Google Pixel 3 Front Facing Cameras Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Back Cover
11 steps
Google Pixel 3 Battery Disconnect
3 steps
Front-Facing Cameras
5 steps

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Introduction

Follow this guide to remove and replace the front-facing selfie cameras for the Pixel 3. The cameras are modular and can be individually replaced.

When looking at the display, the wide-angle camera is on the left, while the normal angle camera is on the right.

This guide is also part of the motherboard removal guide and contains references related to motherboard removal.

What you need

Step 1

              Weaken the back cover's adhesive

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom of the phone for one minute.

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom of the phone for one minute.

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Step 2

              Create a gap in the seam

Apply a suction cup to the heated bottom edge of the back cover.
Make sure you did not mistake the screen side for the back cover side.
If your back cover is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere.
Lift on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.
Depending on how aged your phone is, this may take significant force. If you are having trouble, apply more heat and try again.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Don’t use metal tools to pry, or you’ll mar or shatter the glass back cover. If the panel won’t budge, apply more heat, either with a hair dryer or heat gun.

Apply a suction cup to the heated bottom edge of the back cover.

Make sure you did not mistake the screen side for the back cover side.

If your back cover is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere.

Lift on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.

Depending on how aged your phone is, this may take significant force. If you are having trouble, apply more heat and try again.

Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Don’t use metal tools to pry, or you’ll mar or shatter the glass back cover. If the panel won’t budge, apply more heat, either with a hair dryer or heat gun.

Step 3

When inserting an opening pick above the power button, be careful not to insert the pick too deeply, or you will damage the fingerprint sensor cable.

When inserting an opening pick above the power button, be careful not to insert the pick too deeply, or you will damage the fingerprint sensor cable.

Step 4

              Cut through the adhesive

Slice the adhesive along the bottom edge of the phone and around the right corner.
Leave a pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Slice the adhesive along the bottom edge of the phone and around the right corner.

Leave a pick in the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 5

Heat the right edge with an iOpener and continue slicing the adhesive with an opening pick.
The adhesive can be very gummy. Push the pick in and out in a sawing motion to help with slicing.

Heat the right edge with an iOpener and continue slicing the adhesive with an opening pick.

The adhesive can be very gummy. Push the pick in and out in a sawing motion to help with slicing.

Step 6

Continue heating and slicing through the rest of the phone perimeter. Leave a pick in each edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
When slicing above the power button, do not insert the pick more than halfway in to avoid damaging the fingerprint sensor cable.

Continue heating and slicing through the rest of the phone perimeter. Leave a pick in each edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

When slicing above the power button, do not insert the pick more than halfway in to avoid damaging the fingerprint sensor cable.

Step 7

              Lift the left edge of the back cover

Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the left edge of the back cover.
Do not attempt to remove the back cover. It is still attached to the phone by the fingerprint sensor cable.
Flip the back cover along its long axis and rest it so that the fingerprint sensor cable is not strained.

Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the left edge of the back cover.

Do not attempt to remove the back cover. It is still attached to the phone by the fingerprint sensor cable.

Flip the back cover along its long axis and rest it so that the fingerprint sensor cable is not strained.

Step 8

              Remove the screws

Remove the two 4.1 mm-long Phillips screws securing the fingerprint connector bracket.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
During reassembly, be careful not to over-tighten these screws, or you may damage your display.

Remove the two 4.1 mm-long Phillips screws securing the fingerprint connector bracket.

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

During reassembly, be careful not to over-tighten these screws, or you may damage your display.

Step 9

              Remove the fingerprint connector bracket

Use the point of a spudger to slide the fingerprint connector bracket out from under the NFC coil.
Remove the fingerprint connector bracket.

Use the point of a spudger to slide the fingerprint connector bracket out from under the NFC coil.

Remove the fingerprint connector bracket.

Step 10

              Disconnect the fingerprint connector

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint connector from its socket.
When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint connector from its socket.

When you disconnect connectors like these, be careful not to dislodge the small surface-mounted components surrounding the socket.

To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 11

              Remove the back cover

Remove the back cover.
Before you install a replacement back cover, be sure to remove all adhesive residue from the phone frame. Use an opening tool to scrape and high concentration isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface.
If you are re-using the back cover, be sure to clean off any adhesive, and apply new back cover adhesive.
If you are installing a replacement back cover, be sure to compare it with the original part. Transfer any remaining parts (such as the flash diffuser) over to your replacement part.
Follow this guide to correctly apply new back cover adhesive.

Remove the back cover.

Before you install a replacement back cover, be sure to remove all adhesive residue from the phone frame. Use an opening tool to scrape and high concentration isopropyl alcohol to clean the surface.

If you are re-using the back cover, be sure to clean off any adhesive, and apply new back cover adhesive.

If you are installing a replacement back cover, be sure to compare it with the original part. Transfer any remaining parts (such as the flash diffuser) over to your replacement part.

Follow this guide to correctly apply new back cover adhesive.

Step 12

              Remove the screws

Remove the five Phillips screws securing the wireless charging coil:
Two 1.9 mm screws
Two 4.2 mm screws
One 4.3 mm screw

Remove the five Phillips screws securing the wireless charging coil:

Two 1.9 mm screws

Two 4.2 mm screws

One 4.3 mm screw

Step 13

              Remove the charging coil

Lift up and remove the wireless charging coil.

Lift up and remove the wireless charging coil.

Step 14

              Disconnect the battery cable

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector from its socket near the right edge of the phone.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery press connector from its socket near the right edge of the phone.

Step 15

              Remove the screws

Remove the two screws securing the camera bracket:
One 4.1 mm Phillips screw
One 4 mm standoff screw
Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff bit. In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.
Remove the camera bracket.

Remove the two screws securing the camera bracket:

One 4.1 mm Phillips screw

One 4 mm standoff screw

Standoff screws are best removed using a standoff bit. In a pinch, a small flathead screwdriver will do the job—but use extra caution to ensure it doesn’t slip and damage surrounding components.

Remove the camera bracket.

Step 16

              Identify the cameras

If you are replacing front-facing cameras, determine which one you need to replace:
Normal view camera
Wide-angle camera
If you are doing the motherboard removal procedure, you will need to remove both cameras.

If you are replacing front-facing cameras, determine which one you need to replace:

Normal view camera

Wide-angle camera

If you are doing the motherboard removal procedure, you will need to remove both cameras.

Step 17

              Disconnect the camera(s)

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the connector for the camera(s) you are replacing.

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the connector for the camera(s) you are replacing.

Step 18

              Loosen the camera(s)

The cameras are held in place with adhesive.
Insert the point of a spudger behind the edge of the camera module and pry up to loosen it from the frame.

The cameras are held in place with adhesive.

Insert the point of a spudger behind the edge of the camera module and pry up to loosen it from the frame.

Step 19

              Remove the camera(s)

Use a pair of blunt nose tweezers to remove the camera(s).
If the adhesive holding the camera module is in good condition, you can re-use the adhesive. Otherwise, replace the adhesive with double-sided Tesa tape.
When installing a replacement camera module, make sure that the phone frame lens are free of adhesive residue or debris.

Use a pair of blunt nose tweezers to remove the camera(s).

If the adhesive holding the camera module is in good condition, you can re-use the adhesive. Otherwise, replace the adhesive with double-sided Tesa tape.

When installing a replacement camera module, make sure that the phone frame lens are free of adhesive residue or debris.

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Google Pixel 3 Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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Author

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                    Arthur Shi

Member since: 01/03/2018

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Ashley Gibbon - Mar 29, 2021

There is only 1 front facing camera on a Pixel 3

David Martel - Mar 29, 2021

Pixel 3 have two front facing cameras but Pixel 3a has only one.

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team