover of Xiaomi Redmi 4X It's made of metal and it's glued around the perimeter, and to remove it, you need to warm up the edges of the device evenly with a hairdryer. Don't hold the hairdryer too close, the optimal heating temperature is around the edge. 80-90 degrees, you need to warm up 1-2 minute.

After heating, insert the suction cup at the bottom of the back cover, closer to the charging connector, and slightly pull up, creating a gap. Insert a plastic card or mediator into the resulting gap. Driving the instrument along the perimeter, trying not to dive deeper than 3-4 mm, so as not to touch the plume of the fingerprint scanner, which is located at the top.

⚠️ Warning: Metal back cover conducts heat. Don't overheat your smartphone, otherwise you could damage the battery or peel off the adhesive inside the case, leading to backlashes of parts in the future.

When the lid is removed, you open up the insides, and the first thing you do is unscrew the screws that lock the plastic bar that covers the battery and display plumes, usually a few screws around the perimeter of the slat, and then you remove them, and you gently lift the bar and disconnect the battery plume with a plastic blade, and this will de-energize the device and protect the board from short circuit.

Removal of the old matrix and protective framework

Once the device is de-energized, you can move to the removal of the display module itself, which is also glue-based around the perimeter. Use a hair dryer again to warm up the front panel of the smartphone. Be careful not to heat too much in the main camera area, as optical stabilization can suffer from overheating.

Carefully put the display module with the mediator. Start with the bottom, where there are no plumes. When you bend the screen, you see a plume going to the board. It needs to be detached by snapping the connector. Now the old module is completely free. If you bought a module without a frame, you will need to transfer the speaker, vibrator and plume of the fingerprint scanner from the old broken screen to the new one.

For the transfer of components:

• 🔊 Unplug the speaker (heating is mandatory) and move to a new frame.
• 📳 The vibromotor is usually just nested in the groove, it needs to be removed.
• 👆 The fingerprint scanner plume is glued, remove it extremely carefully, it is very thin.

Installation of a new display module

Before you stick a new screen, make sure to test it, plug the display and touchscreen plumes into the motherboard, plug the battery in, and try to turn on your smartphone, check if the image is working, if there are broken pixels, and if the sensor is responsive to touch, which will save you time if you suddenly get a defective part.

If the test is successful, degrease the frame of the new module and the inside of the smartphone body with alcohol. Many new modules have already been coated with adhesive coated with a protective film. If there is no glue, use a special glue B-7000 or bilateral tape for electronics. Apply the glue in a thin layer, the excess will come out and have to be removed.

Put the new module in the case, making sure it lay flat and doesn't stick out anywhere. Tightly press the edges around the perimeter to fix the glue. Put the safety bar back in place, twist all the screws. Notice that the screws can come in different lengths: usually longer ones go to the corners and short ones go to the center, although in Redmi 4X they are often the same, but you don't need to mix them up so you don't break the board.

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Use a rubber band to pull the smartphone body around the perimeter for 15-20 minutes after assembly, which will ensure that the edges of the display fit evenly while the glue dries.

Assembly of the device and verification of functionality

The final step is to install the back cover, clean it of the residue of the old glue. If the native adhesive layer on the lid has lost its properties, apply a thin strip of new glue around the perimeter. Set the lid, fit all the holes together, and use the rubber bands or the load again to fix it while drying.

After assembly, turn on the phone and conduct a full diagnosis:

• 🎨 Check the color reproduction and the absence of spots on a white background.
• ✋ Test the multi-touch by swiping your finger across the screen.
• 📞 Make sure the proximity sensor is working (the screen goes out when you bring it to your ear).

Often users are faced with a situation where the touchscreen does not work correctly immediately after replacement, this may be due to poor contact of the plume, in which case you will have to repeat the disassembly procedure and reconnect the connectors, making sure that they snapped to the characteristic clicks.

Frequent errors and troubleshooting

One common mistake is to use superglue (cyanacrylate) instead of special glue for electronics. Superglue pairs can settle on a matrix or camera lens, creating a whitish plaque that cannot be removed. Always use the B-7000 or rubber-based analogues.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen doesn't light up after you've replaced it, but the phone vibrates when you call, you may have forgotten to plug the backlight plume or damaged it when you installed it.

Also worth mentioning is calibration. In some cases, after a touchscreen change, you may need to have an engineering calibration. In Xiaomi phones, this is done through the engineering menu code ##6484#. You can select the Touchpanel test and draw lines across the screen so that the system redefined the boundaries of the workspace.

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The main secret of success is not to rush when peeling off the plumes. 90% of breakages in self-repair occur due to a sharp jerk, when the glue is not yet heated to the end.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)