Replacement of the keyboard with Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: full-length photo guide

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (The codename mido remains one of the most popular budget smartphones even years after its release, but over time, the device’s keyboard — whether physical buttons (in rare modifications) or touch module — can fail: buttons stop responding, ghost presses appear, or the plume is damaged. In this article, we will discuss how to change the keyboard on the Redmi Note. 4X, without going to the service center.

It is important to understand that the keyboard in the context of this smartphone is often referred to as a flexible plume of touch buttons (for the version with hardware buttons under the screen) or a touchscreen (if there are problems with touch input throughout the screen), and we will focus on the first option, replacing the plume of hardware buttons Home, Menu and Back, as this is the most common breakdown. To replace the touchscreen will require a complete disassembly of the screen, which is more difficult and risky.

Before you start, evaluate your strength: repair requires precision, minimal skills with small parts and special tools. If you have never disassembled a smartphone, practice on a work device or watch video disassembly. Mistakes can damage the motherboard or display!

Signs of Keyboard Failure on Redmi Note 4X

How do you know if the problem is the button plume, not the software failure?

• 🔘 Home, Back, or Menu buttons don’t respond to presses or fire after a while.
• 👻 «Ghost presses – the smartphone opens the menu itself or comes back without your participation.
• 🔄 The buttons work only when pressed strongly or at a certain angle.
• 💡 The buttons are not lit (if it was provided in your modification).
• 📱 Artifacts appear on the screen at the bottom (may indicate damage to the plume).

Before replacing the plume, try software diagnostic methods:

1. Reboot your smartphone – sometimes the buttons “hang” because of the software.
2. Check the buttons in Engineering Menu Mode (enter ##4636## and select Testing) → Touch Test).
3. Update the firmware to the latest version – in older versions MIUI There were push processing bugs.

⚠️ Note: If the buttons do not work after a smartphone falls or moisture gets in, the problem may not be in the plume, but in damage to the motherboard or oxidation of contacts!

Which keyboard to choose for replacement: original vs analogues

There are three types of spare parts for Redmi Note 4X:

When choosing, pay attention to:

• 🔍 Article: the original plume has the marking Xiaomi 1607-015628 or 1607-015629 (light-up).
• 📦 Package: The set must be the plume itself + double-sided tape-stick.

Critical moment: plumes for the Redmi Note 4X Redmi Note 4 (India version) is not interchangeable! Make sure you buy a part for the mido model (check Settings). → The phone. → Model).

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If you buy a plume on AliExpress, choose sellers with a rating above 98% and a number of orders from 1000.+. Often the description indicates whether the backlight buttons ("With") are supported. LED" or LED").

Tools to replace the keyboard on the Redmi Note 4X

To disassemble and replace the plume will need:

Screen suction cup (∅ 5-7 cm)

Plastic shoulder blades (mediator) or guitar mediators

Thin screwdriver cross (PH00)

Tweezers with curved ends

Dryer or thermo-air station (for softening the glue)

Double-sided scotch (e.g., double-sided scotch, 3M 9448A analogue)

Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) and cotton swabs

Antistatic bracelet (optional but recommended)

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Where to buy tools:

• 🛒 Smartphone repair kits – sold on AliExpress, Chip and Deep or radio stores (price: 300-1000) ₽).

If you don't have experience, you'd better buy a customized kit for Xiaomi, which will already have blades of the right thickness and a suction cup of the right size. Avoid metal tools: they can scratch the body or damage the plumes.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use knives or scissors to smack the screen! This is almost guaranteed to damage the display or plumes. Plastic shoulder blades must be blunt - sharp edges can pierce the touchscreen.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the keyboard plume

The replacement process consists of three steps: disassembling the smartphone, unplugging the old plume and installing a new one.

Stage 1: Disassembly of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-cards and memory cards (if installed).
2. Heat the back cover with a hair dryer for 2-3 minutes, holding it at a distance of 10-15 cm. This will soften the glue. The temperature should not be higher than 60°C – overheating can damage the battery!
3. Put the lid on a plastic blade, starting at the bottom edge (near the charging socket), insert the blade into the slot, and gently guide along the body, separating the latches.
4. Remove the lid, it's held on the latches and glue, and if the lid doesn't lend itself, warm up the problem areas again.

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 Battery (attached to glue).
• 📶 Antenna modules (do not touch them unnecessarily!).
• 🔌 Camera and display plumes (covered with metal screen plates).

Step 2: Disconnect the battery and keyboard plume

Before working with plumes, be sure to turn off the battery, otherwise you risk burning the motherboard!

1. Carefully put a plastic blade on the black battery connector and unplug it from the board. Use the blade as a lever, but don't put too much effort into it.
2. Unscrew 4 screws fixing the metal plate over the display plumes (screws can be of different lengths - remember where it was!).
3. Lift the plate and gently disconnect the display plume (it is wide and located on top) and the plume of touch buttons (thin, at the bottom).
4. The keyboard plume is attached to the bottom of the screen with double-sided tape, and then you shovel it and slowly separate it from the body.

Attention to details:

• 🔩 Screws in the Redmi Note 4X They're different lengths. If you confuse them with places, you can damage the board!
• 🧲 The plumes are very fragile - do not pull them by the wires, just for plastic connectors.
• 🔥 If the glue on the keyboard plume is too strong, moisten it with isopropyl alcohol and wait 1-2 minutes.

Step 3: Installation of a new plume and assembly

1. Remove the remnants of the old tape from the case and the new plume, wipe the surfaces with alcohol for degreasing.
2. Stick a new plume onto a double-sided tape, combining the button holes with the markings on the case. Don't press too hard - you can damage the conductive tracks.
3. Connect the plume to the motherboard connector, and it should snap with a click.
4. Set the metal plate back and twist the screws (observing order!).
5. Connect the battery and check the buttons before final assembly.
6. If everything works, stick the back cover. Warm it up with a hair dryer for reliability (50-60 temperature).°C) and press for 5-10 minutes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when replacing a plume.

• 🔌 Battery connector damage -- if you push too hard with a blade, you can tear the contacts off. Solution: Use a thin plastic blade and pop the connector on the side, not on the top.
• 🔩 Mixed screws -- long screws can break through the board. Solution: put the screws in order on a piece of paper, or use a magnetic mat.
• 📱 Display plume damage -- if you accidentally hit it with a blade, the screen will stop working. Solution: fix the plumes with paint tape before work.
• 🔥 Overheating of the battery can cause swelling. Solution: warm the lid in short intervals (no longer than 30 seconds in a row).

Another common problem is that the buttons are working, but the backlight is not on, which means you bought a plume without LEDs or you plugged it in the wrong way, and in some analogues, the backlight is connected by a separate wire, check the circuitry in the instructions for the spare part.

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If the phone doesn't turn on after assembly, the first thing you do is check the battery connection, and 90 percent of the time, it's the battery that's the problem, not the keyboard plume.

Alternative solutions: if the replacement does not help

In rare cases, replacing a plume doesn't solve the problem. What do you do then?

• 🔄 Resetting: Sometimes button crashes are caused by software errors. Make a backup of data and execute Hard Reset via Recovery (press Power). + Volume Up with the phone turned off).
• 🛠️ Checking the motherboard: if the smartphone fell or got wet, you could damage the tracks on the board. In this case, you need a microscope and a soldering station - you better contact the service.
• 📱 Use of virtual buttons: in settings MIUI You can enable the Navigation Bar (in newer versions) or install an app like the Navigation Bar from Google Play.
• 🔧 Replacement of the entire display module: If the problem is the touchscreen (not the button plume), you have to change the entire screen. It's more expensive, but sometimes the only way out.

If you suspect damage to the fee, pay attention to the following symptoms:

• The smartphone does not charge or discharges quickly.
• Other components (such as a speaker or microphone) are not working.
• Colored stripes or artifacts appear on the screen.

Cost of repair in the service vs self-replacement

Prices for replacement of keyboard plume in service centers vary depending on the region and the status of the workshop:

Self-repair is beneficial if:

• You already have the tools.
• You buy a quality plume (not a no-name for 150) ₽).
• You are confident in your skills – mistakes can cost more!

Contacting the service is justified if:

• Smartphone warranty (self-repair it cancels).
• You've never been a computer expert.
• The problem may be related to damage to the board.

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If you're going to give your phone to a service, ask them if they provide diagnostics before repairs, and many workshops charge for diagnostics even if you don't want to have the repairs.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions