Modern Xiaomi smartphones and its sub-brands Redmi and Poco are often assembled using “sandwich” technology, where the back panel plays the role of not just decor, but an important element of construction. The need to remove the back cover on the shaomi can arise for various reasons, from the banal replacement of broken glass to the installation of a new battery or replacement of a charging plume. Disassembly of the case is a delicate process that requires care, since manufacturers actively use adhes instead of screws for sealability and aesthetics.
Before you start physically affecting your device, it is important to realize that any violation of the factory seal can lead to loss of warranty service. If your device is still under warranty, it is better to contact an authorized service center. However, if the warranty has expired or the damage is non-warranty, self-disassembly becomes a well-justifiable step to save money. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps, tools and nuances that will help you get the job done well.
It's worth noting that the design of smartphones varies from model to model. What's right for the Redmi Note 8 may be very different from the process of disassembling the flagship Xiaomi 13. So there's no universal "single screwdriver" method, but there are general principles for working with glued structures, which we'll talk about later. Your goal is not just to crack the glass, but to do it without damaging the internal components and the cover itself, if you plan to use it again.
Tools and workplace preparation required
A good disassembly of a smartphone is impossible without specialized, albeit inexpensive tools: Attempting to remove the lid with a knife or credit card will at best lead to scratches on the frame, and at worst damage to the display or battery. To safely perform work, you will need a minimum set that can be assembled yourself or purchased as a ready-made repair kit.
Special attention should be paid to the heat source. The glue used in modern Xiaomi softens when heated, allowing the panels to be separated without critical effort. Using an open fire or too powerful building hair dryers is unacceptable, as you can overheat the lithium polymer battery or damage the display matrix. The optimal temperature for softening the adhesive is 80-90 degrees Celsius.
- 🔥 Hair dryer (household or building with temperature adjustment) or heat pad (heating plate) for uniform heating of the perimeter.
- 🛠 A set of precision screwdrivers (usually cross-shaped) PH000 and PH00, sometimes torx T2-T5).
- 🗡 Thin metal spatula, mediator or special suction cup for lifting the lid.
- 🧤 Protective gloves (optional, to protect against cuts and fat) and tweezers for working with small plumes.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a metal knife or scalpel to pick the lid unless you are 100% sure of your abilities.The metal slides off smooth glass easily and can pierce the battery, causing it to ignite or explode. Use only plastic blades or special knives to open with a depth limiter.
Prepare the workspace: it should be well lit and have a hard, flat surface. Cover the table with a soft cloth or silicone mat so that small screws do not get lost and fallen parts do not break. It is also recommended to use a magnetic mat or containers to sort screws, as their sizes in different corners of the smartphone may vary.
☑️ Preparation for the dismantling of Xiaomi
Algorithm of Removing the Back Cover: Step-by-step Instruction
The process of dismantling the back panel on most Xiaomi and Redmi models begins with the device completely shutting down.This is a critical step that prevents short circuit when the connectors are accidentally touched by a tool. SIM-cards and memory card, if any, to reduce the internal stress of the structure and facilitate access to the screws if they are hidden under the tray.
Next step is to warm up. Turn the dryer on at medium power and start to warm up the perimeter of the back cover evenly. Keep the hair dryer 3-5 cm from the surface, constantly moving it so as not to overheat one point. Warm up usually takes 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the model and the strength of the glue. Plastic warms up faster, glass and ceramics require more time and care.
Once the body has warmed up, carefully insert the suction cup at the bottom of the back cover, closer to the center, avoiding the camera area. Pull the suction cup up, creating a small gap between the frame and the lid. Insert a thin plastic blade or mediator into the resulting gap immediately. Do not remove the blade immediately, but start driving it along the perimeter, cutting the softened glue.
- 🔄 Move clockwise or counterclockwise, gradually passing the entire circuit of the device without making sharp jerks.
- 🌡 If you feel that the glue hardens again and the shoulder blade is difficult, stop pulling and warm up this area again with a hairdryer.
- 📱 Be especially careful in the top of the smartphone, where the plumes of cameras and sensors are located, so as not to damage them with a spatula.
When you pass the entire perimeter and the glue is completely dissected, the back cover should be easily separated. Don't pull it sharply, as there may be thin plumes attached to the cover (such as a fingerprint scanner plume or antenna wires) inside the cover.
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Use isopropyl alcohol (90%+) to facilitate the process, inject a small amount of alcohol into the gap between the case and the lid after initial warming up, which will help dissolve the adhesive faster and more efficiently.
Features of disassembling models with plastic and glass case
The back material directly influences the disassembly strategy. The plastic covers characteristic of Redmi's budget lines and some Poco models are more flexible and easier to remove, but are easier to scratch or deform when overheated. The glass and ceramics used in Xiaomi Mi and Xiaomi Number Series flagships require longer warm-up and extremely careful handling due to their high fragility.
When working with glass, there is a risk of spontaneous cracking due to thermal shock or internal stress. If you hear a characteristic crack, immediately stop heating and let the device cool down a little. Plastic can begin to melt at temperatures above 100 degrees, losing its shape, so for plastic models, warming time should be reduced, but make the heating cycles longer.
Another important nuance is the presence of a fingerprint sensor. On many Xiaomi models, the fingerprint scanner is built right into the back cover and connected to the motherboard with a thin plume. The scanner plume is often glued to the inside of the lid. If you sharply pull the lid, you are guaranteed to tear this plume, after which the scanner will stop working. Always check for connections before the final removal of the panel.
| Characteristics | Plastic cover | Glass/ceramic cover |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-up time | 2-3 minutes | 4-6 minutes |
| Risk of damage | Deformation, scratches | Cracks, total destruction. |
| Strength in bending | Tall (flexible) | Low (fragile) |
| Difficulty withdrawal | Low. | Tall. |
Also, it is worth considering that glass covers often use more aggressive adhesive to ensure better sealability (IP68).This means that the effort to initially lift the suction cup may require considerable. In such cases, professionals use special knives with a thin blade that are inserted into the slot immediately after minimal edge lifting.
Working with internal components after removing the cover
After successfully dismantling the back, you can see the smartphone's interior world, but access to major nodes, such as the battery or charging connector, can still be limited to plastic or metal shields, and these screens are fixed by a variety of small screws, which often differ in length and type of thread.
It's important to follow the screw-twisting order, and it's recommended that you use a magnetic mat with a markup, or just lay out the screws in the same order you twisted them, and that if you mess up the screws, you can get a longer screw through the board or you can get into the battery, and that's especially true for the screws that hold the speaker board and the vibrator motor.
When working inside the case, use only plastic or antistatic tools. Metal tweezers are allowed only to remove screws, but they can not touch the contacts on the board or plumes. Before turning off any plume (display, battery, cameras), you must first remove the clamping bar, which often covers the connectors, This bar can also be glued, and it must be carefully tweaked.
⚠️ Attention: First thing you need to do after opening the case is to disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard, which will power the device down and eliminate the risk of short circuits when you turn off other components such as the display or cameras.
If your goal is to replace the battery, remember that it is also planted on glue. Removing it will require using a hair dryer (gathering the battery area carefully through the frame) and special hoods or plastic blades. Never pierce the battery or try to bend it. For models with two sections of the battery (divided into two parts), the process is complicated by the presence of a connecting plume between the halves.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake of beginners is not warming up enough. In an effort to save time, users start pulling the lid when the glue is still hard. This leads to cracks in the glass or deformation of the plastic frame. Patience is the master's main tool. It is better to warm up the device for another minute than then buy a new back panel.
The second mistake is to use excessive force. If something doesn't open, you've missed something: the glue isn't completely cut off, the screw is not twisted, or the plume is not turned off. Xiaomi doesn't have any elements that should be kept on "honest word" after the main mounts are removed. Always look for the reason for the resistance, rather than put more effort into it.
- ❌ Forgetting about the tray SIM-cards: attempt to remove the lid with the tray inserted can lead to failure of the tray mechanism or frame.
- ❌ Ignoring plumes: A sharp jerk of the removed cover often breaks off the thin wiring of antennas or sensors.
- ❌ Overheating of the display: when directing the hair dryer to the back cover, make sure that the heat is not transmitted to the screen from the back side, otherwise yellow spots may appear on the matrix.
Also a common problem is leakage after assembly, disposable factory glue, if you just press the lid back, it will hold weakly, and dust and moisture will get inside. Be sure to use a new layer of glue (B-7000, T-7000 or special adhesive tapes) to reassemble.
What to do if the cover is broken when removed?
Assembly and restoration of leakage
The assembly process is reverse disassembly, but it has its own critical features related to fixing the elements. Before installing the lid, you need to carefully clean the frame of the smartphone and the lid itself of the residue of old glue, which can be done with your fingers by rolling glue into the coils, or using soft rags moistened in alcohol. The surface should be perfectly smooth and fat-free.
Use a special electronics glue, such as the B-7000 or T-7000, to fix the frame, apply the glue in a thin continuous strip along the perimeter of the frame, avoiding the camera lens, speaker and connectors. Excess glue that has protruded outside after pressing is easily removed after 10-15 minutes, when it begins to dry out, turning into a rubber-like mass.
Once the glue is applied and the parts are joined, the smartphone needs to be fixed. Use stationery gums, wrap them around the body, or put something heavy on top (but not too heavy to damage the display). The polymerization time of the glue is from 2 to 12 hours depending on the thickness of the layer and humidity. Full strength is gained after 24 hours.
Don't turn the device on immediately after assembly. Give the glue at least 30-60 minutes for the initial grip. Make sure all the plumes are connected before clicking, and the screws are twisted evenly, without distortion. If sensor or sound problems are detected after switching on, the plume may have been squeezed during assembly or the connector may not have been fully inserted.
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High-quality cleaning of surfaces from old glue and the correct time to dry the new composition is the guarantee that the lid will not fall off in a week and the phone will not get dust.