Google Pixel 3A Xl Rear Facing Camera Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

Screen
17 steps
Midframe
6 steps
Battery Disconnect
1 step
Rear-Facing Camera
2 steps

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Introduction

This guide will show you how to remove and replace the main (rear-facing) camera of a Google Pixel 3a XL.

The Pixel 3a XL’s display panel is fragile. If you plan to reuse your screen after this repair, be sure to pay special attention to the warnings in the opening procedure.

What you need

Step 1

              Screen

In the following steps, you will be removing the Pixel 3a’s screen by cutting through the adhesive holding it in place.
For reference, the backside of the screen is shown in this step.
Note the narrow clearance between the edge of the screen and the OLED panel under the glass. If you plan to re-use your screen, be sure to follow the instructions below closely.
Also note the two different seams between the body of the phone and the screen:
The screen seam: where the screen meets the rest of the phone. This is where the screen will separate, and where you should pry.
The midframe seam: where the midframe meets the body of the phone. This part is held down by screws. Do not pry at this seam.

In the following steps, you will be removing the Pixel 3a’s screen by cutting through the adhesive holding it in place.

For reference, the backside of the screen is shown in this step.

Note the narrow clearance between the edge of the screen and the OLED panel under the glass. If you plan to re-use your screen, be sure to follow the instructions below closely.

Also note the two different seams between the body of the phone and the screen:

The screen seam: where the screen meets the rest of the phone. This is where the screen will separate, and where you should pry.

The midframe seam: where the midframe meets the body of the phone. This part is held down by screws. Do not pry at this seam.

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Step 2

Place a suction cup on the right edge of the screen, just below the volume button.

Place a suction cup on the right edge of the screen, just below the volume button.

Step 3

In the next step you will insert an opening pick between the screen and the plastic body of the phone.
If you aren’t careful, the plastic opening tool can damage the fragile OLED display panel underneath the glass.
If you want to re-use your phone’s screen, make sure you insert your pick at a downward angle, as shown in the second photo of this step.
This will ensure the opening pick slides under the OLED panel rather than between the glass and the panel, which will ruin the screen.

In the next step you will insert an opening pick between the screen and the plastic body of the phone.

If you aren’t careful, the plastic opening tool can damage the fragile OLED display panel underneath the glass.

If you want to re-use your phone’s screen, make sure you insert your pick at a downward angle, as shown in the second photo of this step.

This will ensure the opening pick slides under the OLED panel rather than between the glass and the panel, which will ruin the screen.

Step 4

Pull up on the suction cup with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and the phone.
Insert your opening pick into the gap.
Stop if you feel the tip of the pick hitting against something. The pick may be pressing against the edge of the OLED panel. Angle the pick downward and try again.
Once you have inserted an opening pick, you can remove the suction cup.

Pull up on the suction cup with a strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and the phone.

Insert your opening pick into the gap.

Stop if you feel the tip of the pick hitting against something. The pick may be pressing against the edge of the OLED panel. Angle the pick downward and try again.

Once you have inserted an opening pick, you can remove the suction cup.

Step 5

Once the pick is inserted, slide it up and down along the right edge of the phone to cut though the adhesive holding the screen in place.

Once the pick is inserted, slide it up and down along the right edge of the phone to cut though the adhesive holding the screen in place.

Step 6

The adhesive holding the top and bottom edges of the screen in place is thicker, and considerably stronger than the thin strips holding the sides in place.
If you plan to reuse your screen, heat up the top edge of the phone with an iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive there before you begin slicing.

The adhesive holding the top and bottom edges of the screen in place is thicker, and considerably stronger than the thin strips holding the sides in place.

If you plan to reuse your screen, heat up the top edge of the phone with an iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive there before you begin slicing.

Step 7

Carefully slide your opening pick around the upper-right-hand corner of the screen.
As shown in step one, the gap between the display and the edge of the glass screen is larger here than on the sides.
If you plan to reuse your screen, take special care in this step to either keep your pick deep in the phone under the OLED display (as shown in this step’s photos), or only insert it 5 mm into the device to avoid coming into contact with the display under the glass.

Carefully slide your opening pick around the upper-right-hand corner of the screen.

As shown in step one, the gap between the display and the edge of the glass screen is larger here than on the sides.

If you plan to reuse your screen, take special care in this step to either keep your pick deep in the phone under the OLED display (as shown in this step’s photos), or only insert it 5 mm into the device to avoid coming into contact with the display under the glass.

Step 8

Continue to separate the adhesive along the top edge of the display.
As you slice along this edge, you may bump into the camera and proximity sensor housed here. Don’t pry aggressively, just work around them.

Continue to separate the adhesive along the top edge of the display.

As you slice along this edge, you may bump into the camera and proximity sensor housed here. Don’t pry aggressively, just work around them.

Step 9

Slide your opening pick down the left side of the phone to separate the adhesive there.

Slide your opening pick down the left side of the phone to separate the adhesive there.

Step 10

The adhesive holding the bottom edge of the screen in place is thicker, and considerably stronger than the thin strips holding the sides in place.
If you plan to reuse your screen, heat up the bottom edge of the phone with an iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive there before you begin slicing.

The adhesive holding the bottom edge of the screen in place is thicker, and considerably stronger than the thin strips holding the sides in place.

If you plan to reuse your screen, heat up the bottom edge of the phone with an iOpener, a heat gun, or a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive there before you begin slicing.

Step 11

Slide your opening pick along the bottom edge of the phone to separate the last of the adhesive holding the screen in place.
As shown in step one, the gap between the display and the edge of the screen is larger here than on the sides.
If you plan to reuse your screen, take special care in this step to either keep your pick deep in the phone under the OLED display (as shown in this step’s photos), or only insert it 5 mm into the device to avoid coming into contact with the display under the glass.
Don’t try to remove the screen yet! It is still connected to the phone by a display cable.

Slide your opening pick along the bottom edge of the phone to separate the last of the adhesive holding the screen in place.

As shown in step one, the gap between the display and the edge of the screen is larger here than on the sides.

Don’t try to remove the screen yet! It is still connected to the phone by a display cable.

Step 12

Lift the screen by its top edge (where the front-facing camera is) and carefully flip it 180° so that the screen is resting face-down on the phone.
If you plan to reuse your screen, be careful not to stress the display cable during this step.

Lift the screen by its top edge (where the front-facing camera is) and carefully flip it 180° so that the screen is resting face-down on the phone.

If you plan to reuse your screen, be careful not to stress the display cable during this step.

Step 13

Use tweezers to remove the black sticker covering the display cable bracket.
If the sticker is in good condition, you can reuse it during reassembly. Otherwise, you can replace it with a piece of electrical tape.

Use tweezers to remove the black sticker covering the display cable bracket.

If the sticker is in good condition, you can reuse it during reassembly. Otherwise, you can replace it with a piece of electrical tape.

Step 14

Remove the two 4.3mm T3 screws holding the display cable bracket in place.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Remove the two 4.3mm T3 screws holding the display cable bracket in place.

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

Step 15

Remove the display cable bracket.
Pry up on the cable connector with the pointy end of a spudger to disconnect the screen from the phone.
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.

Remove the display cable bracket.

Pry up on the cable connector with the pointy end of a spudger to disconnect the screen from the phone.

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 16

Remove the screen from the phone.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part. You may need to transfer remaining components such as the speaker grille and the camera bracket to the new part.

Remove the screen from the phone.

Compare your new replacement part to the original part. You may need to transfer remaining components such as the speaker grille and the camera bracket to the new part.

Step 17

To reinstall the screen:
Use tweezers or an opening tool to remove all traces of adhesive from the phone frame. You can use high concentration isopropyl alcohol to help with the cleaning.
If you plan to re-use the screen, be sure to remove all adhesive residue from the screen. Be careful with metal tools to avoid scratching the screen.
Apply pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape (such as Tesa tape) to re-attach the screen to the frame.
During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Do not touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

To reinstall the screen:

Use tweezers or an opening tool to remove all traces of adhesive from the phone frame. You can use high concentration isopropyl alcohol to help with the cleaning.

If you plan to re-use the screen, be sure to remove all adhesive residue from the screen. Be careful with metal tools to avoid scratching the screen.

Apply pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape (such as Tesa tape) to re-attach the screen to the frame.

During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Do not touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

Step 18

              Midframe

Remove the following 4.3mm screws:
14 silver T3 screws
2 black T3 screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Remove the following 4.3mm screws:

14 silver T3 screws

2 black T3 screws

Step 19

The midframe is still held in place by plastic clips.
Insert an opening pick into the seam along the bottom of the phone.
Slide the pick along the seam to release the clips holding the midframe to the rest of the phone.

The midframe is still held in place by plastic clips.

Insert an opening pick into the seam along the bottom of the phone.

Slide the pick along the seam to release the clips holding the midframe to the rest of the phone.

Step 20

Slide the opening pick along the left and right edges of the phone to release the midframe clips there.
Once the clips along the bottom of the phone are separated, the flat edge of the opening pick should be enough to separate the rest of the clips.
Lift up the bottom edge of the midframe but don’t completely remove it yet. The midframe is still connected to the phone by a fragile cable.

Slide the opening pick along the left and right edges of the phone to release the midframe clips there.

Once the clips along the bottom of the phone are separated, the flat edge of the opening pick should be enough to separate the rest of the clips.

Lift up the bottom edge of the midframe but don’t completely remove it yet. The midframe is still connected to the phone by a fragile cable.

Step 21

Use a spudger to pry up and detach the proximity sensor cable from the motherboard.

Use a spudger to pry up and detach the proximity sensor cable from the motherboard.

Step 22

Remove the midframe from the phone.

Remove the midframe from the phone.

Step 23

During reassembly, align the top edge of the midframe with the top of the phone, then use a spudger to carefully press the proximity sensor cable connector onto its socket.
This takes a bit of patience and finesse. Once you have the connector aligned, you can also use a finger to gently press the connector onto the socket.

During reassembly, align the top edge of the midframe with the top of the phone, then use a spudger to carefully press the proximity sensor cable connector onto its socket.

This takes a bit of patience and finesse. Once you have the connector aligned, you can also use a finger to gently press the connector onto the socket.

Step 24

              Battery Disconnect

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery connector.

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery connector.

Step 25

              Rear-Facing Camera

Use the pointy end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the camera cable from the motherboard.

Use the pointy end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the camera cable from the motherboard.

Step 26

Remove the camera from the phone.
If your replacement camera module has a plastic spacer, be sure to remove it before you install the module.
During reassembly, make sure that there is no dust or debris between the camera lens and the clear camera hole in the phone.

Remove the camera from the phone.

If your replacement camera module has a plastic spacer, be sure to remove it before you install the module.

During reassembly, make sure that there is no dust or debris between the camera lens and the clear camera hole in the phone.

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 Google Pixel 3a XL Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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                    Taylor Dixon

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