Motorola Moto G Play 2021 Display Panel Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 3 hours

Sections

Back Cover
6 steps
Motherboard Cover
4 steps
Battery Disconnect
1 step
Fingerprint Reader
2 steps
Battery
5 steps
Display Panel
8 steps

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Introduction

Note: This procedure is for a screen without the frame (a.k.a. chassis). If you’re replacing the screen with a genuine Motorola screen pre-installed in a new frame, follow this guide instead.

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.

Step 19

              Disconnect the display

Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the display cable’s press connector.
The gold arrow indicates the direction to pry from.

Use the pointed end of your spudger to pry and disconnect the display cable’s press connector.

Step 20

              Soften the display cable's adhesive

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the display cable for two minutes.
The iOpener may stick to the residue left over from the battery. Clean the surrounding surface with highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to prevent this.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display is susceptible to heat damage.

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the display cable for two minutes.

The iOpener may stick to the residue left over from the battery. Clean the surrounding surface with highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to prevent this.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display is susceptible to heat damage.

Step 21

              Loosen the display cable

Grab the display cable near the connector.
Don’t attempt to completely remove the cable.
Peel the cable toward the bottom of the phone until it’s completely separated from the frame.

Grab the display cable near the connector.

Don’t attempt to completely remove the cable.

Peel the cable toward the bottom of the phone until it’s completely separated from the frame.

Step 22

              Heat the bottom edge

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom 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 is susceptible to heat damage, and the exterior coating of the phone will wrinkle under high temperatures.

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom 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 is susceptible to heat damage, and the exterior coating of the phone will wrinkle under high temperatures.

Step 23

              Insert an opening pick

Apply a suction cup to the screen, as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the glass and the frame.
If the glass does not separate, apply more heat and try again.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Apply a suction cup to the screen, as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.

Pull up on the suction handle with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the glass and the frame.

If the glass does not separate, apply more heat and try again.

Step 24

              Slice the bottom adhesive

Don’t insert the opening pick deeper than 2 mm, as you may delaminate the display panel.
Slide the pick back and forth to separate the bottom edge’s adhesive.

Don’t insert the opening pick deeper than 2 mm, as you may delaminate the display panel.

Slide the pick back and forth to separate the bottom edge’s adhesive.

Step 25

              Slice the left adhesive

Slide your opening pick to the top left corner to separate the left edge’s adhesive.
Repeat this process for the top and right edges to completely separate the display panel from the frame.

Slide your opening pick to the top left corner to separate the left edge’s adhesive.

Repeat this process for the top and right edges to completely separate the display panel from the frame.

Step 26

Grab and pull the bottom of the display panel down and away from the frame, making sure to thread the display cable through its slot.
Once the display cable is free, remove the panel from the frame.

Grab and pull the bottom of the display panel down and away from the frame, making sure to thread the display cable through its slot.

Once the display cable is free, remove the panel from the frame.

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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Author

                    Clay Eickemeyer

Member since: 09/19/2022

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