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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

36

Time Required

                          50 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

6

  • SIM Card
  • 1 step
  • Back Cover Assembly
  • 9 steps
  • Lower Antenna Assembly
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 5 steps
  • Motherboard Assembly
  • 10 steps
  • Display Assembly
  • 9 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Video Overview

Step 1

              SIM Card
  • Insert the SIM card eject tool into the hole in the side of the SIM card tray and push to eject the tray.
  • Remove the SIM card tray.
  • If the SIM card does not fall free from the tray on its own, simply remove it with your fingers.

Insert the SIM card eject tool into the hole in the side of the SIM card tray and push to eject the tray.

Remove the SIM card tray.

If the SIM card does not fall free from the tray on its own, simply remove it with your fingers.

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Step 2

              Back Cover Assembly
  • In the following steps you will be releasing the clips holding the phone’s cases together. However, the back case is also secured with an adhesive pad. After separating the clips you will use an iOpener to allow the case to fully open. Do not attempt to fully open the phone before loosening the adhesive.
  • Insert a plastic opening tool into the seam between the front and rear covers near the SIM card slot.
  • Slide the plastic opening tool along the seam toward the upper corner.

In the following steps you will be releasing the clips holding the phone’s cases together. However, the back case is also secured with an adhesive pad. After separating the clips you will use an iOpener to allow the case to fully open. Do not attempt to fully open the phone before loosening the adhesive.

Insert a plastic opening tool into the seam between the front and rear covers near the SIM card slot.

Slide the plastic opening tool along the seam toward the upper corner.

Step 3

  • Carefully slide the plastic opening tool around the corner, freeing it from clips.

Carefully slide the plastic opening tool around the corner, freeing it from clips.

Step 4

  • Pry around the top right corner of the phone between the two covers.

Pry around the top right corner of the phone between the two covers.

Step 5

  • Run the opening tool along the seam around all four sides, separating the remaining clips holding the cover on.
  • The plastic on the front cover is thinner near the buttons, and the buttons may move around. Go slowly to avoid damaging the buttons or the front cover.
  • Do not push the opening tool deep into phone, or you may damage internal components.

Run the opening tool along the seam around all four sides, separating the remaining clips holding the cover on.

The plastic on the front cover is thinner near the buttons, and the buttons may move around. Go slowly to avoid damaging the buttons or the front cover.

Do not push the opening tool deep into phone, or you may damage internal components.

Step 6

  • Heat an iOpener and lay it over the phone for approximately 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive securing the back cover.

Heat an iOpener and lay it over the phone for approximately 90 seconds to loosen the adhesive securing the back cover.

Step 7

  • Starting from the SIM slot side, carefully peel the back cover off of the phone.
  • The back cover is very flexible, but you don’t want to damage any internal components by being too hasty.
  • There is a chance that the NFC coil may remain stubbornly adhered to the back cover. If that’s the case, stop peeling the cover and reapply a heated iOpener to the back cover.
  • Do not separate the back cover entirely; it is still connected to the phone by the camera flash cable.
  • The flash cable is attached on the power/volume button side of the phone.

Starting from the SIM slot side, carefully peel the back cover off of the phone.

The back cover is very flexible, but you don’t want to damage any internal components by being too hasty.

There is a chance that the NFC coil may remain stubbornly adhered to the back cover. If that’s the case, stop peeling the cover and reapply a heated iOpener to the back cover.

Do not separate the back cover entirely; it is still connected to the phone by the camera flash cable.

The flash cable is attached on the power/volume button side of the phone.

Step 8

  • Gently set the back cover down in a way that exposes the camera flash cable connector, but does not put strain on it.

Gently set the back cover down in a way that exposes the camera flash cable connector, but does not put strain on it.

Step 9

  • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the flash cable ZIF connector.
  • Be sure to pry only on the flap itself, not on the connector.
  • Pull the flash cable straight out of its socket.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the retaining flap on the flash cable ZIF connector.

Be sure to pry only on the flap itself, not on the connector.

Pull the flash cable straight out of its socket.

Step 10

  • Separate the back cover from the phone.

Separate the back cover from the phone.

Step 11

              Lower Antenna Assembly
  • Remove the four 3 mm T3 Torx screws securing the lower antenna assembly to the phone.

Remove the four 3 mm T3 Torx screws securing the lower antenna assembly to the phone.

Step 12

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the lower antenna assembly and free it from the phone.
  • Remove the antenna assembly.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the lower antenna assembly and free it from the phone.

Remove the antenna assembly.

Step 13

              Battery
  • Insert the tip of a spudger under the battery cable near the connector to lift it straight up from its socket.
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna cable connector.

Insert the tip of a spudger under the battery cable near the connector to lift it straight up from its socket.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the NFC antenna cable connector.

Step 14

  • Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the ZIF retaining flap from the button assembly cable connector.
  • Slide the tip of the spudger under the button assembly cable near the connector to pull the cable straight out of its socket.

Use the tip of a spudger to flip up the ZIF retaining flap from the button assembly cable connector.

Slide the tip of the spudger under the button assembly cable near the connector to pull the cable straight out of its socket.

Step 15

  • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the interconnect cable to free it from the adhesive holding it to the battery.

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the interconnect cable to free it from the adhesive holding it to the battery.

Step 16

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to peel the adhesive pull-tab off the top of battery.

Use the flat end of a spudger to peel the adhesive pull-tab off the top of battery.

Step 17

  • Use the adhesive pull-tab to lift the battery from its recess.
  • The battery is secured to the motherboard with mild adhesive. Peel slowly, and be careful not to bend or puncture the battery.
  • Remove the battery from the phone.
  • When reassembling your phone secure the battery with double-sided tape or pre-cut adhesive strips.

Use the adhesive pull-tab to lift the battery from its recess.

The battery is secured to the motherboard with mild adhesive. Peel slowly, and be careful not to bend or puncture the battery.

Remove the battery from the phone.

When reassembling your phone secure the battery with double-sided tape or pre-cut adhesive strips.

Step 18

              Motherboard Assembly
  • Remove the five 3 mm T3 Torx screws from the headphone jack/speaker assembly.

Remove the five 3 mm T3 Torx screws from the headphone jack/speaker assembly.

Step 19

  • Insert a spudger under the panhandle of the headphone jack/speaker assembly and pry it up from its recess.
  • Remove the headphone jack/speaker assembly.

Insert a spudger under the panhandle of the headphone jack/speaker assembly and pry it up from its recess.

Remove the headphone jack/speaker assembly.

Step 20

  • Push the tip of a spudger under the microphone assembly clip to free it from the earpiece speaker.
  • If the assembly clip seems to be missing, check the speaker assembly that was removed from the previous step.

Push the tip of a spudger under the microphone assembly clip to free it from the earpiece speaker.

If the assembly clip seems to be missing, check the speaker assembly that was removed from the previous step.

Step 21

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to free the microphone assembly cable connector.
  • Use tweezers to remove the microphone assembly.

Use the flat end of a spudger to free the microphone assembly cable connector.

Use tweezers to remove the microphone assembly.

Step 22

  • Disconnect the front-facing camera cable connector.
  • Remove the front-facing camera from its recess with a pair of tweezers.

Disconnect the front-facing camera cable connector.

Remove the front-facing camera from its recess with a pair of tweezers.

Step 23

  • Remove the final two 3 mm T3 Torx screws from the SIM slot bracket.

Remove the final two 3 mm T3 Torx screws from the SIM slot bracket.

Step 24

  • Remove the SIM slot bracket from the motherboard.

Remove the SIM slot bracket from the motherboard.

Step 25

  • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the motherboard above the button assembly cable, and pry it out of the phone.
  • Be careful not to snag any cables.
  • The buttons may pop out of their recesses; take care not to lose them.

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the motherboard above the button assembly cable, and pry it out of the phone.

Be careful not to snag any cables.

The buttons may pop out of their recesses; take care not to lose them.

Step 26

  • Gently lift the motherboard out of the phone, rotating it from the SIM slot edge of the phone.
  • Do not attempt to separate the motherboard entirely; it is still connected to the display by the display cable.

Gently lift the motherboard out of the phone, rotating it from the SIM slot edge of the phone.

Do not attempt to separate the motherboard entirely; it is still connected to the display by the display cable.

Step 27

  • Lay the motherboard down to allow access to the display cable connector.
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to flip the retaining tab on the display cable ZIF connector.
  • Carefully pull the display cable out of its connector as you remove the motherboard from the display assembly.

Lay the motherboard down to allow access to the display cable connector.

Use the flat end of a spudger to flip the retaining tab on the display cable ZIF connector.

Carefully pull the display cable out of its connector as you remove the motherboard from the display assembly.

Step 28

              Display Assembly
  • Use the tip of a spudger to nudge the sleep/power button out of its slot in the display assembly.
  • Remove the sleep/power button cover with a pair of tweezers.

Use the tip of a spudger to nudge the sleep/power button out of its slot in the display assembly.

Remove the sleep/power button cover with a pair of tweezers.

Step 29

  • Use the tip of a spudger to push the volume rocker button cover out of the display assembly, and remove.

Use the tip of a spudger to push the volume rocker button cover out of the display assembly, and remove.

Step 30

  • Use the tip of a hobby knife or plastic opening tool to pry the button assembly off of the adhesive securing it to the display assembly.
  • Keep the sharp edge of the knife pointed away from the cable to avoid accidentally cutting it.

Use the tip of a hobby knife or plastic opening tool to pry the button assembly off of the adhesive securing it to the display assembly.

Keep the sharp edge of the knife pointed away from the cable to avoid accidentally cutting it.

Step 31

  • Remove the button assembly cable from the display assembly.

Remove the button assembly cable from the display assembly.

Step 32

  • If your replacement part comes with an earpiece speaker, skip this step.
  • Pry the earpiece speaker out of the display assembly with the point of a spudger.
  • Remove the earpiece speaker with a pair of tweezers.

If your replacement part comes with an earpiece speaker, skip this step.

Pry the earpiece speaker out of the display assembly with the point of a spudger.

Remove the earpiece speaker with a pair of tweezers.

Step 33

  • If your replacement part comes with a white mid-frame, skip the remaining steps.
  • The white mid-frame is held to the display assembly by tiny pins.
  • Look over the long edges of the display assembly and note where all the pins are.

If your replacement part comes with a white mid-frame, skip the remaining steps.

The white mid-frame is held to the display assembly by tiny pins.

Look over the long edges of the display assembly and note where all the pins are.

Step 34

  • Use a SIM eject tool, SIM eject bit, or a bent paper clip to gently push the pin outwards from within the case.
  • Be sure to do this in a clean and brightly lit work area. The pins are very small and are easily lost.
  • Repeat the process for the remaining pins.
  • To reinstall the pins, align them with the holes on the outside of the display assembly and them push inwards.
  • The pins have a tapered end and will install in only one direction.

Use a SIM eject tool, SIM eject bit, or a bent paper clip to gently push the pin outwards from within the case.

Be sure to do this in a clean and brightly lit work area. The pins are very small and are easily lost.

Repeat the process for the remaining pins.

To reinstall the pins, align them with the holes on the outside of the display assembly and them push inwards.

The pins have a tapered end and will install in only one direction.

Step 35

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the white mid-frame from the display assembly.
  • If any part of the mid-frame seems resistant to movement, check for any overlooked pins still holding the frame in place.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the white mid-frame from the display assembly.

If any part of the mid-frame seems resistant to movement, check for any overlooked pins still holding the frame in place.

Step 36

  • Hold the edges of the white mid-frame and push against the display assembly to swing the mid-frame free.
  • Remove the white mid-frame.
  • When reassembling your phone replace old adhesive with double-sided tape or pre-cut adhesive strips.

Hold the edges of the white mid-frame and push against the display assembly to swing the mid-frame free.

Remove the white mid-frame.

When reassembling your phone replace old adhesive with double-sided tape or pre-cut adhesive strips.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part. You may need to transfer remaining components or 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? Check out our Motorola Moto X Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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                    Sam Goldheart

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shawnhartsock - Dec 2, 2014

Reply

I was able to follow this guide, but the T3 Torx was too small. The T4 Torx was also too small. Fortunately I had a T5 Torx which worked perfectly. During removal of the back I damaged my NFC antenna and can’t use my Moto Skip anymore. Be careful with that component.

CalbertEnstein - Feb 25, 2017

BUY THIS TORX SCREWDRIVER https://www.amazon.com/Husky-74502-Torx-…

NO seriously I have done a ton of electronics projects and getting a torx screwdriver that actually works with most electronics has been a struggle this is the new version of the husky 8-1 I have the old version I believe they are the same. This thing has caught thread on screws where I had given up hope

wobblerlorri - Jan 14, 2015

Reply

I personally wouldn’t try it – I’d just get another phone and have it swapped onto my account. And then I’d stop doing whatever I’d done to break the first one.

Brn Mace - Jun 11, 2016

You should leave ifixit to the qualified. Just stick to Best Buy, kid.

Ohhh Ziiingg so hot it burns!