Disassembly of the Xiaomi Mi Box remote: from A to Z with photos and repair tips

The Xiaomi Mi Box S or Mi Box 4K remote is a compact but fragile device that often fails due to falls, fluids or button wear. Even a beginner can disassemble it on his own, if you know the nuances from the type of mounts to the location of the chips. In this article, Step-by-step, a list of necessary tools, and tips for diagnosing faults and fixing them.

Many users face typical problems: individual buttons don't work, the remote doesn't respond to presses or requires multiple clicks. 80% of the time, it's not the fault of the board, but the contamination of contacts or wear of rubber pads. Once you dismantle the remote, you can clean the contacts with alcohol, replace the battery (if it sat down and swelled), or even solder damaged tracks. The main thing is to act carefully so as not to damage the plumes and chips.

📊 What is your Xiaomi Mi Box remote?

Mi Box S (round)

Mi Box 4K (rectangular)

Mi Box 3 (old)

I don't know.

Another brand

Preparation for disassembly: tools and precautions

Before you start disassembling, make sure that the problem is in the remote, not the console. Try to control the Mi Box using the Mi Remote mobile app (available for Android and iOS), If the app works and the physical remote does not, then it is it.

You'll need to take this apart.

🔧 Plastic spatula (or mediator) – so as not to scratch the body.
⚙️ Cross screwdriver (usually suitable) PH00 or PH0).
🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) clean-up.
📸 Smartphone – to photograph the process (useful when assembling).
🧲 Magnetic substrate or saucer for screws (so as not to lose).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal screwdrivers to smear the case - they leave scratches and can damage the latches. If you do not have a plastic blade at hand, take an unnecessary bank card.

Also, prepare your workspace: a table with good lighting, no carpets (so as not to lose small parts), and with minimal static electricity. If you disassemble the remote control after getting liquid, do not turn it on until it is completely dry (at least 24 hours in rice or silica gel) - a short circuit can disable the chip.

Step 1: Remove the battery and find hidden attachments

So, the simplest thing to do is to take the battery out, flip the remote over and find the battery compartment (usually at the bottom), put the lid on the nail or a plastic blade, and it's held on the latches. The Mi Box S uses a CR2032 battery, and the Mi Box 4K uses two AAA batteries.

Once the battery is removed, inspect the compartment, sometimes with screws hidden underneath (especially in the Mi Box 3 models). There are no propellers under the battery in the Mi Box S and 4K, but there are hidden latches around the perimeter of the case.

Put the remote down with the buttons.
Carefully insert the blade into the gap between the top and bottom of the body (start at the corner next to the battery compartment).
Smoothly drive the shoulder blade along the seam until you hear clicks of clicking clips.

- Make sure the battery doesn't swell.

- Take pictures of the location of the spring contacts

Check if there are any screws under the stickers

- Prepare a container for small parts-->

If the case is not amenable, don't force it -- you may have missed the screw. In the Mi Box 4K models, there is sometimes an extra screw under the serial number sticker (it is located on the back side), to remove it, warm up the dryer sticker or gently slap the edge with a spatula.

Step 2: Separation of the housing and removal of the board

Once all the latches are snapped, the top of the body should be easily separated.

🖱️ Rubber pad with buttons (it can stick to the board).
📱 Printed circuit board with chip and contacts.
🔋 Spring contacts for battery (in the Mi Box S they are often oxidized).

Carefully remove the rubber gasket, which can be glued to the board due to static electricity. If the gasket is torn or the buttons "fail", it can be replaced with a similar remote from another (for example, from Xiaomi Mi TV Stick) or ordered on AliExpress (article: XMSH02DM for Mi Box S).

Model remote control	Type of battery	Number of screws	Features of disassembly
Xiaomi Mi Box S	CR2032	0 (latch only)	Rubber pads often stick to the board
Xiaomi Mi Box 4K	2 × AAA	1 (under the sticker)	The screw can be hidden under the serial number
Xiaomi Mi Box 3	2 × AAA	2 (under batteries)	The charge is fixed on additional latches

Now, take out the board. In the Mi Box S, it's just in the grooves, and in the Mi Box 4K, it can be mounted on 1-2 screws. Be careful with the infrared LED (located at the top of the board) - it's easy to damage. If the remote was not working before disassembly, check the LED for cracks or blackening.

What to do if the payment is not refunded?

If the board is jammed, check: 1. Have you forgotten to flick the clips on the sides (in the Mi Box 4K they can be hidden under rubber legs). 2. Is there a solder connecting the board to the body (sometimes after falls, the contacts are detached and soldered to the metal parts of the case). 3. Has the fee for bilateral tape (found in the replicas of the remotes) stuck.

Step 3: Diagnostics of faults and cleaning of contacts

The most common causes of a non-working remote:

🔋 Oxidation of battery contacts (especially in the Mi Box S due to humidity).
🖋️ Wear of the graphite coating on the rubber gasket.
💧 Short circuit after liquid is ingested.
📡 Damage to the IR LED (the remote does not shine in the smartphone camera).

To clean the contacts:

Wet the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol.
Gently wipe the spring contacts in the battery compartment and the paths on the board (especially around the buttons).
Use an eraser to remove oxidation (metal contacts only!).
Let the board dry for 10-15 minutes.

To check the IR LED, open the camera on your smartphone and point the remote control over the lens (from a distance of 5-10 cm). When pressing any button, you should see purple light. If it is not, the LED is defective. You can replace it with a similar one (parameters: 940 nm, 5 mm, 20 mA).

💡

If the buttons only work when pressed hard, the problem is the rubber pad. Buy conductive rubber (like Carbon Pillows on AliExpress) and paste it on worn areas.

Step 4: Repair buttons and replace items

If individual buttons do not respond, the reason may be:

🔍 Contamination of contacts under rubber gasket.
🧩 Breaking tracks on the board (often after falls).
🔄 Wear of the graphite layer on the gasket.

For repairs:

Remove the rubber pad and inspect it for cracks.
If the graphite layer is worn, apply a new one with a conductive glue (such as Contactol).
Check the integrity of the tracks on the board under the magnifying glass, and the damaged areas can be repaired with conductive varnish or thin wire.

The Mi Box S often breaks the OK button due to heavy use. If its contact has detached, solder it back with a soldering iron (no more than 30 watts to keep the board warm).

⚠️ Warning: When soldering, do not touch the soldering iron of the chip - it can fall off from overheating. If you need to solder the contact next to the chip, use a heat sink (for example, tweezers attached to the chip leg).

Step 5: Build the remote and check the health

After repair, collect the remote in reverse order:

Put the fee in the case, combining the slots.
Carefully put on a rubber pad (make sure all buttons are in place).
Close the body, starting from the side opposite the battery compartment.
Click the clips by clicking on them until the characteristic click.

Before final assembly, check:

🔋 Battery polarity (in the Mi Box S, the contacts are marked) + and −).
📏 Correct location of the rubber gasket (buttons should be pressed without jamming).
🔍 Absence of unnecessary screws or parts (a common mistake is to forget to screw the screw under the sticker).

After assembly, test the remote:

Hover it over the Mi Box and check the reaction to all buttons.
If the remote is not working, take it apart again and check:

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If the buttons are running "once again" after assembly, the reason may be a weak contact of the rubber pad with the board. Try to bend the metal "pits" slightly on the board for better fit.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced wizards sometimes make mistakes when disassembling Xiaomi remotes.

🔨 Using metal tools - leads to scratches and damage to latches.
🔥 Overheating of the board during soldering - the chip may fall off or fail.
💦 Incomplete drying after ingress of liquid - leads to corrosion.
🔄 Confused buttons when assembly – for example, Volume+ volume−.

To avoid problems:

📸 Take photos of each stage of disassembly – this will help to assemble the remote control properly.
🧲 Store screws in separate containers (such as plastic bottle caps).
🔍 Check the short circuit charge with a multimeter before assembly.

If the remote is still not working after repair, it may be a problem with the chip, in which case it is cheaper to buy a new remote control (the original one is worth it). ~1500–2000 ₽, analogue ₽). However, in 90% of cases, faults are eliminated by cleaning the contacts or replacing the rubber gasket.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the dismantling of the Xiaomi Mi Box remote

Can I disassemble the remote without special tools?

Yes, but with reservations. Instead of a plastic spatula, you can use an unnecessary bank card or even a solid plastic spoon, the main thing is not to scratch the case or break the latches. Any small cross screwdriver (for example, from a glasses kit) will work for screws, but without isopropyl alcohol, you can not clean the contacts properly - water or wet wipes leave wifts.

The remote was falling, but it was completely intact.

Falls often cause: an IR LED can crack or break off. The circuit board tracks -- especially around the OK button. The chip -- if the fall was severe, it can move away from the board. Take the remote control and look under the magnifying glass. If you see cracks in the tracks, repair them with conductive varnish. If the chip falls off, you can solder it back, but it takes experience.

How to check if the IR receiver is working on the Mi Box?

If the remote is glowing into the camera of the smartphone, but the Mi Box is not responding, the problem may be in the console receiver. To check it: Connect the keyboard or mouse to the Mi Box via USB. Go to Settings → Devices → Remote and Accessories. Choose Reset the remote and try to pair it again. If the reset did not help, the receiver could fail, in which case only help to repair the console or use alternative remotes (for example, via Bluetooth).

Can I wash the remote in water?

No! Water conducts electricity and can cause a short circuit. If the remote is contaminated, use: Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) - evaporates without a trace; wet wipes for electronics (no alcohol); compressed air to remove dust from the crevices; If the remote is wet, do not turn it on until it is completely dry (at least 24 hours in a dry place).

Where to buy spare parts for the Xiaomi Mi Box remote?

Parts can be found on: AliExpress — rubber gaskets, IR LEDs, battery compartments. Avito/Yula — used remotes for donor parts. Xiaomi service centers are original parts (but more expensive). Mi Box S fits the gasket with the XMSH02DM article, Mi Box 4K — MDZ-22-AB. IR LED can be used universal (for example, OSI5LA5111A).