Disassembly Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: a detailed guide with photos and tips from the master

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

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This article is not just a guide, but a practical guide from the service center masters who repair Redmi Note 5 every day. We will tell you what tools you really need (and which can be replaced with improvised tools), how to avoid typical beginner mistakes and what to do if something went wrong.

If you've never held a Pentalobe screwdriver or you don't know what a display suction cup is, practice on an old phone. The Redmi Note 5 has fragile plumes and battery adhesives, so rushing is the enemy. But don't worry: With the right approach, disassembly will take no more than 20 minutes.

1.Preparation: tools and safety

The first rule of disassembly is no improvisation, and yes, you can find life hacks with a knife and a credit card on the Internet, but they almost always end in broken latches or slashed fingers.

• 🔧 Pentalobe screwdriver P2 (for screws of the back cover) – it is impossible to do without it, since Xiaomi uses non-standard screws.
• ⚙️ Cross screwdriver PH00 (It's for internal screws. PH0, But the risk of tearing the slime is higher.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or tray for screws – they are easy to lose, and in Redmi Note 5 all screws of different lengths!
• 🧴 Plastic mediator (or guitar) - for gently tweaking the lid and plumes. Metal tools scratch the body.
• 🔋 Suction cup for displays (optional, but simplifies the removal of the front panel).
• 🔥 Hair dryer or thermoair station – if the battery is glued too much (in Redmi Note 5, the adhesive is not as aggressive as in the new models).

What can you replace with improvised means? Plastic mediator with a credit card (but only if you don't feel sorry for it), and a sucker with tape folded sticky side to the outside, but remember: each life hack increases the risk of damage.

⚠️ Attention: If you disassemble a phone with a bloated battery, do not use metal tools and pierce it! The battery may ignite.

Before disassembly it is necessary:

1. Turn off the phone and remove it. SIM-card with a memory card (if installed).
2. Discharge the battery before 20-30% — This will reduce the risk of short circuits.
3. Take photos of the back cover and the location of the screws - this will help with the assembly.

Is the phone off?

Whether extracted SIM-microSD card?

Are there all the tools at hand?

Have you taken a photo of the original state?

Is the battery discharged to 20-30%?

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2 Removal of the back cover: secrets and pitfalls

The Redmi Note 5 back cover is mounted on 5 Pentalobe screws and perimeter latches, and the first mistake for beginners is to try to tamper with it from the middle, so you'll only break the plastic locks.

• ✅ Heat the body with a hair dryer (temperature) 50-60°C) during 1-2 minutes, it'll soften the glue.
• ✅ Start with the lower right corner (near the charging connector) where the latch is smaller.
• ✅ Insert the mediator into the slot and carefully lead along the edge, alternately cracking the fixators.

If the lid doesn't lend itself, don't force! Chances are you missed the screw or didn't warm up the case enough. In the Redmi Note 5, the back panel holds stronger than in the Redmi. 4X, weaker than in POCO F1.

⚠️ Warning: Do not pull the lid up immediately after snapping - it is connected to the fingerprint scanner plume! First, gently lift it on one side and unplug the plume (see next section).

After removing the cover, you will see:

• 🔋 A battery with two plumes (main and NFC).
• 📱 Motherboard closed with metal screen.
• 🔊 Dynamic and vibrator at the bottom.
• 📷 Camera with two modules (main and auxiliary for bokeh effect).

3. disconnection of the battery and plumes: step-by-step instructions

The battery in the Redmi Note 5 is not soldered, but it's glued to the body.

1. Disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard (use a plastic mediator to tamper with the connector).
2. Carefully pull the black tape (pull-tab) - it is specially provided for safe removal.
3. If the tape breaks, put the battery with a mediator on the side, but do not try to tear it!

If the battery fails, warm it up with a hair dryer (maximum). 60°C) and try again. In extreme cases, you can use isopropyl alcohol (90%+), To dissolve the glue - apply a few drops under the battery and wait 2-3 minute.

Now disconnect the other plumes:

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If the plume doesn't detach, check if the hidden latch holds it. In Redmi Note 5, some connectors have an extra latch on the side, so you have to move it with a screwdriver.

4. Dismantling of motherboard and child modules

The Redmi Note 5 motherboard is mounted on 10 screws of different lengths (marked on the case with the letters B, C, D. Don’t confuse them when assembled! Long screws in short holes can damage the board.

Sequence of action:

1. Remove the metal screen (holds on 4 screws and latches).
2. Disconnect all plumes, including the antenna coaxial cable (it goes to the top of the board).
3. Carefully raise the fee with the mediator, starting at the upper right corner (there are fewer components that can be hooked).

If the fee is not withdrawn, check:

• 🔌 Are all the sleeves disconnected (especially the charging connector) USB-C).
• 🔧 Are there any hidden screws under stickers or plumes.
• 🧲 Are there any magnetic fixers (there are no magnetic fixers in the Redmi Note 5, but they are in the Redmi Note 5 Pro).

After the charge is retrieved, you will have access to:

• 🔊 Dynamics and microphone (attached to 2 screws).
• 📶 Lot. SIM-cards (can be removed by pulling the ring).
• 🔋 Vibromotor (glued, but easily removed).

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The Redmi Note 5 motherboard is not soldered to the body, so it can be removed without a soldering iron, a big advantage over Samsung or Apple flagships, which often require professional equipment.

5. Disassembly of the front panel: display, sensor, buttons

The front panel of the Redmi Note 5 is a prefabricated module that includes a display, touch layer and frame. 90% of the time, when the screen is damaged, the entire module is changed, but if you have experience, you can split them.

To remove the display:

1. Warm up the screen edge hair dryer (temperature) 70-80°C. This will soften the glue.
2. Suction or tape pull the screen upwards, starting from the bottom edge (there are fewer plumes).
3. Insert the mediators into the resulting gap and carefully lead along the frame.

Attention to the plumes:

• 📱 The display plume is wide, goes to the motherboard.
• 👆 Sensor plume - thinner, often glued with tape.
• 🔋 Home button plume (if you have it in your modification).

If the screen cracks, stick cross-cotch tape over it so the shards don't crumble.In Redmi Note 5 used IPS-resolution-matrix 2160×1080, Replacing the original color can worsen color reproduction.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse the Redmi Note 5 with the Redmi Note 5 Pro! The Pro version has a different display connector and a different screw arrangement.

6. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes, and here are the most common problems in disassembling the Redmi Note 5 and how to prevent them:

• 🔧 Torn screws — use a magnetic-tipped screwdriver and don't push too hard. If the screw is pulled, try to unscrew it with a rubber harness or super-glue.
• 🔋 Battery plume torn - never pull the wires! Only take black tape (pull-tab).
• 📱 Cracked display when removed - warm up the screen evenly without overheating one area — 70-80°C.
• 🧲 Lost screws – use a magnetic mat or stick double-sided tape on the table to fix details.

What should I do if something goes wrong?

• 🔌 The charging connector burned. → Check the voltage on the contacts with a multimeter. If you don't have experience, it's better to replace the entire module.
• 🔊 The speaker does not work after assembly → Make sure the plume is tightly inserted into the connector and not clamped with the body.
• 📷 Camera makes a mistake → Clean the contacts of the plume with alcohol and check whether the connector bent.

If the phone does not turn on after assembly:

1. Check if the battery is connected.
2. Make sure all plumes are connected correctly (especially the display and power button).
3. Connect charging – if the indicator is on, the problem is in the power button or plume.

7.Assembly: How to avoid new problems

The Redmi Note 5 is a reverse disassembly process, but with a number of nuances:

• 🔧 Screw the screws cross-curl to avoid skewing the board.
• 🧴 Apply double-sided scotch on the battery (for example, 3M 9448A) smack-up.
• 📱 Before installing the display, clean the frame of the old glue with isopropyl alcohol.

Post-assembly check:

1. Connect the charger and make sure that the charge is going.
2. Check the operation of all buttons and sensors.
3. Make a test call to make sure the microphone and speaker are working.
4. Test the cameras (main and front).

If something doesn't work, don't panic. In 70 percent of cases, the problem is solved by re-disassembling and checking the plumes, for example, a broken sensor is almost always associated with a poorly inserted plume or its bend.

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After assembly, turn on the phone in Fastboot mode (clip Volume down). + Power, and check if the device is detected on the PC, if so, the problem is in the software (firmware), if not, in the hardware.

8. When is the best time to contact the service?

Not all breakdowns can be repaired by yourself.

• 🔥 Battery swells or leaks (risk of fire!).
• 📱 The motherboard has visible damage (burnt elements, cracks).
• 💧 The phone fell into the water (even if it worked after that - corrosion can occur later).
• 🔧 Replacement of chips (e.g., power or memory controller).

Cost of repair in the service:

If you decide to repair yourself, but something went wrong, feel free to contact the service with a half-disassembled phone.

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Self-disassembly Redmi Note 5 is justified if you are confident in their abilities or the phone is no longer warranty. In other cases, weigh the risks: the cost of repair in the service is often comparable to the price of a new budget smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 5