Removing the back cover of the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a challenge that owners face when replacing the battery, repairing the camera or cleaning the internal components. Despite the apparent simplicity, the procedure requires care: improper actions can damage the plumes, chip the glass panel or even fail the fingerprint scanner. In this article, we will understand how to disassemble the case without risk, what tools you need and what to look for when working with a particular model.
The Mi 8 is different from Xiaomi’s budget models, with a combination of glue and latches, and the glass back is more fragile than plastic. If you haven’t repaired your smartphones before, we recommend you to carefully study each step — especially the heating moment of the case.
Preparation: Tools and precautions
Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need, and not even one tool can make it difficult or break.
- 🔧 Plastic mediators (2-3 - for tidy lids. Metal blades are not suitable!
- 🔥 Hair dryer or thermo-air station for softening the glue. Optimal temperature: 60-80°C.
- 🧲 Suction cup - helps to lift the lid after heating.
- 🔋 Tweezers to turn off the battery plume (required!) will do the anti-magnetic.
- 📦 Container for screws - the Mi 8 uses 12 screws of different types, they are easy to confuse.
- 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — It's not good for cleaning glue residues!
Important: if you plan to reuse the lid, get a new adhesive layer (e.g. Tesa 61395 or similar) The old adhesive loses its adhesive properties after removal. Also prepare the workplace: the desk should be clean, no debris, and the lighting should be bright. It is better to work on an antistatic mat to avoid damage to the motherboard by static electricity.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use a household hair dryer at maximum power! hot air flow can melt plastic clips inside the case or damage the display. Keep the hair dryer 10-15 cm away and move it constantly to avoid local overheating.
Step-by-step: how to remove the cover without damage
The process of disassembling Xiaomi Mi 8 is divided into 3 stages: heating the case, separation of the lid and disconnection of the battery. Follow the instructions strictly in order - skipping steps can lead to short circuit or damage to the plumes.
Step 1: Heating the back panel
Turn on the dryer and set the temperature to 70-80°C. Direct the airflow to the edges of the back cover, paying special attention to the corners and areas around the camera. The heating should be uniform - do not hold the hair dryer in one place for longer than 10 seconds. Total heating time: 2-3 minutes.
Check if the glue has softened: gently pull the lid over the edge with your nail. If it doesn't lend itself, warm up for another 30 to 60 seconds. Don't force it, it can cause cracks in the glass!
Step 2: Separation of the cover by a mediator
Stick the suction cup to the top of the lid (near the camera) and pull up slightly. Insert a plastic mediator into the resulting slit and slowly guide it along the edge of the case, and your task is to separate the glue around the perimeter without damaging the latches.
Pay special attention to the area around the volume and power buttons, where the antenna contacts are located. If the mediator is stuck, don't try to pull it out by force. Instead, warm up the problem area again.
Heat the entire perimeter of the body.|The mediator went all over the edges.|The cover is separated by 2-3 mm along the entire circuit|Suction is ready for the final snatch-->
Step 3: Shutting off the battery
Once the lid is removed, don't rush to remove it completely! Underneath it is the fingerprint scanner plume and antenna cables. Carefully lift the lid and unplug them with tweezers. Then find the battery connector (it is located at the bottom of the board, next to the board). USB-port and disable it.
Never operate with a battery connected! Even if the smartphone is off, the residual charge can cause a short circuit when the board is accidentally touched by the tool.
| Phase | Action. | Time. | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating. | Even heating of edges by a phenome | 2-3 minutes | Overheating of the display, damage to glue |
| Cover compartment | Use of mediator and suction cup | 5-10 minutes | Cracks on the glass, plume break |
| Battery shutdown | Tweezer disconnection | 1-2 minutes | Short circuit, board damage |
| Removal of plumes | Disconnect the fingerprint scanner and antennas | 3-5 minutes | Contacts cut, details lost |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 8, here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:
- 🔧 Damage to the fingerprint scanner plume, cause: abrupt removal of the cover without detaching the plume. Solution: Always check if all connectors are disabled before removing the panel completely.
- 🔥 Overheating of the body, signs: deformation of plastic clips, detachment of the display. Solution: use the thermometer to control the temperature (maximum 80)°C).
- 📱 Cracks on the glass panel. Cause: trying to lid the metal tool. Solution: use only plastic pickers.
- 🔋 Short circuit. Reason: working with the battery plugged in. Solution: turn off the battery first!
Another common problem is that antenna contacts are damaged, and they're on the sides of the body, and they're attached to the lid with thin wiring, and if you're not careful, these wiring can come off, which will cause the network to deteriorate, and to avoid this, put paint tape on the edges of the lid before heating, which will help to fix the antennas.
⚠️ Note: If after assembly the smartphone does not turn on or recognize SIM-check the integrity of the antenna contacts, often solved by re-soldling or replacing them.
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Before assembly, clean the inner surface of the cover and the body of glue residues with isopropyl alcohol, which will improve the adhesion of the new adhesive layer and prevent debris from entering the device.
What to do after removing the cover: further actions
When the lid is successfully removed, you will have access to the internal components of the Xiaomi Mi 8. Depending on the purpose of disassembly, the following steps may differ:
- 🔋 Battery replacement: disconnect the battery connector, peel it off with a mediator (carefully so you don’t puncture!) and install a new one.
- 📸 Camera repair: disable the main and front module plumes, then dismantle them. Be careful with lenses - they are fragile!
- 🔧 Dust cleansing: use a soft brush and a spray of compressed air. Don't blow with your mouth - moisture from breathing can oxidize contacts.
- 🔄 Display replacement: requires complete disassembly, including removal of the motherboard.
If your goal is to replace the adhesive layer, use double-sided 3M 9448A tape or similar. Apply it with continuous tape around the perimeter of the cover, avoiding areas near the speaker and microphone. When assembled, make sure that all the plumes are connected correctly and the screws are tightened at a force of 0.3-0.4 Nm (use a dynamometer screwdriver).
How to check the tightness after assembly?
Comparison of methods of removing the lid: which is better?
There are several ways to disassemble the Xiaomi Mi 8, and each has its pros and cons. We compared the three most popular methods:
| Method | Pluses | Cons | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating with a hair dryer + mediator | Minimum risk of damage, suitable for beginners | It requires care, takes longer. | The best option for most users |
| Use of wire | No need for a hair dryer, suitable for emergencies | High risk of damage to plumes and antennas | Unless there are other tools |
| Professional machine | Maximum accuracy, suitable for mass repairs | Expensive, requires skill | For service centres |
For home repairs, we recommend the first method, with a hair dryer and a mediator, which is the safest and doesn't require expensive equipment. If you've never disassembled a smartphone, practice on an old device or watch video instructions (for example, from JerryRigEverything's YouTube channel).
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The main rule of thumb when disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 8 is to take your time. 80% of damage is due to rushing or using the wrong tools. If you feel something is going wrong, stop and double-check your actions.
Frequent questions after the disassembly
Even if you successfully removed the lid, you can have problems after assembly, and here are the answers to some of the most common questions.
The smartphone doesn't turn on after assembly. What do you do?
The fingerprint scanner is not working.
After the battery is replaced, the phone runs out quickly.
Can I use a smartphone without the back cover?
When is the best time to contact the service?
While disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 8 is quite possible at home, there are situations when it is better to trust the professionals:
- 🔧 If you have never held a soldering iron or mediator in your hands, the risk of damage to parts is too high.
- 💥 If after an unsuccessful attempt to disassemble the smartphone does not turn on or smokes (this is a sign of a short circuit).
- 📡 If after assembly the network signal or Wi-Fi is missing, most likely, antenna contacts are damaged, and soldering is needed.
- 🔋 If the battery is swelling - its replacement at home is dangerous (the risk of fire!).
The cost of dismantling in the service is usually 500-1500 rubles, depending on the complexity of the work. For comparison, replacing the display or motherboard will cost 3000-8000 rubles, so if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better not to take risks.
If you decide to disassemble your smartphone yourself, follow our instructions and do not forget about precautions.