How to disassemble Xiaomi RedmiBook 4 at home: detailed instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi RedmiBook 4 is a popular notebook with a balance of price and performance, but even it is not immune to breakdowns or the need to upgrade. Disassembly of the device at home may be necessary to clean the cooling system, replace the thermal paste, install an additional SSD or repair the keyboard. However, the design of the laptop has its own features: hidden latches, fragile plumes and non-standard screws that are easily damaged if you carelessly handle.

In this article, you will find step-by-step disassembly instructions tailored to the nuances of a particular model, including a list of tools you need, photos of key stages and warnings about typical errors. We will also tell you how to avoid damaging plastic clips, what to do with the battery before disassembling, and how to properly disconnect the plumes so as not to break contacts. If you have never taken Xiaomi laptops apart before, this guide will help you do everything neatly and without consequences.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start disassembling RedmiBook 4, make sure you have everything you need, and even one tool can damage the body or internal components, and here is the minimum set:

• ✅ Plastic mediators or guitar mediators (2-3 pieces) - for careful liding.
• ✅ The screwdriver. PH00 (small) - for the screws of the back cover.
• ✅ Tweezers with curved ends - for working with plumes.
• ✅ Antistatic bracelet (or grounded surface) – to avoid damage to the motherboard by static electricity.
• ✅ Thermoclee or bilateral tape - for fixing the battery during reverse assembly.
• ✅ Lump or flashlight – to better see small details.

Also, prepare the workplace: a clean desk with good lighting, soft fabric (such as microfiber) to put on it removed parts, and containers for screws (you can use magnetic substrates or signed boxes). The screws in RedmiBook 4 are of different lengths - if you confuse them in places, you can damage the motherboard or the case.

⚠️ Warning: If the laptop was turned on before disassembly, let it cool for at least 30 minutes. The capacitors on the motherboard can retain charge, which is dangerous for electronics.

Step 1: Shutting off power and removing the back cover

The first and most important step is to remove the back cover, and in RedmiBook 4, it's mounted on 10 screws (in some versions, 12) and plastic latches around the perimeter.

1. Turn off the laptop and disconnect the charger.
2. Turn it over and remove the rubber legs (they are glued, put a mediator on them), which may hide additional screws below them!
3. Unscrew all the screws (they can be hidden under stickers). RedmiBook 4 usually uses screws 3 mm and 5 mm long - don't confuse them.
4. Carefully apply the mediator to the lid, starting at the corner near the keyboard, and move around the perimeter, releasing the latches in turn.

If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't force it -- you've probably missed the screw or the latch. RedmiBook 4 often has one of the screws hidden under a warranty sticker (you can gently tuck it in and then stick it back).

⚠️ Note: In RedmiBook 4 Pro models, the back cover may have additional metal latches near the vents. If you hear a creak or crackle, stop disassembling and check the mounts.

Step 2: Battery Disconnection – Why It’s Critical

When the lid is removed, the first thing you need to do is turn off the battery. In RedmiBook 4, it's connected to the motherboard via a wide plume with a JST PH 2.0 connector.

• 🔋 Short-circuit protection – even a laptop turned off can apply voltage to the board when accidentally touched.
• 🔧 Preventing damage to ports – if you hit USB-Controller with a tool, you can burn it.
• 💥 Safety for yourself – capacitors can discharge through hands.

To disconnect the battery:

1. Find the black connector on the motherboard (usually signed as BATTERY).
2. Carefully tweez it with tweezers behind a plastic tongue (don't pull the wires!).
3. Make sure the connector contacts are not bent.

If the connector does not detach, do not use force - perhaps it is fixed with glue, in which case warm it with a hair dryer at a minimum temperature (not higher than 60 ° C).

Step 3: Access to hard disk and RAM

RedmiBook 4 SSDs and RAM are metal protected to reach:

1. Unscrew 2 screws that fix the metal plate (they can be under the fillings).
2. Remove the plate – below it you will see the M.2 SSD slot and 2 SO-DIMM slots for RAM.
3. To retrieve the SSD: Unscrew one screw (locker). Pull the drive at a 30° angle, it will come out of the slot.

If you are planning to replace an SSD, please note that RedmiBook 4 supports 2242 or 2280 drives (depending on the modification).

⚠️ Attention: When installing a new SSD Don't touch the contacts, fatty traces can cause corrosion. If the drive is not identified, check if it is tightly inserted into the slot (should click).

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If you increase RAM, install modules in paired slots (e.g., 0 and 2) for dual-channel operation, which will improve performance by 10-15% on tasks related to graphics and multitasking.

Step 4: Disassemble the cooling system and replace the thermal paste

Cleaning the cooler and replacing the heat paste in RedmiBook 4 is required if the laptop overheats (processor temperature above 90°C under load) or makes a loud noise.

1. Disconnect the fan plume (FAN connector on the motherboard).
2. Unscrew 4 screws that attach the radiator to the processor (they can be spring-loaded – don’t lose the washers!).
3. Take the radiator off carefully. If the heat paste is dry, don't pull it off by force, warm it up by a 50-60 dryer.°C.
4. Clean the remains of the paste with a lilaless napkin and isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%).
5. Apply the new thermopaste (recommended by Arctic MX-6 or Noctua NT-H2) with a thin layer (as thick as a piece of paper).

When you reverse assemble, tighten the screws cross-cross to avoid skewing the radiator. The pressure should be uniform - if you pull, you can damage the chip.

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Use a thermal paste with high thermal conductivity (from 8 W/m·K) and low viscosity. RedmiBook 4 often has a problem with drying out the factory paste after 1-1.5 years of operation.

Step 5: Removing the keyboard and touchpad – difficulties and nuances

If you need to get to the keyboard plume or touchpad (for example, to replace), act extremely carefully. In RedmiBook 4, these components are attached not only screws, but also double-sided tape, and the plumes are very fragile.

Procedure:

1. Unscrew all the screws on the underside of the keyboard (they can be hidden under the stickers).
2. Carefully tuck the keyboard with a plastic spatula, starting at the top edge (near the screen).
3. Lift it by 1-2 cm and disconnect the plume (KEYBOARD connector on the motherboard).
4. For touchpad: unscrew the screws under the keyboard, then unplug its plume (TOUCHPAD connector).

If the keyboard doesn't move, don't pull it around the corners, you can break the plume. RedmiBook 4 often has a problem with sticky buttons (like Space or Enter). To remove them, warm up the hair dryer 40-50.°C and gently tuck in.

⚠️ Note: The keyboard plume in RedmiBook 4 has 20 contacts and is very thin. If it breaks, you can only replace it with the keyboard (cost from 3,000 rubles).

Step 6: Backup build – how to avoid mistakes

Building RedmiBook 4 after disassembly requires as much care as disassembling itself.

• 🔩 Screw them in the same order that you screwed them out. RedmiBook 4 has screws of different lengths for the cover, radiator and other parts. SSD.
• 🔌 Trains -- plug them in until you hear a click. Check if the contacts are bent.
• 🔋 Battery – before connecting, make sure that there are no metal sawdust or debris on the motherboard.
• 🖥️ First turn on - after assembly, do not connect the charge immediately. First turn on the laptop from the battery and check if there are any extraneous sounds (squeaking, crackling).

If the laptop does not turn on after assembly, check:

1. Is the battery connected (the charging indicator should flash when the power supply is connected).
2. Will the lids be covered (especially the lid).
3. Whether all screws are twisted (an untied screw can close the contacts).

If the problem persists, don't try to turn on your laptop repeatedly, which can make the problem worse.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)