How to disassemble Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro yourself: instructions with photos and nuances

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is the flagship of 2018 with a transparent rear panel, a fingerprint scanner under the screen and top-end hardware at the time of release. But even such devices require repairs over time, from replacing the battery to cleaning the connectors. Disassembling this smartphone has its own features - a fragile back cover, adhesive battery fixation and a compact interior layout. In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo instruction, a list of necessary tools and critical nuances that even experienced craftsmen miss.

Before you start disassembling, consider your strength: the Mi 8 Pro is not a “repairable” model; there is no removable battery, and many plumes are soldered directly to the motherboard. If you have never disassembled a smartphone, practice on simpler devices (for example, the Redmi Note series), and remember: Xiaomi warranty is canceled on any opening of the case, even if you just removed the lid for cleaning.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

To disassemble the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, 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 blades (2-3 - to separate the body. Metal mediators can scratch the frame.
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature 60-80)°C).
• 🔋 Suction - helps to lift the back cover after heating.
• ⚡ Screwdriver. T3 and T5 — for the motherboard and battery attachment screws.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or tray – so as not to lose small screws (them are here) ~20!).
• 🔍 Loop or magnifying glass - to inspect contacts and soldering.

Also prepare your workspace: a clean desk with good lighting, an antistatic mat (if any) and containers for sorting parts. Be sure to turn off your smartphone and wait for the battery to run out (up to 0%) – this minimizes the risk of short circuits when contacts accidentally close.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use a household hair dryer at maximum power! hot air flow can warp plastic body elements or melt battery safety stickers. Keep the hair dryer 10-15 cm away and move it constantly to avoid local overheating.

Removing the back cover: how not to break the transparent panel

The back cover of the Mi 8 Pro is both a highlight and a weakness. The transparent plastic with the backlit of the Xiaomi logo is glued to a double-sided tape and additionally fixed with latches around the perimeter. The main mistake of beginners is to try to lid the corner without heating it up, which leads to cracks or peeling off the backlight.

Withdrawal algorithm:

1. Heat the back panel with a hair dryer for 2-3 minutes, evenly driving over the surface. Pay special attention to the edges.
2. Suction the top of the lid (near the camera) and pull up. If the lid doesn't lend itself, warm up for another 1 minute.
3. Insert a plastic blade into the gap, and carefully guide it along the frame, separating the glue. Don't push too hard, the latches may break!
4. Once the cover is removed, don't remove it completely, it's connected to the fingerprint scanner plume, and carefully unplug the plume from the motherboard.

If the lid is cracked or the backlight is detached, don't panic. You can replace it (the original lid article is MDY10-0006), but the cost of the part is up to 30% of the price of the smartphone in the secondary market. The alternative is to use a universal silicone cover, but it will hide the "chip" of the model.

Battery Removal: Risks and Proper Techniques

The battery in the Mi 8 Pro is one of the most problematic parts of disassembly, glued to the body with double-sided high-strength tape, and its capacity (3000 mAh) and age (model 2018) often cause swelling. If the battery is deformed, don't try to remove it yourself! The risk of fire or leakage of the electrolyte is too high.

For safe extraction:

1. Unscrew 4 screws that fix the metal plate over the battery (screwdriver T3).
2. You put a blade on the plate and take it off, and there's a battery plume underneath the plate, and you're going to gently disconnect it from the motherboard.
3. Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol (90%+) under the battery, along the long edge.
4. Wait 5-7 minutes, then gently tuck the battery in with a plastic card or a special spatula. Don't use metal tools!

⚠️ Warning: If you experience a strong chemical smell or smoke while removing the battery, stop working immediately! Place the battery in a non-combustible container (such as a metal jar) and take it out into the open air. Do not try to dispose of it yourself – contact the point of reception of hazardous waste.

Dismantling the motherboard and child modules

The Mi 8 Pro motherboard is the heart of a smartphone, and damage to it often leads to irreversible damage. Before removing the board, you need to disconnect all the plumes and connectors, and unscrew 12 screws (of different lengths!).

Procedure:

1. Disconnect the plumes: Display module (top board), Cameras (main and front), Speakers and microphones, Antenna modules (sides).

Unscrew all screws, starting with the longest (hold the charge at the charging connector).

Carefully slap the board with a spatula on the side and lift it up. Don't pull around the corners, it can tear off the soldered contacts!

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Pay special attention to the Type-C charging connector. In the Mi 8 Pro, it often fails due to moisture or mechanical damage. If the contacts are oxidized, clean them with WD-40 or alcohol. If the connector wobbles, it will have to be soldered (this is a professional job).

Disassembly of the display module and fingerprint scanner

The Mi 8 Pro screen is the AMOLED-It's a panel with an integrated fingerprint scanner, and it costs 60 to 70 percent of the cost of a smartphone to replace it, so you have to be very careful with the display, and the main challenge is the scanner plume, which is separate from the screen plume and glued to the back of the panel.

To remove the display:

1. Heat the front of the smartphone with a hairdryer (temperature not higher than 70)°C so as not to damage OLED-matrix).
2. Put a plastic blade on the screen from any angle, and be prepared to resist, because the glue here is stronger than the back cover.
3. Carefully lift the screen 45° and disconnect the plumes: Display plume (wide, center). Fingerprint scanner plume (thin, right). Touch panel plume (if separate).

If the screen is cracked but the image is saved, it can be used as a donor for other modules (such as a fingerprint scanner: OLED-Mi 8 Pro panels are not compatible with other Xiaomi models, even from the same lineup (for example, with Mi 8 or Mi 8 Lite).

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If the screen doesn't respond to touch, but the image is there, the problem may be in the plume of the touchpad. Try reconnecting it or cleaning the contacts with a smoothie (no pressing!).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro. TOP-5 Failures that lead to costly repairs:

• 🔌 Forgetting to disconnect the battery before working with the board, which can cause a short circuit when you touch the screwdriver.
• 🔧 The screws get confused when you build them. The screws are of different lengths, and if you screw a long screw into a place for a short one, you can break the board.
• 📱 Pressure on the screen when filming. OLED-panels are fragile - just one careless movement, and a crack will appear.
• 🔥 The body is overheated with a hair dryer.°C deforms the plastic and can melt the glue, which then hardens the stone».
• 🧲 Small parts (button springs, gaskets) are lost, and without them, the assembly will be incomplete (for example, buttons will become soft»).

Another common problem is that the flexible plumes are damaged, and they break when they are not carefully removed or if they are bent, for example, the main camera plume in the Mi 8 Pro goes through the board and is easily damaged when the motherboard is lifted, and if the plume breaks, it can be replaced (article MDY10-0012), but this requires soldering.

1. connection of the battery (train and contacts).

2. correct installation of the power button (it can block the on).

3. Integrity of the motherboard (whether there are traces of short circuit).-->

Build a smartphone: reverse order and testing

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro should be assembled in reverse order, but with some nuances:

1. Before installing the battery, clear the area underneath of the old glue. Use a new double-sided tape (e.g. 3M 9448A).
2. When connecting the plumes, make sure they are fully logged into the connectors. Often the display plume is "unstoppable" and the screen does not work.
3. Twisting the screws cross-cross to avoid skewing the board.
4. Before you finish building, turn on your smartphone and check: Screen and sensor performance, charging (wire connection), cameras and speakers, fingerprint scanner.

If something doesn't work after assembly, don't panic. 80 percent of the time, it's a non-connected plume or a bad contact. Take your smartphone apart again and check all the connections. If the malfunction persists, it could be the board or the module itself (like the camera) that's damaged.

⚠️ Warning: Don't turn your smartphone on immediately after you're assembled, let the battery heat up to room temperature (if you've used a hair dryer), and a sudden temperature drop can cause condensation inside the case, leading to corrosion of the contacts.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions