Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

14

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour            

Sections

6

  • SIM Card
  • 2 steps
  • Back Cover
  • 1 step
  • Midframe
  • 2 steps
  • Battery
  • 3 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 5 steps
  • Headphone Jack
  • 1 step

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1

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Introduction

I made do with just the above tools, but my instructions use the ideal tools should you have them.

I also replaced the rear camera at the same time, by following the excellent guide for that component.

What you need

Step 1

              SIM Card               
  • Power off the device by holding the power button until the “Power Off” popup appears. Tap the popup and wait for the device to turn off.
  • Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paper clip into the hole next to the SIM card slot, which is located just under the power button. Do not force the paper clip if it is too thick; instead use the head of a sewing needle.
  • Push the tool into the hole until you see the card pop out.

Power off the device by holding the power button until the “Power Off” popup appears. Tap the popup and wait for the device to turn off.

Insert a SIM card eject tool or a paper clip into the hole next to the SIM card slot, which is located just under the power button. Do not force the paper clip if it is too thick; instead use the head of a sewing needle.

Push the tool into the hole until you see the card pop out.

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Step 2

  • Gently remove the SIM card with your fingers, or a pair of tweezers if the SIM holder does not fully eject.
  • Make sure the chip is facing the rear of the phone when reinserting the SIM card.

Gently remove the SIM card with your fingers, or a pair of tweezers if the SIM holder does not fully eject.

Make sure the chip is facing the rear of the phone when reinserting the SIM card.

Step 3

              Back Cover               
  • Use a plastic opening tool to free the clips on the top and each side of the back cover.
  • The bottom is secured with some adhesive foam. You should be able to finally free the back cover using an opening pick. The “snaps” at the bottom edge are more like hinges, so release all others then swing the back cover off outward from the top, and these fasteners will release without breaking.
  • It’s best to avoid prying around the SIM card slot and volume controls, as the plastic in these areas is very thin and likely to break from prying.
  • When you replace the cover, there is a snap about even with the flash window that must also be attached (one of three that secure the back cover to the midframe). Qi (wireless) charging may not work if this isn’t secure. Apply gentle but firm pressure over the “S” in “Nexus” and slide your thumb up towards the top, and the snap will engage.

Use a plastic opening tool to free the clips on the top and each side of the back cover.

The bottom is secured with some adhesive foam. You should be able to finally free the back cover using an opening pick. The “snaps” at the bottom edge are more like hinges, so release all others then swing the back cover off outward from the top, and these fasteners will release without breaking.

It’s best to avoid prying around the SIM card slot and volume controls, as the plastic in these areas is very thin and likely to break from prying.

When you replace the cover, there is a snap about even with the flash window that must also be attached (one of three that secure the back cover to the midframe). Qi (wireless) charging may not work if this isn’t secure. Apply gentle but firm pressure over the “S” in “Nexus” and slide your thumb up towards the top, and the snap will engage.

Step 4

              Midframe               
  • Remove the six 4.0 mm Phillips #00 screws that secure the midframe to the phone.
  • Ensure you retain all six of the 4.0mm screws! These hold the midframe securely and closely to the motherboard. The three small snaps on the back cover that attach to the midframe ensure the NFC antenna and wireless charging coil connectors contact securely with the motherboard, and work reliably.
  • To replace the LCD screen and digitizer, remove the additional four 4.0mm daughterboard cover screws with the same screwdriver. You may have to pierce through clear adhesive material to remove them.

Remove the six 4.0 mm Phillips #00 screws that secure the midframe to the phone.

Ensure you retain all six of the 4.0mm screws! These hold the midframe securely and closely to the motherboard. The three small snaps on the back cover that attach to the midframe ensure the NFC antenna and wireless charging coil connectors contact securely with the motherboard, and work reliably.

To replace the LCD screen and digitizer, remove the additional four 4.0mm daughterboard cover screws with the same screwdriver. You may have to pierce through clear adhesive material to remove them.

Step 5

  • Remove the midframe from the phone.
  • Examine the midframe and the back cover and you’ll find three very small snap attachment points for the back to the midframe. These ensure that the NFC and wireless charging antenna contacts connect with the corresponding spring connectors on the motherboard. Ensure the snaps are in good condition.

Remove the midframe from the phone.

Examine the midframe and the back cover and you’ll find three very small snap attachment points for the back to the midframe. These ensure that the NFC and wireless charging antenna contacts connect with the corresponding spring connectors on the motherboard. Ensure the snaps are in good condition.

Step 6

              Battery               
  • Use the flat end of a nylon spudger to disconnect the battery connector.

Use the flat end of a nylon spudger to disconnect the battery connector.

Step 7

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the daughterboard ribbon cable and pull it away from the battery.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the daughterboard ribbon cable and pull it away from the battery.

Step 8

  • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the battery out of its housing.
  • You may need to use a heat gun to apply a small amount of heat to soften the adhesive below the battery.
  • Do not puncture or bend the battery.
  • If replacing the battery, bag the old battery up and recycle responsibly at a suitable location.

Use a plastic opening tool to pry the battery out of its housing.

You may need to use a heat gun to apply a small amount of heat to soften the adhesive below the battery.

Do not puncture or bend the battery.

If replacing the battery, bag the old battery up and recycle responsibly at a suitable location.

Step 9

              Motherboard               
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the left antenna cable.

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

Step 10

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the right antenna cable.
  • These must be firmly secured during reassembly. Failure to secure the antenna connections will affect your reception and call quality.

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

These must be firmly secured during reassembly. Failure to secure the antenna connections will affect your reception and call quality.

Step 11

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable that connects rear-facing camera to the motherboard.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable that connects rear-facing camera to the motherboard.

Step 12

  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the front camera ribbon cable.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the front camera ribbon cable.

Step 13

  • Gently lift the motherboard up and out of the device.

Gently lift the motherboard up and out of the device.

Step 14

              Remove the Headphone Jack               
  • In this image, the motherboard has been removed. This is NOT required as part of this guide.
  • Use a spudger or tweezers to pull the headphone jack upward and out of the phone.
  • The headphone jack is secured by the spring tension of its contacts to the motherboard.
  • It is also secured by adhesive below it.
  • Place the new headphone jack by orienting it like the old one and pressing it gently down into the phone.
  • It is a snug fit due to the tension of its sprung contacts.

In this image, the motherboard has been removed. This is NOT required as part of this guide.

Use a spudger or tweezers to pull the headphone jack upward and out of the phone.

The headphone jack is secured by the spring tension of its contacts to the motherboard.

It is also secured by adhesive below it.

Place the new headphone jack by orienting it like the old one and pressing it gently down into the phone.

It is a snug fit due to the tension of its sprung contacts.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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