Modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi and Poco sub-brands, often come with a protective layer already pasted on the screen, which many users mistaken for tempered glass, when in fact it is a thin polymer material designed solely to protect the matrix during transportation. Removing this layer is the first step to full use of the device, but it requires care to not damage the oleophobic coating or the display itself.
The question of how to remove the factory film from a Xiaomi phone often arises for beginners who are afraid of leaving traces of glue or damage the fragile edge of the screen. The factory tread usually holds weaker than high-quality hydrogel or glass counterparts, but can fit tightly to the curved edges of modern displays. It is important to understand the difference between temporary protection and permanent accessory, so as not to try to peel off the desired thing or, conversely, not to leave the unnecessary one.
The dismantling process takes only a few minutes, if you know where to start and what tools you might need in difficult cases. Misconduct, such as using sharp metal objects or excessive force, can lead to micro-scratches on the display. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the steps of the procedure, from preparing the workplace to removing residual glue.
Determination of the type of protective coating
Before you start to act, you need to visually and tactilely assess what exactly is glued on your device. On new Xiaomi smartphones, most often you find a thin matte or glossy film that covers only the center of the screen or has cutouts under the speaker. Unlike hardened glass, it does not have a solid structure and easily flexes when you press your nails.
Sometimes people confuse the factory protection with a high-quality hydrogel that was pasted in the store when sold. The main difference is the thickness and way of fitting to the edges. The factory film often does not reach the curved edges of 2.5D glass, leaving small gaps around the perimeter. If the coating is perfectly fitting the edges and has a thickness of more than 0.2 mm, it is probably a third-party protection, and it is only worth removing if there is damage.
Note that there is a special tongue for removal. Most Redmi Note and Mi models have a small transparent valve in the bottom corner of the screen. If you find one, it's a sign that the layer is for temporary use and should be removed immediately after unpacking.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use razor blades or scissors to squirt the edge of the film.The metal may slip and leave a deep scratch on the matrix that will not be able to be eliminated.
To be precise, you can drop a drop of water in a subtle corner, and if the water is going to be collected in a drop and it doesn't spread, it's probably glass or a good hydrogel with an oleophobic coating, and the factory film often doesn't have one, and the water will spread out or absorb into the texture, but it's a method that should be used with caution to avoid wetting the speaker.
Tools and workplace preparation required
The quality of the procedure requires a minimum set of tools that are found in every home, the main requirement is cleanliness. Dust deposited on a sticky layer or screen during removal can cause bubbles on the new protection or scratches, so the first step should be a thorough cleaning of the desktop.
You will need the following items:
- 🧻 Microfibre or wiltless wipe for screen wipe.
- 🌬️ A compressed air canister or a special pear for blowing out dust.
- 💧 Isopropyl alcohol or special spray to clean the screens (do not use acetone or aggressive chemistry).
- 📏 Plastic card or special mediator for tweaking edges.
- ✂️ Scotch (ordinary stationery) for picking up villi.
The room should be well lit so that you can see the slightest contamination or glue residues. It is recommended to carry out the procedure at a humidity of 40-60%. Too dry air contributes to the accumulation of static electricity, which attracts dust, and in a too wet room moisture can fall under a layer of protection.
Before starting work, be sure to turn off your smartphone.This will not only protect the device from accidental pressing, but also allow you to see the contamination on the black screen. In addition, the static charge on the device turned off is usually lower, which reduces the risk of damage to internal components, although it is not critical for film removal.
☑️ Preparation for filming
Step-by-step instructions for removing the protective layer
The process of removing protection from Xiaomi's screen is quite simple, but requires composure. Start by finding the starting point. As mentioned earlier, it's often a special tongue in the bottom corner. If it's not there, gently tuck the corner with a plastic card or your thumbnail. Try not to touch the sticky side with your fingers so as not to leave greasy marks.
Hold the phone with one hand, and the other slowly pull the film at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface of the screen. Don't make sharp jerks. If you feel strong resistance, don't pull, you'd better continue to pull slower or help yourself with a plastic card, carefully separating the layer from the glass. A sharp movement can cause the film to break, and you have to remove the residues separately.
In the process of filming, make sure that the edge of the film does not touch the already cleaned areas of the screen, if you plan to immediately glue the new protection. Dust caught between the layers will spoil the result. The movement should be smooth and continuous. If the film begins to crumble, stop and use tape to pick up the lagging fragments.
⚠️ Warning: If the film has broken and part is left on the screen, don't try to tear it with your nails forcefully. Use the sticky side of the tape to lift the edge of the remaining piece, and then pull it.
What to do if the film is stuck dead?
Removal of glue residues and contaminants
After removing the main layer, traces of glue may remain on the screen, especially if the film was poor quality or was on the device for a long time. You can not leave them, since dust will instantly stick to the sticky areas, and when installing a new glass, rainbow spots form.
Use isopropyl alcohol to remove the glue. Apply a small amount of liquid on the microfiber, not directly on the screen, so that moisture does not leak into the speaker or connectors. Circular motions without pressing hard wipe the contaminated areas. Alcohol effectively dissolves the adhesive base without damaging the oleophobic coating of the matrix.
If you don't have alcohol on hand, you can use wet wipes for monitors, but make sure they don't contain lanolin or other fatty additives. After treatment with alcohol, be sure to wipe the screen with a dry part of a microfiber wipe to clean up the divorces.
| Type of pollution | Cleaning device | Tool. | Time of exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glue residues | Isopropyl alcohol | Microfiber | 30-60 seconds |
| Dust and pile | Dry cleaning | Scotch/Pear | Instantly. |
| Fat spots. | Special screen spray | A hairless napkin | 10-20 seconds |
| Complex pollution | Alcoholic solution | Cotton swab | 1-2 minutes |
Pay special attention to the area around the front camera and the speaker speaker. There is often glue accumulating. Use a toothpick wrapped in a thin layer of cotton cotton or microfiber to gently clean the glue from the speaker's mesh without pushing dirt inside.
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Use wide stationery tape for the final cleanup. Walk the sticky side all over the screen before installing the new protection, and it will collect the smallest specks of dust that you can't see.
Nuances for models with curved screens
Owners of Xiaomi flagship models (Mi series, Xiaomi Numbered series) face additional complexity — 3D-The film in the factory on these devices often has a special structure that allows it to fit around the edges, or simply does not reach them.
On curved surfaces, the glue may hold worse, and the film may move away in pieces. In this case, act slowly, warming up the problem areas. If the film is stretched on a bend, creating tension, slightly pull it to the opposite side of the bend to reduce tension before the final tear.
Once the shield is removed, the curved screens often have tendrils of glue on the sides, which require special sensitivity to remove, and the napkin must move from the center to the edges, but not across the curve, so as not to lift the napkins on the edge of the glass.
⚠️ Attention: On bend screens (2.5D and 3D) It is strictly forbidden to use metal blades, and any slipping of the tool is guaranteed to lead to a chip on the end of the glass or damage to the frame.
Check the integrity of the oleophobic coating after cleaning. Put the water on the edge of the screen: if it's going into a flat ball, the coating is intact. If the water is spreading out with a stain, maybe the factory film was poor quality and damaged the layer, or you used aggressive chemistry in cleaning.
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The main difficulty with curved screens is the uniform separation of the glue without tearing the film, which requires patience and, perhaps, easy heating of the edges.