Google Pixel 3a Daughterboard Replacement

Identify two critical seams on the phone:

• The screen seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone; pry here.
• Avoid prying at the frame seam, where screws hold the plastic frame to the back cover.

Be cautious with these areas on the screen:

• Avoid damaging the screen flex cable by not prying deeper than instructed.
• When prying beyond the adhesive perimeter, angle your pick to avoid damaging the display panel.

Apply heat to the right edge of the display using either an iOpener (heat for 1 minute) or a hair dryer (until it feels hot).

Position a suction cup near the right edge of the screen.

• Pull on the suction cup with steady force.
• If the adhesive resists removal, heat the edge and attempt again.
• Insert the pick into the gap to a depth of no more than 1 mm.

Insert the pick at 1 mm into the gap, then pivot it upwards to a steep angle.

• Pivot point reached? Push the pick in about 6 mm (1/4") below the OLED panel.

• Stop if you hit resistance; try angling the pick again.

Insert the pick no deeper than 1/4" (6 mm) to avoid damaging the screen's flex cable.

• Slide the pick along the right edge, slicing through the adhesive.
• Leave a pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Insert the pick up to 1/4" (6 mm) only.

• Slide the pick around the bottom right corner to slice through adhesive.
• If hard to slice, apply a heated iOpener for 1 minute and try again.
• Continue slicing along the bottom edge and left corner.

Slice carefully through the left edge of the phone to avoid damaging internal components.

• Insert the point of the pick no more than 1 mm into the device, angled upwards.
• SLOWLY push the pick inwards until it reaches a depth of 6 mm (1/4").

Use a slicing pick to carefully cut along the top edge, ensuring it stays no further than 5/16" (8 mm) from the front.

Be cautious when handling the screen — it's still connected.

• Open the right edge of the screen using the pre-cut edges as guides.
• Use a tool, like an opening pick, to carefully cut through any remaining adhesive near the right edge.

Flip the attached screen glass so that it's facing downwards.

• Rest the glass on top of the phone.
• The screen flex cable should now be loosely arched.

Remove the black tape covering the screen connector bracket.

• If the tape is still in good condition, set it aside for reassembly.
• Otherwise, replace with a piece of electrical tape.

Remove the two T3 screws, each 4.4 mm long.

• Once cleared, remove the screen connector bracket.

Careful not to dislodge surrounding components when disconnecting the screen flex cable.

• Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable at its connector.
• Re-attach by aligning carefully and pressing down on one side, then repeating on the other side.

Do not press down in the middle of the connector; misalignment can cause bent pins and permanent damage.

Remove the screen.

• Carefully compare your replacement screen with your original part.
• You may need to transfer additional components, such as the speaker mesh, to the new part.

During reassembly, do not touch the screen during boot-up calibration sequence — improper touch calibration can cause touch issues.

• If using custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide for reinstallation.
• If using double-sided tape (e.g., Tesa tape), follow this alternative guide.

Remove all fourteen T3 screws secured to the plastic midframe.

• Twelve silver T3 screws, measuring 4.3 mm, are present.
• Two black T3 screws, also measuring 4.3 mm,

Keep track of each screw for reassembly purposes, ensuring they return to their original position exactly as found.

Careful not to damage the phone's body or midframe.

• Insert an opening pick into the frame seam at the bottom of the phone, between the midframe and back cover.
• Slide the pick along the seam to release the clips holding the plastic midframe.

Slide a pick tool along both sides of the phone to release the midframe clips.

Do not lift the midframe completely as it is still secured by the proximity sensor cable.

• Lift the bottom edge of the midframe, keeping it attached via the fragile cable.

Reinstalling: align the midframe, then press around the phone's edges with your fingers to snap the clips back in place.

Use the point of a spudger to gently pry up and disconnect the proximity sensor connector.

• Check if the proximity sensor connector has already been disconnected when you lifted the midframe.
• If not, proceed with prying up and disconnecting it from the motherboard using a spudger.
• Remove the plastic midframe.

Reconnect the proximity sensor by aligning the top edge of the plastic midframe with the phone.

• Use a spudger to carefully push the proximity sensor connector onto the motherboard socket, requiring patience and finesse.
• Alternatively, you can detach the proximity sensor from the midframe and attach it to the motherboard first:
• Pry the proximity sensor out of its recess on the midframe using a spudger.
• Remove the sensor from the midframe and attach the sensor connector onto its motherboard socket.
• Thread the sensor cable through the midframe, reposition the sensor in the recess, and press down to adhere it back to the midframe.

• Pry up the battery connector using the pointed end of a spudger, separating it from the motherboard socket.
• Bend the battery flex cable slightly to prevent accidental contact with the socket.

Remove the two T3 screws, 3.3 mm in size, that secure the USB-C port.

• Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the USB-C port connector from the daughterboard.
• Remove the USB-C port module.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to carefully pry up the interconnect cable and release it from its socket on the daughterboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry up the white antenna cable from its daughterboard socket.

• De-route the antenna cable out of its retaining clips, taking care not to damage it.

Remove the T3 screw. The screw is located on the frame.

• It is a 2.7 mm screw, so be careful not to strip it.
• Once the screw is removed, carefully lift out the daughterboard.