How to remove the back cover of Xiaomi phone

Modern Xiaomi smartphones are famous for their performance and quality materials, but sometimes there is a need to access the insides of the device. Users often face the question: how to remove the lid to replace broken glass, clean the speaker or, most often, replace a swollen battery. The dismantling process requires extreme accuracy, since most models are fastened with a powerful adhesive composition, not screws.

Incorrect actions when opening the case can lead to damage to the fingerprint plume, cracks in the glass or even a puncture of the battery. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions for different types of designs, the necessary tools and precautions that will protect your device from fatal damage. It is important to understand that opening the case automatically voids the warranty, so weigh the pros and cons.

Before you start physically affecting the body, you need to prepare the workplace, you need a clean surface, good lighting and a set of special tools. Don't try to put the lid on with a knife or a pin, it's a guaranteed way to damage the frame or screen. Professional approach begins with preparation, and ignoring this stage often leads to depressing results.

⚠️ Warning: Before starting any dismantling work, be sure to completely turn off your smartphone. Attempting to remove the lid on the device on can short-circuit and the motherboard fails.

Tools and workplace preparation required

You can't disassemble quality without specialized equipment. Unlike older push-button phones, modern Redmi and POCO monoblocks require delicate handling. The main enemy in disassembly is the glue that manufacturers use to seal the case and improve heat sink. To soften this composition, you need a heat source.

The optimal heating tool is a thermophen or a special heating pad for smartphones. If they are not available, you can use a regular hair dryer, although it will take longer. You can not use a household iron, as there is a high risk of overheating and deformation of plastic elements or damage to the display. The heating temperature should be about 80-90 degrees Celsius.

To mechanically impact the adhesive layer, you'll need thin metal blades or special knives to open it, but metal is dangerous for inexperienced craftsmen, so you'd better use plastic mediators or cards, which are less durable, but they won't scratch the frame or damage the internal components if you accidentally slip off, and you'll also need a suction cup to first tear the glass.

• 🔧 Thermophen or heating pad for uniform heating of the perimeter of the body.
• 🃏 Plastic blades, mediators or thin bank card for glue dissection.
• 🔩 Set of screwdrivers (usually cross-shaped) PH000 or Torx stars T2-T5).
• 🧴 Fluid B-7000 or similar to the subsequent glue of the cover back.
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or organizer for sorting screws of different sizes.

Pay special attention to the organization of space. The screws in Xiaomi smartphones can be of different lengths and threads. If you confuse them with places when you build, you can break the motherboard or damage the carvings in the seats. It is recommended to photograph each stage of dismantling or arrange the screws in the order of their extraction.

Features of the design of smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi

Understanding the architecture of the device is key to successful disassembly. Xiaomi smartphones are divided into several types by design of the rear panel. Budget models often have a plastic cover that is attached to the latches and minimal amount of glue. These devices are the easiest to open, but the risk of breaking plastic locks when sloppy movement is very high.

Flagship models and mid-range devices use glass back panels, and the glass is glued around the perimeter with a powerful adhesive compound, and these models often have wireless charging or under the lid. NFC-A sudden movement can break off these thin elements, resulting in a loss of functionality.

We also have the removable battery models that we saw in the early Redmis, which are lightly hand-held, but today, there are almost no removable battery-caps, and there are ceramic-cap models that are very durable, but can split into many sharp fragments when hit hard.

It is important to consider the location of components under the lid. In some models, the plume of the main camera or fingerprint scanner runs very close to the edge of the body. Careless insertion of the blade deeper than 2-3 millimeters can lead to a rupture of the contact, the restoration of which will require soldering and a microscope.

Step-by-step instructions: heating and primary separation

The most critical step is to start separating the lid from the body, and if you don't warm up the device enough, the glue doesn't soften, and you just crumble the glass or the plastic, and heat should be done evenly around the perimeter, lingering at corners where the glue is usually thicker, and heating time varies from 2 to 5 minutes depending on the power of the the the thermophen.

Once heated, take a suction cup, glue it to the bottom of the back cover (usually there is no camera or sensors), and pull up slightly. There should be a microscopic gap between the body and the cover, and you should carefully insert a thin metal blade or blade into this gap, and then immediately replace it with a plastic mediator.

Then you start cutting the glue, you move the plastic card or the mediator along the perimeter, trying to hold the tool parallel to the plane of the screen, and you don't try to bend the lid by force, it will lead to cracks, you have to be sawing, gradually cutting through the glue, and if you feel strong resistance, stop pulling and warm up the area again.

⚠️ Note: Never enter the instrument deeper. 3-4 And this is where the plumes are, connecting the buttons, the cameras and the sensors to the motherboard, and they're fatal to the functionality.

Be careful where the main camera module is located. Often the adhesive layer is thicker, but there is a maximum risk of damaging the optical stabilization or the lens itself. Go around the camera in an arc without pressing the lens glass. In some models, there is another protective plate under the back cover that covers the battery.

Dismantling internal protection and disconnecting plumes

Once the lid is successfully detached, you will see the inside of the smartphone, but you can't pull the battery right away. Most Xiaomi and Redmi models have a plastic or metal plate that's screwed, and these screws can be hidden under stickers or have different lengths, which requires careful attention.

The first thing you do after removing the safety plate is to disconnect the battery plume from the motherboard, which is a critical safety step. While the battery is connected, any careless movement of the metal tool can cause a short circuit, and a power outage will keep the device safe as it goes on.

Now you can carefully remove the battery. It's also planted on glue, so pulling it by the tongue (if you have one) should be slow and even. If the tongue is not, use a suction cup or plastic card, putting the battery on different sides. Don't use metal objects to remove the battery - a puncture of the lithium-ion cell causes instant ignition.

• 🔋 Turn off the battery plume first thing after removing the lid.
• 🔌 Carefully disconnect the camera plumes, display and buttons if a complete dismantling is required.
• 🧹 Clean the insides of dust with a soft brush or pear.
• 🔍 Check the condition of the connectors for oxidation or contamination.

If your goal was to replace the battery, the process goes backwards after you install the new battery. If you've changed the back window, make sure all components (like a fingerprint scanner or logo) are transferred to the new cover. Often these elements are also glued and require careful heating to be carried.

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Use curved-ended tweezers to work with small plumes. Straight tweezers can slip and damage the connector on the board, requiring expensive repairs at the service center.

Assembly of the device and sealing of the housing

The assembly of the device is a process that requires a reverse sequence of actions, but with the addition of new materials. The old adhesive layer, the residue of which remained on the frame and the lid, must be carefully removed. Use alcohol or a special liquid, and a plastic card. The surface must be perfectly clean and fat-free for reliable fixation.

To stick a new lid or install an old one, use a B-7000 or T-7000 glue. Apply it in a thin continuous strip along the frame perimeter, avoiding camera lenses and speakers. After applying, let the glue dry for 1-2 minutes, then carefully align the lid and press it tightly at the edges.

For better adhesion, it is recommended to lock the smartphone with rubber bands or place it under a press (for example, a heavy book) for 1-2 hours. Do not turn the device on immediately - let the glue be fully polymerized. Full strength of the connection is gained within 24 hours, so on the first day it is better to avoid loading on the case.

In the assembly process, check all modules until the screws are finally twisted. Connect the display and battery plume, turn on the phone and check the touchscreen, sound, cameras and vibration. If everything works correctly, you can complete the assembly by twisting the screws and putting the protective plates in place.

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The quality of degreasing surfaces before applying a new glue directly affects the tightness of the case and the reliability of fixing the back cover in the future.

Typical errors and precautions

The most common mistake of beginners is excessive force. When you try to tear the lid off, users break the windows, bend the frames and tear the plumes. Remember, if something doesn't go, you miss the screw or you don't warm up the glue enough. Violence in electronics repair is unacceptable. Each model has its own characteristics, and blindly following the instructions without considering the condition of the particular device is dangerous.

Another common problem is losing small screws or entanglement of their order. As mentioned earlier, screwing a long screw into a short hole can punch through the board. Use magnetic mats or spread the screws on a piece of paper with a schematic pattern of the device, marking the place of their installation.

And remember static electricity. Although the risk of static damage to modern components is lower than before, he does. Work on an antistatic mat or at least a clean wooden surface, avoiding synthetic fabrics. Before touching the internal components, you can touch a grounded metal object.

⚠️ Warning: If you damage the battery during the disassembly process (the smell, smoke, or it starts to warm), immediately stop work, take the device out to the open space and fill it with sand.

If you feel insecure or you see that the design of the device is too complicated (for example, a glued battery without a tongue and a complex system of plumes), it is better to stop.The cost of professional repairs may be lower than buying a new display or motherboard after a failed attempt at self-intervention.