Google Pixel 4a 5G Battery Replacement - Google Pixel 4a 5G

Step 1 | Eject the SIM card tray

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM tray hole.

Press directly into the hole to avoid damaging the tray — risk of pushing it further in.

Remove the SIM card tray.

Step 2 | Precautionary Notes

Carefully follow these notes to avoid damaging your phone.

Pry the screen up from the screen seam.
Avoid prying at the frame seam, it is held in place by screws.

Do not insert the opening pick deeper than instructed near the screen flex cable.

Pry within the adhesive perimeter to avoid damaging the OLED panel.

Step 3 | Heat the right edge of the screen

Apply iOpener to right edge of display for 1 minute.

Use alternative heat sources (hair dryer, heat gun, hot plate) with caution; risk of overheating and internal battery damage.

Step 4 | Insert an opening pick

Avoid using clear packing tape on the display if it's badly cracked, as it may peel off and cause further damage.

Apply a strong adhesive, such as superglue, to the suction cup for better adhesion to the broken screen.
Position the suction cup near the right edge of the screen for optimal lifting force.

When lifting the device, use a steady and firm motion with your fingers or a tool.

Insert an opening pick into the screen seam, aiming for a point no more than 1 mm from the edge.

Step 5 | Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel

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

Pivot the pick so that it is at a steep angle and push it about 6 mm into the gap.
The pick should slide below the OLED panel.

Stop if you feel resistance; try angling the pick to avoid pressing against the edge of the OLED panel.

Step 6 | Slice through the display adhesive

Slide a picking tool along the right edge of the screen to cut the adhesive.

Do not insert the pick more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) as you may damage the screen's flex cable.

Leave the pick in the bottom-right corner to prevent re-sealing.

Step 7

Avoid damaging or losing the mesh covering the earpiece speaker.

Assess the screen adhesive strength; if weak, no additional heat is needed.
If screen is difficult to slice, apply gentle heat (1 min) and try again.

Insert another opening pick at an angle into the right edge gap to prevent OLED panel damage.

Slide the pick around the top of the phone to cut the adhesive.

Leave the pick inserted along the top edge to maintain separation.

Step 8

Insert another opening pick into the top edge at an angle where a gap has formed.

Slice around the top-left corner, avoiding the camera window.
If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat for one minute and try again.

Do not remove the pick from the left edge until you have completed the repair.

Step 9

Insert the opening pick along the left edge of the phone and gently pry the adhesive.

If the screen is resistant, apply gentle heat to the area for 1 minute and try again with the pick.
Be cautious as you are now close to the screen flex cable and digitizer.

Step 10

Slide an opening pick around the bottom-left corner and across the bottom of the display to cut the rest of the adhesive.

If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.

Near the screen flex cable and digitizer, use caution when slicing the adhesive.

Step 11

Carefully lift the right edge of the screen, partially opening the phone.

Do not remove the screen yet.

Use an opening pick to carefully cut through any remaining adhesive.

Step 12 | Flip the screen over

Do not apply excessive force that may damage the ribbon cable.

Lift the screen from the top edge and swing it towards you.
Guide the screen over the bottom edge until it can rest glass-side down.

Step 13 | Disconnect the display

Peel off the tape covering the screen connector using your fingernail or a pair of tweezers.

If the tape is still good, you can re-use it during reassembly.
Otherwise, replace it with a piece of Kapton tape.

Step 14

Insert the spudger tip into the opening under the plastic cover.
Pry the cover straight up to release it from its mounting point.

The cover may spring free and hit you in the face.

Remove the plastic cover once it has been released.

Step 15

Do not press down in the middle of re-attaching connectors.

Pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable using a spudger's tip.
To reconnect:

Align carefully and press one side until it clicks into place.
Repeat on the other side.

Step 16 | Remove the screen

Remove the old screen.

If your replacement screen has pre-installed speaker mesh and top edge adhesive, you won't need to install additional adhesives.
If it doesn't have these features, remove the clear liner from the top edge adhesive and apply it to the new screen, ensuring it lines up with the speaker mesh.

Do not touch the screen during the calibration sequence after boot-up, as this could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

Step 17 | Remove the midframe screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine 4.4 mm-long screws securing the back cover.

Keep track of each screw and store them separately to ensure correct reassembly.
Make sure each screw goes back exactly where it came from for proper alignment.

Step 18 | Separate the back cover from the midframe

Insert a opening pick into the seam above the SIM card slot.

Hold the pick steady and slide it along the right edge, releasing the plastic clips that secure the back cover.

Step 19

Slide the opening pick along the top edge, then the left edge, and finally the bottom edge of the phone.

The plastic tabs holding the back cover to the midframe will release as you slide the pick.

Step 20

Flip the phone over with the back cover facing up.

Do not remove the back cover yet, it is still secured by two ribbon cables.

Position the back cover upright against a stabilizing object, such as a cardboard box or a soda can.

Step 21 | Remove the motherboard bracket

Locate and remove the motherboard bracket using a T3 Torx screwdriver.

Remove four screws (4.0 mm long) from their respective positions.
Next, remove three additional screws (2.1 mm long).

Step 22

Remove the motherboard bracket.

Step 23 | Disconnect the battery

Disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard using the tip of a spudger.

Step 24 | Remove the back cover

Insert the tip of a spudger between the fingerprint sensor and its housing, carefully prying it free.

The fingerprint sensor cable should now be visible, allowing for disconnection.

Step 25

Use the tip of a spudger to gently pry up and disconnect the front sensor array cable.

Step 26

Remove the back cover.

Step 27 | Remove the loudspeaker tape

Do not damage the battery with your tweezers.

Remove the black tape covering the antenna flex cable using a pair of tweezers.

Step 28 | Access the stretch-release adhesive pull tabs

Flip the midframe over.

Remove the rectangular piece of copper foil closest to the edge using a pair of tweezers.
If copper foil remains intact, reuse during reassembly. Otherwise, replace with Kapton tape.

Step 29

Remove the copper foil using a pair of tweezers.

Be careful not to damage the phone's internal components.

If the copper foil remains intact, set it aside for reuse during reassembly.
If damaged, replace with a piece of Kapton tape.

Step 30 | Remove the stretch-release adhesive

Use a spudger's flat end to lift the battery adhesive pull tab.

Keep adhesive strips flat & unwrinkled for clean removal.
Pull one tab slowly towards phone's bottom, maintaining steady tension.
If the strip breaks, use fingers or blunt tweezers to retrieve and continue pulling.
Re-grab the strip near the battery if it stretches beyond its length.

Step 31

If an adhesive strip breaks off underneath the battery, apply 2-3 drops of 90% isopropyl alcohol into the affected tab.

Tilt the phone towards the top edge to allow the alcohol to flow toward the remaining adhesive.
Wait one minute for the adhesive to soften before proceeding.

Step 32 | Remove the battery

Never reuse a deformed or damaged battery — potential safety hazard.

Insert an opening pick into the battery well along a long edge.
Pry the battery upward to remove it from the well.
If stuck, apply 90% isopropyl alcohol for one minute.
Use an opening pick to pry up the battery once more.

Do not bend the battery as you pull it out.