Broken glass or unresponsive sensor on your Redmi smartphone is not a reason to immediately carry the device to the service center, if you have minimal skills with technique and accuracy. Replacing the touchscreen (digitizer) on Xiaomi Redmi is a technically difficult procedure, but it is quite feasible at home with a quality set of tools and patience. Modern Xiaomi smartphones often have screens where the sensor is soldered with a matrix, which requires special care, but in many budget and medium-sized models these components are separated or changed in the assembly.
Before you start active actions, you need to clearly understand what kind of malfunction you are faced with: whether only the protective glass is broken, or whether there are spots, stripes and cracks on the very same glass under it. LCD/AMOLED If the image is clean, but the phone is not responsive to touch or is chaotic, it will likely require a replacement of the touchpad (digitizer), which is more complex than simply replacing the module assembly. In this article, we will look at both options, paying special attention to security and the right course of action to avoid damaging other nodes of your Xiaomi Redmi.
Diagnosis of malfunction and selection of components
The first step to successful repairs is proper diagnosis. Often users confuse software failures with physical sensor damage. Try restarting the device using a combination of Up Volume + Power buttons to prevent system freeze. If after the reboot the problem persists and you see broken pixels or black spots on the screen, it is a damage to the display.
Parts are critical. There are many options in the Xiaomi parts market: originals (Original), high-quality copies (High Copy) and frankly cheap China. For Redmi Note or Redmi Pro models, there are often modules assembled where the touchscreen is already glued to the matrix, which makes it easier to replace. However, for budget series such as the Redmi 9A or 10C, sometimes you have to change only the glass or sensor separately.
- 🔍 Original module – guarantees 100% compatibility, proper operation of the fingerprint scanner and brightness, but it is expensive.
- 🔍 Copy (OEM) — It may have slightly less saturated colors or a less responsive sensor, but is much cheaper than the original.
- 🔍 B/U module – lottery: you can find the perfect screen for half the price, but the resource of its work is unpredictable.
⚠️ Note: When buying a part, pay attention to the connection plume. Even if the model is the same, the connector may differ in the number of contacts or width, which will make installation impossible without soldering.
Tools and workplace preparation required
You can't have a good repair without the right tools. Don't try to pick the case with a knife or sharp objects, it will damage the plastic and the frame. You'll need a specialty kit that you can buy at any radio parts store or marketplace. Pay special attention to the quality of the suckers and mediators, because they will be the first to contact the case.
To work, you will need: a hair dryer (construction or household with a narrow nozzle), a set of screwdrivers (cross P2, P5), a plastic spatula (mediator), tweezers, isopropyl alcohol and, preferably, a separator or string to separate the glass and matrix (if you change only the touchscreen). Also, do not forget to prepare a container for small screws, since Xiaomi smartphones use fasteners of different lengths.
☑️ Preparation for repairs
The process of disassembling the Xiaomi Redmi smartphone
Disassembly begins with the device switching off and retrieval SIM-Most modern Redmi models have a glass or plastic back cover that is glued around the perimeter. To remove it, you need to warm the edges of the body with a hairdryer to temperature. 70-80 Keep the hair dryer at a distance. 2-3 cc and constantly move it so as not to overheat the matrix or battery.
After warming up, gently insert the suction cup at the bottom of the back cover, pull up slightly to create a gap, and insert a thin plastic blade into it. Drive the shoulder blade around the perimeter, gradually peeling off the lid. Be extremely careful at the bottom of the smartphone: there may be a fingerprint scanner plume or antenna module that is easily damaged by a sharp jerk.
- 🛠️ Remove all screws from the bottom frame and from the dynamic speaker.
- 🛠️ Disconnect the fingerprint scanner plume if it is glued to the cover.
- 🛠️ Carefully remove the plastic protective frame covering the display plumes.
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Use isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the glue. Put some liquid in the gap between the lid and the frame, wait a minute, and the glue will become softer.
Replacement of the display module or touch screen
The most important step is to dismantle the old screen, and once you've reached the internal components, the first thing you need to do is turn off the battery, find the battery connector on the motherboard, and gently disconnect it with a plastic tool, and only after it's turned off, you can disconnect the display plumes.
If you change the module assembly (screen + touchscreen + frame), the process is simple: remove the old module, move the speaker and controllers (if they are not glued) to the new frame, connect the plumes and glue the frame. If you change only the touchscreen (glass), you will need a separator or heating to separate the glass from the matrix. This process requires skill: the string carefully cuts the layer of glue (OCA) between the glass and the matrix.
| Type of malfunction | Repair method | Difficulty | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The glass is broken, the image is | Replacement of glass (press required) | Tall. | The matrix break |
| The sensor is not working, the glass is whole. | Touchscreen replacement | Tall. | Damage to the plume |
| Black spots, stripes on the screen | Replacement of module assembled | Medium | Low. |
| Cracks and sensors are not working | Replacement of module assembled | Medium | Low. |
⚠️ Never press your fingers or tools on the back of the matrix (especially if you are not using them). AMOLED). This will lead to irreversible damage to the crystals and the appearance of black spots.
Assembly of the device and application of glue
Once the new module is installed, the back cover must be securely secured. The old double-sided tape should be removed completely, clearing the frame of the glue residue with alcohol. Use a special glue B-7000 or E-8000 for fixation, or a pre-painted double-sided tape that comes with the new module.
Apply the glue with a thin continuous line along the perimeter of the frame, avoiding getting on the camera and speaker. Press the lid and lock the device with stationery gums or a load for 15-20 minutes. Don't turn on the phone right away, let the glue grab to avoid skewing and moisture getting inside in the future.
- 🧪 Degrease the surface with alcohol before applying glue.
- 🧪 Avoid getting glue on the camera lens - it will spoil the photo.
- 🧪 Tightly press the module to the frame around the perimeter for uniform grasping.
Calibration of the sensor and check of performance
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In the CIT menu that opens, select Touchpanel or Sensor. Follow the instructions on the screen: usually draw lines or set dots in certain areas, which will help identify dead zones or the multi-touch ghost effect when the phone responds to non-existent touches.
What if the sensor is walking on its own?
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Calibration through the engineering menu is a must, and if the test is not passed, disassemble the phone again and check the density of the touchscreen plume to the board.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
Even with a neat build, there can be nuances, sometimes the phone doesn't see the touchscreen right after you turn it on, in which case you try to completely drain the battery before you turn it off, and then charge it when it's off to 100 percent, which will help the power controller and the sensor sync.
If the fingerprint scanner (located on the on button or under the screen) stops working after the replacement, check if you damaged its plume during disassembly. In models with a subscreen scanner, replacing the touchscreen with a low-quality analog can lead to a loss of unlock function, since the optical properties of the new glass may not let light through correctly.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen shows distorted colors or “rainbow” overflows after replacing, you may have squeezed the plume or used a low-quality module that is not compatible with your board revision.