How to disassemble Xiaomi Redmi 8: detailed instructions with photos and secrets of the masters

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even it is not immune to breakdowns. Disassembly of the device may be necessary to replace the battery, display, speaker or dust cleaning. However, improper dismantling often leads to damage to the plumes, chipped body or failure of the buttons.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo instruction, a list of tools you need, and typical beginner errors that lead to expensive repairs, how to avoid damage to the touchscreen flex cable, why you can not use metal blades, and what to do if the vibration or power button does not work after assembly.

If you've never taken a smartphone apart, don't worry. Redmi 8 is a device with a medium-sized disassembly difficulty (3 out of 5 on the iFixit scale). With the right approach, even a beginner can do it in 30 to 40 minutes. The main thing is to take your time and follow our recommendations.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start dismantling, make sure you have everything you need, and missing at least one tool can damage the body or internal components, such as trying to lid a knife instead of a plastic shoulder blade almost always ends in chipping or scratching.

Here is the minimum set you will need:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-haul) PH00, flat 1.5 mm, five-pointed Y00 screw-tray SIM)
• 📱 Plastic blades / mediators (2-3 pieces, 0.2-0.4 mm thick)
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station (to soften the glue under the back cover)
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or container (to avoid losing screws)
• 📸 Smartphone for photography (fix the location of plumes and screws!)
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol 90%+ (Cleaning contacts and removing glue residues)

⚠️ Warning: Never use metal blades or knives to lid the lid! even a gentle movement can damage antenna tracks under the back panel, resulting in loss of network or Wi-Fi.

Also prepare the workplace:

• 🪑 Work at a table with good lighting (ideally a lamp with a magnifying glass).
• ⚡ Turn off your smartphone and completely drain the battery (up to 0%) – this minimizes the risk of short circuit.
• 🧹 Remove foreign objects from the table: small screws are easily lost in the pile of the carpet or between the keys of the keyboard.

Step 1: Removing the back cover – how not to damage the antenna tracks

The Redmi 8's back cover is glued around the perimeter, and underneath it are antenna tracks that are easily damaged. The main mistake of beginners is trying to plug the lid from the corner, which leads to the rupture of flexible Wi-Fi or GPS contacts, which will require replacing the entire average frames.

The correct algorithm:

1. Heat the cover with a hair dryer (60-70°C) for 2-3 minutes, evenly driving around the perimeter. Don't overheat! Plastic can deform.
2. Put a plastic blade in the gap between the lid and the frame at the charging connector, carefully drive it along the body, separating the glue.
3. If the lid doesn't lend itself, warm up the problem area again.

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 Battery with flex cable (don’t pull it!).
• 📶 Antenna tracks (black stripes on the inside of the cover).
• 🔊 Speaker and microphone (fixed to the).

⚠️ Warning: If you notice that the antenna tracks have come off after you remove the lid, don't try to glue them with superglue! This will disrupt conductivity. Use a special conductive glue (for example, Permatex) or contact the service.

Step 2: Shutting down the battery – why is it a must-do before any manipulations

Even if the smartphone is turned off, the battery remains energized, and if the contacts are accidentally closed (for example, with a screwdriver), this can lead to:

• 🔥 Short circuit and failure of the motherboard.
• 💥 Battery bloating (risk when working with damaged batteries).
• ⚡ Electric shock (unlikely, but possible when working with wet hands).

To turn off the battery:

1. Find the flex battery cable (black plume with orange connector).
2. Carefully put the plastic jack on the side, not on top.
3. Check with a multimeter that the voltage on the contacts is 0 V.

If the slug is "stolen" and does not respond:

• 🔥 warm it slightly with a hair dryer (not higher than 50)°C);
• 💧 drip isopropyl alcohol on contacts;
• 🪛 Use plastic tweezers, not metal tweezers.

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If the battery is swelling, don't try to puncture it! It can cause fire. Wrap the battery in a food film and dispose of it at a special reception center.

Step 3: Dismantling the motherboard – where the “traps” are hidden

The Redmi 8 motherboard is mounted on 12 screws of different sizes and types, and the challenge is not to confuse them when they are reverse-assembled. For example, the board mount screws and the camera mount screws are not interchangeable! Using an inappropriate screw can damage the thread in the case.

Procedure:

1. Unscrew all the screws (take a picture of their location!). Redmi 8 uses: PH00 (cross, 3 mm) Y00 (five-pointed, under the SIM tray)

• 📷 Main and front cameras
• 🔊 Dynamician and microphone
• 📞 The plume of the power and volume button
• Carefully tuck the board with a plastic spatula.

⚠️ Warning: If you notice contact oxidation (green coating) after the board is removed, clean them with eraser or isopropyl alcohol!

Step 4: Replacing the battery – how not to damage the charging controller

The battery in Redmi 8 is glued to a slurry that loses its elasticity over time, and if you're not sloppy, you can:

• 🔋 Break the battery (risk of electrolyte leakage).
• 🔌 Cut the charging controller off the charge.
• 📉 Damage to the thermistor (temperature sensor).

Instructions for replacement:

1. Heat the battery with a hair dryer (max. 60°C) for 1-2 minutes.
2. Put the battery in a plastic spatula from the corner where there is no plume.
3. If the glue does not lend itself, use a thread or guitar string impregnated with alcohol.
4. After extraction, clean the seat from the glue residues with a wooden stick.

When installing a new battery:

• 📏 Make sure that the lid is not more than 4.35 mm thick (otherwise the lid will not stand up).
• 🧲 Use a new two-way Scotch (for example, 3M 9448A).
• ⚡ Do not turn on the phone immediately after replacement - let the glue grab (10-15 minutes).

Step 5: Disassemble the screen – why you can not use a suction cup

The Redmi 8 display module consists of three layers:

1. Protective glass (if installed by the user).
2. Touchscreen (sensory layer).
3. AMOLED-matrix (picture itself).

With careless disassembly, you can damage the touchscreen flex cable, which will lead to "dead zones" or complete inoperability of the sensor.

What can't be done:

• 🧲 Use a suction cup – it can tear off the polarizing layer of the matrix.
• 🔥 Overheating the screen above 70°C – this will damage the glue and can cause the matrix to detach from the touch screen.
• 🪛 Screening with metal tools - the risk of short circuit.

Right order:

1. Heat the screen with a hair dryer (60°C) around the perimeter for 3-4 minutes.
2. Insert a plastic spatula into the gap between the frame and the screen (start at the bottom edge).
3. Carefully drive the blade along the body, separating the glue. If the screen does not respond, warm up again.
4. After separation, don't raise the screen vertically -- it's connected by a plume -- put it on a stand at a 45° angle.

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If you blink or have vertical stripes after you build, check the density of the matrix plume, and often the problem is solved by reinstalling the display again.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi 8.

Advice from the masters:

• 📸 Take pictures of each step – it will help with the reverse assembly.
• 🧴 Use silicone lubricant for sealing rubber (dust protection will improve after assembly).
• 🔋 If after repair the phone does not turn on - check the test points on the multimeter board.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions