Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco know that factory oleophobic film is a short-lived thing. The screens of flagships and budget models are often scratched after a couple of months of active use. That is why buying quality tempered glass is the first step after unpacking the gadget. The glue process seems simple, but without preparation and understanding of the nuances you can easily spoil an expensive accessory or leave dust on the display.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to properly prepare the work area, what tools you will need and how to avoid bubbles. 3D-You'll learn why it's important to not skimp on consumables and how the quality of the adhesive layer affects the performance of the fingerprint sensor.
Not only will we give you a text instruction, but we will also structure the information so that you can visualize each step, and even if you don't have a video on hand, clear descriptions will help you do the job professionally, and the key is to take your time and follow an algorithm so that the result is pleasing to the eye and protects the display from impact.
Choosing the Right Glass Protection for Xiaomi
The first and most important step is to buy the right accessory. The market is full of offers, but not all of them are compatible with your expectations. For flat-screen Xiaomi smartphones, there is usually no problem, but owners of models with 2.5D or curved edges (like in the Mi Note series or flagships Mi) need to be careful. Glasses are divided into flat (2D), rounded edges (2.5D) and fully voluminous (3D/5D/9D).
The key is the Mohs hardness and the quality of the adhesive layer. Cheap options often have only a silicone layer along the contour, which means that the central part does not fit tightly, forming an air cushion. This not only spoils the view, but can also lead to cracks when falling. A full-fledged adhesive must cover the entire inner surface of the accessory.
- 📱 2D Glasses: flat, do not cover the rounded edges of the screen, cheap, but less aesthetic.
- 💎 2.5D Glasses: have rounded edges, look good on most models, but can peel off along the contour.
- 🛡️ 3D/5D glass: completely cover the curved screen, require precise fitting and often have a frame to fit.
⚠️ Attention: When buying 3D-glass for models with a proximity sensor in the upper corner (for example, Mi 9, Mi 10) make sure that there is a special cutout in the glass. The black frame can block the sensor, and the screen will go out during the conversation.
And you also have to look at the oleophobic coating, because the quality glass repels the fat and the water, so that the finger can slide easily across the screen, and the cheap ones quickly lose these properties, and the display becomes "drained." You can check for the coating by dripping water: on a good glass, the drop will gather into a ball, on a bad one, it will spread.
The success of the operation depends on preparation, 90%. Dust is the main enemy when you stick it. Even a microscopic villi trapped under the glass creates a noticeable bubble that can not be removed without re-painting, so choose a room that has not been drafted for a long time, and it is advisable to do a wet cleaning in advance to precipitate the dust.
You'll need a flat surface with good lighting. You'll want to wipe the table with a damp cloth and let it dry. Don't try to glue the glass on the carpet, the couch or the bed -- pile and dust are guaranteed to ruin the result. The ideal place is a clean desk by the window or under a bright lamp.
A standard gluing kit is usually complete with glass, but the quality often leaves much to be desired, so you'd better prepare your materials or buy them separately.
- 💧 Alcohol wipes or isopropyl alcohol for degreasing.
- 🧹 Sticky tape (scotch) or special stickers for dust removal.
- 🧽 Microfibre or lilac-free fabric for polishing.
- 💳 Plastic card or special spatula for air discharge.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the UV lamp if you plan to glue glass onto liquid glue (UV-This is true for fully curved screens where normal glass doesn't fit, so an ultraviolet lamp is necessary for the polymerization of glue, and standard silicone-layered glass doesn't need it.
Step-by-step: how to glue glass without bubbles
The most critical point is that don't rush to remove the protective film from the glass until you're sure the screen is perfectly clean. First, wipe the display thoroughly with an alcohol napkin, removing greasy spots and finger marks. Then, with a dry microfiber, polish the surface to shine.
Use a sticky tape or sticker from the set to collect the smallest villi that could have been left after wiping. Walk Velcro across the screen several times. Only then you can go to the glass itself. Carefully remove the bottom protective film (usually signed with the number 1 or has a tongue).
What to do if the glass is dusty?
If you take the film off and you see the dust on the glue layer, don't panic. Carefully raise the edge of the glass with your finger or blade, put a piece of tape underneath with your sticky side up and "mark" the dust. Repeat until the contamination is completely removed.> Now you need to combine the glass with the screen. Orient yourself on the dynamic, the front camera and the edges of the display. Don't press the glass immediately! First, just put it on top and check the axiability. If everything is flat, gently put the glass on the screen without the matrix. Step Action Important nuance Cleaning Cleaning Alcohol and Microfiber Do not Save Alcohol, Fat Spots Prevent Glue Removal Dust Use of Sticky Tape Light should fall at an angle to see Village Positioning Combination on edges and camera Do not remove the top film until full Sticking Fixing Pressing and expelling air Move from the center to the edges evenly Specifics of the sticker on curved screens (3D/5D) Owners of Xiaomi flagship models (for example, Mi) 10 Pro, Mi 11) And they're facing the problem of white contours around the edges, because the glass doesn't fit the curves, and the normal flat glass is useless. You're going to need special ones. 3D-glass with black frame or glass on UV-Black-framed glass masks the non-adjacent, but it can eventually unstick on the sides. It's got liquid glue that you put on the screen, you put the glass on the screen, you put it on the UV lamp, and the glue fills all the voids, creating the perfect fit. UV-The glue requires caution. The liquid should not get into the speaker, buttons or charging connector. Before you start, be sure to seal all the holes with paint tape. Also be prepared for the fact that the glue can leak out at the edges - it should be immediately removed with a dry wipe before polymerization. 🔦 UV lamp: required for glue hardening, exposure time is usually 2-5 minute. 💧 Liquid glue: provides 100% supplant, but difficult to remove when replaced. 🛡️ Port Protection: Make sure to seal the connector USB-C beforehand. ⚠️ Warning: Liquid glue when flowing into the speaker or microphone can permanently damage the sound. If the glue gets inside, don't turn the phone on until you're sure it's completely frozen or removed. If you choose a black bezel, make sure it doesn't overlap the sensors.Some manufacturers make universal glass that doesn't fit specific models because of the wide bezel.Always check compatibility with the smartphone model. 📊 What is the screen type of your Xiaomi?Flat.Slightly curved (2.5D)Strongly curved (3D/Curved)I don't know/Other Problem Removal: Bubbles, Dust and Detachments Even experienced craftsmen sometimes have problems. The most common enemy is air bubbles. Small bubbles often disappear by themselves in the course of a short period of time. 24-48 You have to get the big ones out of the window, and if the bubble doesn't go away, you have to gently lift the edge of the glass over it and press it back in, you get the air out. And the dust under the glass is a bigger problem. As mentioned earlier, it can be removed by lifting glass and using Scotch. If there's a lot of dust, it's easier to remove the glass completely, clean the screen and glass thoroughly again, and repeat the procedure. A glue layer of quality glass allows you to do this several times without losing properties. Gently heat the edges with a hair dryer (not too hot to not damage the matrix) and press your finger for a few seconds. Heat will soften the glue and improve adhesion. However, if the detachment is strong, perhaps the glass just doesn't fit geometry. Sometimes users complain about a decrease in the sensitivity of the screen, which can be due to the thickness of the glass or poor quality. MIUI Often there is an option "Gloves mode" or "High sensitivity", the inclusion of which solves the problem. 💡If the fingerprint scanner in the screen stopped working after the sticker, try removing the old thumb saving and writing the fingerprint back with the glass already glued. Care for the protective glass and frequent questions After a successful sticker, it is important to properly care for the surface. Don't use aggressive chemistry, abrasive fabrics or paper towels, they scratch the oleophobic layer. Your screen's best friend is a soft microfiber. Rub the screen in circular motions without much pressure. The protective glass is an expendable material. It takes the hit, saving the matrix. If there is a deep scratch or crack on the glass, it needs to be replaced. Operating broken glass is dangerous: the fragments can hurt the finger, and the crack can go further, damaging the display itself. The service life of quality glass is from 6 to 12 months depending on the intensity of use. When the oleophobic coating is worn and the screen is rough, it's time to change the protection. Don't wait for the glass to shatter. Can you paste the glass on an already broken screen? Technically, if the shards haven't fallen and the glass is held, but it's a temporary solution. The glue may not cling to the shards, and the cracks will interfere with the view and operation of the touchscreen. Better replace the display module. Does the glass affect the brightness and color reproduction? Quality transparent glass (>90%) has little effect on the image matrix, but it does not affect the upper glass with a glazing, so that it does not sharply reduce the glass from the glazing area, and the upper glazing, then the glass with the upper glazing, if it is removed from the glazing, then the upper glazing, if you need to remove the glass from the glass with the upper glazing, or the upper glazing, if you use the upper glazing, the glass with the thinning. Why does the glass peel off at the edges? Causes: poor degreasing, incompatibility of shape (the glass is too wide), getting moisture or fat on the edges when you stick it, or the poor quality of the accessory itself. Do you have to take off old factory film? Yes, necessarily! Factory film is not a protection, but a temporary coating for transportation. It is thick, collects dust and interferes with the normal fit of the protective glass. Glue the glass only on the bare screen.