Google Pixel 5 Motherboard Replacement - Google Pixel 5

Step 1 | Eject the SIM card tray

Avoid damaging the SIM card tray with the eject tool.

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole.
The SIM card tray is located on the left edge of the phone near the bottom.
Press firmly to eject the SIM card tray.
Remove the ejected SIM card tray.

Step 2 | Heat the bottom edge of the screen

Apply a preheated iOpener to the screen's bottom edge for 1 minute.

Use alternative heat sources like hair dryers or hot plates, but be cautious of overheating, which can harm the phone's display and internal battery.

Step 3 | Screen removal information

Do not attempt to pry at the screen seam, as it separates the screen from the rest of the phone.

Pry at the bezel seam, where the plastic bezel meets the frame and is held in place by plastic clips.

Step 4 | Anti-Clamp instructions

For users with an Anti-Clamp, proceed as follows:

Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.
Position suction cups near the bottom edge of the screen-one on the front and one on the back.
Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.

If the surface is too slippery, use packing tape for a better grip.

For alternate method, skip ahead two steps.

Step 5

Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.

Turn the handle clockwise until suction cups start to stretch, ensuring they remain aligned.
Wait one minute for adhesive release and gap formation.
Insert an opening pick under the screen and bezel frame when a sufficient gap is created.

Do not crank more than half a turn at a time, waiting one minute between turns to avoid over-straining the Anti-Clamp.

Step 6 | Insert an opening pick

Apply a suction cup near the heated edge.

If severely cracked, tape over the screen as described in another guide or superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.
Pull up on the suction cup with strong force to create a gap.
If difficult due to device age, apply more heat and try again before inserting an opening pick into the created gap.

Step 7 | Slice the bottom adhesive

Insert the opening pick into the bottom right corner of the screen.

Slide the pick back and forth along the bottom edge to break the adhesive.
Leave the pick in place to prevent re-adhesion.

Step 8 | Heat the left edge of the screen

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the screen for 1 minute.

Step 9

Insert a new opening pick into the bottom left corner of the screen.

Slide the opening pick around the left corner, avoiding damage to the flex cable located in the middle of the left edge (1/4 inch / 6 mm maximum insertion depth).
Continue sliding the pick up towards the front camera to slice the adhesive on the left edge.

Leave the pick inserted to prevent re-sealing of the adhesive.

Step 10

Insert another opening pick into the top left corner of the screen.

Slide the pick around the front camera and across the top edge of the phone.
If adhesive is difficult to slice, apply heat for one minute and try again.
Continue sliding the pick to the top right corner of the phone and leave inserted.

Step 11

Insert a opening pick into the bottom right corner of the screen.

Slide the pick up to the top right corner to slice the last edge of adhesive.
If necessary, run the opening pick around the edges again to ensure all adhesive is cut.

Adhesive may be thickest at the four corners.

Step 12 | Open up the screen

Insert the opening pick at the top left corner of the screen.

Lift up the left edge of the screen a few millimeters using the opening pick.
This will prevent the clips from snapping back down into the case.

Do not open the screen more than 90 degrees to avoid damaging the screen flex cable.

Lift up on the right side of the screen and open the phone like a book.

Step 13 | Disconnect the screen

Grip the screen connector cover with a pair of tweezers.
Push the clip in towards the connector to release it.

Step 14

Remove the screen connector cover.

Set aside for later reuse as needed.

Step 15

Careful: pressing down on a misaligned connector may cause pin bending and permanent damage.

Use the tip of the spudger to pry up the screen flex cable.
To reattach, carefully align the connector, then press down on one side until it clicks into place. Repeat on the other side.

Step 16 | Screen information

Handling the Pixel's screen can be fragile and easily damaged.

Grip the screen by its edges when handling to prevent scratches or dents.
Place the screen on a flat surface with nothing touching the bottom, ideally on a soft, lint-free cloth.

Step 17 | Remove the screen

Be cautious of splashback when cleaning adhesive with isopropyl alcohol.

Remove the screen from the case.
Pick off remaining adhesive on the case using tweezers.

When applying new adhesive, follow the custom-cut guide or Tesa tape instructions.

Remove any protective liners covering the front-facing camera hole.
Release any tape holding down the display cable before installation.

During boot-up, avoid touching the screen during calibration to prevent touch issues.

Step 18 | Remove the graphite tape

Use tweezers to lift up the graphite tape.

Be careful not to damage the battery – puncturing or bending it may cause a leak of hazardous chemicals or a thermal event.

Pel off the graphite tape.

Step 19

Peel off the graphite pad from the charging plate cover using tweezers.

Set aside the graphite pad for potential reuse during reassembly.

Step 20 | Remove the charging plate cover

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two screws holding the charging plate cover in place.

The screws are approximately 4.6 mm long.
Maintain a record of each screw for reinstallation purposes.

Step 21

Remove the charging plate cover with tweezers.

Set aside for reinstallation.

Step 22

Remove the midframe screws using a T3 Torx driver.

The screws are 8 in number and each has a length of 4.6 mm.

Step 23 | Remove the midframe

Remove the midframe from the right side using tweezers.

Lift up the right side of the midframe.
Save the top spacer for reassembly; it may fall out during removal.

Refer to the motherboard replacement guide for additional pictures and instructions.

Step 24 | Disconnect the battery

Pry the battery connector straight up using the pointed end of a spudger.
Disconnect it from the motherboard.

Step 25 | Remove the shouldered screw

Remove the T3 Torx shoulder screw (4.1 mm) using a T3 Torx driver.

Step 26 | Disconnect the rear cameras

Disconnect the rear camera press connectors using a spudger.
Hold the rear camera assembly in place with your finger to prevent motherboard bending.

Step 27 | Remove the rear cameras

Use tweezers to gently lift the rear camera assembly from its housing.

If your replacement camera module has a plastic spacer, carefully remove it before installation to avoid interference issues.

Inspect and clean the lens surface with a soft cloth to ensure it's free of smudges and dust.

Step 28 | Remove adhesive pull tabs

Use blunt nose tweezers to grip the black adhesive pull tab on the top right edge of the battery.

Lift the pull tab with the tweezers until you can grip it with your fingers.
Pull the tab at a shallow angle using slow, steady force to avoid snapping in half.
Keep adhesive strips flat and unwrinkled during this procedure; twisted or wrinkled strips will stick together and break.

If the adhesive becomes hard to pull, roll it around a spudger and continue pulling.

If the pull tab breaks prematurely, use tweezers to retrieve the remaining length of adhesive and continue pulling.

If you cannot retrieve it, move on to the next step.

Step 29

Tab breakage may render retrieval impossible — continue if unsuccessful.

Remove the pull tab at the bottom left edge of the battery.
If it breaks and tweezers cannot retrieve it, proceed to next step.

Step 30 | Loosen the adhesive

If an adhesive strip breaks off under the battery and cannot be recovered, apply several drops of isopropyl alcohol (> 90% concentration) to the affected area.

Step 31

Position the phone at an angle to direct the alcohol towards any remaining adhesive.

Allow the adhesive to soften for approximately one minute.
Continue with the next step once the adhesive has reached a workable consistency.

Step 32 | Remove the battery

Insert an opening pick into the gap along the left side of the battery.

Use the opening pick to slice the remaining adhesive at the top and bottom of the battery, avoiding the two flex cables under the battery.

Do not scrape the flex cables with your opening pick — risk of damage.

If necessary, cut a plastic card to fit between the flex cables and battery tray edge for added clearance.

Be cautious when prying up: do not bend the battery or touch the earpiece contact pins near the top left corner.

If the battery does not lift easily, add a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol to the adhesive and use a plastic card for assistance.

Step 33

Do not reuse a damaged battery — risk of electric shock.

Replace the old battery with a new one.
Remove the old battery from the device.

Step 34 | Disconnect the press connectors

Disconnect the press connectors using the pointed end of a spudger, prying them straight up from the motherboard.

Step 35 | Remove the motherboard screws

Remove the T3 Torx driver secured 2.9 mm screws using a T3 Torx driver.

There are two screws, both with a diameter of 2.9mm.
They secure the motherboard to the rear case.

Step 36 | Bend the flex cable out of the way

Use a spudger to gently fold the flex cable away from the rear case press connector.

Step 37 | Disconnect the press connector

Disconnect the rear case press connector using a spudger.

Step 38 | Remove the motherboard

Insert the pointed end of a spudger into the screw holes near the front-facing camera.

Push the motherboard down towards the bottom of the phone.
Lift up to free the top of the motherboard from the rear case.

Step 39

Use your fingers to gently lift the motherboard towards the top of the rear case.

Do not bend or twist the motherboard, as this can cause damage.

If the motherboard becomes stuck, use a spudger to carefully pry it loose from around the edges.
Once freed, remove the motherboard.

Step 40

Remove the motherboard.

The top spacer should now fall out.
Reposition the midframe without screwing it down.
Grasp the spacer with tweezers and compress the interior foam to fit it into place.
Screw the midframe into position.

Grip the spacer by its body, not the delicate end tabs.