Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 4X are complex electronic devices where every millimeter of internal space is strictly structured, and the need to open the case can arise for various reasons: a broken screen, a failed battery or just a desire to clean the speaker of dust.
Before you start dismantling, it’s important to realize that disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 4X is not just a screw-twist, but a sequence of actions that is not recommended to be broken.The device is assembled tightly, using a large amount of glue and brittle plumes connecting the motherboard to peripherals. Any sudden movement or application of excessive force can be fatal to the performance of the gadget.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the dismantling process, focusing on the specific nuances of this particular model, which tools will be required, how to safely disconnect the battery and what to do if the screen does not want to separate from the case. Proper preparation is half the success, so don’t ignore the theoretical part before starting practical work.
To get started, you'll need to have a workspace that's well-lit so you can see the smallest screws and connectors, and it's also critical that you don't have static electricity on the table, which is bad for chips, and you'd better use a special antistatic mat or just a clean, dry surface without synthetic coatings.
⚠️ Warning: Before starting any work, be sure to turn off the device. Attempting to disconnect the plume of the display or battery when the power is on is almost guaranteed to cause the power controller on the motherboard to burn down.
Special care should be taken when working with lithium-ion batteries. Damage to the battery shell with a sharp tool can cause short circuit, heating and even ignition. If you notice that the battery is swelling during the disassembly, handle it as carefully as possible without squeezing it.
Tools and workplace preparation required
The quality of disassembly depends on the toolkit used. Xiaomi Mi 4X, which has a metal body and glass panel, will require a specific set. Using improvised tools such as kitchen knives or sewing needles is unacceptable, as they can damage the internal components or scratch the frame.
The main tool will be the heating element. The glue that holds the display module to the frame, when heated, softens, which allows you to safely separate parts. You can use a professional heat board, but at home, a regular hair dryer or even a heating pad does well, although the latter option will take much longer.
- 🔧 A set of precision screwdrivers (mandatory presence of cross-shaped) P2 and P5, slattic).
- 🔥 Hair dryer construction or household (to heat the glue around the perimeter of the screen).
- 💳 Plastic card or special mediator for opening the case.
- 🧲 Magnetic mat for sorting screws (so as not to confuse them when assembling).
- 🧤 Suction cup for lifting the display (facilitates the introduction of the mediator).
Special attention should be paid to the mediators: these are thin plastic blades that do not conduct current and do not scratch metal. Metal tools such as scalpels can only be used for tampering, but with extreme care so as not to damage the plumes that pass under the edges of the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use a metal scalpel to pick inside the case.One awkward movement can cut a thin plume of a touchscreen or damage the connectors on the board, the restoration of which will require soldering in the service center.
Primary dismantling: withdrawal SIM-tray and back cover
The process begins with extraction. SIM-It's standard procedure for most smartphones, but in the case of the Mi. 4X It's important to keep the small metal frame intact, and after you remove the tray, you have to unscrew the two screws that are on the sides of the charging socket at the bottom of the case, and they're the ones that hold the back metal panel.
Once the screws are unscrewed, the back cover doesn't come off by itself. It holds on the latches around the perimeter. It requires a thin but durable object to open them. A plastic blade or an old bank card is perfect. The movements should be sliding, not stabbing, so as not to damage the antenna inserts if they are present in the design.
You can start the opening from the bottom corner, next to the charging connector. Carefully insert the mediator into the gap between the frame and the back cover and run along the side face. You'll hear the characteristic clicks -- these are plastic locks opening. Walk around the perimeter until the lid starts to be removed freely.
☑️ Check before removing the lid
When all the latches are snapped, gently lift the back panel. Don't make sharp jerks upwards, as the plug of the power button or speaker may be glued to the lid, although in the Mi 4X model the main components are located on the main board.
Disconnecting the battery and removing protective screens
The most critical step is to cut the power. Before you touch any other components, you need to find the battery connector on the motherboard. In the Xiaomi Mi 4X, it is usually located at the top or middle of the board and covered with a metal plate. This plate is attached with several screws that need to be twisted out.
Once the metal shield is removed, you'll see the display, touchscreen and battery connectors open up, and the first thing you do is you disconnect the battery plume, and you need to do this carefully by putting a nail plume or a plastic blade in the place of the connector, and in no case pull the wire itself, because it can break away from the contact area.
| Component | Location. | Firming | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | Central part | Glue + connector | Requires a shutdown first. |
| Display. | Top of the pay | metal frame | Fragile plume |
| Main camera. | Upper corner | Glue/Lacker | It requires care. |
| Charging charges | Bottom of the hull | The plume through the hull | Connects the bottom and the top |
Once you turn off, you can safely remove the metal shields that cover the main board. There are usually two: one covers the processor and memory, the other the communication modules. The screws can be of different lengths, so it is highly recommended that you spread them in the same order in which you twisted them, so that when you build, you do not screw a long screw into a short hole and break through the board.
Removing the screens opens access to the display and touchscreen connectors, which must also be turned off if you plan to completely replace the screen or remove the motherboard, and the plumes are fixed tightly, sometimes with additional duct tape, which must be carefully removed before disconnecting.
What to do if the plume does not unfasten?
Replacement of the display module and work with glue
Replacing the screen in the Xiaomi Mi 4X is one of the most common causes of disassembly.The screen here is glued around the perimeter of the frame, which requires preheating. Turn on the hair dryer and evenly warm the edges of the front panel for 2-3 minutes. The temperature should not be extreme so as not to damage the matrix or plastic elements of the case, but sufficient to soften the glue.
After heating, use a suction cup to slightly raise the edge of the screen, and insert a mediator into the resulting gap. Drive the tool along the perimeter, cutting the adhesive layer. Move slowly, constantly monitoring the depth of the shoulder blade so that the touchscreen or touchscreen is not damaged. LCD-glass-plate.
- 🔥 Heat the edges evenly without holding the hair dryer at one point longer 10-15 seconds.
- 🛠️ Use a thin mediator to walk through the corners of the frame.
- 🧹 Clean the remnants of old glue from the frame before installing the new module with alcohol.
- 🧪 Use it. B-7000 glue to fix the new screen (applied in a thin layer).
When the old module is removed, you need to carefully clean the frame of the glue residues, you can use isopropyl alcohol and soft fabric, the surface must be perfectly smooth and fat-free, otherwise the new screen will not lie tight, and the body will appear backlashes or gaps through which dust will enter.
The new display module should be checked before installation. Connect the plumes to the motherboard (not gluing yet) and start the device. Make sure the image is clean, there are no broken pixels, and the touchscreen responds to touch throughout the area. Only after successful verification can you apply a new glue and fix the module.
Removal of the motherboard and camera module
To fully remove the motherboard, you need to disconnect all the remaining plumes, including the button plumes, the lower speaker and the antenna contacts. Antenna contacts are spring-loaded pads that press against the return parts on the board, and you need to carefully side-step them or just track them so that when you remove the board, they do not catch and bend.
The motherboard in the Mi 4X is fixed by multiple screws, and once they are unscrewed, the board is not always removed immediately, often hampered by a plume going to the bottom board (where the charging connector is located), which runs through the entire body and can be glued or laid in special channels.
The main camera is attached separately, and it's usually inserted into a special slot, and it can be further fixed with glue or screw. You need to remove the camera module vertically upwards, avoiding distortions. The camera optics are very sensitive to dust and fat traces from the fingers, so you only need to take the module by the edges of the metal body.
Once all the components are removed, you will see a fully disassembled body, the perfect moment to clean the speakers, microphones and connectors from the accumulated dust, use a soft brush and, if necessary, a minimum amount of alcohol to clean the contacts.
⚠️ Warning: When you reverse install the motherboard, make sure all the screw racks hit their holes.If the screw goes past the hole, it can push the tracks on the board, which will cause a short circuit.
Device assembly and system testing
The assembly is done in reverse disassembly. Start by installing the motherboard and connecting all the plumes. Make sure that each connector is up to click and is fixed with the clamping slats. Pay special attention to the battery plume, which must be the last one to close the device.
Once the battery is on, take your time to twist all the screws and glue the screen. First, turn the device on and check the basic functions: sound, vibration, sensor, cameras and charging. If everything works correctly, you can apply the B-7000 glue to the frame and fix the display module.
The glue dries about 2-4 hours before the primary polymerization, but the full strength gains after a day, at which time it is advisable to lock the phone with money bands or put under a small load (through soft fabric) to ensure that the glass fits tightly to the frame around the perimeter.
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Leave the phone to dry on a flat surface at room temperature. Do not use a dryer to accelerate the drying of the glue, as this can cause it to cloud or protrude outwards.
The final step is to put the back cover and twist the lower screws, and if the lid is not tight, check if the plume is wrapped and if all the latches around the perimeter are right, and if you click the right loop, you see that the pattern is right.
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The basic principle of assembly is that you don't have any pressure, and if the part doesn't fit in, you've forgotten to plug in or you've got the plume incorrectly positioned.