Self-replacement of the screen on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: disassembly without damage

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017, but even it is not immune to breakdowns. A cracked display, a broken touchscreen or a flickering screen are typical problems that owners face after 3-5 years of operation. Replacing a screen in a service center will cost 3-5 thousand rubles, but with the tools and patience, you can do the procedure yourself.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo guide, a list of tools you need, and key nuances that are missed by 90% of beginners: how to properly disconnect the plumes, avoid damaging flexible cables, and avoid typical build errors.

If you’ve never taken a smartphone apart, start by watching video reviews (links at the end of the article) and evaluating your skills. Redmi 4X is not the most difficult machine to repair, but requires accuracy: here the plumes of the display and battery are extremely close, and the duct tape under the screen can break if you carelessly move.

Training: tools and materials

Before disassembling, make sure you have everything you need, and if you don't have even one tool, you can damage the body or the internal components.

• 🔧 Plastic blades (2-3 pieces) - to separate the screen from the body. Metal mediators are not suitable!
• 🔨 Screwdriver. T3 and T5 — medium-board.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or screw container – to avoid losing small details.
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature 60-80)°C).
• 📱 New screen - check compatibility! for Redmi 4X Only a module with resolution will do. 720×1280 plug-in ZIF-24pin.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-cleaner.
• 🎨 Double-sided tape or glue B-7000 — fixate.

If you buy a screen on AliExpress or Avito, pay attention to the package. Cheap modules often come without a frame and duct tape — they will have to be rearranged from the old display. Also check if the set includes a touchscreen plume: on the Redmi 4X it is separate and can oxidize over time.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use a household hair dryer at maximum power! The hot air stream can melt plastic clips inside the case. The optimal distance is 10-15 cm from the screen.

Step 1: Turning off and disassembling the body

Before starting work completely turn off the smartphone and remove SIM-Even when it's off, there's still a voltage on the board, so don't touch the contacts unnecessarily.

Follow the instructions:

1. Remove the back cover. On the Redmi 4X, it's mounted on the latches. Put a plastic blade in the gap between the lid and the body (starting at the bottom corner) and gently drive along the perimeter. If the lid doesn't lend itself, heat it up slightly with a hair dryer.
2. Unplug the battery. You'll see under the lid. ZIF-Battery connector (black plume with orange latch) put it up with a spatula, not sideways!
3. Unscrew 8 screws of the mounting medium board (screwdriver T3). screws of different lengths - remember their location!

Once you unscrew the screws, don't try to remove the board immediately. First, unplug all the plumes: the display, the touchscreen, the cameras, and the Power/Volume buttons. They are mounted on the latches -- lift them with a spatula, and then carefully pull out the plumes.

Battery disconnected |Shot locations photographed |Shoots and touchscreen disconnected |Hull heated with a hairdryer (60–80°C) |About the hand lies alcohol to clean--->

Step 2: Separation of the screen from the body

This is the most critical step. The Redmi 4X screen is glued around the perimeter with double-sided tape, which becomes elastic when heated, and here's the right sequence of steps:

1. Heat the screen with a hair dryer for 2-3 minutes, evenly leading around the edges. Do not stay in one place for longer than 10 seconds!
2. Insert the blade into the gap between the screen and the body (starting at the bottom edge where the buttons are located). If the blade does not enter, heat this area again.
3. Carefully drive the shoulder blade along the side edges, separating the screen. Do not apply force - if you feel resistance, heat the problem area.
4. Lift the screen 45° and hold it in this position (e.g., put a box under it).

Under the screen, you'll see the display and touchscreen plumes glued to the middle board, and you'll have to unplug them last when the screen is 70 to 80 percent apart, and if you try to tear the plumes off earlier, you can break the flexible contacts.

Step 3: Disconnect the display and touchscreen plumes

When the screen is raised, you will see two plumes:

- White (wide) - display plume.

- Black is a touchscreen plume.

Both are attached to ZIF-So we have latch connectors to disconnect them:

1. Put the orange latch on the display connector upwards (it should be fixed in the open position).
2. Carefully pull the plume parallel to the board, do not pull up!
3. Repeat the same for the touchscreen plume.

If the plumes are soldered (which happens in cheap replicas of screens), they will have to be soldered off with a soldering iron with a thin sting. In this case, be sure to use flux and do not overheat the board for longer than 3-5 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi board 4X near the tails are small SMD-components (resistors and capacitors) If you accidentally hit them with a spatula, your smartphone may stop turning on!

Step 4: Install a new screen

Before installing a new module, be sure to check its operability.

1. Connect the new screen plumes to the board (first touchscreen, then display).
2. Connect the battery and turn on the smartphone.
3. Check it out: 📱 Is the image displayed (no broken pixels, stripes). 👆 Does the touchscreen work (check multi-touch in Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI, Press 5 times on the logo). 🔋 Is there any overheating in the plume area.

If everything works, turn off your smartphone and disconnect the battery, and then you can start fixing the screen.

1. Apply a thin layer of B-7000 glue or bilateral tape around the perimeter of the case (don’t overdo it – excess glue can come out!).
2. Carefully attach the screen, starting at the top, and press it around the edges.
3. Secure the screen with paint tape for 10-15 minutes so that the glue catches.

Don't turn on your smartphone right after assembly! Let the glue dry for at least 1-2 hours, otherwise the screen may lag behind.

1. Is the touch screen plume correctly connected (it should enter the connector to the point).

2. whether there are any contaminants on the contacts (wipe them with alcohol).

3. Whether the plume bends (on Redmi) 4X It is often clamped with an average board when assembled).-->

Step 5: Build a Smartphone

The assembly is done in reverse order, but there are a few critical points:

• 🔧 Screw the screws in the cross so that the boards sit flat!
• 📶 Antenna contacts (metal springs on the middle board) should fit tightly to the back cover.
• 🔋 Connect the battery last when all the plumes are already in place.

After assembly, turn on the smartphone and check again:

- Does the vibration work (on the Redmi 4X, the motor is attached to the average board).

Whether the colors are displayed correctly (cheap screens can be blue or green).

Are there any artifacts when scrolling (strips, flickering).

1. whether the battery is connected (sometimes the plume falls out when vibrating).

2. are not the contacts closed on the board (look for foreign objects).

3. whether the plumes of the display sit correctly - they can be confused in places!-->

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced wizards sometimes make mistakes when replacing the screen with a Redmi 4X, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:

Another common problem is the yellow screen after replacement, which is because of cheap matrixes with poor color reproduction. If you care about color accuracy, choose screens marked "Original Grade A" (they are 20 to 30 percent more expensive, but without color distortion).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen replacement