How to change the glass on the Xiaomi phone yourself: a step-by-step guide

Broken security glass on the screen of a smartphone is one of the most common and unpleasant problems faced by owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices. Even with the use of a high-quality cover and film, an accidental fall on asphalt or a hit on a hard angle often leads to the appearance of a “web” cracks. In this situation, the user faces a difficult choice: carry the gadget to an authorized service center, where the price for work and the original module can be up to 70% of the cost of the device, or try to replace yourself.

Self-replacement of glass is theoretically possible, but requires an understanding of the design of modern smartphones, the presence of special tools and, most importantly, high precision movements. It is important to note right away: in 95% of cases, we are talking about replacing the entire display module (glass + matrix + frame), since gluing only glass at home is almost impossible without professional equipment. In this article, we will discuss in detail why this happens, what tools are needed and whether the game is worth the candle.

Before you start disassembling, you need to understand the level of risk. Modern phones are assembled with a lot of glue, and the components are very tightly arranged. Sloppy movement can lead to damage to the plumes, a puncture of the battery or a failure of the motherboard. If you are confident in your abilities and are willing to act slowly and methodically, this guide will help you navigate the process.

Diagnosis of damage: glass or matrix?

The first and most important step is to properly diagnose the nature of the damage, and many users mistakenly believe that cracks on the surface mean that only the outer glass should be replaced. However, the display design is a multi-layered pie, where the outer glass (Cover Glass) is glued to the touch layer and matrix (LCD/OLED).

If there are cracks on the surface, but the image is perfectly displayed, the colors are not distorted, there are no black spots, and the touchscreen works flawlessly in all areas of the screen, then you're in luck. In this case, only the outside glass is damaged. However, if you see black spots, stripes, color changes or sensor dead zones, then the matrix is damaged. Replacing only the glass in this case will not help - you need a full module.

⚠️ Attention: If the cracks are deep and sharp fragments directed inside the body, there is a high risk of damage to the matrix during disassembly or further operation.

To check the touchscreen, you can use the built-in engineering mode of Xiaomi. You need to dial the dialer code ##6484## and select "Touchpanel." If you swipe through all squares, you will see whether the screen responds to touch at all points. If there are gaps, repair is inevitable.

Essential tools and spare parts

The quality of the repair depends on the tools used. Trying to open a modern smartphone with a bank card or knife is a sure way to turn a cosmetic defect into a fatal destruction of the case. You will need a specialized kit that can be purchased in radio products or on marketplaces.

The main list of equipment required includes:

• 🔥 Thermophen or hot water heater for softening glue (a common hair dryer may not cope with a powerful adhesive layer).
• 🔧 A set of screwdrivers with bits of different sizes, necessarily including cross and Torx (stars), as Xiaomi often uses different types of screws.
• 📏 Mediators and shoulder blades (plastic and metal) to disconnect the plumes and carefully separate the screen from the frame.
• 🧴 Clay. B-7000 or E-8000 for fixing a new module (normal superglue is strictly prohibited to use!).
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or organizer for screws, so as not to confuse them when assembling.

There are three main types of displays in the Xiaomi parts market: Original (taken from broken phones or factories, the most expensive), OEM (quality replicas, often with good color reproduction), and Copy (cheap counterparts with a poor viewing angle and touchscreen).

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Buy a display module immediately with a frame. This will save you from the most complicated procedure of gluing glass to the old frame, which is almost impossible to perform at home.

Workplace preparation and security measures

Preparation is 50 percent of the success. The workplace should be well lit, spacious and free of unnecessary objects. Small screws and plumes have the ability to run away and get lost at the most inopportune moment. It is recommended to cover the table with a white sheet of paper or use a light table so that small details are clearly visible.

Safety is paramount. Inside the smartphone is a lithium polymer battery, which can cause fire or explosion to damage. Before starting any work, you need to completely discharge the device to 15-20%, but not to zero, to avoid problems with calibrating the power controller, although some experts advise working at a minimum charge to reduce the risk of short circuit.

Be sure to turn off the phone before disassembling. If the screen is broken so that the sensor does not respond, try to do this through the menu or by holding the power button. If you can not turn off, carefully reach the battery plume and disconnect it first thing after removing the back cover.

The process of disassembling the Xiaomi smartphone

The process of disassembly in different models of Xiaomi (for example, Redmi Note or Mi series) may be different, but the overall algorithm of actions is similar. SIM-Then if the back cover is glass, it's usually glued, and if it's plastic, it can hold on to the latches.

Heat the perimeter of the back cover with a thermophen to about 80-90 degrees. Don't hold the hair dryer at one point for long so as not to overheat the matrix or battery. Move the hair dryer around. After warming up, gently insert the suction cup into the bottom of the lid, pull up slightly, and insert a thin plastic blade or blade into the resulting gap.

Swipe around the perimeter, cutting glue. Be careful at the bottom of the phone, where the fingerprint scanner plume or antenna plumes may pass. Once you remove the lid, you'll see the motherboard protection. Unscrew any visible screws by remembering their location.

⚠️ Warning: screws of different lengths! If you screw a long screw into the hole for a short one, you can punch through the motherboard, causing permanent damage to the electronics.

Once the safety plate is removed, you can access the battery and the plumes. First, you can disconnect the battery plume from the board. Only after you turn off the power supply, you can disconnect the display plumes and the touchscreen, and they can be pressed with metal brackets that need to be carefully bent.

Replacement of the display module and assembly

Now that the phone is disassembled and the old screen is disconnected, it's time to install a new part. If you bought a framed module, the task is simpler: just move all the internal components (motherboard, battery, charging boards) from the old frame to the new one, which requires accuracy when rearranging small elements such as a speaker or a vibrator.

If the module is without a frame, you need to carefully unstick the old broken screen from the metal frame. To do this, use heating again. Remove the old module, thoroughly clean the frame of the old glue residue (you can use alcohol and a blade).

Put the new module in a frame, make sure it sits tight and flat. Connect the display and touchscreen plumes to the motherboard before you click. Don't stick the screen in right away! First plug the battery, turn on the phone and check the image and sensor. Make sure there are no broken pixels and phantom presses.

If everything works, apply a thin layer of B-7000 glue to the frame or perimeter of the new module. Press the screen and lock it with rubber bands for 15-20 minutes before the initial grip. Collect the phone in reverse order: protective plate, screws, back cover.

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The most critical part of the assembly is to check the performance of the new screen before the glue is applied, and if a defect is found after gluing, it will not be possible to return the goods.

Comparison of cost and complexity of repairs

Is the sheepskin worth making? Let's compare the costs and risks of self-repairing with the service. The table below shows the approximate data for the popular mid-segment model.

As you can see from the table, there are savings in self-repair, but it doesn't always justify the risks. If you have an expensive model with an AMOLED screen, the cost of error is very high. For low-end models (Entry-level Redmi), self-replacement often makes sense, since the cost of work in the service can exceed the cost of the phone itself.

Also, you should consider the loss of waterproofing. The factory seals are completely broken when you disassemble yourself. Even if you use good glue, you should not count on water protection (IP68) after home repairs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)