Disassembly Xiaomi Redmi 5: how to carefully remove the back cover and not break the latches

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2017-2018, but even after years of repairing, its owners face the need to repair everything from replacing the battery to cleaning the connectors. The main problem when disassembling yourself is a fragile plastic cover that is attached to the latches and adhesive layer. In this article, we will analyze three officially confirmed methods of removing the lid, talk about hidden risks (for example, damage to the plume of the fingerprint scanner), and show how to avoid the mistakes of beginners.

It’s important to understand that the design of the Redmi 5 is different from the newer Redmi Note or POCO models. There are no screws under the lid (unlike the Redmi 5 Plus), but there are two vulnerabilities — near the camera and the headphone jack, where plastic breaks more often. If you’ve never taken apart smartphones, start by preparing tools and learning the clip layout (we’ve given it below).

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need, and even one tool that you don't have can cause permanent damage to the body or internal components, and here's the minimum set:

• 🔧 Plastic blade (preferably a set with different thicknesses - from 0.1 to 0.3 mm). Metal mediators are not suitable!
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station (at least 1000 W) for softening the adhesive.
• 🧲 Suction cups (3-5 cm in diameter) - will help to evenly lift the cover.
• 📦 Container for screws (if you plan to disassemble further - under the lid they are not, but they are in other nodes).
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-cleaner.

Also, prepare your workspace: the desk should be clean, free of crumbs and dust (they can get inside your smartphone), and put soft cloth (such as a microfiber) on the surface so that the screen does not scratch. If you work with a hair dryer, keep it at a distance of 10-15 cm from the body and do not direct hot air to the display - this can damage the body. OLED-Matrix (Redmi 5 is used in the IPS, But overheating is still dangerous).

⚠️ Note: Do not use a household hair dryer - it does not give the desired temperature (optimally 60-80).°C) and can melt plastic, preferably rent a construction dryer or buy an inexpensive thermal air station.

The layout of the latches on Xiaomi Redmi 5

The Redmi 5 body is held on 12 plastic latches that are asymmetrically arranged, the most problematic areas are near the USB-Type C connector and the speaker, where clips are thinner and more often break.

The Redmi 5 has an extra layer of glue around the perimeter of the lid, which is not as strong as the flagships (like the Mi 11), but it's almost impossible to remove the lid without heating, and if you try to put it on cold, the risk of breaking the latches increases by up to 70 percent.

Step-by-step: method with heating and suction cups

This method is suitable for most users and minimizes risks.

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-card from the tray (it can interfere with disassembly).
2. Heat the body with a hairdryer around the perimeter for 2-3 minutes, paying special attention to the corners. The temperature should be 60-70 ° C (check with your hand - the body should be hot, but not burning).
3. Place the suction cups on the bottom of the body (near the USB-You can pull the top one up, and you can pull it up, and if the lid doesn't respond, you can repeat the heat.
4. Push the plastic blade into the gap (start at the bottom corner) and push it along the side until you hear the flicks of the latches.
5. Repeat the procedure for the rest of the parties, gradually detaching the lid. Do not try to remove it completely until all the clips have been snapped!

If the lid is tight, don't force it, you better warm up the problem area again. In Redmi 5, the area near the power button often sticks: there is a plume of the fingerprint scanner, and it is easy to damage. To avoid this, after the lid is separated by 2-3 mm, lift it at a 30° angle and check if the plume stretches.

Checked off the smartphone|Extracted. SIM-memory-card|All instruments are ready.|The hull is heated to 60-70.°C|The blade is inserted at an angle of 15°-->

⚠️ Attention: In Redmi 5, the fingerprint scanner plume is glued to the lid with double-sided tape, and if you pull the lid abruptly, it can come off the board, and the sign of a problem is that after assembly, the scanner stops working. gently tuck the plume with a spatula and disconnect it from the lid until completely removed.

Alternative methods: without a hair dryer and with special tools

If you don't have a hair dryer or a suction cup, you can do with the tools at hand, but the risks are increasing.

Method 1: Removing the lid with a knife and credit card

Suitable for emergencies, but it requires extreme caution.

• 🔪 A stupid knife (for example, for oil) or a plastic card.
• 🧴 Soap solution (softens glue).

Procedure:

1. Apply the soap solution around the perimeter of the lid and wait 5 minutes.
2. Carefully enter the knife into the gap near the USB-Type C connector and slowly lead along the case.
3. Once the lid starts to move, replace the knife with a credit card (it is thinner and safer).

Method 2: String use (for experienced)

This is a method that's used in service centers for complex cases.

• 🎻 Guitar string (thickness 0.1–0.2 mm) or line.
• 🔥 Lighter (to heat strings).

Technology:

1. Warm up the string with a lighter and quickly swipe it around the perimeter of the lid (glue melts from temperature).
2. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the lid starts to move away.

Both methods require skill, and if you're not sure about your skills, you'd better spend time buying the right tools -- it's cheaper than repairing a damaged plume or display.

💡

If the lid doesn't want to sit back after removal, check the integrity of the adhesive layer. Often the problem is solved by applying a thin layer of glue B-7000 around the perimeter (without touching the connectors!).

Frequent 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:

• 🔋 Battery damage. If you don't sloppyly remove the lid, the shoulder blade can slip through and puncture the battery. Solution: always move the shoulder blade parallel to the body, not at an angle.
• 📱 Display plume is broken. In Redmi 5, it runs next to the top latches. Solution: don't push the lid in the front camera area.
• 🔊 Displacement speaker. If you press the bottom of the body, the speaker can move and start wheezing. Solution: lock the lid with suction cups, not with your fingers.
• 🔌 Connector damage USB. If you heat it unevenly, the plastic around the connector deforms. Solution: heat the case evenly, avoiding spotting.

Another common problem is the extraneous sounds after assembly (squeaking, crackling), which means that the lid has not sat tightly or dirt has been hit under it, and to avoid this, wipe the inside of the lid and the body of the smartphone with a lilaless napkin dipped in isopropyl alcohol before assembly.

What to do after removing the cover: further actions

When the lid is finally removed, the Redmi 5's interior design will open up in front of you.

1. Battery (glued, removed after disconnection of the plume).
2. Motherboard (fixed on screws under a metal screen).
3. Trains: display, cameras, fingerprint scanner, buttons.
4. Dynamics and vibrator (located at the bottom).

If your goal is to replace the battery, first disconnect its plume (it is under a black insulation tape).

1. Put a plastic blade on the tape.
2. Carefully disconnect the battery connector (use tweezers).
3. Put a plastic card under the battery and slowly separate it from the body, pouring isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the glue.

Other repairs (such as changing the display or cleaning the connectors) will require a complete disassembly. Remember: in Redmi 5, the plumes are very fragile, so don’t pull them by the wires – just take the plastic connectors.

1. Battery connection.

2. Integrity of the power plume (it goes from the battery to the motherboard).

3. No short circuit (check the charge for foreign objects).-->

Building the lid: how to put the lid back

Building a Redmi 5 after repair is as important as disassembling it.

1. Check all the plumes: they should be flat, without inflections, and pay special attention to the plume of the fingerprint scanner, which often falls out of the connector.
2. Clean the contacts: If you touched the board with your hands, wipe it with alcohol (sweat and fat can cause corrosion).
3. Line the cover: Start at the top (above the camera), then click the side clips, and lastly the bottom.
4. Check the locking: after assembly, press the lid slightly around the perimeter. If you hear clicks, the latches are right.

If the cover is not tightly fixed, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔹 Broken latch – you will need to replace the body or use glue.
• 🔹 Deformed plastic - try to warm the cover with a hair dryer and give it a shape with your hands.
• 🔹 Get dirt – take the smartphone apart again and clean the surface.

After assembly, turn on the smartphone and check:

• 📵 The work of the sensor and display (are there no broken pixels).
• 🔋 Charging the battery (connect the charger).
• 🎤 Microphone and speaker (record voice message).
• 👆 Performance of the fingerprint scanner.

⚠️ Warning: If the smartphone overheats or discharges quickly after assembly, you’ve probably damaged the heat paste on the processor, in which case you need to re-disassemble the device and apply a new paste (e.g., Arctic). MX-4).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions