How to open the back cover Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: safe disassembly of the smartphone

Why Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus owners have to take off the lid?

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed Vince) was released in 2018 and is still a popular budget device. However, over the years, many users have typical problems: a bloated battery, a faulty vibrator, a contaminated charging connector or a cracked speaker. Service centers charge between 1,500 and 3,000 rubles for replacing these components, a sum comparable to the cost of a used device.

But here's the big challenge: the Redmi 5 Plus is glue-based, and the back cover is glued to the body around the perimeter. Unlike today's flagships with modular design, there are no latches or screws, just glue and brittle plumes. One wrong move, and you can damage the fingerprint scanner (located under the camera glass) or tear the antenna contacts.

In this article, we will discuss:

• 🔧 What tools will be needed for a safe autopsy?
• 📱 Step-by-step instructions with photos and videos (including hidden pitfalls")
• ⚠️ Typical Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• 🔄 How to assemble the smartphone back so that there are no gaps

If you've never taken a smartphone apart, don't worry. With the right approach, even a beginner can do it in 20 to 30 minutes, and the key is to take your time and follow the proven methodology.

Preparation: Tools and precautions

Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need. the Redmi 5 Plus is not the most difficult repair machine, but without the right tools, you risk damaging the body or internal components.

Here is the minimum set that will be required:

• 🔨 Plastic mediators (2-3 pieces, thickness 0.1-0.2 mm) - for separation of the cover
• 🔧 Screwdriver. T3 (Torx) - for screws under the cover
• 🧲 Magnetic mat or container – to avoid losing small details
• 🔥 Dryer (power from 1500 W) - for softening glue
• 📏 Suction (optional) – helps to lift the cover after heating
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — glue-residue

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal tools (knives, screwdrivers) to separate the lid! They scratch the plastic and can pierce the battery. Also avoid overheating with a hairdryer - temperatures above 80°C will damage the display and battery.

Before disassembly it is necessary:

1. Turn off your smartphone and remove it. SIM-map + memory-card.
2. Charge the battery to 30-50% is a safe level for manipulation.
3. Take a photo of the back cover – Later will help to properly position the antenna linings during assembly.

Turn off your smartphone and remove cards | Charge the battery to 30-50% | Prepare the workplace (clean surface, good lighting) | Check availability of all tools |Photograph the lid for assembly-->

Step-by-step: how to remove the back cover

Now, to the most critical stage, follow the instructions in strict order, and this minimizes the risk of damage.

Step 1: Heating the body

The glue that the lid is glued to becomes elastic when heated. Turn the dryer on to medium power (temperature ~60-70°C) and evenly warm the back of the smartphone for 2-3 minutes. Keep the hair dryer at a distance of 10-15 cm, constantly moving it to avoid local overheating.

Do not direct hot air to the camera or the fingerprint scanner - their optical elements may be warped.

Step 2: Separation of the cover

After heating, take a suction cup (or wide scotch) and fasten it closer to the bottom edge of the smartphone (where the charging connector is). Carefully pull up - the cover should rise by 1-2 mm. If this does not happen, warm up for another 1 minute.

Once you have a gap, you put a plastic mediator in it and slowly lead along the edge, separating the lid, and then you start to resist, which is normal, and the main thing is, don't push too hard so you don't break the latches of the antenna modules.

Step 3: Complete removal of the lid

When the mediator passes through the perimeter, gently lift the lid, which can still be held on the plume of the fingerprint scanner (if you have one in your model) or on the remains of the glue. Don't pull by force, you'd better warm up the problem areas again.

After separation, place the lid on the magnetic mat with the inside side upwards so as not to lose the antenna linings (they often stick to the glue).

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If you hear a crunch when you're detaching the lid, stop disassembling immediately! The antenna latch is probably broken, and you'd better contact the service, because it's cheaper to restore than to replace the entire lid.

Step 4: Unscrewing the screws

Under the lid, you'll see 12 screws (in the Redmi 5 Plus model): 10 regular screws and 2 under the fillings (they can be hidden under stickers). Use the T3 screwdriver to gently unscrew them. Remember the location of each screw - they can vary in length!

⚠️ Warning: screws under the seals often get stuck. If the screw doesn't lend itself, put isopropyl alcohol on it and wait 1-2 minutes.

What to do after removing the cover: further actions

Now you have access to the insides of your smartphone, and depending on the purpose of the disassembly, the following steps may differ:

• 🔋 Battery replacement: Disconnect the battery plume (it is glued to the motherboard), then gently tuck the battery into a plastic blade.Be careful - lithium polymer batteries can ignite when punctured!
• 🔊 Speaker/microphone repair: These components are located at the bottom of the body. Their mounts are fragile, so use tweezers.
• 📶 Cleaning antenna contacts: Wash them with alcohol – this often solves network or network problems GPS.
• 💾 Replacement of the charging plume: Requires a complete dismantling of the motherboard - without experience it is better not to take.

If you were just cleaning your smartphone from dust, blow your insides with compressed air before assembly (like a keyboard sprayer). Don't use wet wipes - they leave fibers behind!

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The most common mistake in disassembling the Redmi 5 Plus is that it damages the fingerprint scanner plume, which goes from lid to motherboard, and it breaks easily. If you're not planning on replacing it, try not to touch that plume.

Build a smartphone: how to avoid gaps and creaks

Putting the Redmi 5 Plus back together is harder than disassembling. The main problem is the glue: the factory after removing the lid loses its properties, and without the right replacement, there will be gaps or the lid will "play."

Here's the step-by-step build algorithm:

1. Make sure all plumes are connected (battery, camera, fingerprint scanner).
2. Apply double-sided tape (e.g. 3M 9448A) or special smartphone glue around the perimeter of the lid. Avoid antenna area!
3. Carefully apply the cover, starting from the top (where the camera is), and press it evenly.
4. Turn all the screws in reverse. Don't pull them over! The plastic can crack.
5. Place your smartphone under a press (such as a stack of books) for 10-15 minutes to make the glue stick.

⚠️ Note: If after assembly the smartphone does not turn on – check:

• Is the battery plume connected (a common mistake – it can fall out when you flip over).
• Are the contacts closed on the motherboard (check visually for the presence of foreign objects).
• Is the battery charged (sometimes after disconnecting it discharges in a few minutes).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling the Redmi 5 Plus. TOP-5 Problems and ways to prevent them:

1. Damage to the fingerprint scanner plume. Reason: The plume goes from lid to board and breaks easily when untidy. Solution: Before you separate the lid, warm up the area around the camera, the glue is the strongest. Use a thin mediator.
2. Cracks on the plastic case. Cause: Metal tools or excessive pressure. Solution: Only use plastic mediators. If the lid doesn't lend itself, heat longer, not press harder.
3. Loss of antenna linings. Reason: They stick to the glue and stay on the lid when removed. Solution: Before disassembling, take a picture of the linings. Use tweezers when you assemble them.
4. Short circuit after assembly. Reason: Small metal particles (screws, shavings) hit the board. Solution: Before assembly, blow the body with compressed air and check the board for foreign objects.
5. The vibrator doesn't work. Reason: It's attached to the glue, and it can shift when it's not built properly. Solution: When you install the lid, make sure that the vibrator (the little black cylinder) is pressed tightly against the body.

If you're facing a problem that's not on the list, don't panic. 90 percent of the time, there's a solution. For example, if the touchscreen doesn't work after the build, the display plume probably went away. And if the smartphone gets overheated, check if the heat paste hits the other components.

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Before the first disassembly, practice on an old, unnecessary smartphone (like a Redmi 4A or something like that) to help you feel the force of the pressure and understand how the plastic behaves when it is heated.

Alternative ways to open the lid (if nothing helps)

Sometimes the Redmi 5 Plus cover is so tightly glued that standard methods don't work, and in these cases, you can try alternative approaches, but they're more risky.

Method 1: Use of thread

Take a thin kapron thread (like guitar strings or dental floss) and thread it between the lid and the body, carefully saw the thread along the edge, as if cutting off the glue, which requires patience, but minimizes the risk of damage to the lid.

Method 2: Softening of glue with alcohol

If the heating didn't work, drip the isopropyl alcohol (90%+) into the gap between the lid and the case. Alcohol dissolves the glue in 5-10 minutes. Don't use acetone or solvent! - they will damage the plastic.

⚠️ Warning: Alcohol can get on the motherboard and cause corrosion. After the procedure, dry the smartphone thoroughly for 24 hours.

Method 3: Partial disassembly through the display

As a last resort, you can remove the display module (it is mounted on the latches), and then you can separate the lid from the inside, which is more complicated, but sometimes it's the only way possible.

If none of these methods worked, maybe the glue has dried up completely, and then you should go to a service that uses professional tools (such as an ultrasound bath to remove glue).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions