Google Pixel 4a 5G Motherboard Replacement

• Insert a SIM eject tool, ejector bit, or a straightened paperclip into the SIM tray hole.
• Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.
• Remove the ejected SIM card tray.

Prepare your phone for disassembly by identifying two key seams.

• Screen seam: Locate where the screen meets the rest of the phone, and note that prying must occur here.
• Frame seam: Identify the area where the plastic frame meets the back cover; do not pry at this seam as it is held in place by screws.

Insert the opening pick carefully, avoiding the screen flex cable, and prying only up to the adhesive perimeter to prevent damage to the OLED panel.

Careful not to overheat the phone as display and internal battery can be damaged.

• Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for one minute to soften adhesive.
• Alternative methods: use hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate, but keep temperature under control.

Careful: using packing tape or superglue may damage the display further.

• Apply clear packing tape to cracked display for suction cup adhesion, or use strong tape instead of suction cup.
• As a last resort, superglue suction cup to broken screen (be cautious).

Position suction cup as close to right edge of screen as possible.

• Lift suction cup with steady, strong force.
• Pry the display open by inserting opening pick into seam, no deeper than 1mm.

Insert the pick 1 mm into the gap to avoid damaging the OLED panel.

• Pivot the pick upwards at a steep angle with the pick 1 mm into the gap.
• Push the pick about 6 mm into the gap, angling it below the OLED panel.

Stop if you feel resistance; the pick may be hitting the edge of the OLED panel. Try again with a slight angle adjustment.

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

• Insert the pick no more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) or you may damage the screen's flex cable,

  risk of flex cable damage

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

Be cautious not to damage or lose the mesh covering the earpiece speaker on the top screen edge.

• Proceed with care if replacing the mesh is not possible.

The screen adhesive may be weak, so avoid applying unnecessary heat.

• If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for 1 minute and try again.
• Insert another opening pick into the right edge of the phone at an angle where a gap has formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.

Slide the pick around the top of the phone to cut the adhesive, then leave it inserted along the top edge to prevent resealing.

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

• Slice around the top-left corner, avoiding the camera window.
• If slicing is difficult, apply heat for one minute and try again.
• Leave the pick in place along the left edge to prevent re-sealing of the adhesive.

Slide the opening pick to cut adhesive along left edge of phone.

• If screen is hard to slice, apply heat to difficult area for one minute then try again.
• Be cautious when slicing near screen flex cable and digitizer.

Slide a pick around the bottom-left corner and across the bottom of the display to cut remaining adhesive.

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

Be cautious when slicing near the screen flex cable and digitizer.

Careful: Do not damage the screen or surrounding components.

• Lift the right edge of the screen, partially opening the phone like a book.
• Do not remove the screen yet.
• Use an opening pick to carefully cut through remaining adhesive.

Careful not to damage the ribbon cable when lifting the screen.

• Lift from the top edge of the screen and swing it over the bottom edge, resting glass-side down.
• Avoid putting stress on the attached ribbon cable.

Peel off the screen connector tape using your fingernail or tweezers.

• If the tape is still usable, set it aside for reassembly.
• Otherwise, replace it with a piece of Kapton tape.

Insert the spudger tip into the cover's opening.

• Pry the cover straight up; it may pop out.
• The cover might spring into the air.
• Remove the plastic cover.

Use a spudger to gently pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.

• To reattach, carefully align a press connector and press down on one side until it clicks, then repeat on the other side.

• Do not press in the middle of the connector to avoid damaging the pins.

Do not touch the screen during boot-up calibration — risk of improper touch calibration.

• Remove the existing screen.
• Check replacement screen for pre-installed speaker mesh and top edge adhesive.
• If present, skip applying top edge adhesive. If not:
• Remove clear liner from top edge adhesive.
• Apply to the screen, ensuring larger cutout aligns with speaker mesh.
• Follow guide for custom-cut adhesive application.
• Refer to third photo for adhesive positioning reference.

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

• Label and set aside each screw as you remove it for reinstallation later.
• Maintain accurate tracking of each screw's location during disassembly and reassembly.

• Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover, right above the SIM card slot.
• Continue by sliding the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Sliding the opening pick along the top, left, and bottom edges will release the plastic tabs holding the back cover in place.

• Continue sliding the opening pick until all tabs are released.

Flip your phone over with the back cover facing upwards.

• Swing the back cover up to a vertical position while being careful not to damage it.

• Do not remove the back cover at this stage as two ribbon cables still connect it to the rest of the phone.

Rest the back cover against an object, such as a cardboard box or soda can, for support.

Remove the motherboard bracket using a T3 Torx screwdriver.

• Remove four screws, 4.0 mm long.
• Remove three screws, 2.1 mm long.

Remove the motherboard bracket.

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

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully pry up and release the fingerprint sensor cable.

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

Remove the back cover.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.2 mm-long screws from the loudspeaker assembly.

Insert the spudger tip underneath the loudspeaker assembly.

Be careful not to puncture the white membranes on either side of the loudspeaker if you plan to reuse it.

• Flip the loudspeaker assembly over and gently rest it on top of the battery.

Disconnect the antenna cable from the loudspeaker assembly using a pair of tweezers.

Grab the metal connector of the antenna cable, not the plastic cable.

Avoid puncturing the white membranes when lifting the loudspeaker assembly.

• Pry up the loudspeaker assembly using care, starting at one edge.
• Remove the loudspeaker assembly once it's loose from the tape underneath.

Peel the tape from the copper foil using your fingers or a pair of tweezers.

Be gentle, as the thin copper foil can be easily punctured.

• Disconnect the front-facing camera from the motherboard using the flat end of a spudger.
• Remove the front-facing camera.

Pull the antenna cable out from under the protective tape using either your fingers or a pair of tweezers.

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

Disconnect the headphone jack cable from the motherboard using the tip of a spudger.

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

Remove the screw securing the charging port using a T3 Torx screwdriver.

Careful not to damage the front-facing cameras.

• Insert the tip of a spudger into the gap near the front-facing cameras.
• Pry the motherboard free from the first plastic clip

• Grasp the motherboard firmly with both hands.
• Open the motherboard like a book to release remaining clips.
• Lift the motherboard directly up and away from its socket.

Disconnect the left camera from the motherboard using the flat end of a spudger.

Do not touch the small capacitors — risk of damage.

• Use a spudger tip to disconnect the right camera from the motherboard.

Remove the front-facing camera assembly.

• Dispose of the removed assembly.
• If your replacement camera module comes with a plastic spacer, remove it before installing.
• Clean the lens surface to ensure it is free from smudges and dust.

Disconnect and remove the USB-C port assembly from the motherboard.

Be careful not to damage any nearby components during removal.

The motherboard is now exposed, with all other parts removed.