Google Pixel 4a Charging Port Replacement - Google Pixel 4a

Step 1 | Eject the SIM card tray

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

Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.
Remove the SIM card tray.

Step 2 | Precautionary notes

Familiarize yourself with the phone's seams and cables before proceeding.

Identify the screen seam, where you'll pry the screen loose.
Avoid the frame seam, held by screws, to prevent damage.

Be cautious when approaching:

The screen flex cable: Avoid inserting the opening pick too deeply, risking damage.
The orange ribbon cable under the lower-right corner of the screen: Only insert the pick as necessary to separate the adhesive.
The adhesive perimeter around the OLED panel: Praying beyond this area without angling the pick may damage the panel.

Step 3 | Heat the right edge of the screen

Apply a iOpener to the right edge of the display for 1 minute.

Alternatively, use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate.

Be careful not to overheat the phone; the display and internal battery are susceptible to heat damage.

Step 4 | Insert an opening pick

Use clear packing tape to help suction cup adhere to cracked display.

Place suction cup near right edge of screen.
Apply strong steady force to lift suction cup.
Insert opening pick into screen seam, no more than 1 mm from edge.

As a last resort, use superglue to attach suction cup to broken screen.

Step 5 | Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel

Insert the pick carefully to avoid damaging the OLED panel.

Pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle with about 1 mm inserted into the gap.
Carefully push the pick in at a steep angle, approximately 6 mm, until it slides below the OLED panel.

Stop if you feel resistance; the pick may be hitting the edge of the OLED panel. Adjust the angle and try again.

Step 6 | Cut the adhesive

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

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

Leave the tool in the top right corner to prevent re-sealing of the adhesive.

Step 7

Check if screen adhesive is weak, heat may not be required.

If screen is hard to slice, apply one-minute heat and try again.

Be cautious of the delicate cable under the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Insert another opening pick at an angle into the right edge where a gap has formed.
Slide the pick around the bottom to cut adhesive, keeping it angled downward and inserted only 2 mm deep.

If the pick snags on anything, carefully remove it and try again; leave the pick in along the bottom edge to prevent resealing of adhesive.

Step 8

Insert a new opening pick into the bottom edge at an angle where a gap is already present.

Use the pick to cut through the left edge of the phone.
If cutting is difficult, heat the left edge for one minute and try again.
Leave the pick in place along the left edge to prevent re-adhesion.

Step 9

Careful not to damage or lose the earpiece speaker mesh

Insert another opening pick into the left edge at an angle, where a gap has formed.
(Prevent damage to the OLED panel)
Slide the pick around the top edge to cut the adhesive.

If the screen feels hard to slice, heat the top edge for one minute and try again.

Step 10

Carefully lift the right edge of the screen, opening the phone like a book.

Do not remove the screen yet.

Insert an opening pick and carefully cut through any remaining adhesive.

Step 11 | Flip the screen over

Avoid putting stress on the ribbon cable as the screen is lifted.

Lift the screen from the top edge.
Swing the screen over the bottom edge until it can rest glass-side down.

Step 12 | Disconnect the display

Peel up the black tape covering the screen connector bracket using a pair of tweezers.

If in good condition, you can re-use this tape during reassembly.
Otherwise, replace with a piece of electrical tape.

Step 13

Remove the T3 Torx driver and unscrew the two 2.1 mm screws holding the screen connector bracket in place.

Keep track of each screw to ensure correct reassembly.
Return each screw exactly where it was removed from.

Step 14

Remove the screen connector bracket using a pair of tweezers.

Keep this component for easy reinstallation during reassembly.

Step 15

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

Do not press down in the middle when re-attaching connectors; instead:

Carefully align the connector.
Press down on one side until it clicks into place.
Repeat on the other side. If misaligned, the pins may bend and cause permanent damage.

Step 16 | Remove the screen

Remove the existing screen.

Check if your replacement screen has pre-installed speaker mesh and top edge adhesive.
If it does, skip applying top edge adhesive. Otherwise:

Remove the larger clear liner from the top edge adhesive.
Apply to the screen, not the frame, ensuring cutout lines up with speaker mesh.

Follow guide for custom-cut adhesive application.

Refer to third photo for positioning adhesives during installation.

During boot-up process after reassembly, let screen complete calibration sequence without touching it. Improper touch calibration may cause issues.

Step 17 | Remove the midframe screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the eight 4.3 mm screws securing the back cover to the midframe.

Step 18 | Spring contact information

Avoid damaging the spring contacts by not inserting the opening pick more than 2mm.

Examine the midframe components behind the back cover in this photo.
Take note of the spring contacts near the edge of the midframe.

Step 19 | Separate the back cover from the midframe

Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and back cover, angled steeply downwards.

Be mindful of not inserting the pick more than 2 mm into the seam.
Slide the pick along the bottom edge to release plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Step 20

Apply an opening pick along the left edge of the phone, working it gently to disengage the plastic clips holding the back cover in place.

Step 21

Insert an opening pick into the top edge and slide it towards the right, carefully releasing the remaining clips.

Step 22

Swing the back cover from the bottom of the phone over the top and around the back.

Lay the back cover on a work surface.
Gently rest the midframe on the back cover, avoiding stress on the attached ribbon cables.

Step 23 | Remove the motherboard bracket

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the motherboard bracket.

Remove three black screws, 2.9mm long.
Remove three more screws, 2mm long.
Remove one additional screw, 4.1mm long.

Step 24

Unclip the motherboard bracket using the tip of a spudger, starting at the upper-right corner then moving to the lower-right.

Step 25

Remove the motherboard bracket using a pair of tweezers.

Step 26 | Disconnect the battery

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the battery cable.

Pry upwards carefully to release the connection.
Once disconnected, you can proceed with the repair.

Step 27 | Remove the back cover

Use the tip of a spudger to gently disconnect the two flex cable connections.
These connections are between the fingerprint sensor, buttons, and the motherboard.

Step 28

Remove the back cover.

Step 29 | Remove the headphone jack

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

Step 30

Apply a pick to the headphone jack area and twist until released.

Remove the headphone jack.

Step 31 | Remove the front-facing camera

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front-facing camera from the motherboard.

Step 32

Remove the front-facing camera with a pair of tweezers.

Step 33 | Remove the loudspeaker

Remove the Loudspeaker Assembly screws using a T3 Torx Driver.

The screws are 4.1 mm in length.
There are two screws to remove.

Step 34

Insert the spudger tip under the loudspeaker assembly.

Avoid puncturing the white membrane surrounding the speaker, necessary for reusing it.

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

Step 35

Use the spudger tip to carefully disconnect the antenna flex cable from the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 36

Peel the loudspeaker assembly carefully up from its adhesive.

Avoid damaging the white membrane for potential reuse.

Once peeled, remove the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 37 | Disconnect the loudspeaker cable

Disconnect the loudspeaker cable using the tip of a spudger.

Step 38 | Remove the motherboard screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove three screws:

Two black screws, 2.9 mm long.
One screw, 2.1 mm long.

Step 39 | Remove the earpiece speaker tape

Peel up the tape covering the earpiece speaker using the corner of a opening pick.

Step 40

Remove the tape from the earpiece speaker using tweezers.

Do not reinstall this tape during reassembly.

Step 41 | Remove the motherboard

Position the spudger under the motherboard's lower edge.

Pry the motherboard up gently, but firmly, until you can grasp it securely.

Step 42

Disconnect all cables and connectors from the motherboard.

Locate the motherboard mounting screws and remove them using a Phillips head screwdriver.
Lift the motherboard out of its mounting bracket.

Step 43 | Disconnect the charging port

Disconnect the charging port using the flat edge of a spudger.

Remove the charging port.