Xiaomi Redmi 3: how to carefully remove the back cover and not break the latches

Why to Disassemble Redmi 3 and What to Expect

Xiaomi Redmi 3 (codenamed ido), despite its venerable age (released in 2016), remains popular with users due to its reliable “stuffing” and upgrade capabilities. Most often, the lid is removed to replace the battery, clean the oxidation connectors, repair the speaker or camera. But even such a simple operation conceals pitfalls: fragile plastic latches, adhesive tapes under the battery and the risk of damaging the fingerprint scanner plume.

In this article, we've taken a step-by-step analysis of the photo, a list of tools you need, unique techniques for detaching the lid without a mediator (if you don't have one at hand), and a table of spare parts compatibility, and we've taken into account common mistakes of beginners, from trying to put a lid on with a knife to ignoring the locks near the door. SIM-If you've never taken a smartphone apart, start with our prep checklist and video instructions at the end.

Preparation: Tools and Conditions for Safe Disassembly

First rule: don't improvise, and if you have a tool like a stationery knife or a credit card, you're more likely to scratch the case or break the latches, here's the minimum set that guarantees success.

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (or guitar mediator 0.5-0.7 mm thick) – for separation of cover and body.
• 🔥 Building hair dryer (or powerful household) - heating weakens the glue by 30-40%.
• 🧲 Suction (optional) - helps to lift the cover after heating.
• 🔍 Loop or macro lens – to see hidden latches near the buttons.
• 📦 Container for screws - in Redmi 3 there are 12 pieces, and all of different lengths!

Work on a clean desk with good lighting. Put soft cloth under your phone (like a microfiber) to keep the screen from scratching. If you change the battery, discharge the phone to 20 to 30 percent: a fully charged battery can ignite if it accidentally circuits.

Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-map|Take off the cover and the protective film.|Prepare tools on the list|Heat the body with a hair dryer (1-2 minutes)|Take a picture of the original state of the phone-->

Step-by-step: how to remove the cover without damage

So the hard part is, you know, the lid is separated from the body, and in Redmi 3, it's mounted on 8 plastic latches and double-sided perimeter tape, and the first mistake that newcomers make is to try to plug the lid on the side where the volume buttons are, and the latches are the most fragile.

1. Heat the case: turn the dryer on at medium power (temperature ~60 ° C) and warm the back cover in a circle of 1-2 minutes. Keep the hair dryer at a distance of 10-15 cm to avoid melting the plastic.
2. Cover compartment: 🕳️ Insert the mediator in the gap between the lid and the body at the charging connector (there are no latches). 🔄 Carefully drive the mediator along the bottom edge until you hear the clicks of the latches. ⚠️ Do not apply force - if the lid does not lend itself, warm up the problem area again.

Removal of the lid

If the lid is up, but it's not completely removed, don't panic. You've probably forgotten about the latches near the tray. SIM-Look at the photo below (or in the gallery) where they are located, and carefully press the mediator at these points.

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If you don't have a mediator, use a plastic card wrapped in scotch (so you don't scratch it), but don't push the center of the lid, just the edges!

Hidden “traps”: what can be broken when disassembled

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes overlook a few critical moments in Redmi 3:

⚠️ Attention, the fingerprint scanner plume is glued to the lid with double-sided tape, and if you pull the lid sharply, the plume will break, and the scanner will stop working, and only unclose it after the lid is completely removed, with a wooden stick.

Another common problem is the loss of screws: Redmi 3 has 12 screws, all of them of different lengths (from 1.5 to 4 mm), if you mix them up, you can damage the motherboard, and we recommend that you spread them out on a piece of paper in the order you twist them and sign them with a marker.

Frequent mistakes and how to fix them

Even if you follow the instructions, you can make mistakes.-5 Problems faced by users and how to solve them:

• 🔋 Phone doesn't turn on after assembly: Reason: battery plume is not connected or motherboard is closed. Solution: disassemble the phone again and check all the connectors. If it doesn't work, reset the settings via Recovery. + Volume Up).
• 🔊 Speaker wheezing or not working: Most likely, when you assembled, you hit the speaker membrane or installed the safety net incorrectly. Carefully remove the cover and check if any debris has been hit by the speaker.
• 📶 No net after disassembly: The problem is antenna contacts. They may have moved away or oxidized. Rub them with alcohol and pin them when assembled.

If the screen flickers or displays artifacts after assembly, check to see if the display plumes are clamped. In Redmi 3, they pass under the battery, sometimes hitting when the battery is installed.

Yes, many times |1-2 times |No, this is my first experience |Tryed but broke-->

Assembly tips: how to avoid creaks and backlashes

It is often harder to assemble a phone than to disassemble it, and here are 3 rules to avoid common problems:

1. Check all the latches: before final assembly, make sure all 8 latches are in place. If even one breaks, the lid will fall out.
2. Don't pull the screws over, Redmi 3 screws them into plastic bushings that are easy to pull off. Tighten them to a light resistance.
3. Test Step-by-step: 🔋 After connecting the battery, check if the phone is switched on. 📶 Make sure you have a network and Wi-Fi. 🔊 Test the speaker and microphone.

If the lid creaks when you press it after assembly, you probably didn't press it hard enough when you snapped it, try to warm it up again with a hairdryer (30-40 seconds) and press the lid tightly around the perimeter.

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The main rule of assembly is to check each stage. Don't close the lid until you make sure all the functions are working. This will save you hours of re-disassembly!

Battery replacement: nuances for Redmi 3

If you take the battery cover off, you know, Redmi 3 has a battery glued to the body with double-sided tape, you can't just pull it out, it'll break the contacts. Here's the right algorithm.

1. Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard (it is under a black protective film).
2. Put a plastic blade on the battery from any angle. Don't use metal tools!
3. If the battery fails, heat the body with a hairdryer (do not direct hot air to the battery itself!).
4. After extraction, clean the body of glue residues with alcohol or acetone.

When you install a new battery, don't stick it on right away. First, plug in the plume, make sure the phone turns on and correctly detects the charge level, and then lock the battery in with tape.

⚠️ Attention! If a new battery is swelling or warming up when charging, turn off the phone immediately. This is a sign of defect or incompatibility. In Redmi 3, the original battery is labeled BM43 (4100mAh. Check it before you buy it!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions