Xiaomi Mi 5: How to disassemble – a complete repair guide

The Xiaomi Mi 5, released in 2016, is still a popular device among enthusiasts and those looking for a reliable device for reuse. However, time spares no one, and after a few years of active use, even high-quality gadgets require intervention. Most often, users face the need to replace a worn-out battery, a broken display module or a failed charging connector. Self-disassembly Xiaomi Mi 5 saves a significant amount of money on services of the service center, but requires accuracy and understanding of the design of the device.

Before you start dismantling, you need to clearly understand the architecture of this flagship. Xiaomi engineers used a glass back panel, which makes the opening process more delicate than metal cases. Any improper movement can lead to cracks in the glass, so the preparation of the workplace and the presence of a specialized tool play a crucial role. In this article, we will look at each step in detail to minimize the risks of damage to components.

It's important to understand that opening the case automatically deprives you of an official warranty if it was still in effect, but for a device that's several years old, it's not as important as functionality. Properly done, it will not only replace the battery, but also allow you to clean the speaker and microphone from dust, which often returns the former volume of sound.

To start the work, you will need a basic set of tools that can be found in any specialized store or ordered online. Without high-quality preparation, it is extremely not recommended to start disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 5, since the design of the smartphone involves the use of a large amount of adhesive composition.

• 🔧 A set of precision screwdrivers (mandatory presence of cross and flat nozzles).
• 🔥 Hair dryer construction or household heat gun for softening glue.
• 🃏 Plastic cards or mediator for slashing the body.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or screw sorting container.

Special attention should be paid to the heating element. A normal hair dryer may not give enough temperature to soften the factory glue, so it is better to use a temperature-adjusted building hair dryer. Overheating is also dangerous, so temperature control is mandatory at all stages.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting any work, be sure to completely turn off the smartphone. Attempting to disassemble the device on with the battery connected can lead to a short circuit and the motherboard fails.

The dismantling process begins with the most difficult step of removing the back glass cover. Unlike many modern models, the Xiaomi Mi 5 does not have a removable rear panel on the latches. The entire structure is supported by a powerful adhesive layer that surrounds the perimeter of the device. First, you need to remove the tray for SIM-maps to provide air output and reduce internal pressure when heated.

Heat should be made evenly, driving a hair dryer around the perimeter of the back cover. Do not delay the flow of hot air at one point for more than 2-3 seconds to avoid local overheating of the glass or internal components. The optimal temperature for softening the glue is about 80-90 degrees Celsius. After 2-3 minutes of warming up, you can try to gently tamper with the edge of the cover.

Use a suction cup or a thin plastic card to make the first gap between the glass and the frame. You have to act slowly, without any sudden jerks. If the lid fails, the heating process must be repeated. Attempting to tear the glass by force will cause it to break down, and the fragments can damage the internal plumes.

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Use a thin line or a special string to cut glue if the plastic card does not pass into the gap.The movements should be sawing, but very careful not to touch the plume of the fingerprint scanner.

When the gap is formed, slowly drive a plastic card or mediator along the perimeter, cutting the adhesive layer. Don't dive deeper than 3-4 mm to avoid damaging the plumes. At the top of the smartphone, near the camera, there's a fingerprint scanner board connected to the motherboard with a thin plume, which is the most vulnerable element when you open it.

• 🔥 Warm up the perimeter of the lid evenly, avoiding the center.
• 💳 Use only plastic tools to avoid scratches.
• 👀 Carefully monitor the location of the scanner plume at the top.

Once the adhesive layer has been passed around the perimeter, don't rush to open the lid completely. Make sure the fingerprint scanner plume is free. In the Xiaomi Mi 5, it can be glued to the inside of the glass, so you need to pull the lid off with extreme caution. Sometimes you need to additionally warm the top to unstick the connector itself.

When the lid is removed, you'll have access to the insides, and the first thing you need to do is turn off the battery to turn off the system, and the battery plume is under a plastic plate that's attached to the frame with several screws, and use a cross screwdriver of the appropriate size to keep the hats from breaking.

After removing the plate, carefully disconnect the battery connector by putting a plastic blade on it. Metal tools are prohibited, as there is a high risk of damaging the contacts or causing a circuit. Only after the battery is turned off, you can continue disassembling the Xiaomi Mi 5 further, removing other components.

⚠️ Warning: Never remove the plumes by holding the conductor itself. Pulling only by a rigid plastic connector, otherwise the conductive tracks may break off from the base.

Next, you have to dismantle the main protective plate, which covers the connectors of the display and other modules, and it is attached with several screws around the perimeter and in the center, fold the screws in the order of their removal, because they can be of different lengths and threads, and if you confuse them, you can damage the thread in the case or break through the board.

Once the protection is removed, disconnect the display and touchscreen plumes, which are located next to the battery connector, bend them carefully to the side, freeing access to the motherboard, and now you can remove the board itself, but first you need to release the antenna cables and unscrew the mount screws.

The motherboard in Xiaomi Mi 5 is fixed with screws and sits tightly in its bed. Before extracting, make sure that all plumes are disconnected and the antenna wires (coaxial cables) are disconnected from their connectors. Antennas usually have round connectors that need to be gently tucked around the center, trying not to damage the gold coating.

Removing the board requires light swaying from side to side. Don't pull sharply so as not to damage the chips located on the back. The board can be glued to the frame at multiple points, so use minimal heat if necessary or gently tuck the edges.

The motherboard hides the main battery. In this model, it's also glued, but less aggressively than the back cover. You can use a suction cup to remove the battery, or you can gently tamper with a plastic card. If the battery is swelling, you have to be double-guarded to avoid piercing the shell.

• 🔋 Turn off the battery first after removing the cover.
• 🔌 Disconnect coaxial antenna cables before removing the board.
• 🧩 Sort the screws by disassembly stages for convenient assembly.

Replacing the battery is one of the most common causes of disassembly. The old battery loses capacity, and the phone starts to quickly discharge or turn off in the cold. When installing a new battery, make sure that the connector sits tightly in the connector and the battery itself does not hang in the case.

Use special adhesive strips or double-sided electronics tape to fix a new battery. Do not use superglue or other aggressive chemicals that can damage the electronics or the battery itself. Reliable fixation is important for protection against vibrations when falling.

The assembly is done in reverse order, and before you put the back cover, you have to remove the residue of the old glue from the frame and the glass, and you can use isopropyl alcohol and a plastic card, and the surface has to be perfectly clean and fat-free for a good adhesion of the new adhesive layer.

Apply the new adhesive (B-7000 or special adhesive tapes) with a thin, uniform layer around the perimeter of the frame. Do not apply the adhesive too close to the internal components so that it does not squeeze inwards when pressed. Carefully combine the lid and press it around the perimeter.

For polymerization of glue, it is recommended to fix the smartphone with money rubber or put under a small press for 1-2 hours. Complete drying of the glue takes about 24 hours, so on the first day it is better not to expose the device to loads and not to drop it. After assembly, check the operation of all functions: touchscreen, cameras, speakers and fingerprint scanner.

In the process of operation, there can be situations when the phone does not turn on or respond to charging after assembly, most often this is due to poor contact of the plumes. Disassemble the device again and reconnect all the connectors, making sure that they are clean and dense. Contact oxidation is a common problem of old devices.

If the screen is working but the touchscreen is not responding, check the plume of the digitizer, which is thinner and more fragile than the matrix plume, if it is not sloppy, it can easily be damaged or not fully inserted into the connector, and it is also worth checking the integrity of the plume for the presence of cracks.

⚠️ Warning: If after replacing the battery, the phone shows the wrong percentage of charge or does not charge, there may be a problem with the power controller or the battery itself.

A successful disassembly of the Xiaomi Mi 5 is not only a way to save money, but also a great way to better understand the device of your gadget. With all the precautions and the use of quality tools, you can extend the life of your smartphone for several more years.

Cleaning the internals from dust regularly helps to avoid overheating the processor and improves sound quality. If you feel insecure, it is better to stop at the battery replacement stage and not go deeper, leaving complex manipulations to professionals. However, for most users, replacing the screen or battery is quite possible.

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Quality workplace preparation and the right tool solve 90% of problems when repairing smartphones.