Featured
Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
18
Time Required
1 - 2 hours
Sections
5
- Back Cover
- 6 steps
- Motherboard Cover
- 4 steps
- Battery Disconnect
- 1 step
- Fingerprint Reader
- 2 steps
- Battery
- 5 steps
Flags
1
Featured Guide
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BackMotorola Moto G Play (2021)
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Introduction
This guide is for the official Motorola replacement part.
For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your device. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
What you need
Step 1
Heat the left edge
- Discharge your battery to 25% or lower and power off your phone before you begin.
- Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the cover for two minutes.
- A hair dryer or heat gun may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
Discharge your battery to 25% or lower and power off your phone before you begin.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the cover for two minutes.
A hair dryer or heat gun may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
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Step 2
Insert an opening pick
- Apply a suction cup to the back cover, as close to the center of the left edge as possible.
- Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the cover and the frame.
- Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Apply a suction cup to the back cover, as close to the center of the left edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the cover and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Step 3
Slice the right adhesive
- Slide your opening pick back and forth along the left edge to slice through the adhesive.
- Leave the pick in at the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Slide your opening pick back and forth along the left edge to slice through the adhesive.
Leave the pick in at the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
Step 4
Slice the bottom adhesive
- Insert and slide a second opening pick to the bottom right corner to slice through the adhesive.
- Leave the pick inserted to prevent the bottom edge from resealing.
- Repeat this process for the right and top edges of the cover.
Insert and slide a second opening pick to the bottom right corner to slice through the adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted to prevent the bottom edge from resealing.
Repeat this process for the right and top edges of the cover.
Step 5
Dislodge the fingerprint reader
- The fingerprint reader is connected to the motherboard by a fragile cable. You must free it before pulling the cover off.
- Grab and lift the bottom edge of the cover.
- As you lift the back cover, press and unstick the fingerprint reader from it.
The fingerprint reader is connected to the motherboard by a fragile cable. You must free it before pulling the cover off.
Grab and lift the bottom edge of the cover.
As you lift the back cover, press and unstick the fingerprint reader from it.
Step 6
Remove the back cover
- Grab and remove the back cover.
- If your back cover is still sticking to the frame, slide the pick around the edges of the phone to slice through any remaining adhesive.
- Reassembly notes:
- This is a good point to test your phone before sealing it up. Follow this guide to perform a hardware test. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
- To adhere the back cover with custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
- To adhere the back cover with tape, follow this guide.
Grab and remove the back cover.
If your back cover is still sticking to the frame, slide the pick around the edges of the phone to slice through any remaining adhesive.
Reassembly notes:
This is a good point to test your phone before sealing it up. Follow this guide to perform a hardware test. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
To adhere the back cover with custom-cut adhesives, follow this guide.
To adhere the back cover with tape, follow this guide.
Step 7
Reposition the fingerprint reader
- Flip the fingerprint reader to the left, away from the phone.
- Don’t fold or sharply bend the ribbon cable.
Flip the fingerprint reader to the left, away from the phone.
Don’t fold or sharply bend the ribbon cable.
Step 8
Unfasten the motherboard cover
- Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the twelve 3.9 mm-long screws securing the motherboard cover.
Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the twelve 3.9 mm-long screws securing the motherboard cover.
Step 9
Pry the motherboard cover
- Insert the pointed end of a spudger between the bottom right corner of the motherboard cover and the frame.
- Pry the cover upward until you can grab it with your fingers.
Insert the pointed end of a spudger between the bottom right corner of the motherboard cover and the frame.
Pry the cover upward until you can grab it with your fingers.
Step 10
Remove the motherboard cover
- Grab the bottom edge of the motherboard cover and remove it from the frame.
Grab the bottom edge of the motherboard cover and remove it from the frame.
Step 11
Disconnect the battery
- Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the battery’s press connector.
- To re-attach press connectors, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don’t press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.
Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the battery’s press connector.
To re-attach press connectors, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don’t press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.
Step 12
Disconnect the fingerprint reader
- Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the fingerprint reader’s press connector.
- The gold arrow indicates the direction to pry from.
Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the fingerprint reader’s press connector.
The gold arrow indicates the direction to pry from.
Step 13
Remove the fingerprint reader
- Use your fingers or tweezers to remove the fingerprint reader.
- Be careful while handling the fragile ribbon cable.
Use your fingers or tweezers to remove the fingerprint reader.
Be careful while handling the fragile ribbon cable.
Step 14
Soften the adhesive with heat
- Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the screen for about two minutes.
- A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the left edge of the screen for about two minutes.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
Step 15
Soften the adhesive with isopropyl alcohol
- Additionally, you may use highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to further loosen the adhesive securing the battery.
- Apply the isopropyl alcohol into the gaps between the sides of the battery and the frame.
Additionally, you may use highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to further loosen the adhesive securing the battery.
Apply the isopropyl alcohol into the gaps between the sides of the battery and the frame.
Step 16
Reposition the graphite film
- Fold the graphite heat dispersion film toward the top of the battery.
Fold the graphite heat dispersion film toward the top of the battery.
Step 17
Pry the battery
- Place a suction handle on the center of the battery.
- Insert an opening pick between the right edge of the battery and the frame.
- Use a steady force to pull on the suction handle and simultaneously pry with the pick.
- Don’t use excessive force on the battery. Slow, consistent pressure is all that is required to free it from the frame.
- Apply more heat or isopropyl alcohol if the battery readheres.
Place a suction handle on the center of the battery.
Insert an opening pick between the right edge of the battery and the frame.
Use a steady force to pull on the suction handle and simultaneously pry with the pick.
Don’t use excessive force on the battery. Slow, consistent pressure is all that is required to free it from the frame.
Apply more heat or isopropyl alcohol if the battery readheres.
Step 18
Remove the battery
- Remove the battery from its recess.
- Don’t reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
- Use this guide to install a battery with custom-cut adhesives, or use this guide to install a battery with an adhesive sheet.
Remove the battery from its recess.
Don’t reinstall a damaged or deformed battery, as doing so is a potential safety hazard.
Use this guide to install a battery with custom-cut adhesives, or use this guide to install a battery with an adhesive sheet.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part—be sure to transfer remaining components and remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.
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