Xiaomi Redmi 5 is a popular budget smartphone that is still widely used due to its reliability and maintainability. However, over time, owners face the question: how to remove the back cover to replace the battery, clean the insides from dust or fix the speaker malfunction? Unlike modern flagships with adhesive cases, Redmi 5 has a removable cover, but its dismantling requires caution — plastic latches are easy to break, and improper actions can damage the plumes.
In this article, you'll find a step-by-step photo instruction, a list of tools you need, and tips for disassembling without consequences. We'll look at how the process differs for the 3/32 GB and 4/64 GB versions, why the lid can stick with time, and what to do if the latches don't lend themselves. We'll focus on the hidden feature of the mounting of the Redmi 5, two additional latches near the headphone jack that are often forgotten.
Preparing for the removal of the lid: tools and precautions
Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need. The wrong tool is the main cause of broken latches and scratches on the body.
- 🔧 Plastic blade (or mediator) - for careful putting of the lid. Metal tools will leave traces!
- 🔋 Hair dryer or thermoair station – if the cover is glued (relevant for devices after 2019 or after repairs).
- 📱 Suction (optional) – helps to lift the cover if the latches are too tight.
- 🔍 Loop or magnifying glass to see small latches.
- 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (70%+) — for cleaning of adhesives (if the cover is glued).
Important: Xiaomi Redmi 5 has 12 plastic latches around the perimeter, two of which are located next to the headphone jack. They are easy to break if you press the lid in this place. Also note the fingerprint scanner plume, which attaches to the lid and can come off when you move sloppy.
⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone has been repaired, the lid could have been glued instead of the original latches, in which case you can't do without heating the hair dryer - cold tweezing will lead to cracks!
Step-by-step: how to remove the back cover without damage
Follow this algorithm to minimize the risks, and if the lid doesn't respond the first time, don't force it, but read it again.
- Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-This will prevent short circuits from accidentally touching the board.
- Heat the edges of the cover with a hair dryer (60-70°C, no higher!) for 1-2 minutes if it is glued.
- Put a plastic blade in the gap between the lid and the body at the charging connector, and carefully steer it along the edge until you hear the first latch click.
- Repeat the procedure for the rest of the sides, starting at the bottom edge and moving counterclockwise. Don't try to tear the lid off right away - it's attached around the perimeter!
- Lift the lid after all the latches have snapped. If you feel resistance, check the area near the headphone jack (there are two additional latches hidden there).
If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't try to pull it out. You probably missed one of the latches or didn't take into account the adhesive layer.
- 🔄 Repeat the heat with a hair dryer (if the cover is glued).
- 🕵️♂️ Check all the latches again, especially near the volume buttons.
- 📞 Contact the master, if you are not sure of their abilities - broken latches lead to backlash of the lid and dust getting inside.
Check if the phone is turned off.|Extract. SIM-memory-card|Prepare the plastic spatula|Heat the edges if the lid is glued|Start with the charging connector.-->
What to do if the latches are broken or the cover is glued?
If you hear a crack when you take the lid off, chances are one or more latches have broken. This is not critical for a smartphone to work, but it can lead to:
- 🌬️ Infection of dust and moisture inside the body.
- 🔊 Crunch or backlash of the cover when pressed.
- 📵 Problems with the fingerprint scanner (if the plume is damaged).
Solutions to the problem:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The lid is not fixed, it's dangling. | Broken 1-2 latches | Apply a thin layer of B-7000 glue around the perimeter or replace the cover |
| Crackling when you press the lid | Broken 3+ latches or deformed plastic | Replacement of the cover (cost ~500-800 rubles) |
| The fingerprint scanner is not working. | Trail or contacts damaged | Multimeter plume check, soldering or module replacement |
| The cover is glued, it's not going off. | Repairs using glue | Heating with a hair dryer to 70 ° C + neat scapula scapula |
⚠️ Warning: If you use glue to fix the lid, avoid contacting the battery contacts and the fingerprint scanner plume. Apply the adhesive thinly only on the plastic parts of the case!
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If the latches are broken, but the lid is holding, don't rush to glue it. Try wrapping the body around the perimeter with thin tape - this will temporarily solve the backlash problem without risking damage to the insides.
Next Next post: What to do after removing the lid?
Once you successfully remove the lid, you'll have access to the insides of your smartphone.
- 🔋 Battery replacement is the most common reason for disassembly. The original Redmi 5 battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh (model). BM46).
- 🧹 Dust cleansing is especially important for the speaker and charging connector. Use a soft brush and alcohol.
- 🔊 Repairing a speaker or microphone is a common problem after falls.
- 📶 Replacement of the antenna module – if the network signal is missing.
Before you start disassembling further, take a picture of the location of the plumes and screws. Redmi 5 uses 6 screws of different lengths (3 to 5 mm), and their entanglement can damage the board.
- 🔌 The plume of the fingerprint scanner - attached to the cover and easily detached.
- 🔋 Battery Connector – Make sure your phone is switched off before you turn off.
- 📡 Antenna wires - don't pull them, they are soldered to the board.
How to check if the battery is original?
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when disassembling Redmi 5, and here are the most common ones and ways to prevent them:
- Using metal tools → scratches on the body or chipped plastic. Solution: Use only plastic blades or mediators.
- Heating a hair dryer above 70°C → plastic deformation or plume detachment. Solution: Keep the hair dryer 10 cm away and keep it moving.
- Abrupt removal of the lid → Solution: Lift the lid slowly, starting with the charging connector.
- Tangle screws → damage to the board during assembly. Solution: Spread the screws in groups (for example, on a sheet of paper with notes).
Another common problem is that the rubber sealing gasket (if it has been fitted) is damaged, and it's located around the perimeter of the lid and it protects against dust, and when you build it, make sure that the gasket is flat and not twisted.
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The most vulnerable part of the Redmi 5 is the fingerprint scanner plume, which attaches to the lid and breaks easily when you move abruptly. Always start removing the lid from the charging connector side!
Phone Builder: How to Reset the Cover Right?
Putting the lid back often raises more questions than removing it. Here's a step-by-step algorithm:
- Check all plumes and connectors – they should be connected and not skewed.
- Lay the sealing gasket (if any) around the perimeter of the body. It should lie flat, without folds.
- Combine the lid with the body, starting at the top (near the headphone jack), and the latches are the most fragile.
- Press the lid around the perimeter, starting at the top and moving down. You should hear the snaps of the latches.
- Check the fixation - the cover should not back up or move away at the edges.
If the lid is not tightly fixed:
- 🔍 Check if the sealing pad is in the way.
- 🔧 Make sure all latches are in place (if some are broken, use glue) B-7000).
- 📏 Check if the plastic cover is deformed (relevant after falls).
⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't turn on after assembly, check the battery connector and display plume connection. Often they leave when the lid is installed!