How to Apply Rear Cover Adhesive in Your Google Pixel 7a
This repair guide is from iFixit and has not been endorsed by Google. For more information on our guides, visit our website.
- If your device needs new adhesive after a repair, follow this guide to apply it.
- To access the phone's interior, first remove the rear cover using this guide.
Step 1 | Remove the old adhesive from the frame
Scrape a corner of the rear cover adhesive away using the point of a spudger.
- Pick up the loosened adhesive with your fingers or tweezers.
- Peel the adhesive from the entire frame perimeter.
- Also remove adhesive from the antenna housing.
Step 2 | Remove the old adhesive from the rear cover
Avoid touching the lens covers on your rear cover to prevent smudging.
- Wipe the lens covers clean with a dry microfiber cloth if they are dirty.
- If reusing the rear cover, remove any old adhesive:
- Near the camera bar, soften the adhesive with a heated iOpener or hair dryer (as needed).
- Roll the adhesive strips with your finger until you can grasp them.
- Pull the adhesive strips away from the rear cover.
Step 3 | Clean the frame and rear cover
Apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to the perimeter of the frame and antenna housing using a pipette or syringe.
Wipe away any adhesive residue with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.
- If reusing the rear cover, clean it as you did the frame.
Step 4 | Apply the lower rear cover adhesive
Check if your new rear cover has pre-installed lower and top rear cover adhesives.
- If it does, skip to step 8 for perimeter adhesive application.
- Otherwise, remove the long rear cover adhesive strip from its liner.
- Apply the adhesive to the logic board cover, below the rear cameras.
Step 5 | Apply the top rear cover adhesive
Remove the rear cover adhesive strip from its liner.
- Rear cover adhesive: Peel off the protective liner.
- Apply the adhesive to the antenna housing, positioned just above the rear cameras.
Step 6 | Orient the rear cover perimeter adhesive
Align the replacement adhesive over the phone frame with the pull tabs at the upper right corner.
Make sure both the phone and adhesive sheet are aligned for successful installation.
Step 7 | Apply the perimeter adhesive
Work slowly and maintain alignment to ensure edges stay lined up with frame.
The perimeter adhesive cannot be adjusted after it adheres, so careful alignment is crucial.
- Peel the bottom edge of the rear cover perimeter adhesive from its liner, leaving rest in place for protection.
- Holding the large liner out of the way, align the bottom edge of the adhesive with frame.
- Press the bottom edge of the adhesive into place.
Step 8
Peel off the large liner from the adhesive slowly and work your way up the frame, pressing long edges of the adhesive into place as you go.
Fully remove the liner before placing the top edge of the adhesive.
- The adhesive may stretch or compress; adjust it to fit the top edge if necessary.
Press the top edge of the adhesive firmly into place.
Step 9 | Secure the adhesive
Press the flat end of the spudger around the adhesive's entire perimeter.
- Strengthen the adhesive's bond to the frame.
- Now, peel off the large blue liner from the frame.
Step 10 | Remove the liners
Remove the perimeter adhesive liner if a new rear cover is being installed.
- Use tweezers or your fingers to grab the pull tabs and remove the liners from:
- The strip above the rear cameras.
- The strip below the rear cameras.
- The thin perimeter adhesive.
Step 11 | Install the rear cover
- Align the rear cover over the frame and gently press it into place.
- Firmly press around the perimeter of the rear cover to secure it in position.
To strengthen the adhesive bond, lightly heat the area with a hair dryer or heat gun before pressing.