Disassembly Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a complete guide with photos and videos

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2017. Despite its age, the device is still actively used, which means that the issue of its repair and upgrade remains relevant. Disassembly of this device requires caution: fragile plastic case, glue joints and thin plumes can turn the procedure into a nightmare for beginners.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions with photos of key steps, a list of necessary tools, as well as unique tips for disassembling without damage - for example, how to separate the back cover without breaking the antenna contacts mounts. We will also analyze typical errors that cause a display or battery to fail, and give recommendations for choosing spare parts.

If you're planning to replace your battery, speaker, or camera -- or just want to clean your device of dust -- this guide will help you get it right. But remember, self-repairing the Redmi 4X takes away your warranty (if it's still in place) and can lead to irreversible breakdowns.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you get to the screwdriver, make sure you have everything you need. The Redmi 4X isn't the hardest to disassemble, but without the right tools, you run the risk of damaging the body or the internals. Here's the minimum set:

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (or guitar mediator) – to separate the back cover.
• 🔩 The screwdriver. PH00 (magnetic) for the screws of the shell.
• 🧲 Suction (optional) – helps to tweak the screen if you plan to remove it.
• 🔥 Hair dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature not higher than 60)°C!).
• 📦 Container for screws - so as not to lose small parts (in Redmi) 4X 12 pieces!).
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol 90%+ — Cleaning contacts and removing glue residues.

Also, prepare your workspace: a table with good lighting, an antistatic mat (or at least a regular fabric), and charge the battery to 30-50%. A fully discharged or recharged battery can cause a short circuit during disassembly.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal tools to separate the lid! even a small scratch on the antenna tracks (they are located around the perimeter of the housing) can lead to loss of network or Wi-Fi.

Step 1: Removing the back cover is the most important step

The back cover of the Redmi 4X is attached to glue and plastic latches, and the main difficulty is not to break the latches and antenna contacts (they are glued to the lid).

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-snails (it prevents the lid from being blown off).
2. Heat the body with a hair dryer around the perimeter for 2-3 minutes. The glue will become softer, and the lid will move away easier.
3. Put a plastic mediator in the gap between the lid and the body at the charging connector, carefully drive it along the edge, separating the latches.
4. Once the lid starts to move away, do not pull it sharply - there is also a fingerprint scanner plume inside (if it is in your model).

If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't use excessive force. You better warm up the problem area again.

• 🔴 Disruption of antenna contacts (leads to loss of signal).
• 🔴 Breakage of plastic latches (the cover will hang after assembly).
• 🔴 Damage to the fingerprint scanner plume (if any).

When you take the lid off, you'll see the battery, the motherboard and the camera. Don't touch the metal parts of the board with your bare hands -- static electricity can damage the chips.

Step 2: Shutting down the battery – why it’s critical

Before you continue disassembling, be sure to turn off the battery. In the Redmi 4X, it is connected to the motherboard via a JST 1.0 connector (a small white connector).

1. Carefully tuck the connector with a plastic spatula or nail.
2. Pull by the black plastic tongue, not the wires!
3. Make sure the contacts are not bent or oxidized.

⚠️ Note: If you skip this step and accidentally close the contacts on the board (for example, with a screwdriver), it can burn the power controller!

After the battery is turned off, check it visually: bloating, leaking or rusting on the contacts indicates that you need to replace. A normal battery should be flat and odorless.

Step 3: Removing the motherboard - working with screws

The Redmi 4X motherboard is mounted on 12 different sizes, and it's important to remember which screw is twisted from where -- you can easily confuse them when you build them.

1. Unscrew all screws (use a magnetic screwdriver to keep them from getting lost).
2. Carefully raise the charge over the edge. It can stick to the case because of the thermal paste on the processor.
3. Disconnect all plumes: 📱 Display plume (the widest). 🔊 Dynamic plume. 📷 Main and front camera plumes.

Notice the metal screen under the board, which protects the internal components from interference, and when you build it, remember to put it back in!

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Take a picture of the screws before you unscrew them, and when you assemble them, it saves you an hour of time!

Step 4: Replace the display when needed

The Redmi 4X screen is one of the most vulnerable, and if it's got squabbles, broken pixels, or cracks, it's inevitable, and it's harder than removing the lid, because it's glued all around the perimeter, and you're going to need:

• 🔥 Thermoair station (or hair dryer) for softening glue.
• 🧴 Special screen suction cup.
• 📏 Plastic blades (2-3 stuff).
• 🧴 Clay. B-7000 or LOCA display-mount.

Replacement algorithm:

1. Warm up the screen at the edges (temperature 60-70°C).
2. Suction the display from one corner.
3. Carefully drive the plastic shoulder blade along the edge, separating the glue.
4. Disconnect the display plume from the board (it is fragile!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use a knife or metal tools to tweak the screen! this is almost guaranteed to cause sensor damage or a plume rupture.

When you install a new display, apply a thin layer of glue and evenly press the screen. Excess glue can get inside and spoil the backlight.

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Replacing the Redmi 4X display without experience can damage the plume. If you are not sure, contact the service.

Step 5: Replacing the Battery – Choosing the Right Battery

The Redmi 4X battery (the BM47) has a capacity of 4100 mAh, and over time, its capacity drops, and the phone begins to run out in a few hours.

• 🔋 Fast discharge (less than 4 hours in standby mode).
• 🔌 The phone turns off at 20-30% charge.
• 🔥 Bloating of the body (see by the "opened" back cover).

Only the original battery or a quality battery (such as Zoppower or Baseus) can be replaced. Cheap batteries from China often have a real capacity of 2000-2500 mAh instead of the declared 4100!

Replacement process:

1. Turn off the old battery (as described in Step 2).
2. Put a plastic blade on the battery, it's glued to double-sided tape.
3. Install a new battery, plug in the connector and check the charge.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi 4X, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

• 🔌 Forget to turn off the battery → short-circuit. ⚠️ Warning: If the phone does not turn on after disassembly, but reacts to charging (the indicator burns), most likely the power controller has burned down. PM660. It will cost between 3000 and 5000 to replace it. ₽.
• 📱 Damage to the display plume → vertical stripes or lack of image. 💡If the plume is broken, don't try to glue it together! Better buy a new one (worth it). ~500 ₽) Or order a replacement in the service.
• 🔊 Lose the screws or confuse them with places → flattening.
• 📷 Touching the camera's lens. → fatty spots in the photo.

Another common problem is that the fingerprint scanner is broken after assembly, and that happens when you forget to plug in the plume or damage the contacts, and check the connection before you build it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the dismantling of Xiaomi Redmi 4X