Fairphone 1 Motherboard Replacement
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 22 Steps
Get your Fairphone back in action after a splash, a tumble, or a shock! Replace the motherboard and breathe new life into your device. Before you start, try to save your important files to an SD card if you can. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Check out the little notch on the side near the bottom of the back cover—that’s your starting point!
– Use the indentation to your advantage and gently pry the bottom portion of the back cover away from the phone using your fingernail. If it doesn’t budge, don’t worry – it’s supposed to be a bit tricky. Just be patient and take your time.
Step 2
– Gently slide the back cover down and lift it off the phone like you’re unveiling a hidden treasure. Easy, right?
Step 3
There’s a tiny little dent in the back of the phone right below the battery. Nothing too crazy, just a minor bump that needs some attention.
– Slip your fingernail into the little groove and nudge the battery up toward the top edge.
– Gently pull the battery out and away from the phone—like you’re freeing it from a cozy nap.
Step 4
– Pop out the battery from your Fairphone and set it aside—easy as pie!
Step 5
Before you start, don’t forget to take out your SIM cards – it’s an important step to keep your phone safe while you’re working on it.
Got a second SIM card? Just repeat the process and you’ll be good to go!
– Gently slide the SIM card straight down and out of its little tray using your finger.
– Take the SIM card out of your Fairphone. Easy does it!
Step 6
– Gently push the microSD card out of its slot using your finger.
– Now that the card is out, you can safely remove it from your phone.
Step 7
– Unscrew the five 3.9 mm Phillips #000 screws that are holding the midframe to the display assembly. A little twist here and there, and you’re one step closer!
Step 8
The midframe is held in place by a bunch of tiny plastic clips—think of them as the little bouncers keeping everything together.
– Grab your opening pick and gently work it between the midframe and the display assembly. Easy does it—no need to rush!
– Start just below the volume rocker and glide your way down the side, popping those plastic clips free as you move toward the bottom of the phone.
Step 9
– Gently round the corner and work your way around, carefully detaching the midframe from the display assembly. Take your time—it’s a slow and steady move.
Step 10
Once you’ve made your way around the next corner, the midframe should be loose along the bottom and sides—nice work!
Step 11
Be gentle when using those opening picks! Avoid prying near the power switch, USB port, or headphone jack to prevent bending or damaging them.
– Glide your opening pick and pry tool along the top seam like you’re slicing through butter—smooth and steady does the trick!
Step 12
– Gently pop any stubborn clips still holding on, then lift off the midframe and set it aside.
Step 13
As you put everything back together, double-check that the buttons are facing the right way. The rubber backs need to fit snugly into their tracks—no upside-down surprises!
– Grab your tweezers and gently pluck out the volume rocker and power buttons from the display assembly—easy does it!
Step 14
Be careful when disconnecting the connector – just gently pull it out of its socket, without pulling the entire socket off the board. If you’re not sure, take a deep breath and go slow – we’ve got you covered!
– Grab the flat end of your spudger and gently pop off that antenna cable connector. Easy does it!
Tools Used
Step 15
– Time to get up close and personal with that digitizer cable ZIF socket! Use tweezers to carefully remove the adhesive foam tape from the top – it’s like a little sticker, but be gentle so you don’t damage anything.
Step 16
– Grab the spudger and gently nudge the tab on the digitizer ZIF connector to flip it open. Be careful, it’s a delicate move!
– Now, take your trusty tweezers and carefully pull the digitizer cable out from its socket on the motherboard. Don’t rush—patience is key!
Tools Used
Step 17
– Take out the three 2.5 mm Phillips #000 screws that are holding the motherboard to the display assembly.
Step 18
Hold off on removing the motherboard for now—it’s still hanging out with the display assembly via the display data cable. No need to rush!
The rear-facing camera might be a bit stuck to the display assembly. Gently pry it along with the motherboard to lift both together.
– Carefully pry up the top end of the motherboard to reveal the display data cable. It’s like uncovering a hidden treasure – you’re one step closer to fixing your device!
Step 19
– Gently use the tip of your spudger to pry off the display data cable from the back of the motherboard. Just a little wiggle, and it should come right off!
Tools Used
Step 20
– Gently lift the motherboard out of the display assembly—you’re almost there!
Step 21
– Grab your trusty spudger and use the flat end to carefully detach the rear-facing camera cable from its socket on the motherboard. Take your time, no rush!
– Next, gently remove the rear-facing camera from the motherboard. It’s all about patience, so go ahead and lift it out smoothly.
Tools Used
Step 22
– Motherboard remains in place.
– Don’t forget to peel off all the plastic seals from the new motherboard. You’ll spot at least one guarding the microphone against dust—make sure it’s all off before moving on!
