Google Pixel 4A 5G Fingerprint Sensor Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

SIM Card Tray
1 step
Screen
15 steps
Battery Disconnect
7 steps
Back Cover
3 steps
Fingerprint Sensor
4 steps

Flags

BackGoogle Pixel 4a 5G
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Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the fingerprint sensor on a Google Pixel 4a 5G.

The unreinforced display panel on the Pixel 4a 5G is fragile. Pay special attention to the warnings in the opening procedure if you are reusing the screen.

If you replace the fingerprint sensor, recalibrate the reader to maintain its functionality.

What you need

Step 1

              Eject the SIM card tray

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM tray hole.
Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.
Remove the SIM card tray.

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM tray hole.

Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.

Remove the SIM card tray.

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Step 2

              Precautionary Notes

You will need to pry the screen up to remove it from the phone. Read the following notes carefully before proceeding.
Take note of the two seams on the edge of your phone:
Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. This is where you have to pry.
Frame seam: This is where the plastic frame meets the back cover. It is held in place by screws. Do not pry at this seam.
Before you begin, note the following areas on the screen:
Screen flex cable: Do not insert the opening pick deeper than instructed or you risk damaging this cable.
Adhesive perimeter: Prying beyond this narrow perimeter without angling the pick will damage the OLED panel.

You will need to pry the screen up to remove it from the phone. Read the following notes carefully before proceeding.

Take note of the two seams on the edge of your phone:

Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. This is where you have to pry.

Frame seam: This is where the plastic frame meets the back cover. It is held in place by screws. Do not pry at this seam.

Before you begin, note the following areas on the screen:

Screen flex cable: Do not insert the opening pick deeper than instructed or you risk damaging this cable.

Adhesive perimeter: Prying beyond this narrow perimeter without angling the pick will damage the OLED panel.

Step 3

              Heat the right edge of the screen

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for one minute to soften the adhesive.
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.

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for one minute to soften the adhesive.

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 4

              Insert an opening pick

If your display 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 screen.
Place a suction cup as close to the right edge of the screen as possible.
Lift the suction cup with a strong steady force.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the screen seam no more than 1 mm.

If your display 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 screen.

Place a suction cup as close to the right edge of the screen as possible.

Lift the suction cup with a strong steady force.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the screen seam no more than 1 mm.

Step 5

              Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel

This step shows how to insert your pick without damaging the OLED panel. Do this before slicing the adhesive.
With the pick 1 mm into the gap, pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle.
At a steep angle, carefully push the pick into the gap about 1/4 inch (6 mm). The pick should slide in below the OLED panel.
Stop if you feel the point of the pick hitting a ridge. The pick may be pressing against the edge of the OLED panel. Angle the pick and try again.

This step shows how to insert your pick without damaging the OLED panel. Do this before slicing the adhesive.

With the pick 1 mm into the gap, pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle.

At a steep angle, carefully push the pick into the gap about 1/4 inch (6 mm). The pick should slide in below the OLED panel.

Stop if you feel the point of the pick hitting a ridge. The pick may be pressing against the edge of the OLED panel. Angle the pick and try again.

Step 6

              Slice through the display adhesive

Slide the pick along the right edge of the screen to cut the adhesive.
Do not insert the pick more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) or you may damage the screen’s flex cable.
Leave the pick in the bottom-right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Slide the pick along the right edge of the screen to cut the adhesive.

Do not insert the pick more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) or you may damage the screen’s flex cable.

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

Step 7

There’s a mesh covering the earpiece speaker on the top edge of the screen. If you don’t have a replacement mesh, take care not to damage or lose this component.
The screen adhesive is weak, so you should not need to re-apply heat. If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.
Insert another opening pick into the right edge of the phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.
Slide the opening pick around the top of the phone to cut the adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted along the top edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

There’s a mesh covering the earpiece speaker on the top edge of the screen. If you don’t have a replacement mesh, take care not to damage or lose this component.

The screen adhesive is weak, so you should not need to re-apply heat. If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.

Insert another opening pick into the right edge of the phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.

Slide the opening pick around the top of the phone to cut the adhesive.

Leave the pick inserted along the top edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 8

Insert another opening pick into the top edge of your phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.
Use the pick to slice around the top-left corner where the camera window is.
If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.
Leave the pick inserted along the left edge of your phone to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Insert another opening pick into the top edge of your phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.

Use the pick to slice around the top-left corner where the camera window is.

If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.

Leave the pick inserted along the left edge of your phone to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 9

Slide the opening pick to cut the adhesive along the left edge of your phone.
If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.
Keep in mind that you are now slicing near the screen flex cable and digitizer.

Slide the opening pick to cut the adhesive along the left edge of your phone.

Keep in mind that you are now slicing near the screen flex cable and digitizer.

Step 10

Slide the opening pick around the bottom-left corner and across the bottom of the display to cut the rest of the adhesive.
If the screen is hard to slice, apply heat to the difficult area for one minute and try again.
Keep in mind that you are now slicing near the screen flex cable and digitizer.

Slide the opening pick around the bottom-left corner and across the bottom of the display to cut the rest of the adhesive.

Step 11

Once you have cut around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the right edge of the screen, partially opening the phone like a book.
Do not remove the screen yet.
Use an opening pick to carefully cut through any remaining adhesive.

Once you have cut around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the right edge of the screen, partially opening the phone like a book.

Do not remove the screen yet.

Use an opening pick to carefully cut through any remaining adhesive.

Step 12

              Flip the screen over

Lift from the top edge and swing the screen over the bottom edge until you can rest it glass-side down.
Be careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cable.

Lift from the top edge and swing the screen over the bottom edge until you can rest it glass-side down.

Be careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cable.

Step 13

              Disconnect the display

Use your fingernail or a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the screen connector.
If it is in good condition, you can re-use this tape during reassembly. Otherwise, replace it with a piece of Kapton tape.

Use your fingernail or a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the screen connector.

If it is in good condition, you can re-use this tape during reassembly. Otherwise, replace it with a piece of Kapton tape.

Step 14

Insert the tip of a spudger into the opening of the plastic cover securing the screen flex cable.
Pry the plastic cover straight up until it pops out of place.
The plastic cover may spring into the air.
Remove the plastic cover.

Insert the tip of a spudger into the opening of the plastic cover securing the screen flex cable.

Pry the plastic cover straight up until it pops out of place.

The plastic cover may spring into the air.

Remove the plastic cover.

Step 15

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.
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 tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.

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

Remove the screen.
Compare your replacement screen with the original. You may need to transfer additional components (such as the speaker mesh to the new part).
To install the new screen:
Follow this guide if you are using custom-cut adhesives.
If you are using double-sided tape such as Tesa tape, follow this guide.
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.

Remove the screen.

Compare your replacement screen with the original. You may need to transfer additional components (such as the speaker mesh to the new part).

To install the new screen:

Follow this guide if you are using custom-cut adhesives.

If you are using double-sided tape such as Tesa tape, follow this guide.

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 17

              Remove the midframe screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine 4.4 mm-long screws securing the back cover to the midframe.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine 4.4 mm-long screws securing the back cover to the midframe.

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

Step 18

              Separate the back cover from the midframe

Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover, right above the SIM card slot.
Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover, right above the SIM card slot.

Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Step 19

Continue sliding the opening pick along the top, left, and bottom edges of your phone until all of the plastic tabs securing the back cover to the midframe are released.

Continue sliding the opening pick along the top, left, and bottom edges of your phone until all of the plastic tabs securing the back cover to the midframe are released.

Step 20

Flip your phone over so the back cover is facing up.
Carefully swing the back cover up to an upright position.
Do not remove the back cover. It is still attached by two ribbon cables.
Rest the back cover against an object such as a cardboard box or soda can.

Flip your phone over so the back cover is facing up.

Carefully swing the back cover up to an upright position.

Do not remove the back cover. It is still attached by two ribbon cables.

Rest the back cover against an object such as a cardboard box or soda can.

Step 21

              Remove the motherboard bracket

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard bracket:
Four 4.0 mm-long screws
Three 2.1 mm-long screws

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard bracket:

Four 4.0 mm-long screws

Three 2.1 mm-long screws

Step 22

Remove the motherboard bracket.

Remove the motherboard bracket.

Step 23

              Disconnect the battery

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard.

Step 24

              Remove the back cover

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint sensor cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint sensor cable.

Step 25

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front sensor array cable.

Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front sensor array cable.

Step 26

Remove the back cover.

Remove the back cover.

Step 27

              Apply heat to the fingerprint sensor

Use an iOpener or heat gun to apply heat for one minute to the outside of the back cover around the fingerprint sensor to soften the adhesive.

Use an iOpener or heat gun to apply heat for one minute to the outside of the back cover around the fingerprint sensor to soften the adhesive.

Step 28

              Remove the fingerprint sensor

Use your finger to push the fingerprint sensor through the back cover until it begins to separate.

Use your finger to push the fingerprint sensor through the back cover until it begins to separate.

Step 29

Slide an opening pick underneath the fingerprint sensor cable to remove them from the back cover.
If you are unable to remove the cables, apply more heat to the outside of the back cover for one minute and try again.

Slide an opening pick underneath the fingerprint sensor cable to remove them from the back cover.

If you are unable to remove the cables, apply more heat to the outside of the back cover for one minute and try again.

Step 30

Remove the fingerprint sensor.

Remove the fingerprint sensor.

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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                    Sam Omiotek

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