Xiaomi 12 Screen Replacement - Xiaomi Mi 12

Step 1 | Loosen the rear glass adhesive

Do not attempt repairs on a charged phone as it may catch fire.

Allow your phone's battery to drain completely before starting repair.

Unplug all cables and shut down the device.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the rear glass for two minutes to loosen the adhesive.
Alternatively, use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate, but avoid overheating the phone, as the display and internal battery are prone to heat damage.

Step 2 | Insert an opening pick

The adhesive securing the rear glass can be stubborn; apply additional heat if required.

Try covering broken areas with clear packing tape for improved suction handle adhesion.
Alternatively, use strong tape in place of the suction handle or superglue it to the broken glass as a last resort.

Position the suction handle on the rear glass's bottom edge, as close to the edge as possible.

Pull up firmly and steadily on the suction handle to create a gap between the glass and frame.
Insert an opening pick near the charging port once the gap is created.

Step 3 | Slice the bottom edge adhesive

Avoid inserting the pick more than 4 mm to prevent damage.

Position the opening pick at the bottom right rear glass corner to cut the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent resealing of the adhesive.

Step 4 | Insert a second opening pick

Slide an additional opening pick to the bottom right corner, then guide it to the bottom left corner of the rear glass.

Ensure the opening pick remains in place to maintain separation between the glass and adhesive.

Step 5 | Slice the left edge adhesive

Apply iOpener for 1-2 minutes or use a hair dryer or heat gun if adhesive becomes hard to cut.

Insert an additional opening pick under the bottom left corner of the rear glass.
Slide it along the left edge to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent resealing.

Step 6 | Slice the top edge adhesive

Insert opening pick 4 at top left rear glass corner.

Slide pick along top edge to cut adhesive.
Leave pick in top right corner to prevent adhesive reseal.

Step 7 | Slice the right edge adhesive

Insert a fifth opening pick under the top right corner of the rear glass.

Slide the pick towards the bottom right corner to slice the remaining adhesive.

Step 8 | Remove the rear glass

Remove the rear glass.

If it's still stuck, slide an opening pick around the perimeter until it separates completely.

During reassembly: power on your phone and test functions before sealing, then turn it off completely.

Clean areas with high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and a lint-free cloth.
Secure rear glass with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape.

After installing the rear glass, apply strong pressure for several minutes to help adhesive bond – a stack of heavy books works well.

Step 9 | Loosen the charging coil assembly

Risk of damage to the interconnect cable — avoid tearing or creasing.

Insert an opening pick under the bottom right corner of the charging coil assembly.
Slide the pick toward the charging port to separate the adhesive tape.
Insert another pick under the bottom left corner and carefully separate its adhesive.
Be cautious not to damage the interconnect cable located underneath this corner.

Step 10 | Remove the indicator sticker

Locate the orange water damage indicator sticker covering a screw on the top edge of the motherboard cover.

Pierce through the sticker with your screwdriver or use tweezers to remove it.

Step 11 | Unfasten the flash connector cover

Remove the flash connector cover using a Phillips screwdriver.

Four screws are secured with 5.4 mm-long heads.

Step 12 | Remove the flash connector cover

Remove the flash connector cover using either tweezers or your bare fingers.

Step 13 | Disconnect the flash

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the flash press connector.

Step 14 | Unfasten the motherboard cover screws

Remove the motherboard cover using a Phillips screwdriver.

Seven screws in total:

Five 5.4 mm-black screws
Two 4.4 mm-silver screws

Step 15 | Pry up the motherboard cover

Locate the plastic clips holding the motherboard cover in place.

Insert an opening pick under the bottom right corner of the motherboard cover and pry it up.
Slide the pick along the right edge to release additional clips.
Twist the pick to fully release all remaining clips.

Step 16 | Remove the motherboard cover

Remove the motherboard cover.

The charging coil will also be lifted, as it is attached.

Step 17 | Disconnect the battery cables

Disconnect both battery cables using the flat end of a spudger, prying the connectors straight up from their sockets.

Step 18 | Remove the indicator sticker

Locate and carefully remove the orange water damage indicator sticker covering a screw on the top edge of the motherboard cover.

Pierce the sticker with your screwdriver or use tweezers to pull it off.

Step 19 | Unfasten the loudspeaker

Remove the 7 Phillips screws with a screwdriver.
The screws are each 3.4 mm long.

Step 20 | Pry up the loudspeaker

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the top edge of the loudspeaker.
Pry upwards to release the clips holding it to the frame.

Step 21 | Remove the loudspeaker

Remove the loudspeaker.

Step 22 | Disconnect the display

Use a spudger to disconnect the display cable by prying its connector straight up from its socket.

To re-attach, align the connector carefully and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side.

Never press in the middle, as this can cause permanent damage to the pins if they become misaligned.

Step 23 | Loosen the display adhesive

Apply a iOpener to the screen for 5 minutes to loosen the adhesive.

Alternative methods: use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate.

Avoid overheating, as this can damage the display and internal battery.

Step 24 | Insert an opening pick

Apply even heat to loosen the adhesive securing the screen.

Suction Handle: Adhere clear packing tape or very strong tape to cracked screens for better grip, if necessary.
Alternatively, apply a small amount of superglue to the suction handle for extra adhesion.

Attach the suction handle to the center of the screen's top edge, as close as possible to the edge.

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap near the earpiece speaker cutout.

Step 25 | Slice the top edge adhesive

Do not insert the opening pick more than 4 mm deep.

Slide the pick to the top left corner of the screen to cut its adhesive.
Leave the pick in place to prevent resealing.

Step 26

Insert a second opening pick at the top left corner, sliding it to the top right corner to slice the adhesive.

Leave this opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 27 | Slice the right edge adhesive

Apply iOpener for 1-2 minutes if adhesive is hard to cut, or use a hair dryer or heat gun.

Insert an additional opening pick under top right corner of screen.
Slide opening pick along right edge of screen to slice adhesive.
Leave the pick in bottom right corner to prevent resealing.

Step 28 | Slice the bottom edge adhesive

Insert the fourth opening pick at the bottom right screen corner.

Slide the opening pick along the phone's bottom edge, slicing the adhesive.
Leave the pick in the bottom left corner to keep the adhesive open.

Step 29 | Slice the left edge adhesive

Insert a fifth opening pick under the bottom left corner of the screen and slide it along the left edge of the phone to slice remaining adhesive.

Do not remove the display all the way yet, as the display cable is still threaded through the midframe.

Step 30 | Loosen remaining adhesive

Identify thick patches of adhesive at screen corners that require further softening.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen for 2 minutes to loosen the adhesive.
iOpener, hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate can be used. However:

Be cautious not to overheat as display and internal battery are susceptible to heat damage.

Lift the screen until it separates from thicker adhesive patches, but do not fully remove before proceeding.

If stuck, slide an opening pick around the perimeter until complete separation is achieved.

Step 31 | Free the display cable

Turn the phone over with the screen facing downwards.

Lift the lower edge of the phone and pass the display cable through the small opening in the frame.

Step 32 | Remove the screen

Remove the screen from the device.

During reassembly:
Screen adhesive: If not preinstalled, use custom-cut adhesive or double-sided tape to secure the screen.

Apply firm pressure to the perimeter of the replacement screen for several minutes after installation to ensure a strong bond.

(A stack of heavy books can help)