Disassembly of a budget smartphone always causes owners ambivalent feelings: on the one hand, you want to save on repairs, and on the other hand, you want to hurt fragile plastic latches. Xiaomi Redmi 4A is a classic representative of the initial segment, where the build quality is often inferior to flagships, but the design remains simple enough for a home craftsman. Understanding the internal architecture of the device is the first and most important step to successfully replace the display or battery.
Unlike the more expensive models, there are no complex waterproof glues that require heating and solvents, but that doesn't mean that the process is risk-free. The plastic of the case can crack if handled carelessly, and the plumes are quite tightly arranged. You'll need patience, good light and a minimal set of tools to perform disassembly without consequences.
Before you start dismantling, make sure you work on a clean, flat surface where parts are not lost. Any speck of dust that falls under a new display can cause dead pixels or interference with the touchscreen, so preparing the workplace is not just a formality, it is a necessity.
To properly disassemble the Xiaomi Redmi 4A, you will need a specific but affordable toolkit: Using inappropriate items such as kitchen knives or thick screwdrivers often damages the body and screws. Professional approach begins with the right choice of hardware.
Here is a list of what to do on your desk before you start:
- 🛠️ A set of screwdrivers with a cross-shaped sting (usually) PH00 or PH000) and a flat sting for careful smearing of components.
- 🔌 Plastic spatula (mediator) or suction cup, which are necessary to separate the back cover without scratches.
- 🔥 Thermophen or heating pad (if you need to unstick the display, although in this model it is kept on the frame).
- 🧲 Magnetic mat or organizer for screws, so as not to confuse them when assembling.
Special attention should be paid to screwdrivers. Cheap soft metal tools can lick the screw caps, which will turn a simple repair into a serious problem. Better use a tool with a magnetic tip so that small cogs do not fall inside the case.
The first step in any process is to extract SIM-This is a critical point that is often overlooked by beginners when they try to remove the lid with the tray inserted, and this can damage the motherboard contact group.
Use a special paper clip from the kit or a thin needle. Press the tray on the top end of the device into the hole. Remove the tray and put it away to a safe place. Now that nothing is disturbing, you can move to remove the back panel. It's removable here, but it sits quite tightly on plastic latches around the perimeter.
Insert a plastic blade or nail into a special groove on the bottom end or side (where the logo is). Smoothly, with moderate effort, run the tool along the seam. You will hear the characteristic crackling of opening latches. Don't be afraid of this sound, but don't overdo it. If the lid doesn't lend itself, check if there is a screw stuck somewhere (although in 4A there are none, they are under the lid).
⚠️ Warning: Never use metal objects (knife, screwdriver) to open the perimeter of the case.The metal easily slides over the plastic and can leave deep scratches or even split the rear panel, which then have to be searched separately.
Once all the latches on the perimeter have clicked, carefully remove the lid by pulling it from the bottom up, and you will have access to the insides, but the main work is still ahead.
Under the back cover is a battery pack and, more importantly, screws that hold the main frame. In the Redmi 4A, the design is modular, and we need to remove the intervening plastic layer to get to the plumes. First, we need to turn off the power. Find the battery plume that goes to the motherboard, and gently disconnect the connector by duping it with a plastic blade.
Now, look at the screws. They're usually around. 10-12 They can be of different lengths, so it's very desirable to remember or photograph their location. Unscrew all the visible screws. Also, under the speaker (at the bottom) there may be another hidden screw covered by a sticker.
When you take all the screws off, don't pull the frame abruptly. There are plumes underneath that connect the bottom board (where the charging connector is) to the top, gently lift the frame from the bottom, check if there's anything disturbing, and put it aside, and now the motherboard is fully open to access.
☑️ Stages of primary disassembly
So at this point, you see the heart of the smartphone, and the motherboard is securely attached, but there are cameras, a speaker, and a vibrator around it, and you have to be very careful when you're working in that area.
The motherboard is the most complex and expensive component, and it needs to be replaced when it's charging (if the controller is on the board), communication or sound, and to extract the board, you need to disconnect all the remaining plumes: the main plume of the display, the touchscreen plume (if it's separate), the camera plumes and the antenna cables.
An antenna cable (usually a white or black thin wire) often goes through special slots in plastic. Remember the path of its laying, so that when you build it, you do not overrun it. Unscrew the screws that fix the board itself (usually 2-3 pieces), after which you can carefully raise the board.
It is important to understand that in the Redmi 4A, the charging connector is soldered on a separate lower board that connects to the mother's flexible plume. If the problem is only charging, you do not need to change the "motherboard" - just replace the lower board or re-sweeten the connector.
| Component | Location. | Type of attachment | Risk of damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maternity fee | Upper part | Screws + connectors | High (microcracks) |
| Battery | Centre (under the frame) | Glue + connector | Medium (bloating) |
| Display module | Front part | Frame + glue | Very tall (glass) |
| Lower fees | Down the device | Screws + plume | Low. |
The secret of antenna cable
Replacing the display in Redmi 4A is the most common reason for disassembly. The screen here is attached to a plastic frame, which in turn is glued to the body or held on the latches (depending on the revision). If you only have broken glass, and the image is, theoretically you can only replace glass, but in a home it is almost impossible to do without a separator and laminator.
Most often, you buy a framed module, and it makes it much easier: you don't have to peel off an old broken screen, clean the glue, and risk damaging the new matrix, you just transfer the motherboard, the battery, and the bottom board to a new frame with the screen.
If you change only the matrix, you will have to warm the screen perimeter with a hairdryer to a temperature of about 80-90 degrees to soften the glue B-7000 Or similar. Use a suction cup and a blade to separate the glass from the plastic.
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Use the B-7000 or T-7000 glue to fix the new screen. Apply it with a thin strip around the perimeter, let it dry for 2-3 minutes, then press the screen and lock it with rubber bands for 30 minutes.
When installing a new module, be sure to check it before it is finally assembled, plug in the plumes, turn on the phone, and check the touchscreen across the entire area, which will save you time to re-disassemble if the new screen turns out to be defective.
The battery in Xiaomi Redmi 4A is based on double-sided tape. Over time, the glue dries up, and the battery can be removed easily, but sometimes you have to put in effort. Never try to pull the battery behind the wires or connector - they will instantly come off.
The best way to retrieve it is to use a plastic card or a special spatula, and slap the battery on the bottom (from the plume side) and gently loosen it as you move inwards. If the battery is swelling, be especially careful: a puncture of the lithium polymer cell shell can cause ignition.
The new battery before installation is preferably warmed up a little with a hair dryer or put on a warm surface (not hot!) to activate the adhesive layer, if any, or apply a new double-sided tape. This will prevent the battery from chattering inside the case, which can lead to the connector breaking off when falls.
⚠️ Warning: If you smell a sharp chemical smell or see that the battery is severely deformed, do not mechanically expose it.
Once you have a new battery installed, first connect the plume to the motherboard and then fix it, which is a standard safety procedure for any electronics.
The assembly is done in reverse order, but requires increased concentration. The main mistake is to forget to connect any plume or screws. Start by placing the motherboard in the frame. Make sure it lies flat, without skewing.
Connect all the plumes before you click. The display plume and touchscreen have very small locks, and you need to snap them carefully, pressing your finger or shoulder blade over the entire area of the connector, and then set the middle plastic frame and twist all the screws around the perimeter.
Only after you fix the frame, plug the battery in. SIM-If you're on, if you're listening, if you're listening, if you're listening, if you're listening, if you're listening, you can close the lid, and you can press it around the perimeter until you click.
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The rule of assembly is not to use force where the part is not going, and if something does not fit, you forgot to unscrew the screw or put the plume incorrectly.
The final test should include vibration, camera and charging, and if all functions are working properly, the repairs can be considered successful.