The remote control for the Xiaomi Mi Box S is the primary navigation tool, and its failure can turn a smart console into a useless piece of plastic. Owners often face sticking buttons, loss of sensitivity or complete lack of response due to contact oxidation or mechanical damage. Disassembling the device is the only way to conduct deep cleaning or replace worn-out elements such as conductive rubber or springs.
Before you start dismantling, you need to understand that the design of the remote does not provide easy access to the insides without violating the integrity of the housing. The manufacturer expects a one-time use of the accessory, so all the connections are hidden under tight latches and adhesive layers. Your task is to carefully overcome these barriers without damaging the fragile circuit board or the case itself, which after assembly should become airtight again.
The success of the operation depends on the quality of the workplace preparation and the availability of a specialized tool. You should not try to open the device with a knife or brute force, as this will lead to chipping on the plastic and tearing the plumes. Accuracy of movements and patience are key factors that will help you to return the remote to life and avoid buying a new original accessory.
Tools and workplace preparation required
To disassemble properly, you need a minimal but specific set of tools to ensure the safety of components. Standard home accessories may not be enough, as screws often have a specific hat and the body latches are very tight. The main tool will be a set of precision screwdrivers, including cross bits size PH00 and PH0.
Besides screwdrivers, it is critical to have thin plastic blades or mediators to open the body. Using metal objects such as scissors or knives can damage internal electronics and create ugly scratches on glossy surfaces. Also prepare tweezers with thin curved ends to extract small parts and springs.
- 🔧 Precision screwdriver kit (cross-hatch) PH00, PH0).
- 🛠️ Plastic blades (spudger) or mediators for opening the body.
- 🧲 Magnetic mat or small screw sorting container.
- 🧼 Isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs for subsequent cleaning.
Organize the workspace so that all the parts are on hand and well lit. It is recommended to use an antistatic mat, although the risk of static discharge in the remotes is minimal, precaution will not interfere with open electronics. Make sure you have good side lighting to see microscopic latches.
☑️ Preparation for disassembly
Design analysis and search for hidden screws
Visual inspection of the Xiaomi Mi Box S remote shows the absence of visible screws on the front and side panels. This is a typical design technique designed to give the device a monolithic look, but it complicates the maintenance process. All fasteners are usually hidden under decorative plugs, rubber linings or inside the battery compartment.
First, remove the battery compartment and carefully examine the inside of the battery niche. Often, under a serial number or specification sticker, two screws are hiding, holding the halves of the body together. The hidden screw can also be disguised under a rubber leg at the bottom of the device, which must be carefully tucked into the needle.
⚠️ Note: If you find a screw under the sticker, keep in mind that after disassembly the sticker will have to be replaced or gently glued back, as its integrity will be violated when removed.
After removing all visible and hidden screws, take your time to pull the halves of the body in different directions. Inside, there may be connecting plumes or wires running from the buttons to the board, although in this model the contacts are most often made in the form of clamping pads.
Secret screws.
The process of opening the body without damage
The most important step is to separate the front and rear panels of the case, and even if all the screws are twisted, the halves are held on tight plastic latches around the perimeter, and to do this, take a plastic card or a thin blade and start gently inserting it into the junction between the top and bottom of the remote.
Go around the circle, gradually snapping the locks. You'll hear a characteristic click when you release each latch. Don't put too much effort into one point, because Xiaomi plastic can be brittle and easily break when skewed. A uniform distribution of force around the perimeter is key to successful opening.
If the body doesn't respond, maybe there's an untwisted screw inside, or the factory lubricant glued the parts together, so you can slightly warm the body perimeter with a hairdryer to 40-50 degrees, which makes the plastic more elastic, and the key is not to overheat the device so as not to deform the current-conducting rubber of the buttons.
- 🔍 Insert the blade into the junction of the case from the side of the battery nest.
- 👂 Move along the seam, listening to the clicks of the opening latches.
- 🔄 Walk around twice to make sure all the fixers are released.
- ✋ Carefully lift the top cover, checking for plumes.
After successfully splitting the halves, you will have access to a circuit board and a rubber button mat, and at this point it is important not to lose small parts, such as springs or plastic pushers, if they are present in the design of your remote control revision.
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Use a smartphone screen suction cup to lift the top of the body after loosening the latches - this will give the initial gap for inserting the blade.
Diagnostics of internal components and boards
Inside the Mi Box S, you'll see the main PCB, which has an IR receiver, a Bluetooth module, and contact areas soldered, and on top of the board is a black rubber array with graphite contacts on the back of the buttons, and these are the contacts that close the circuit on the board when you press it.
A common cause of malfunction is oxidation of graphite contacts on rubber or contamination of contact areas on the board with grease and dust. Visually inspect the board for corrosion, especially if the remote was operated in high humidity conditions. Oxidized contacts have a dark or greenish coating that prevents current from passing.
Also check the condition of the springs if they are used to return buttons (in some versions), or the integrity of the rubber matrix itself.Cracks on the rubber or loss of elasticity make pressing tight or impossible.If the rubber mat is damaged, replacing it can be more difficult than finding a donor.
| Component | Possible malfunction | Elimination method | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphite contacts | Frayed or contaminated. | Liquor wiping or foil sticking | Low. |
| button spring | Rust or loss of elasticity | Replacement with similar or cleaning | Medium |
| IR-diode | Mechanical damage | The soldering of the new diode | Tall. |
| Fee (PCB) | Cracks or corrosion | Rehabilitation or replacement of tracks | Tall. |
Special attention should be paid to the quartz resonator and the state of the battery compartment inside the remote, the contacts for the batteries may have oxidized due to the leakage of the electrolyte, which requires mechanical cleaning and possibly replacing the contact plates themselves. Use a magnifying glass for detailed inspection of small elements.
Cleaning contacts and restoring functionality
To restore the remote, you need to thoroughly clean all contact groups. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to gently wipe the graphite stains on the rubber matrix and the golden contacts on the board. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates quickly and leaves no conductive traces, unlike water or other solvents.
If the graphite layer on the rubber is completely worn off, you can use the folk-style method of reconstituting with aluminum foil, cut out tiny foil circles and glue them with conductive glue or conventional glue instantly on top of worn rubber contacts, and this will create a new conductive layer that will close the chain.
⚠️ Warning: Never use plain water to clean the board, as it causes corrosion and can short circuit when first turned on.
After cleaning, allow all components to dry completely within 10-15 minutes. Make sure that the board and rubber are free of villi from cotton swabs or other foreign particles. Any dust can cause the buttons to stick in the future.
Collect the remote in reverse order, making sure that the rubber matrix lay flat and all the holes match the buttons. When snapping the case, make sure that the rubber seal (if any) does not fall under the plastic frame, otherwise the tightness will be broken.
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Cleaning contacts with alcohol eliminates 90% of the problems with the response of buttons without the need to replace parts.
Device assembly and final inspection
The final step is to assemble the Xiaomi Mi Box S. Combine the halves of the body, making sure all the internal components fall into place. Start snapping the locks from one of the corners, moving diagonally to ensure that the parts fit evenly.
Twisting all the screws, but don't tug them over, because the plastic can crack. If you've removed the serial number sticker, gently glue it back, or use a new piece of tape to close the hole. Insert the batteries and check all the buttons by plugging the console into the TV.
Check the IR port with your smartphone camera: point the remote to the camera and press any button. If you see a flash of purple or white light on the phone screen, then the IR transmitter is good. If there is light but the console is not responding, there may be a problem with the software or Bluetooth pairing.
- 🔩 Carefully connect the halves of the body before the snap of the latch.
- 🔧 Twisting all screws with moderate effort.
- 🔋 Insert new batteries for the test.
- 📱 Check the IR port through the smartphone camera.
If the remote is running after assembly, congratulations on the successful repair! Now your device is ready for active use again. Regular battery replacement and careful handling will extend the life of the remote after repair.