Google Pixel 3 XL Fingerprint Sensor Replacement - Google Pixel 3 XL

Step 1 | Heat the edge of the back cover

Avoid overheating the phone — display and internal battery may be damaged.

Apply heat from an iOpener, hair dryer, or heat gun to the right edge of the back cover for a minute.
Be cautious not to damage the display and internal battery with excessive heat.

Identify the following areas on the back cover:

Strong adhesive: large patches are located near the bottom of the phone.
Fingerprint sensor cable: avoid slicing through it while prying the back cover.

Step 2 | Create a gap under the back cover

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back cover as close to the edge as possible.

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.
If having trouble, apply heat to the edge and try again.
Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 3 | Loosen the right edge adhesives

Slide the opening pick along the right edge to slice through the adhesive.

The adhesive gums up and becomes hard to slice once it cools, which can cause re-adhesion — risk of further damage.

If this occurs, re-apply heat to the edge with a heat source.

Once sliced through, leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent re-adhesion.

Step 4 | Heat the bottom edge of the back cover

Apply iOpener to the bottom of the back cover and heat it for 1 minute.

Step 5 | Slice through the bottom adhesives

Insert an opening pick at the bottom right corner and carefully slice along the phone's bottom edge.

Work slowly around the corner to avoid damaging the panel; if cutting becomes difficult, reapply heat.

Leave a pick in place along the edge to prevent adhesive re-seal.

Step 6 | Slice through the remaining edges

Continue heating and slicing along remaining edges.

Caution: Be careful on left edge, as pick may snag fingerprint sensor if too high.

Retract pick slightly and try again if stuck.
Ensure adhesive is cut through near bottom and right edges, where thick sections exist.

Step 7 | Slice through the leftover adhesive

Use a plastic spudger to gently pry up the right edge of the back cover.

Continue carefully around the edges, using an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive.

Step 8 | Swing open the back cover

Swing the right edge of the back cover upwards and rest it along the left side.

Maintain slack on the fingerprint sensor cable to prevent pinching.

Power on your phone, test all functions, and power down completely before continuing.

Install custom-cut adhesives for the back cover during reassembly. Follow the guide for installation instructions.
If you replaced the fingerprint sensor, use the provided software tool to register the new sensor with your phone.

Step 9 | Remove the fingerprint sensor tape

Peel up the yellow tape over the fingerprint sensor connector using a pair of tweezers.

Step 10 | Disconnect the fingerprint sensor

Use a spudger to carefully flip up the black lock bar.

Grasp the cable's tab with fingers or tweezers and walk the flex cable out of the socket.

Do not touch metal contacts on the flex cable with tweezers to prevent shorting.

Step 11 | Remove the back cover

Remove the back cover.

Apply new adhesive tape using the instructions in the separate guide.

Step 12 | Heat the fingerprint sensor

Apply a iOpener to the fingerprint sensor and heat it for 1 minute.

Step 13 | Pry up the fingerprint sensor

Insert opening tool under fingerprint sensor's square portion and slowly pry up to loosen.

Pry around the perimeter, repeating as necessary.

Step 14 | Loosen the fingerprint sensor

Push the fingerprint sensor out of its cutout from the outside of the back cover

Step 15 | Remove the fingerprint sensor

Remove the fingerprint sensor.

If replacing with a new back cover, apply Tesa tape on both sides of the sensor.