How to carefully remove the back cover of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: tools, risks and step-by-step analysis

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2019, but even a few years after its release, its owners are faced with the need for repairs, from replacing the battery to cleaning the connectors. The main problem when disassembling yourself is a fragile back cover glued to the body and connected to antenna tapes. Unlike flagship models, which use latches, it requires special care to avoid damaging the plumes or leaving traces on the plastic.

This guide will help you disassemble the Redmi Note 8 without any special equipment, but with minimal risks. We will look not only at the process of removing the lid, but also at the preparation of tools, typical beginner errors, and also what to do if the lid is glued too much, and pay special attention to the antenna tapes under the lid - their break leads to loss of network and Wi-Fi, and you can not restore them without a soldering iron.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and conditions

Before you start removing the lid, make sure you have everything you need. The Redmi Note 8 is not a self-repair-friendly device — there is no removable battery or modular design.

• 🔧 Plastic mediators (2-3 pieces) - for careful licking of the lid. Metal blades will leave scratches!
• 🔥 Dryer or thermo-air station - for softening the glue (temperature 60-80)°C).
• 🧲 Suction - will help to lift the cover after heating.
• 📏 Thin screwdriver T3 — screw-off.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-residue.

Also prepare the workplace:

• 🪑 Work on a table with good lighting – small details (screws, plumes) are easily lost.
• 📱 Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-map from the tray - heating can damage it.
• 🔋 If the battery is swollen, do not heat the device - the risk of fire!

⚠️ Warning: If you've never disassembled a smartphone, practice on an old device. The Redmi Note 8 lid breaks when heated or pressure is too high. In 30% of self-disassembly, antenna tapes are damaged.

Why can't you just put a knife on the lid?

Many “masters” advise putting the Redmi Note 8 lid on with a knife or credit card, a gross mistake that leads to:

• 🔪 Scratches on plastic – even if you don’t see them right away, they will become noticeable over time.
• 📶 Break antenna tapes - they are glued to the cover and very fragile.
• 🔋 Damage to the battery - with a careless underdog, you can puncture the battery.

The glue that's glued to the lid becomes plastic when heated, but it doesn't lose its strength when mechanically exposed. If you try to pull the lid off cold, you're more likely to break the latches around the charging socket or speaker. Service centers use vacuum machines for this, but you have enough hair dryer and patience at home.

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If you don't have a hair dryer, you can use hot water in the bag (60-70°C) attached to the lid for 2-3 minutes.

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

Follow this algorithm to minimize the risks:

1. Heat the cover: Turn on the dryer at an average power (60-80°C) and evenly warm the back of the smartphone for 3-5 minutes. Move the hairdryer around, paying attention to the edges. Don't stay in one place - the plastic can deform.
2. Suction and first gap: Stick the suction cup closer to the charging socket (there is less glue there). Carefully pull up - a gap of 1-2 mm should appear. If the lid does not lend itself, warm up for another 1-2 minutes.
3. Perimeter mediators Insert a plastic mediator into the gap and slowly lead it along the edge, separating the glue. Start at the bottom (near the USB-C connector) and move counterclockwise. Don't try to tear the lid off completely at once - separate it gradually, 2-3 cm at a time.
4. When the lid is almost separated, notice three antenna tapes (two on top, one on the bottom) that connect the lid to the motherboard. Take care to unplug them or bend the lid so you don't break.

The cover is evenly heated throughout the perimeter |

Suction bag creates initial gap |

The mediator went through all four sides |

The antenna tapes are not stretched or torn |

The screws under the lid are not yet unscrewed (there are 12 pieces!)

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If the lid doesn't lend itself to something, don't force it, you better warm it up again, and 90 percent of the time, it's not "too strong glue."

⚠️ Warning: If you see the antenna tapes breaking after removing the lid, don't try to glue them together with tape. This is a temporary solution that will lead to poor communication).

What to do if the cover is too tight?

Sometimes the glue on the Redmi Note 8 dries so that even after heating the lid does not separate.

• 🌡️ The smartphone was stored in a hot or cold place (glue loses elasticity).
• 💧 Moisture falling under the lid (glue becomes hard as a stone).
• ⏳ The device has been in use for more than 3 years (glue is getting older).

In such cases, the chemical method will help:

1. Apply isopropyl alcohol along the perimeter of the cover (between the body and the plastic).
2. Wait 5-7 minutes - the alcohol will dissolve the glue.
3. Repeat the procedure with the mediator.

If that didn't work, the last option is mechanical separation, but with the risk of damage to the lid.

• Take a thin guitar string (0.2–0.3 mm).
• Stretching it between the body and the lid, cutting movements separating the glue.
• Act as carefully as possible so as not to touch the plumes.

Disassembly after removing the lid: what is inside?

When the lid is finally removed, you will see the internal structure of the Redmi Note 8:

Before you touch the insides, take a picture of all the screws and plumes. The screws on the Redmi Note 8 are of different lengths — if you mix them up, you can damage the board. For example, long screws (3.5 mm) hold the motherboard, and short (2 mm) – a metal screen above the battery.

If your goal is to replace the battery, first disconnect the battery plume from the board (it is under black tape). To do this, gently tuck the connector with a plastic blade. Don't use metal tools, you can close contacts.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi Note 8.

• 🔋 Battery damage - if punctured, it can ignite. Always check if it will blow up before heating.
• 📱 The plume breaks off the display -- it happens if you bend the lid up too much -- the plume goes from the screen to the motherboard.
• 🔧 Losing screws -- Redmi Note 8 has 12 screws, and they're all different. Store them in separate containers.
• 🌡️ Screen overheating – if the hair dryer is directed at the display, it may detach or change color.

To avoid problems:

• Use a magnetic screw mat – they won’t get lost or confused.
• Do not heat your smartphone more than 80°C – the plastic begins to melt.
• If the lid does not separate, do not pull it by force - it is better to repeat the heating.

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The main rule of dismantling Redmi Note 8: it is better to spend an extra 10 minutes on careful heating than 2 hours on repairing the consequences.

How do you put the lid back on?

Once the lid is repaired, it needs to be re-fixed, and services use 3M double-sided tape or B-7000 glue to do this.

• 📦 Double-sided tape (thickness 0.2-0.3 mm) - stick strips around the perimeter of the cover.
• 🔥 A sealant adhesive (e.g., Loctite 406) – is applied in a thin layer but requires 24 hours of drying.
• 🧲 Original Xiaomi adhesive (article: 19030101) – sold in service centers.

The adhesion process:

1. Clean the edge of the case and cover of the old glue with isopropyl alcohol.
2. Apply new glue or scotch, leaving holes for antenna tapes.
3. Carefully press the cover, starting with the USB-C connector.
4. Place your smartphone under a press (such as a stack of books) for 1-2 hours.

After gluing, check:

• 📶 Operating antennas (call, Wi-Fi, GPS).
• 🔊 The sound of the speaker - sometimes the glue hits the holes.
• 🔋 Charging – if the battery is not in contact, check the plume.

⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after assembly, check: Is the battery plume connected to the board? Is the contacts on the motherboard closed (check under the microscope). Did you damage the flexible plume of the display? 60% of the "not on" cases are to blame for the power plume failure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 8 disassembly