Self-replacement of glass on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4: a detailed guide with nuances

Broken glass on Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is a problem that many owners of this popular smartphone face. Even a minor crack can eventually lead to a broken touchscreen, cut fingers or dust under the display. The service center will charge from 2,500 to 5,000 rubles for a replacement, but with the patience and the right tools, you can cope on your own - saving up to 70% of the cost.

This guide will be suitable for all Redmi Note 4 modifications (including Note). 4X with a Snapdragon processor, but it is important to consider: the model with OLED-The screen (rare version) requires a different approach. IPS-If you've never taken a smartphone apart, don't worry: the Redmi Note 4 is one of the most maintainable designs in Xiaomi, thanks to its removable back cover and modular build.

The repair time will take 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the experience, the main thing is to take your time during the unplugging of the plumes and applying the glue, errors here lead to a broken touchscreen or screen lighting, and their elimination will cost more than the original glass replacement.

Training: tools and materials

Without the right tools, changing the glass becomes a lottery, for example, using a knife instead of a plastic blade is almost guaranteed to damage the plumes, and cheap glue will lead to the detachment of the glass in a week, and here's the minimum set that actually works:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross-haul) PH00, flat 1.5 mm, five-beam for plumes)
• 📱 Plastic blades (2-3 pc, thickness 0.2–0.4 mm)
• 🔥 Hair dryer construction (power from 1600 W) or infrared station (optimally)
• 🧴 Clay. B-7000 or LOCA-glue (for complete glass replacement)
• 🧲 Suction cups (diameter 40-50 mm, with a grip ring)
• 📏 Scalpel or stationery knife (to clean glue residues)
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol 99% (200 ml for degreasing)
• 🔋 Battery (if you plan to disconnect the power plume)

Buy glass only with a mark "OCA-Lamination" means that it's already glued to the touchscreen, and cheap, non-lamination versions lead to a screen split in 1-2 months:

• 🛡️ Nillkin Amazing H+ Pro (full coverage, oleophobic)
• 🛡️ Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit (simplified installation)
• 🛡️ Orico Tempered Glass (budget option, but with good reviews)

⚠️ Warning: Do not use Moment glue or superglue – they destroy the polarization layer of the matrix. LOCA-The glue requires a UV lamp for polymerization, and B-7000 Dry for 12 to 24 hours without it.

Step 1: Dismantling the back cover and battery

Start by completely turning off your smartphone and retrieving it SIM-Next up:

1. Heat the hair dryer around the perimeter for 2-3 minutes (60-70°C). This will soften the glue.
2. Insert a plastic blade into the gap between the lid and the body (start with the lower right corner where the speakers are located).
3. Carefully drive the blade along the body, separating the latches. There are 12 of them in total - do not force, so as not to break.

When you remove the lid, you'll see the battery glued to the body. Don't pull the plume! First, unplug the battery connector (it's under the black safety tape). Use a plastic blade to plug the connector up.

Turn off the phone.|Remove the back cover|Find the battery connector (under the tape)|Disconnect the plume with a spatula|Check with multimeter (optional)-->

If the battery is swollen (as seen by the deformation of the lid), don't continue repairing - replace it first. A bloated battery can damage the new matrix when assembled.

Step 2: Disconnection of the display module loops

The display module Redmi Note 4 is attached to the motherboard with three plumes:

1. Main screen plume (wide, 30 contacts)
2. Touchscreen plume (narrow, 10-12 contacts)
3. Lighting plume (thin, 4 contacts)

Procedure:

1. Unscrew 6 screws (marked with red circles in the photo below) around the motherboard. Use a five-point screwdriver near the plumes.
2. Carefully tuck in the black plume locks (they open up like lids). Don't pull the plumes themselves!
3. Remember the location of each plume – when reassembled, the entangled connectors will result in a white screen or a idle touch.

⚠️ Warning: If you see traces of oxidation (green plaque) when you disconnect the touchscreen plume, clean the contacts with a blower or alcohol, which will eliminate the problems with the floating wheelbarrow after assembly.

Step 3: Removing Old Glass and Cleaning the Matrix

The most important step is that if the glass is really cracked, put a cross tape on it, and it will prevent the fragments from breaking apart.

1. Heat the screen with a hair dryer (80-90°C) for 5 minutes. The glue becomes elastic.
2. With a suction cup, pull the glass upwards. If it doesn't respond, repeat the heat.
3. Finish the glass with a plastic blade, starting from the corners. Don't use metal!

Once the glass is removed, the matrix will have glue and small fragments.

• 🧴 Apply isopropyl alcohol to the microfiber and wipe the matrix without pressing.
• 🔪 Scalpel remove the remnants of glue from the edges (where the LEDs are located backlighting).
• 🕯️ Check the matrix for light, if you see dark spots, they're damaged pixels, and you'll need to replace the entire display module.

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If the glue is not moving away, use an ultrasonic bath (if available).Down the matrix in alcohol for 10-15 minutes at 40°C, the glue will soften without risk to electronics.

Step 4: Installation of new glass

Before installing the new glass, degrease the matrix and the inside of the glass with alcohol.

1. Put the glue on. B-7000 a thin layer along the perimeter of the matrix (retreat 1-2 mm from the edge). LOCA-Use a dispenser - drops should cover 80% of the area.
2. Apply the glass carefully, starting at the top edge, and you have 1-2 minutes to adjust your position.
3. Secure the glass with tape around the edges and place the phone under a press (for example, between two books) for 12 hours.

For LOCA-glue after gluing requires irradiation with a UV lamp (365 nm) for 3-5 minutes. Without this, the glue will not polymerize, and the glass will fall off.

Step 5: Building the phone and testing

Collect the phone in reverse order:

1. Connect the plumes to the motherboard (first touchscreen, then screen, then backlight).
2. Hold the plume locks, they have to click.
3. Install the battery and connect it to the connector.
4. Close the back cover, starting with the latches near the buttons.

After assembly, turn on the phone and check:

• 📱 Does the touchscreen work (take the test in Settings) → The phone. → Equipment test).
• 🔦 Are there any yellow spots on the screen (a sign of improper polymerization of glue).
• 🔋 Is the color displayed correctly (if the screen is pinkish, the matrix plume is damaged).

⚠️ Note: If the touchscreen is unstable (missing touches, double clicks), the reasons may be: poor contact plume (reconnect), damaged touchscreen (replace the module) or poor-quality glue (regular glue is required).

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After changing the glass, be sure to calibrate the touchscreen through the engineering menu (#3646633## → Hardware Testing → Touch Screen).

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with careful work, you can make mistakes that will lead to additional costs.

Critical error: ignoring the light screen after the glass is removed, and if there are microcracks on the matrix (see as dark lines), the new glass will not solve the problem, but the entire display will need to be replaced.

Another common problem is the moire effect after the glass is replaced, and the reason is that the polarization layers between the glass and the matrix are not matched, so you can buy the glass marked "Anti-Moire" or you can replace the matrix.

FAQ: Frequent questions about glass replacement