Disassembling a modern smartphone is always a balance between the desire to save on repairs and the risk of damaging fragile components. In the case of the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, the situation is complicated by the fact that the device is devoid of standard screws on the body, and the rear panel itself is made of glass glued around the perimeter. Many users wonder how to remove the back cover on the Xiaomi 8 pro without turning the phone into a pile of fragments. The answer lies in the correct selection of tools and strict adherence to temperature.
The dismantling process requires care, as the adhesive base that holds the glass hardens over time and requires softening. Incorrect movement of the blade or excessive effort can lead to cracks that cannot be repaired without completely replacing the part. In this article, we will look at each step in detail, from the preparation of the workplace to the final detachment of the plumes, to minimize the risks to your gadget.
Before you start to physically affect the body, you need to understand the internal architecture of the device. Mi 8 Pro is equipped with wireless charging and NFC-This means that breaking the glass is not just access to the battery, but also the risk of damaging expensive communication and charging modules if you act rudely.
Tools and workplace preparation required
You can't disassemble the glass without specialized tools, and you can't use knives, pins or kitchen blades because they can damage the insides of the glass or scratch the frame, and you need a minimal, professional set that can control the process.
The main tool will be a thermophen or, in extreme cases, a quality heating pad for screens. A normal hair dryer often cannot heat the adhesive to the desired temperature of 80-90 degrees, especially if the phone was in a case, and you will also need suction cups, thin mediators (plastic blades) and tweezers with curved ends.
- 🔥 Thermophen or heating pad for uniform heating of glue around the perimeter.
- 🛠️ A set of plastic mediators and blades of different thickness for opening.
- 🧲 Magnetic mat or organizer for sorting small screws (although there are few of them here).
- 🧴 Fluid B-7000 or a special solvent of glue for subsequent assembly.
Prepare the workplace: the desk should be clean, well-lit and free of unnecessary objects. It is recommended to use an antistatic mat to eliminate the risk of damage to electronics by a static discharge. Before starting work, be sure to turn off the device completely, waiting for the vibration or disappearance of the image.
Safety and preliminary measures
Safety is not just words, it is a critical aspect of working with lithium polymer batteries. Inside the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is a power-saturated element, damage to which can lead to ignition, so any work with the insides of the phone should be carried out with the utmost care.
⚠️ Warning: Never puncturing a battery with sharp objects or trying to curve it.If you notice a bloated battery, disassembly work becomes extremely dangerous and requires professional intervention.
Before heating, make sure that there are no visible cracks on the back cover. If the glass is already damaged, heating can aggravate the situation and the lid will crumble in the hands. In such cases, experienced craftsmen recommend pre-sealing the back panel with transparent cross-cotch tape to hold the fragments together.
It's important to take it down. SIM-The card and the memory tray before heating, which will avoid deformation of the tray or damage to the contacts due to thermal expansion of the materials, the tray is removed with a standard paper clip from the kit.
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If there are chips on the back cover, seal them with transparent tape before heating - this will prevent the glass from scattering during dismantling.
The process of heating and softening glue
The most critical step is heating. The glue used by Xiaomi becomes elastic at around 80-90 degrees Celsius. Insufficient heating will cause the glass to crack under the pressure of the shoulder blade, and excessive glass can damage the display on the back side or melt the internal plastic frames.
Heat the perimeter of the device evenly, driving the thermophen or holding the phone above the heating pad. Pay special attention to the corners and areas around the chamber, as there the layer of glue can be thicker. The process takes from 3 to 5 minutes depending on the power of the heating element.
You can check the readiness by gently pulling the suction cup over the edge of the glass. If you feel any movement or resistance is much less, you can proceed. If the lid is sitting dead, continue heating, but make sure that the phone does not become hotter than you can tolerate with your hand.
| Heat zone | Recommended time | Temperature regime | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimeter (all sides) | 3-4 minutes | 80-90°C | Overheating of the display |
| Camera area | Door. 30-60 sec. | 85-90°C | Darkening of optics |
| Lower part (connector) | Dope. 30 sec. | 80°C | Deformation of the connector |
| Upper part | Standard. | 80°C | Damage to plumes |
Take your time to move on to the next step until you're sure that the heat is even. Cold zones are the main cause of cracks. It's better to warm up again than change the broken glass.
Dismantling the back panel: step-by-step instructions
Once the phone is warm, set it on a flat surface. Attach one or two suction cups to the bottom of the back cover, closer to the edge, but not at the very corner, so as not to crush the glass. Pull the suction cups up, creating a small gap between the frame and the glass.
In the resulting gap, carefully insert a thin plastic mediator or a knife blade (if you have experience), drive the tool along the perimeter, cutting the adhesive layer, the movements should be sliding, parallel to the plane of the phone, so as not to rest on the internal components.
☑️ Pre-mortem checks
Exercise special care in the areas where the plumes are located. In the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, the fingerprint scanner plume and antennas can be glued to the lid or pass in close proximity. Do not enter the tool deep, 2-3 millimeters is enough.
When the perimeter is completely covered, don't take the lid off abruptly. Raise it a little bit and inspect the insides. Make sure no plumes are stretched. The fingerprint scanner in this model is connected by a plume that needs to be detached from the motherboard before the lid is fully removed.
What to do if the lid is not removed?
Disabling plumes and removing modules
Once the adhesive layer has been removed, the lid is still held on the fingerprint scanner plume. Gently bend the lid like a book page to access the bottom of the motherboard. Find the plume connector.
Use a plastic blade or nail to turn off. Metal tools are best avoided so as not to close the contacts on the board. Carefully pull the connector upwards. Once disconnected, the back cover can be completely removed and put away to safety.
Now you have access to the basic components: the battery, the main board and the wireless charging module. If you were going to replace the battery, remember that it's also glued, and you'll need to use the heat again, and special hoods or solvent to extract it.
- 🔌 Disconnect the fingerprint scanner plume from the motherboard.
- 📱 Carefully remove the wireless charging module if it interferes with access.
- 🔋 When replacing the battery, use only original or certified analogues.
- 🧹 Clean the frame of the residue of old glue before reassembling.
It is important not to lose small screws if you decide to disassemble the phone further.The Mi 8 Pro has many screws of different sizes, and messing them up when assembled can damage the board or body.
Reverse assembly and sealing
The assembly is done in reverse order, but with one important nuance: sealing. The factory water protection is broken when disassembled, and a new layer of glue is applied to partially restore it. Use B-7000 glue or special adhesive tapes cut into the shape of the body.
Apply a thin layer of glue to the frame of the case (not glass!). Let the glue dry for 1-2 minutes so that it becomes sticky but not fluid. Then carefully align the cover with the body, apply the scanner plume into the hole and press the cover.
⚠️ Warning: Don't use superglue (cyanacrylate)! it releases fumes that settle on the camera and sensors, causing them to cloud and fail. Use only specialized electronics adhesives.
Once you press the lid, lock the phone with rubber bands or place it under a small load for 30-60 minutes to polymerize the glue. Don't turn the phone on right away, let the components cool and the glue grip. Full strength is gained in 12-24 hours.
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The quality of the lid fit and the absence of gaps is the main indicator of successful assembly, if the lid is luftite, then the glue is unevenly applied or there are remnants of the old adhesive.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Beginners often make mistakes that lead to additional costs: The most common is trying to remove the lid without enough heat.The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro glass is thin and brittle, and the cold glue keeps it dead-struck.
Another mistake is using metal tools to pick around the perimeter, and metal leaves deep scratches on the aluminum frame that you can't polish without removing the coating. Always start with plastic.
It is also common to forget to turn off the plume before removing the lid completely, and a sharp jerk causes the fingerprint scanner plume to break, after which the function stops working and the replacement requires soldering or finding a donor.
Be attentive to detail, use good lighting and take your time. Repairing equipment requires composure. If you feel insecure at some stage, it is better to stop and consult with more experienced craftsmen.