Modern smartphones, including the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, are designed with minimal gaps to maximize the protection of internal components. Users often face the need to get to the “inners” of the device when replacing a broken glass, battery or charging port plume, a process that requires not only accuracy, but also understanding of design, since the back cover in this model is attached to adhesive and has a built-in fingerprint scanner.
Incorrect disassembly can cause plumes to break, cracks in the body, or even the motherboard to fail. In this article, we will discuss in detail what tools will be required, how to warm up the glue, and in what sequence to unscrew the screws to remove the lid without consequences for electronics.
Before you start physically affecting the case, make sure you work in a well-lit area with a clean surface. Any speck of dust or static electricity can cause problems, so preparing the workplace is the first and critical stage of a successful repair.
⚠️ Warning: Before any dismantling work begins, be sure to turn off your smartphone completely. Attempting to turn off the plumes under voltage can lead to a short circuit and combustion of the power controller.
Tools and workplace preparation required
For a high-quality and safe disassembly of the Redmi Note 5 standard set of screwdrivers will not be enough. You will need a specialized tool that allows you to work with small screws and sticky surfaces without damaging them. The main enemy when removing the lid is the adhesive base that locks the glass to the frame.
A heat dryer is not just an option, it's a necessity. The glue used by the manufacturer holds it very tight at room temperature, and trying to uncool the lid is guaranteed to break it down. Heating softens the adhesive, making the separation process layerable.
You'll also need suction cups or thin plastic blades (mediators), which are highly undesirable because they can scratch the frame or, worse, damage the battery if you stick them too deep, and a thin line or string can also be a great tool for cutting through the adhesive layer.
- 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-crosses) PH000, PH00) screw-hole.
- 🌡️ Hair dryer (building or household temperature adjustable) for heating glue.
- 🧩 Plastic blades, mediators and suction cup for opening the body.
- 🧴 Clay. B-7000 or T-7000 back-assembly.
Organise the space so that all the screws fold into individual cells or onto a magnetic mat. The screws in Xiaomi can be of different lengths, and if you confuse them when you build them, you can break through the motherboard or damage the thread in the plastic. The order of action must be clear and consistent.
☑️ Preparation for disassembly
The process of heating and primary opening of the body
Start directly with the body, turn on the hair dryer and set the temperature in the range 80-100 degrees Celsius, do not overheat the device above 120 degrees, as this can damage the display (it will warm up on the back) or deform plastic elements of the structure.
Warm the perimeter of the back cover evenly for 2-3 minutes. Keep the hair dryer 3-5 cm from the surface and move it constantly so as not to create a local overheating point. Pay special attention to the corners and the area around the chamber where the glue is usually the most.
After warming up, gently glue the suction cup at the bottom of the back cover, closer to the center, but the area of the fingerprint scanner. Pull the suction cup up, creating tension, and insert a thin plastic blade or mediator into the resulting microscopic gap.
Move the shoulder blade along the perimeter, slightly cutting the layer of heated glue. Don't try to open the lid with a jerk, act gradually, going around the circle. If you feel strong resistance, warm up the area again with a hairdryer.
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Use a thin guitar string or line wrapping the ends around your fingers, and extend it through the gap between the lid and the frame with sawing movements, which is the safest way to separate the glass without damaging the scanner plume.
Disabling plumes and removing protective screens
When the lid is completely separated from the glue, don't rush it off completely. At the bottom of the Redmi Note 5, there's a plume that connects the main board to the fingerprint scanner on the back, and a sharp movement will tear this thin conductor, and the unlock function will stop working.
Carefully lift the lid and find the plume connector, which can be mounted on the board or bypassed. In some versions, the plume passes under the battery shield, and your task is to reach the screws that lock the bottom plastic panel.
Unscrew all the visible screws around the perimeter of the lower body, usually about 10-12 pieces. Note that the screws can be hidden under decorative stickers or in the recesses. Once the bottom panel is removed, you will have access to the battery and the bottom plume.
Now you can safely disconnect the scanner plume from the motherboard or from the battery compartment, depending on the specific revision of the board. Use a plastic blade to snap the connector, pressing strictly upwards, not sideways.
⚠️ Note: The fingerprint scanner plume is very thin and fragile, and if it is damaged, it cannot be restored to biometric unlocking by software, and the module will need to be replaced.
Battery Dismantling and Access to the Motherboard
Once the lid and bottom panel are removed, you will have access to the main components. The battery in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is also planted on double-sided tape. It will require additional heating and the use of a plastic card to replace it.
If you want to get to the motherboard, you first need to turn off the plumes of the display and the main connector of the battery, which are closed by metal screens that are screwed, unscrew them and carefully remove the metal plates.
The plumes of the display are fixed in the connectors quite tightly, and you can swipe them with a plastic blade vertically, and once you turn off all the plumes, you can twist the screws that hold the motherboard itself and remove it from the body.
When working with a battery, be extremely careful. Lithium polymer batteries are afraid of punctures. If you damage the battery shell, it can catch fire or swell. Never use metal tools to tamper with the battery, only plastic or special tapes.
| Component | Type of attachment | Risks of withdrawal | The necessary tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back cover. | Glue B-7000/T-7000 | Breaking glass, breaking plume | Hair dryer, sucker, mediator. |
| Bottom panel. | Screws (PH00) | Carving failure, screw loss | Screwdriver, tweezers. |
| Battery | Double-sided scotch | Puncture, fire, bloating. | Fen, plastic card |
| Maternity fee | Screws + plumes | Trail break, statics | Screwdriver set, antistatic |
Nuances of work with a fingerprint scanner
One of the most delicate parts of the Redmi Note 5 is the fingerprint scanner module, which is integrated into the back cover and connected to the board with a long plume, and unlike the older models, there's no way to just forget about the plume when you remove the lid.
When you reassemble, you need to make sure that the plume is in your channel and not squeezed. If the plume is passed by the body or screw, the contact may disappear after some time of use. Visually inspect the path of the plume for the ruptures.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation when after assembly the scanner stops reading the finger, often due to the glue on the sensor itself or contamination of the connector contacts, wipe the contacts with alcohol and check the purity of the sensor before the final glue.
If you change the back cover to a non-original one, make sure the hole under the scanner matches perfectly. In cheap copies, the geometry can be broken and the scanner will either fall or protrude, making using a smartphone uncomfortable.
What to do if the plume is broken?
Reverse assembly and sealing
The assembly is done in reverse order, but with one important addition, the application of new adhesive. The old adhesive layer has already lost its properties, so you can't rely on it. Use specialized adhesives for electronics, such as the B-7000 or T-7000.
Apply a thin strip of glue around the perimeter of the frame, avoiding getting into the camera, speaker and connectors. Let the glue dry for 1-2 minutes to a state of mild stickiness, then gently apply the cover and press tightly at the edges.
For better fixation, it is recommended to use rubber rings or a load for 15-20 minutes until the glue is finally grasped. Don't turn the phone on immediately, let the structure stabilize. Complete polymerization of the adhesive takes about 24 hours.
Check all the functions before the final spin of all the screws: touchscreen, sound, vibration, cameras and, of course, the fingerprint scanner, which will save you time in case some plume was not fully connected.
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Quality sealing is not just aesthetics, it's also protection from dust and moisture. Don't skimp on glue and pay attention to the cleanliness of the surfaces you glue.