Replacement of touchscreen on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: a complete guide with photos and nuances

Introduction: when to replace and whether to take yourself

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 touchscreen is one of the most vulnerable parts of the smartphone. Falling from a height, a strong impact or even a bad press can lead to cracks, dead zones or a complete failure of the touchscreen. If your screen stopped responding to touch, displays artifacts or is covered with a web of cracks, you will most likely need a replacement.

The service center will charge from 2,500 to 5,000 rubles (depending on the region and the status of the workshop), but with the tools and patience, you can replace the touchscreen yourself, which will save up to 70% of the cost. The main thing is to understand that the Redmi Note 4 has adhesive assembly of the display module, and errors in disassembly can lead to damage to the plumes or motherboard.

In this article, we'll take a look at the whole process, from fault diagnosis to final testing, how to pick up the right part, what tools you'll need, and where the pitfalls are hidden when you're working with this model, and focus on the battery disconnection moment, which is where most beginners make the critical short circuit error.

Diagnosis: how to make sure that the problem is in the touch screen

Before ordering a new screen, make sure the malfunction is not due to software failures or plume damage, and here are the key signs that indicate a failure of the touch layer:

• 📱 The screen responds to late touches or “missing” presses in certain areas.
• 🔄 The sensor works "independently" - registers touches without your participation (ghost touch).
• 🖥️ The image on the display is displayed normally, but no touches are recognized (this eliminates the matrix problem).
• 🔍 Visible physical damage: cracks, chips, or detachment of the sensory layer.

If you have at least one of these symptoms, you have a 90% chance of a touchscreen malfunction, but you can do the test to be sure:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and check if it's detected in ADB (adb device command), and if so, the problem is exactly in the hardware.
2. Try connecting the mouse via the OTG- adapter, and if the cursor is moving and the touch is not working, the sensor is to blame.
3. Run the display test through the engineering menu (code ##6484##). If the matrix displays colors correctly, but the touches are not fixed, the diagnosis is confirmed.

⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone doesn't turn on after the fall (no vibration, no charging indication), the problem may be a disconnected display plume or damage to the motherboard, in which case replacing the touchscreen will not help - a comprehensive diagnosis is required.

Selection of spare parts: original vs. analogue and where to buy

The quality of the touchscreen is not only the tactile recoil, but also the durability of the repair. For the Redmi Note 4 (model mido), there are three types of screens on the market:

For the Redmi Note 4, it is critical to pay attention to the screen version.

• 📱 JDI (Japan Display) is brighter and more contrasting, but expensive to replace.
• 📱 LG — slightly less saturated colors, but cheaper and easier to install.

You can find out your version by the serial number on the battery sticker or through the CPU-Z app (display section). If you are not sure, take a universal analogue marked For JDI/LG.

⚠️ Warning: When buying on AliExpress, make sure to check that the adhesive strips (LOCA- glue) and the screwdriver T3 are included. Many sellers sell a "naked" screen without fasteners, which will make installation more difficult.

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Before you buy, ask the seller for a photo of the screen on the back - there must be a barcode that matches your model (mido), which will protect against counterfeiting for other versions of Redmi.

Tools and workplace preparation

To replace the touchscreen with the Redmi Note 4, you'll need a dedicated toolkit. Don't try to do "at hand" - it can damage the plumes or the body. Here's the full list:

Screwdriver. T3 (for hull screws)|Plastic shoulder blades (2-3 pieces)|Screen suction cup (∅ 5-7 cm)|Tweezers with curved ends|Dryer or thermo-air station (power 300-500 W)|Isopropyl alcohol (90%)+)|LOCA-glue or bilateral scotch (3M)|Antistatic bracelet (optional, but recommended)

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Pay special attention to the thermophen. The optimum temperature for softening the adhesive is 70-90°C. Higher values can melt the plastic latches of the case. If there is no hair dryer, you can use a household iron, but it is less safe.

Prepare the workplace:

• 🪑 Work at a table with good lighting (better to use a desk lamp).
• 🧲 Remove all metal objects – they can become magnetized and damage the motherboard.
• 📦 Spread the screws over containers or paste them on scotch in order of extraction.
• 🔌 Turn off all appliances nearby except the hair dryer.

If you're taking your smartphone apart for the first time, practice on an unnecessary device or watch a disassembly on YouTube (recommended Fixez or Repair Universe channels). Key point: on the Redmi Note 4, the battery plume is glued to the body - it needs to be gently shoveled with a spatula, do not pull the wires!

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the touch screen

Now, to the most critical stage, follow the instructions strictly by step, and even one point can lead to irreversible consequences.

Step 1: Shutting off power and removing the back cover

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove the SIM- card from the tray.

2. heat the hair dryer back cover around the perimeter for 2-3 minutes. Keep the hair dryer at a distance of 5-7 cm, so as not to overheat the plastic.

3. Insert a plastic blade into the gap between the lid and the body (start at the lower left corner where the antenna is located). Carefully drive the blade along the body, snapping the latches.

⚠️ Warning: Don't force the center of the lid, because there's a fingerprint scanner, and damage to its plume will cause additional costs.

Step 2: Battery disconnection

1 Unscrew 10 T3 screws fixing the metal plate above the battery.

2. Put a plastic blade on the red battery connector (at the top of the board) and it's fixed with a latch, pull it up, and then carefully remove the plume.

3. Check with the multimeter that the voltage at the contacts of the battery is 0 V (this will confirm the disconnection).

Step 3: Dismantling the old touchscreen

1. Heat the front panel with a hair dryer (especially at the edges) for 4-5 minutes.

2. With a suction cup, raise the screen 1-2 mm, then insert the plastic blade into the resulting slot. Slowly drive the blade along the body, separating the touchscreen.

3. Once the screen is separated, turn it over and disconnect the three plumes:

• 🔌 Main display plume (wide, 30-pin).
• 🔌 A touchscreen plume (thin, 10-pin).
• 🔌 Light sensor plume (small, 4-pin).

Step 4: Install a new screen

1. Remove the protective film from the new touchscreen and apply the LOCA- glue around the perimeter (or use double-sided tape).

2. Reverse the plumes. Make sure they're firmly attached to the connectors -- even a minimal backlash can cause artifacts.

3. Carefully press the screen against the body, starting at the top. Make sure there are no gaps.

Step 5: Assembly and testing

1. Connect the battery and turn on the smartphone. If the screen is not responding, check the density of the plumes.

2. Install the back cover and twist the screws (do not tug!).

3. Run the test:

• 🎨 Check the color rendering (whether there are yellow or broken pixels).
• 👆 Swipe your finger all over the screen – touches should be recorded without delay.
• 📱 Make sure that the autorotation and light sensor are working.

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If the screen is working after the replacement, but there are "waves" when pressed - this is a sign of a poorly glued touchscreen. Take apart the smartphone and re-apply the glue, evenly pressing the screen.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when replacing the touchscreen with a Redmi Note 4. Here are the most common problems and ways to prevent them:

• 🔥 Overheating board: If you hold the dryer too close, small elements (such as capacitors near the charging socket) can be soldered off. Solution: use the heat paste on the heated area and control the temperature with a contactless thermometer.
• 🔌 Train damage. The mido touchscreen plume is extremely thin. If you bend it, you get dead zones. Solution: stick the plume to the casing during installation.
• 🎨 Color mismatch: Cheap counterparts often have a cold hue. Solution: ask the seller for a picture of the screen on before you buy (on white background).
• 🔋 Spontaneous reboots, which occur when the battery plume is poorly fixed, solution: check the contacts with a multimeter after assembly.

If the smartphone does not turn on after replacing, follow the following steps:

1. Check if the power plume is connected to the motherboard.
2. Make sure the battery is not swollen (if so, replace it).
3. Connect the charger – if a charging indication appears, the problem is in the on button.
4. If nothing works, it's probably damaged, in which case, contact the service.

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If the new touchscreen works but the jelly effect appears, calibrate it through the engineering menu: ##36446337# → Touch Screen Test → Calibration.

Cost of repair: comparison with the service center

Let's calculate how much it costs to replace the touchscreen on your own and in the workshop. Take the premium analogue (A+) for example:

As you can see from the table, self-repair is 30 to 50 percent more profitable, but consider the risks:

• 🔧 If you damage the fee, the repair will cost 8-12 thousand rubles.
• ⏳ It will take 2-3 hours to disassemble/assemble (in service - 40-60 minutes).
• 📦 If you buy a defective screen, you will have to wait 2-3 weeks for a replacement (on AliExpress).

So the bottom line is, if you have experience with electronics and patience, you can do it yourself, and if you don't, you'd better pay over the warranty.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions