How to carefully remove the back cover with Xiaomi Redmi 7: instructions with photos and warnings

Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, but even such a reliable device may need repairs over time: replacing the battery, cleaning the connectors or diagnosing internal components. The first step in either case is to remove the back cover – an operation that seems simple only at first glance.

Redmi 7 design involves the use of adhesive joint and latches, and improper actions can lead to cracks in plastic, damage to plumes or even failure of the fingerprint scanner. In this article, we will discuss three officially approved methods of removing the lid (including the option without specialized tools), show hidden mounts that are often overlooked, and caution against typical errors leading to expensive repairs.

Important: If your Redmi 7 is warranty-free, self-opening the case will void it. In such cases, we recommend you contact the Xiaomi service center.

Preparing for removal of the lid: tools and security measures

Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need on hand, and not even one tool can turn a simple procedure into a nightmare with broken latches.

• 🔧 Plastic blade (or mediator) - for tidy lid lashing. Metal tools leave scratches!
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature not higher than 80)°C).
• 🧲 Suction cups (2 pcs) - help to evenly lift the cover without distortions.
• 📦 Container for screws - in Redmi 7 there are 12 pieces, and all different sizes.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — Removal of glue residues after removal.

Critical point: before starting work completely turn off the smartphone and remove SIM-Even when it's off, the residual charge on the board can cause a short circuit when it comes into contact with metal tools. Also make sure the battery isn't swollen, as you can see from the lid raised or the characteristic "slapping" sound when you press the screen.

⚠️ Attention! If the Redmi 7 battery is blown up, don't try to remove the lid yourself - the risk of lithium-ion battery fire when punctured is extremely high.

Method 1: Classic Heated Removal (Recommended for Beginners)

This is a good way for most users because it minimizes the risk of latch damage, and the key is to take your time and follow the sequence.

1. Heat the adhesive layer. Turn the dryer on to minimum power and evenly warm the back cover during 2-3 Don't direct hot air to the screen, it can hurt. OLED-matrix.
2. Install suction cups. Place two suction cups on the top and bottom of the lid (near the camera and the Type-C connector). Pull up carefully, and a gap of ~1 mm should appear.
3. Separation of the body. Insert a plastic blade into the resulting gap and slowly lead it along the perimeter, snapping the latches. On Redmi 7, there are 18 of them - 6 on the sides, 4 at the bottom and 8 at the top (near the speaker).

If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't use excessive force - it's better to reheat the problem area. Typical mistake: trying to tear the lid off with a jerk, which leads to a break in the fingerprint scanner plume (it attaches to the lid!).

Make sure your smartphone is off | Check no battery bloating | Prepare all tools | Heat the lid evenly | Use only plastic blades-->

Method 2: No heating (for emergency cases)

If you don't have a hair dryer, you can do without it, but it will require more patience.This method is suitable for Redmi 7 with already weakened adhesive joint (for example, after previous disassemblies).

Algorithm of action:

1. Place the smartphone screen down on a soft surface (towel).
2. Carefully insert the plastic blade into the gap between the lid and the middle frame at the Type-C connector.
3. Slowly drive the shoulder blade along the lower edge until you hear the characteristic clicks of the snapping clamps.
4. Repeat the procedure for the lateral and upper edges. Do not try to separate the lid completely until all the clamps are snapped - this can damage the flexible plumes.

⚠️ Attention, this method is a risk of damaging the lid. ~30% If you hear a crunch, stop immediately and call the service. This is the sound of plastic latches breaking and not recoverable.

After successfully removing the lid, you will see the internal structure of Redmi 7.

• 🔋 Battery (3800 mAh) with connector JST 1.0.
• 📱 Motherboard under metal screen.
• 📷 Main camera module (12 MP) + 2 MP) with flexible plume.
• 👆 Fingerprint scanner (connected to the cover!).

Hidden mounts and “traps” of the Redmi 7 design

Xiaomi is known for using low-end engineering solutions to reduce production costs. Redmi 7 has three traps that are rarely mentioned in the manuals:

The fingerprint scanner deserves special attention. In Redmi 7, it is integrated into the lid and connects to the motherboard through a flexible plume only 15 mm long. If the lid is not neatly removed, the plume can break away from the FPC-20P connector, which will require soldering with a microscope (the cost of repair is ~ 2,500 rubles).

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If the fingerprint scanner stopped working after the cover was removed, don't panic. Often the problem is solved by simply reconnecting the plume. Carefully unplug it from the motherboard connector (use tweezers!) and insert it back until the characteristic click.

What to do after removing the lid: diagnosis and reverse assembly

Once the lid is successfully removed, you will have access to all the internal components, but before you start repairing, take a few critical steps:

1. Short circuit check. Take a multimeter and check the resistance between the + and - contacts of the battery in "vertebrae" mode. Normal: 30-50 kOhms. If the device shows 0 Ohms in the KZ circuit, further disassembly is dangerous!
2. All flexible plumes (display, camera, scanner) are attached to the clamps, and carefully snap them with a plastic blade, pulling only the black plastic part (not the wires!).
3. Contact cleaning. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the battery contacts and antenna tracks, which will prevent communication problems after assembly.

When reassembling, follow these rules:

• 🔄 Apply a new glue layer (recommended) B-7000) on the frame of the body, but avoid hitting the speaker and microphone.
• 🔩 Wrapping screws in the order of "cross-cross" (from center to edges) to avoid distortions of the cover.
• 🔋 Connect the battery last when all the plumes are already in place.

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If the smartphone doesn't turn on after assembly, 90 percent of the time, the problem is with the display plume or battery not properly connected. Don't panic, disassemble the device and check all the connectors.

Alternative methods: when the standard approach does not work

Sometimes the Redmi 7 lid gets so tight that neither heat nor shoulder blades help, and you can use one of the alternative methods, but remember, they increase the risk of damage.

Method with thread (for covers with strong adhesive connection):

1. Warm up the cover with a hair dryer for 5 minutes.
2. Push a thin capron thread (such as from guitar strings) between the lid and the body at the Type-C connector.
3. Carefully thread back and forth, as if you were cutting butter. The glue will accumulate on the thread.
4. Repeat until the lid starts to separate.

Method with medical alcohol (to remove old glue):

1. Apply medical alcohol (70%+) around the perimeter of the lid with a needleless syringe.
2. Wait 10-15 minutes - the alcohol will dissolve the glue.
3. Carefully slap the lid with a spatula. This method requires patience, but keeps the latches intact.

⚠️ Do not use acetone or acetone-based solvents (e.g. 646) – they break down the plastic of the cover and can damage the oleophobic screen covering.

Top.-5 Mistakes in removing the Redmi cover 7 and how to avoid them

Analysis of service center calls shows that 80 percent of self-disassembly damages to Redmi 7s are due to the same errors, the most common of which are:

1. Use of metal tools. Even a single scratch from a screwdriver can become a hotbed of corrosion. Always use plastic or wooden shoulder blades.
2. Warming the lid above 80°C. This causes plastic deformation and paint detachment, and the optimum temperature is 60-70°C.
3. In Redmi 7, the fingerprint scanner plume has a margin of only 5 mm in length - it is easy to tear off.
4. Ignoring antenna contacts, after removing the lid, they need to be cleaned with alcohol, otherwise the Wi-Fi and cellular signal will deteriorate.
5. In the Redmi 7, the screws are of different lengths, and if you confuse them in places, you can damage the motherboard.

If you've already made one of these mistakes, don't try to disguise the problem, it'll only make things worse. For example, a break in the fingerprint scanner plume is often tried to "fix" with superglue, but this leads to a short circuit on the first charge connection.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the removal of the cover Xiaomi Redmi 7