Step-by-step dismantling of Xiaomi Redmi 5: from the lid to the motherboard

Why to Disassemble Redmi 5 and What You Need to Know Before You Get Started

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a popular budget smartphone released in 2017, but still in the hands of users. Disassembly of the device may be necessary to replace the battery, repair the charging connector, clean up the dust or recover from a fall. However, the design of the Redmi 5 has its own features that distinguish it from the newer models of Xiaomi.

Before you start, consider that the Redmi 5 is built on adhesive basis with additional latches, and its battery is soldered to the motherboard (unlike the Redmi 5 Plus, where the battery is removable). This means that you will need a solder dryer or a station to completely disassemble, without which you risk damaging the plumes. If your goal is only to replace the display or the back cover, you can do without soldering.

In this article, we'll take you through the process from A to Z, from tool preparation to motherboard extraction, and illustrate the steps with typical novice errors. If you've never taken a smartphone apart, start by watching Redmi 5's YouTube demos to visually assess the complexity of the task.

Preparation: security tools and measures

To disassemble the Xiaomi Redmi 5, you'll need a specialized set of tools. Don't try to do it at hand, it's almost guaranteed to damage the body or plumes. Here's the minimum set:

• 🔧 Plastic mediators (2-3 (a) - for the separation of the lid and the body.
• 🔨 Screwdriver. T3 and T5 — for the back cover screws and motherboard.
• 🔥 Blowing hair dryer (power) 300-500W) - for battery braking.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat - so as not to lose small screws.
• 📏 Plastic tweezers - for working with plumes.
• 🔋 Multimeter – to check the voltage of the battery (optional).

⚠️ Note: If you are disassembling a phone with a discharged battery (below) 20%), Do not connect it to charging during disassembly - this can cause a short circuit in case of accidental contact of plus contact with the body. 30-50% beforehand.

Also prepare the workplace:

• 📝 Print out the screw layout (you can find it in the service manuals for Redmi 5).
• 🕯️ Use a bright lamp – many parts (such as plumes) are not easily visible in low light.
• 🧹 Remove small items from the table that may stick to the battery’s adhesive base.

Step 1: Removing the back cover

The back cover of Redmi 5 is attached to glue and latches. It takes patience to remove it - do not apply excessive force, otherwise you risk breaking the mounts or damaging the antenna contacts (they are located around the perimeter of the cover).

Instructions for removal:

1. Turn off the phone and remove the tray for SIM-map.
2. Heat the back cover with a hair dryer (60-70°C) for 2-3 minutes to soften the glue. Keep the hair dryer 10-15 cm away so as not to overheat the plastic.
3. Put a plastic mediator in the gap between the lid and the body at the charging socket, and carefully swipe it around the perimeter, separating the latches.
4. When the lid begins to move away, do not pull it sharply - under it pass the plumes of the fingerprint scanner and antenna wires.

⚠️ Warning: If the cover does not lend itself, do not increase the temperature of the hair dryer above 80°C, it can warp the plastic or damage the display. You'd better do it again.

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 Battery (stick to the body).
• 📶 Antenna contacts (thin gold stripes).
• 🔧 10 screws T3, metal-plate.
• 📱 Fingerprint scanner plume (stick to the cover).

Step 2: Turn off the battery and plumes

Before you touch the motherboard, be sure to turn off the battery. In Redmi 5, it is soldered, so you can't completely shut down without soldering, but you can minimize the risks by disconnecting the power connector on the board.

Procedure:

1. With plastic tweezers, gently tuck in the black battery connector (located next to the motherboard) that is fixed by a latch, pull it up, and then pull the plume out.
2. Disconnect the plumes: 📞 Main display plume (wide, white). 🔍 Fingerprint scanner plume (thin, black). 🔊 The scalp (if you are planning to replace it).

Secure the disconnected plumes with tape on the lid so that they do not interfere with further disassembly.

⚠️ Attention: If you accidentally touch the motherboard with a metal tool when the battery is connected, this can cause the power controller to fail. Always check the disconnection with a multimeter (the voltage between the plus and minus of the battery should be 0V).

So we can now start removing the metal plate that covers the motherboard, which is mounted on 10 T3 screws, and the screws are of different lengths -- remember which one is twisted from where, or take a picture of their location.

Step 3: Removing the motherboard

The Redmi 5 motherboard is mounted on screws and adhesives, and to extract it, you need to:

1. Untwisted all the T5 screws (there are 6 pieces).
2. Carefully tamper with a plastic mediator on the charging connector side. Don't pull it out of the way, because the circuit board is filled with camera plumes and vibration motors.
3. Disconnect the remaining plumes: 📷 Main camera plume (black, narrow). 📸 Front camera plume (white). 🔊 Microphone plume (if it interferes with extraction).

After the fee is extracted, you will have access to all the key components:

• 📶 Module Wi-Fi/Bluetooth (soldered).
• 🔌 Charging connector (attached to 2 screws) T3).
• 🔊 Dynamic and vibration motor (glued to the body).

⚠️ Warning: If you're disassembling your phone because of a charging problem, check the connector for oxidation or mechanical damage, and 60 percent of the time, it's in the phone, not the battery.

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If you are planning to replace the battery, pre-order a new one with a capacity of at least 3300 mAh (the original capacity of Redmi 5). Cheap counterparts often have real capacity 20-30% below the declared.

Step 4: Replace the battery (with soldering)

The battery in Redmi 5 is one of the most vulnerable parts, and over time it swells up, loses capacity or refuses to hold a charge, and it requires soldering work because the battery is soldered to the board with two pins: plus and minus.

Step-by-step:

1. Heat the battery with a hair dryer (temperature 100-120°C) for 3-5 minutes to soften the glue.
2. Carefully tuck the battery into a plastic mediator, and if it doesn't respond, repeat the heat.
3. Seal the contacts with a soldering hairdryer (temperature 300°C). Do not overheat the board - keep the hairdryer at a distance of 5 cm.
4. Install a new battery, solder contacts and fasten it on double-sided tape.

⚠️ Warning: If you see that the contact areas on the board have detached during soldering, do not try to restore them yourself. This requires professional equipment (microscope, soldering station with precise temperature control).

After battery replacement:

• 🔋 Check the voltage with a multimeter (should be) 3.7-4.2V).
• 🔌 Connect the phone to charge and make sure it identifies the battery.
• 📊 Calibrate (discharge to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruptions).

1. Correct connection of the plumes.

2. Integrity of contacts on the board (whether there is overheating or detachment).

Battery voltage (must be at least 3.5V).-->

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling Redmi 5, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

• 🔧 Screwing. Rotors in Redmi 5 are soft — use a high-quality magnetic-tipped screwdriver and don't use excessive force.
• 🔥 Overheating board. Don't keep the dryer in one place for more than 10 seconds when soldering. Use the heat paste to protect the adjacent components.
• 📱 Train damage, always disconnect the plumes behind special tongues, not pull the wires.
• 🔋 Short circuit. Check before assembly whether the metal parts of the battery contact body are touching.

If you encounter a problem that isn’t on this list, check out the FAQ section or look for a solution on forums (such as 4PDA or XDA-Developers).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone overheats or discharges quickly after assembly, you probably have improperly connected the battery or damaged the power controller.

Building a phone: the reverse order of action

The Redmi 5 should be assembled in reverse order, but with a few nuances in mind:

1. Before installing the cover, make sure that all plumes are connected and not clamped.
2. Screw the screws cross-curl to avoid skewing the board.
3. Stick the back cover to a new double-sided scotch (e.g. 3M 9448A).
4. After assembly, turn on the phone and check: 📶 Network operation (SIM-maps, Wi-Fi). 🔊 Sound in the speaker and microphone. 📷 Cameras (main and front). 🔋 Charging (plug the cable and make sure the current is going on).

If something doesn't work, take the phone apart again and check the appropriate plumes, and 90 percent of the time, the problem is inconsistency.

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After assembly, don't turn the phone on immediately - let the glue under the lid dry (10-15 minutes) This will prevent dust from entering the case.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi 5 disassembly