How to disassemble Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a step-by-step guide with photos and expert tips

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) remains a popular choice among users due to its price-performance balance. However, over time, even this reliable device may need repairs: battery replacement, dust cleaning, recovery from a fall or replacement of the charging connector. Disassembling the phone is a task that requires accuracy and knowledge of design nuances. Unlike flagship models, the Redmi 4X has a plastic case with latches, which makes it easier to access the insides, but there are pitfalls.

This article will help you disassemble the Xiaomi Redmi 4X yourself without damaging the fragile elements. We will take a detailed look at the necessary tools, the order of dismantling each module, and also give tips on how to avoid typical mistakes. If you have never disassembled a smartphone before, do not worry: with the right approach, even a beginner will cope with the task.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need, and the lack of the right tools is the main cause of damage to the body or internal components, and here is the minimum kit you'll need:

• 🔧 Plastic blade (or mediator) - to disconnect the latches of the body without scratches.
• ✨ Screwdriver cross (PH00) — motherboard-mounting screw.
• 🔥 Hair dryer or thermal air station - to soften the glue under the battery (if you plan to replace it).
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or container – to avoid losing small screws.
• 📸 Smartphone for photography – fix the location of parts before disconnecting.

Also, prepare the workspace: it should be well lit, without dust and static electricity. Use an antistatic bracelet, if you have one, it will save the motherboard from damage. If the bracelet is not, regularly touch grounded metal objects (for example, a heating battery) to relieve static stress.

⚠️ Warning: Do not disassemble your smartphone at humidity above 60% - condensation on the board can cause a short circuit. Also avoid working on carpets: they accumulate static electricity.

If you're disassembling a battery replacement phone, consider that the Redmi 4X uses adhesive tape under the battery, not liquid glue, as in newer models. This makes dismantling easier, but requires caution when heated - overheating can warp the body.

Step 1: Removing the back cover - how not to break the latches

The Redmi 4X case is mounted on plastic latches that break easily when dismantled carelessly. Start at the bottom edge (on the charging connector side), where the latches are smaller. Put the plastic blade in the gap between the body and the screen and carefully guide it along the perimeter, alternately snapping the locks.

Don't try to pull the lid off right away, it'll cause cracks! Move clockwise with a steady force. If you feel resistance, don't push harder, you better shovel through the problem area again. Note that the latches on the top of the body (near the camera) are more fragile.

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 Battery with connected plume.
• 📱 Motherboard closed with metal screen.
• 📷 Main camera module (13 MP in the standard version).
• 🎤 The speaker and microphone at the bottom.

⚠️ Warning: Don't pull the battery plume - it's glued to the board and can come off! First, unplug it with a shoulder blade, pulling the connector up.

Step 2: Disconnect the battery and dismantle the motherboard

Before you touch the board, be sure to turn off the battery.

1. Put a plastic blade white battery connector (located next to the motherboard).
2. Take it up carefully, and a slight click should be heard.
3. Secure the plume with tape so that it does not interfere with further work.

Now you can start removing the metal screen that protects the board, and it's mounted on 5 screws (all cross PH00s), unscrew them and pull the screen up, and underneath it you'll see a motherboard attached to another 8 screws (of different lengths!) and remember the location of each screw, and it's easy to mix them up.

After unscrewing the screws, gently tuck the board with a shoulder blade, starting at the top edge (from the camera side). Be careful: under the board there are plumes of the touch screen and display, which are easily damaged. If the board does not respond, check if all the screws are unscrewed.

💡

Before you remove the board completely, take a picture of it on both sides, which will help you connect all the plumes correctly when you reassemble them.

Step 3: Replacing the battery – the nuances and risks

The battery in the Redmi 4X has a capacity of 4100 mAh and is attached to a double-sided adhesive tape.

1. Heat the back of the phone with a hair dryer (temperature not higher than 60-70 ° C) for 2-3 minutes.
2. Tap the battery with a plastic spatula from any angle and slowly pull up.
3. If the battery fails, repeat the heating again.

A new battery must be original or certified (e.g., from Xiaomi or ZMI), cheap ones often have lower real capacity and can swell over time.

• 🔌 Connect the plume to the board before fixing with duct tape.
• 📏 Make sure the battery is flat, without skewing.
• 🔥 Do not turn on the phone immediately after replacement - let the glue grab (10-15 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If the battery is swelling, don't puncture it! It can cause fire. Dispose of the battery at special reception points.

Step 4: Camera Dismantling, Dynamics and Charging Connector

If you need to replace the main camera (13 MP), speaker or microUSB connector, proceed as follows:

Camera: mounted on two screws (PH00) and connected to the board via a plume. Unscrew the screws, gently unplug the plume (plug it with a blade on the side) and remove the module. When installing a new camera, make sure that the lens glass is not soiled - this affects the quality of the photo.

Speaker and microphone: At the bottom of the phone, they're glued to the body, so you'll need a hairdryer to dismantle, and you'll need to put the new speaker on double-sided tape, not glue, and that'll make future repairs easier.

Charging connector: the most vulnerable element in the Redmi 4X. It is mounted on 4 screws and connected to the board through a plume. When you replace, pay attention to the metal frame of the connector, which must fit tightly to the body, otherwise the contacts will oxidize over time.

💡

When replacing the charging connector, always check the integrity of the contacts on the board. Oxidation or microcracks can cause poor charging even with a new connector.

Step 5: Disassemble the screen when necessary

Dismantling the display module in the Redmi 4X is the hardest part of disassembling, and the screen is glued to the body around the perimeter, and underneath it there are sensor and backlight plumes, and it is only worth disassembling if:

• 💥 Cracks or broken pixels on the display.
• 🔄 Deactivated sensor (not responsive to touch).
• 🌈 Yellowing or detachment of adhesive base.

For screenshots:

1. Heat the body with a hair dryer around the perimeter (temperature 70-80 ° C).
2. Insert a plastic blade into the gap between the screen and the case and slowly lead it along the edge.
3. Suction cups here will not help - the screen is too tightly glued.
4. After separation of the screen, disconnect the sensor and display plumes (they are under metal protection).

Installing a new screen requires repainting. Use LOCA-glue 3M. After gluing, place the phone under the press (for example, put a heavy book on top) for 1-2 hours.

⚠️ Warning: When disassembling the screen, don't pull the plumes - they are fragile and can break. If the screen does not separate, repeat the heating, but do not increase the temperature above 80°C.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Xiaomi Redmi 4X. Here are the most common of them and ways to prevent them:

• 🔩 Loss or tangle of screws. All screws in a phone of different lengths! Store them in separate containers or stick them on paper in order to unscrew them.
• 🔥 Battery overheating. Temperature over 80.°C can warp the battery or melt the glue. Use a thermometer to monitor.
• 📱 Damage to plumes. Never pull the plumes, just shove them up from the side. If the plume is broken, it can be soldered, but it requires special equipment.
• 💧 Get moisture on the board. Work in a dry room. If the board gets wet, immediately turn off the battery and dry the phone in rice or silica gel for 24 hours.

Another common problem is that the phone doesn't turn on properly, so to avoid that,

• Check if all the plumes are tightly connected (a click should be heard).
• Make sure the screws are twisted to the point, but not pulled.
• After assembly, connect the charging and check if the current is coming (the charging indicator should catch fire).

💡

If the phone doesn't turn on after assembly, but it reacts to charging (the indicator vibrates or lights up), the problem is most likely a display plume or battery. Take the phone apart and check these elements.

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