How to disassemble Xiaomi Redmi 5A yourself: a step-by-step guide with a photo

Xiaomi Redmi 5A (codenamed riva) remains a popular budget device years after its release, and its simplicity and maintainability make it an ideal candidate for self-maintenance — whether it’s battery replacement, dust cleaning, or display repair. But disassembly requires care: the battery’s fragile plume, adhesive back lid mounting, and miniature screws can make the process a test for beginners.

In this article, you will find detailed instructions with photos of each stage, a list of necessary tools (including non-obvious ones), as well as unique tips for dealing with specific “weaknesses” of the Redmi 5A – for example, how to safely disconnect the fingerprint scanner plume without damaging the contacts. We will also analyze the typical errors that cause the device to fail, and give recommendations for diagnostics after assembly.

If you've never taken a smartphone apart before, don't worry. The Redmi 5A is one of those models where the risk of bricking is minimal when you do it carefully, and the key is to follow the sequence and not skip the preparation steps.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need. The absence of even one tool can lead to permanent damage - for example, trying to lid a knife instead of a mediator is almost guaranteed to leave scratches on the body or tear the plumes.

Here is the minimum set you will need:

• ✅ Plastic mediators (2-3 pc, thickness 0.1–0.2 mm) - to separate the back cover. Metal blades will not fit!
• ✅ The screwdriver (PH00 or PH000) — For the screws of the body. PH1 It's too big and it'll rip the slats.
• ✅ Suction cup (3-5 cm in diameter) – will help to raise the screen if you need to remove it.
• ✅ Tweezers with curved ends - for working with small plumes and connectors.
• ✅ Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — Cleaning contacts and removing glue residues.
• ✅ Thermoair station or hair dryer (optional) – if the cover is glued too tightly.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use a household hair dryer to heat the case! temperature above 80°C can damage the battery or the display. If you decide to warm up, keep the distance 10.+ Do not direct the air flow to one area for longer than 10 seconds.

Also prepare the workplace:

• 📱 Work on a clean, flat surface (better on an antistatic mat).
• 🔋 Turn off your phone and wait for the battery to drain completely (if you plan to replace it).
• 📸 Take pictures of each step – it will help with the reverse assembly.
• 🧲 Keep a magnetic substrate or screw box on hand (they are easy to lose!).

Step 1: Removing the back cover

The Redmi 5A back cover is attached to glue and latches, and the main challenge is not to damage the antenna contacts (thin metal strips around the perimeter), which are easy to tear off with careless movement.

Sequence of action:

1. Heat the edges of the body with a hair dryer (not higher than 70°C) for 1-2 minutes. This will soften the glue. If there is no hair dryer, skip this step, but be prepared to put in more effort.
2. Put the mediator in the gap between the lid and the body by the headphone jack, carefully guide it along the edge, alternately snapping the clamps.
3. As soon as the cover rises by 1-2 mm, do not pull it sharply - latches can still be held inside in the area of the chamber and the lower part.
4. Put the lid aside. On the inside of it, you'll see the fingerprint scanner plume (if the model has a fingerprint scanner) -- don't pull it!

Common mistakes at this stage:

• ❌ Attempting to stab the lid → hull-scrap.
• ❌ Heating too much → plastic deformation or detachment of antenna contacts.
• ❌ Abrupt removal of the lid → breakage of the scanner plume or damage to the flexible camera cable.

Step 2: Shutting off the battery

Before you touch the motherboard, be sure to disconnect the battery. Even when it's off, the capacitors on the board can retain charge, which will result in a short circuit when accidentally touched with a screwdriver.

Instructions:

1. On the motherboard, find the battery connector - it is located in the upper part (near the camera) and marked in black or red.
2. Carefully tuck the connector into a plastic spatula or tweezers.
3. After turning off, check with a multimeter (if any) that there is no voltage on the battery contacts.

⚠️ Attention: If the battery is swelling (as seen from the deformation of the lid), do not try to pierce or bend it. Inside lithium polymer batteries is a flammable electrolyte. If damaged, such a battery can catch fire or explode.

At this stage, the battery status can also be assessed:

• 🔋 Bloating is a sign of wear and tear, requires urgent replacement.
• 📉 Capacity below 70% of nominal value (3000 mAh for Redmi) 5A) — recommended replacement.
• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts - clean with alcohol and cotton swab.

Step 3: Removing the motherboard

The Redmi 5A motherboard is mounted on 8 screws (of different lengths!) and multiple latches, so the key is not to confuse the screws when you build them back, otherwise you can damage the board or the case.

Procedure:

1. Unscrew all the screws, starting with the longest ones (usually located in the corners), fold them in order of extraction, for example, on a sheet of paper with notes.
2. Carefully raise the fee with a plastic spatula. It can hold on to the plumes: 📱 Display plume (at the bottom). 🎤 Microphone plume and dynamics (right). 📷 Main camera plume (top left).

Unplug all the connectors with tweezers.

Remove the board and put it on an antistatic surface.

Pay attention to the weak points of the fee:

• 🔌 Charging connector - often oxidized or departed from rations. If the phone is not charging, check it with a multimeter.
• 📡 Antenna contacts – if damaged, the network signal deteriorates.
• 🔥 Power chips (near the battery) – overheating may indicate short circuit.

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If the screw doesn't twist, don't force it -- most likely, the thread is ripped off. In this case, a drop of superglue will help: apply it to the screwdriver, press it against the screw screw screw, let it dry for 1-2 minutes and gently unscrew it.

Step 4: Disassemble the display module (if necessary)

If the purpose of the disassembly is to replace the screen, touch screen or front camera, you have to remove the display module, which is the most risky stage: the plume of the display is extremely fragile, and the screen itself is glued to the frame.

Algorithm:

1. Heat the edges of the screen with a hair dryer (60-70°C) for 2-3 minutes. This will soften the glue.
2. Suction the screen from the bottom edge (where the connector of the plume is located).
3. Insert the mediators into the resulting gap and carefully lead them along the edge, separating the screen from the frame.
4. As soon as the screen rises by 1-2 cm, disconnect the plume from the motherboard.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 5A The display plume and the touchscreen are all connected together into a single connector, and if you tear it when you turn it off, you'll have to change the entire module, not just the glass!

Typical problems when replacing the screen:

• 🖥️ White screen after assembly - wrongly connected plume or damaged motherboard.
• 👆 The touchscreen does not work – check the contacts of the plume on the board (often oxidized).
• 🔍 Uneven lighting - a sign of damage LED-ribbon.

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If the screen is cracked, but the image is displayed, it's likely that only the glass is damaged, and in this case, you can only replace it without touching the entire display module, but it will require specialized equipment (laminator) and experience.

Step 5: Diagnostics and Assembly

After disassembly, it is recommended to conduct a visual diagnosis of the key components:

• 🔍 Motherboard – Look for blackened chips, swollen capacitors or traces of oxidation.
• 📶 Antenna contacts – should be whole and not bent.
• 🔋 Battery – Check for Electrolyte Bloating or Leakage.
• 📷 Cameras – lenses should be clean, without scratches.

When assembly, follow the reverse order, but take into account the nuances:

• ⚙️ Screw the screws cross-curl to avoid skewing the board.
• 🧲 Before connecting the plumes, wipe the contacts with alcohol - this will improve the connection.
• 🔌 Connect the battery last when all the other plumes are already in place.

After assembly:

1. Don’t turn your phone on right away – give it 5-10 minutes to “rest up.”
2. Check all the features: camera, touchscreen, sound, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
3. If something doesn’t work, disassemble the device again and check the connection of the plumes.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi 5A. Here are the most common:

A few more unobvious tips:

• 🔧 If the screw is not twisted, try to drop WD-40 on the thread and wait 5 minutes.
• 📱 When replacing the battery do not take cheap analogues - they may not hold the capacity or swell in a month.
• 🔍 If the phone doesn’t turn on after assembly, check the power button – sometimes it sticks or the contact goes away.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions