How to Replace Google Pixel Motherboard: Step-by-Step Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 24 Steps
This guide was crafted by a member of the awesome Salvation Repair community and hasn’t been given the thumbs-up by Google. Get the lowdown on our guides here.
Hey there! This guide comes straight from the awesome folks at the iFixit community and hasn’t been given a thumbs up by Google. Want to learn how to swap out the motherboard on your Google Pixel? If your phone’s not playing nice and you can’t quite figure out why, replacing the motherboard might just do the trick. If you need assistance, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
The spots around the speaker and microphone (top and bottom) have bigger adhesive areas. These spots might need a bit more heat. Warm up the display until it’s just a tad too hot to touch, about two minutes should do the trick. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
– First things first, let’s power down that device! Safety first, am I right?
– Now, grab your trusty iOpener to warm up those edges of the display and make that adhesive a little less clingy. If you don’t have one, a heat gun or hair dryer will do the trick too. Let’s soften that bond!
Tools Used
Step 2
Be careful not to poke your opening tool more than 1.5 mm into the sides or deeper than 9 mm into the top and bottom of your device. Going too deep could cause some serious damage to the display!
Next up, it’s time to get a little crafty! You’ll carefully slice through the adhesive that holds the display panel to the Pixel’s chassis. Just take it slow and steady – you’ve got this! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 3
Got a cracked screen? Slap some packing tape on that bad boy to help the suction cup stick and keep those pesky glass shards in check.
– Grab a suction handle and gently lift the display to create a small gap between the screen and the phone’s frame.
– If it’s stubborn, feel free to give it more heat—just take your time. Once you can easily slide a tool into the gap, you’re ready to move on.
Tools Used
Step 4
Hey there! Instead of trying to lift or pry that screen off with a pick, just slide it around gently to break the adhesive free. You’ve got this!
Hey there! Just a heads-up, the display panel is super delicate. If you’re looking to reuse your display, be gentle and only slide your tool in as far as you need to break that adhesive seal. Pushing it in too deep might just cause some trouble for the OLED panel hiding beneath the glass. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Grab an opening pick or a trusty playing card and slide it into the gap between the chassis and the display assembly.
– Carefully glide the opening pick around the edge of the display to cut through the adhesive holding it in place. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 5
Don’t forget, there’s a mesh over the earpiece speaker at the top of the screen. If you can’t find a replacement mesh, just be cautious not to damage or misplace this little guy!
Be extra careful with those side bezels; they’re only 1.5 mm deep, which means they’re pretty delicate!
– Keep gently peeling away the adhesive from around the rest of your device. You’re doing great!
Step 6
Hold your horses! Before you go all in and try to yank that display off, remember it’s still hanging on by a delicate ribbon cable. Let’s keep that cable happy and avoid any unnecessary strain while you adjust the display.
Be careful when handling the screen and display, as there’s sticky adhesive all over the place. To avoid making a mess, try placing an opening pick between them to keep things tidy. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 7
As you tackle this repair, keep a close eye on each screw and remember to return it to its original home. Happy fixing!
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and unscrew those two black 3.5 mm T5 screws that are keeping the display cable connector bracket in place. You’ve got this!
Step 9
Hey there! Just a friendly reminder: don’t try to shove that connector in place like it’s a puzzle piece that doesn’t fit. You should feel a gentle ‘snap’ when it’s in. If you push too hard, you could end up giving your connector a permanent ouch! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently nudge that display cable connector up, letting that display breathe free!
– When putting it all back together, start by snapping one side in place, then follow up with the other side for a snug fit.
Tools Used
Step 10
– Take off the display.
– If your new display doesn’t have an earpiece speaker grille, transfer the one from your old display.
– While reassembling, take a break here to check if your new part works and replace the display adhesive.
– During boot-up after reassembly, the screen will calibrate itself. Keep your hands off the screen to avoid any touch issues.
– If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 11
– Grab your trusty T5 Torx driver and let’s tackle those nine 3.5 mm screws holding the midframe in place. You’ve got this!
Step 12
– The midframe is snugly held by five clips. To pop these bad boys loose, just apply some inward pressure with an opening tool as shown in the steps below.
Step 13
– Gently slide an opening pick into the notch located at the bottom-right corner of your phone.
Step 14
Hold up! Don’t yank the midframe just yet—there’s a delicate ribbon cable below, linking the earpiece speaker to the motherboard. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
If the clasps are being a bit stubborn, give the edge you’re working on a gentle nudge inward with your hand, or grab a thicker tool like a spudger to help out.
Keep in mind that the clips don’t just release by sliding through them. It’s all about the inward pressure from the opening pick as it slips into the gap around those clips.
– Gently slide the opening pick into the tiny gap between the midframe and the rear case on both sides of the device. This will help pop those clips free, making it easier for you to open things up!
Tools Used
Step 15
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently lift the earpiece speaker cable connector straight up to disconnect it from the motherboard. You’ve got this!
– Carefully take out the mid-frame from the device and set it aside. Look at you, being all tech-savvy!
– As you reassemble everything, don’t forget to reconnect that earpiece speaker cable. Slide in the top side of the mid-frame before clicking those clips back in place. You’re almost there! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 16
– Grab your trusty SIM ejection tool and gently pop out the SIM card tray from the top left corner of the device. You’ve got this!
Step 17
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry apart the battery ribbon cable from the motherboard. You got this!
Tools Used
Step 19
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry off the charging port ribbon cable from the motherboard. You’ve got this! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 20
– Grab your trusty spudger and pop off the thin, black ribbon cable that’s hooking up the power and volume buttons to the motherboard. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 21
Handle those coaxial cable connectors with care! They’re delicate. Use your spudger to gently lift them straight up to avoid any damage.
– Grab a spudger and gently lift the black and white coaxial cables found on the upper right and left sides of your motherboard. You’re doing great!
– To plug these cables back in, take your tweezers and carefully position each cable over its respective socket on the board. Once they’re lined up, just press straight down until you hear that satisfying snap! Nice work!
Step 22
– Pop out those two shiny 2.5 mm T5 screws holding the motherboard in place. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair
Step 23
Hold your horses on fully yanking out the motherboard—there’s a delicate cable hanging out on the back, still connected to the fingerprint sensor.
– Grab those tweezers and gently lift the top part of the motherboard (the camera side) out of the device. You’ve got this! If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Tools Used
Step 24
– With your trusty tweezers in hand, gently lift the motherboard while using a spudger to carefully disconnect the fingerprint sensor cable from it. Teamwork makes the dream work!
– Now, let’s go ahead and remove the motherboard completely from the device. You’re doing great!
