How to remove the back cover Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: safe disassembly of the smartphone with your own hands

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, released in 2017. Despite the strength of the case, over time, many users have to face the need to disassemble it: whether it is replacing a bloated battery, cleaning from dust or repairing after a fall. However, removing the back cover on this model has its nuances – if you act wrongly, you can damage the plumes, tear off antenna contacts or even break plastic latches.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step photo and video instruction on what tools you will need, and a list of common mistakes to avoid. We will look at two methods of disassembly: using a mediator and a suction cup (for beginners) and a professional heating method (for complex cases), and you will learn how to check the leakproofness of the housing after assembly and what to do if the lid does not sit back.

We warn you right away: disassembling your smartphone will void Xiaomi's warranty if it's still valid. If you're not sure about yourself, you better contact the service center. But if you decide to act on your own, follow our recommendations carefully.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and security measures

Before you start removing the lid, make sure you have everything you need, and even one tool can damage the body or internal components, and here's the minimum kit you'll need:

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (or guitar mediator) - for careful liding.
• 🧲 Suction cup (better with metal ring) – helps to separate the lid from the body.
• 🔥 Hair dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (optional, but recommended).
• ⚙️ Screwdriver. T3 and T5 — for spinning the screws of the motherboard attachment.
• 📦 Logs for screws - so as not to lose small details.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-cleaner.

Also, prepare your workspace: the desk should be clean, free of debris and small items that can get inside your smartphone. It is advisable to use an antistatic mat or at least ground yourself to avoid damage to the chips by static electricity. If there is no such mat, touch any metal surface (for example, a heating battery) before working.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal tools (knives, screwdrivers) to lid the lid! They scratch the body and can damage the plumes under the lid. Plastic mediator is the only safe option.

If you are planning a battery replacement, pre-order the original battery for the Redmi Note 4 (model) BM47). Cheap analogues often have a smaller capacity and can swell in a few months, and check if you have glue to hold the new battery, without which the battery will hang inside the case.

Method 1: Removal of the lid with a suction cup and a mediator (for beginners)

This is a method that's suitable for people who have never taken a smartphone apart before, which is less risky, but it takes patience, and the rule of thumb is, don't use excessive force, because the lid should move gradually, without any sudden movements.

Steps:

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-card and memory card (if installed).
2. Stick the suction cup on the bottom of the lid (near the USB-Type C connector). Make sure the surface is clean - dust or fat will impair the grip.
3. Carefully pull the suction cup upwards, creating a small gap between the lid and the body. Don't pull too much - you can tear the antenna contacts!
4. Insert a plastic mediator into the gap and slowly drive it along the edge of the lid, separating the latches. Start at the bottom corner and move counterclockwise.
5. Once all the latches are snapped, remove the lid. If it doesn't, don't pull! Go back to the previous step and check if all the latches are free.

On the Redmi Note 4, the lid is mounted on 12 plastic latches and a small amount of glue around the perimeter. The most problematic places are near the volume buttons and the camera. If the mediator gets stuck, slightly heat the edge of the lid with a hairdryer (temperature no higher than 60).°C) to soften the glue.

Prepared workplace (clean table, good lighting)|

Smartphone's off, SIM-maps extracted|

Tools at hand (mediator, sucker, screwdrivers)|

Photographed the location of the screws (if you plan to completely disassemble)|

Checked for no cracks on the cover (they can complicate the process)

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If the lid is removed but there is glue left, don't force it torn off! Moisten the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and carefully remove the residue. Don't use acetone or solvents - they can damage the plastic.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 4 has antenna contacts (thin metal strips) under the lid, and if you tear them off, the network signal and Wi-Fi will deteriorate!

Method 2: Professional analysis with heating (for complex cases)

If the lid is not amenable to the mediator or the smartphone has been repaired before (and the glue has become too strong), a thermal method will be required. It is more efficient, but requires caution - overheating can damage the battery or display.

Algorithm of action:

1. Heat the edges of the cover with a hair dryer at a temperature of 60-70°C for 1-2 minutes. Keep the hair dryer at a distance of 5-7 cm so as not to overheat the internal components.
2. While the lid is warm, repeat the procedure with a suction cup and a mediator (as in Method 1). The glue should become softer and the latches will snap more easily.
3. If the lid doesn't respond, heat it again, paying attention to the corners. Don't heat one place for more than 10 seconds!
4. After removing the cover, let the smartphone cool down for 5-10 minutes before further disassembly.

This method is especially useful if the smartphone fell into water or was used for a long time in high humidity conditions, in which cases the glue becomes more sticky. However, remember: the heating should not be spot.

If you use a dryer, keep an eye on the temperature of the body. It should be warm, but not hot. Overheating can lead to:

• 🔋 Bloating of the battery (especially if it is already worn out).
• 📱 Detachment of the display from the body.
• 🔌 Touchscreen plume damage.

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If you don't have a hair dryer, you can use hot water in a plastic bag. Put your smartphone in a bag of warm (not boiling water!) water for 2-3 minutes, the glue will soften. After that, immediately dry the device and start disassembling.

What to do after removing the cover: further actions

When the cover is finally removed, the internal structure of the Redmi Note 4 will open in front of you.

1. The battery (glued to the body, connected by a plume to the motherboard).
2. Motherboard (fixed on 8-10 screws).
3. Dynamics and vibrator (located at the bottom).
4. Camera and display plumes (fragile, easily torn!).

If your goal is to replace the battery, do this:

1. Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard (use a plastic shoulder blade).
2. Put a mediator in the battery and pull it out carefully. If it's glued, use isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the glue.
3. Install a new battery by fixing it on double-sided tape or special glue.
4. Connect the plume back and check if the smartphone is turned on.

If you're disassembling a smartphone to clean your dust, use a soft brush and a compressed air balloon. Don't blow with your mouth, saliva can get into your contacts.

• 🔊 Dynamics (dust accumulates on the grid).
• 📷 Camera (dirty on the lenses worsens the quality of the photo).
• 🔌 USB-Type C connector (contact oxidation leads to poor charging).

Common Mistakes in Disassembly and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes that cause a smartphone to break down, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

• 🔧 Too much pressure from the mediator → It causes cracks in the lid or damage to the plumes. Solution: use a rounded edge mediator and don't use excessive force.
• 🔥 Dryer overheating → Solution: Keep the dryer at a distance and don't heat one dot for more than 10 seconds.
• 🔋 Breaking of antenna contacts → Solution: before you take the lid off, warm it up around the perimeter so that the glue becomes softer.
• ⚡ Forget to turn off the battery before work → Solution: Always disconnect the battery plume before you manipulate the motherboard.
• 📱 Loss of screws → Solution: use a magnetic tray or stick screws on the tape in order of twisting.

Another common problem is that the lid doesn't come back down after assembly.

• Deformation of plastic latches (if they were broken during disassembly).
• The glue residues at the edges of the case.
• Incorrectly installed battery (it can interfere with closing).

To avoid this problem, check before final assembly:

1. All the sleeves are connected (they should not interfere with the closure of the lid).
2. Are there any foreign objects inside the case (screws, pieces of plastic).
3. Whether the battery is exactly lying - it should not bulge.

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If the lid is not fixed after assembly, try to heat it gently with a hair dryer (40-50).°C) and press for 1-2 minutes, the glue will become more elastic and better "grab".

How to check the tightness after assembly

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has no official water protection (IP-It's still partially sealed, and once it's disassembled, it can be broken, causing dust or moisture to get inside. To check how well the smartphone is assembled, follow these steps:

1. Visual inspection: light a flashlight on the edges of the lid, if you see cracks, the leakage is broken.
2. Dust test: Hold your smartphone to a source of fine dust (such as flour), if particles appear inside the case after 5-10 minutes, the seal is insufficient.
3. Moisture test (optional): gently wipe the body with a wet wipe. If after 10 minutes moisture appears under the lid - additional sealing is required.

If the tightness is broken, you can use:

• 🧴 Silicone lubricant (applied in a thin layer on rubber seals).
• 🔧 Double-sided scotch 3M (perimeter-lock).
• 🔥 Ultraviolet glue (for professional sealing, requires a UV lamp).

Remember, even after a perfect build, the Redmi Note 4 won’t be waterproof! Avoid getting liquid on the device, especially in the USB-Type C connector and under the speaker.

When to contact the service center

While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is easy to disassemble, there are some situations where it’s best to trust the professionals:

• 💥 The smartphone fell from a great height – could damage the internal components (motherboard, chips).
• 🌊 Liquid intake - requires complete disassembly, cleaning with alcohol and checking oxidized contacts.
• 📵 Network or Wi-Fi issues after self-repair - antenna contacts may have been severed.
• 🔋 Battery swollen - its replacement at home is dangerous (the risk of fire!).
• 🖥️ Display or touchscreen does not work - a diagnosis of plumes and motherboard is required.

The cost of disassembling in the service center is usually 500-1500 rubles (depending on the region), replacing the battery will cost 1000-2500 rubles (including the original battery).

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, official Xiaomi service centers can be found at the following links:

• Official list of Xiaomi SCC
• User recommendations 4PDA

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If you're looking at a battery replacement smartphone, look at its capacity. The original Redmi Note 4 battery has a capacity of 4,100 mAh. Cheap counterparts often deliver 3,500-3,800 mAh, which reduces the operating time by 15-20%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the dismantling of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4