Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

30

Time Required

                          20 - 45 minutes

Sections

3

  • SIM Card Tray
  • 1 step
  • Back Panel
  • 20 steps
  • Front Camera and Sensor Assembly
  • 9 steps

Flags

0

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Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace the front camera and sensors on your Google Pixel 4 XL.

Caution: Google warns that further disassembly of this front laser assembly could result in hazardous exposure to invisible infrared laser emissions. Read their safety warnings here.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove the SIM card tray
  • Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or a straightened paper clip into the small hole on the SIM card tray on the left edge of the phone.
  • Press firmly to eject the tray.
  • Remove the SIM card tray.

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or a straightened paper clip into the small hole on the SIM card tray on the left edge of the phone.

Press firmly to eject the tray.

Remove the SIM card tray.

1024

Step 2

              Heat the back panel glass
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the back panel for one minute.
  • 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.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the back panel for one minute.

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 3

              Apply a suction cup
  • Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back panel by pressing down on it to create suction, as close to the edge as possible.
  • If your back glass is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken panel.

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back panel by pressing down on it to create suction, as close to the edge as possible.

If your back glass is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction cup to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction cup. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken panel.

Step 4

              Insert an opening pick
  • Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back panel and the frame.
  • Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
  • Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back panel and the frame.

Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 5

              Begin to slice the adhesive
  • Slide the opening pick across the bottom towards the left corner to slice the adhesive.
  • With the pick still inserted, slide it from the bottom left corner over to the bottom right corner to completely slice the bottom side adhesive.
  • Leave the pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Slide the opening pick across the bottom towards the left corner to slice the adhesive.

With the pick still inserted, slide it from the bottom left corner over to the bottom right corner to completely slice the bottom side adhesive.

Leave the pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 6

              Slice the lefthand-side adhesive
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the left edge of the phone for one minute.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the left edge of the phone for one minute.

Step 7

  • Insert a second opening pick underneath the back panel directly over the charge port.
  • Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner of the phone.

Insert a second opening pick underneath the back panel directly over the charge port.

Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner of the phone.

Step 8

  • Slide the opening pick around the bottom left corner and across the left side of the phone to slice the adhesive.
  • The adhesive can be very gummy. Push the pick in and out in a sawing motion to help with slicing.
  • Stop when you reach the top left corner, near the camera, and leave the pick inserted.

Slide the opening pick around the bottom left corner and across the left side of the phone to slice the adhesive.

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

Stop when you reach the top left corner, near the camera, and leave the pick inserted.

Step 9

              Slice righthand-side adhesive
  • Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the right edge of the phone for one minute.

Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the right edge of the phone for one minute.

Step 10

  • With the first two opening picks still in place, insert a third pick on the lower part of the righthand side.
  • Slide the opening pick up towards the top of the phone, slicing the right side’s adhesive.
  • Stop when you reach the top right corner, and leave the pick inserted.

With the first two opening picks still in place, insert a third pick on the lower part of the righthand side.

Slide the opening pick up towards the top of the phone, slicing the right side’s adhesive.

Stop when you reach the top right corner, and leave the pick inserted.

Step 11

              Slice the top-side adhesive
  • Slide the third opening pick around the top right corner and across the top side of the phone, slicing the final strip of adhesive.

Slide the third opening pick around the top right corner and across the top side of the phone, slicing the final strip of adhesive.

Step 12

              Lift up the back panel
  • Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the right edge of the back cover, opening it like a book.
  • Do not try to pull the panel all the way off yet, as it is still connected to the phone.

Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the right edge of the back cover, opening it like a book.

Do not try to pull the panel all the way off yet, as it is still connected to the phone.

Step 13

  • Continue swinging open the back panel until you can rest it on the left edge the phone, being careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cable.
  • During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

Continue swinging open the back panel until you can rest it on the left edge the phone, being careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cable.

During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

Step 14

              Disconnect the battery
  • Remove the four T3 Torx screws securing the battery connector shield:
  • One 1.8 mm screw
  • One 4.1 mm screw
  • One 4.4 mm shouldered screw
  • One 4.0 mm shouldered screw
  • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Remove the four T3 Torx screws securing the battery connector shield:

One 1.8 mm screw

One 4.1 mm screw

One 4.4 mm shouldered screw

One 4.0 mm shouldered screw

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

Step 15

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the battery connector shield.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the battery connector shield.

Step 16

  • Whenever you use the spudger near the battery, be very careful not to puncture the battery.
  • Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard to disconnect the battery.
  • 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.

Whenever you use the spudger near the battery, be very careful not to puncture the battery.

Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard to disconnect the battery.

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 17

  • Using the flat end of a spudger, gently fold the battery cable over so it doesn’t accidentally make contact during the rest of your repairs.

Using the flat end of a spudger, gently fold the battery cable over so it doesn’t accidentally make contact during the rest of your repairs.

Step 18

              Disconnect the back panel connector
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.1 mm screws securing the back panel connector cover.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.1 mm screws securing the back panel connector cover.

Step 19

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the back panel connector cover.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the back panel connector cover.

Step 20

  • Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry up and disconnect the back panel connector.

Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry up and disconnect the back panel connector.

Step 21

              Remove the back panel
  • Remove the back panel.
  • During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your device.
  • Follow this guide if you are using a pre-cut adhesive card.

Remove the back panel.

During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your device.

Follow this guide if you are using a pre-cut adhesive card.

Step 22

              Remove the camera connector covers
  • Gently pry back the battery adhesive pull tab to allow easier access to the screws underneath it.

Gently pry back the battery adhesive pull tab to allow easier access to the screws underneath it.

Step 23

  • Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the rear-facing camera connector cover:
  • One 2.7 mm screw
  • One 4.1 mm screw
  • One 4.2 mm screw

Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the rear-facing camera connector cover:

One 2.7 mm screw

One 4.2 mm screw

Step 24

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the rear-facing camera connector cover.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the rear-facing camera connector cover.

Step 25

  • Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the front-facing camera connector cover:
  • One 4.1 mm screw
  • One 4.0 mm shouldered screw
  • One 4.1 mm shouldered screw

Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the front-facing camera connector cover:

One 4.1 mm shouldered screw

Step 26

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the front-facing camera connector cover.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the front-facing camera connector cover.

Step 27

              Disconnect the camera and sensor connectors
  • Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the camera and sensor connectors straight up from the motherboard.

Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the camera and sensor connectors straight up from the motherboard.

Step 28

  • Disconnect the additional sensor connector.
  • This cable is secured to the phone with some light adhesive.

Disconnect the additional sensor connector.

This cable is secured to the phone with some light adhesive.

Step 29

              Remove the front camera and sensor assembly
  • Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the front camera and sensor assembly:
  • Two 2.7 mm screws
  • One 3.1 mm screw

Remove the three T3 Torx screws securing the front camera and sensor assembly:

Two 2.7 mm screws

One 3.1 mm screw

Step 30

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the front camera and sensor assembly.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the front camera and sensor assembly.

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 the above steps 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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                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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