Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

41

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

8

  • SIM Card Tray
  • 1 step
  • Screen
  • 15 steps
  • Battery Disconnection
  • 9 steps
  • Back Cover
  • 2 steps
  • Headphone Jack
  • 2 steps
  • Front-Facing Camera
  • 2 steps
  • Loudspeaker
  • 4 steps
  • Motherboard
  • 6 steps

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Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the motherboard on a Google Pixel 4a.

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

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.

1024

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 the phone:
  • Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. This is where you should 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.
  • Note the orange ribbon cable under the lower-right corner of the screen, which is susceptible to damage if your opening pick is pressed into it. Only insert your opening pick as little as is necessary to separate the screen adhesive.
  • 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 the phone:

Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. This is where you should 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.

Note the orange ribbon cable under the lower-right corner of the screen, which is susceptible to damage if your opening pick is pressed into it. Only insert your opening pick as little as is necessary to separate the screen adhesive.

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 the pick without damaging the OLED panel. Do this before beginning to slice 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 the pick without damaging the OLED panel. Do this before beginning to slice 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

              Cut the 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 top 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 top right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 7

  • The screen adhesive is very weak and you should not need to re-apply heat. If the screen does feel 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 bottom of the phone to cut the adhesive.
  • There is a delicate cable under the bottom-right corner of the screen. If you feel your opening pick snag on anything, pull it out and try again. Make sure your pick is angled downward and only inserted as little as is necessary to separate the adhesive (no more than 3 mm deep).
  • Leave the pick inserted along the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

The screen adhesive is very weak and you should not need to re-apply heat. If the screen does feel 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 bottom of the phone to cut the adhesive.

There is a delicate cable under the bottom-right corner of the screen. If you feel your opening pick snag on anything, pull it out and try again. Make sure your pick is angled downward and only inserted as little as is necessary to separate the adhesive (no more than 3 mm deep).

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

Step 8

  • Insert another opening pick into the bottom edge of the phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.
  • Use the pick to slice through the left edge of the phone.
  • If the screen feels hard to slice, heat the left edge for one minute and try again.
  • Leave the pick inserted along the left edge of the phone to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

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

Use the pick to slice through the left edge of the phone.

If the screen feels hard to slice, heat the left edge for one minute and try again.

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

Step 9

  • 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.
  • Insert another opening pick into the left edge of the phone at an angle where a gap has already formed to prevent damage to the OLED panel.
  • Slide the pick around the top edge of the phone to cut the adhesive.
  • If the screen feels hard to slice, heat the top edge for one minute and try again.

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.

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

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

If the screen feels hard to slice, heat the top edge for one minute and try again.

Step 10

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

Do not remove the screen yet.

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

Step 11

              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 12

              Disconnect the display
  • Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel up the black tape covering the screen connector bracket.
  • If it is in good condition, you can re-use this tape during reassembly. Otherwise, replace it with a piece of electrical tape.

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel up the black tape covering the screen connector bracket.

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

Step 13

  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.1 mm screws securing the screen connector bracket.
  • 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 two 2.1 mm screws securing the screen connector bracket.

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

Step 14

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the screen connector bracket.
  • Make sure to keep this component to reinstall it during reassembly.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the screen connector bracket.

Make sure to keep this component to reinstall it during reassembly.

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 speaker mesh) to the new part.
  • To install the new screen:
  • Scrape off remaining adhesive from the perimeter of the frame.
  • Follow this guide if you are using custom-cut adhesives.
  • If you are using double-sided tape such as Tesa tape, follow this guide.
  • If you use isopropyl alcohol to clean the adhesive off the display, be sure to not let it splash onto any unintended components, as this can weaken their adhesive bond.
  • 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 speaker mesh) to the new part.

To install the new screen:

Scrape off remaining adhesive from the perimeter of the frame.

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

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

If you use isopropyl alcohol to clean the adhesive off the display, be sure to not let it splash onto any unintended components, as this can weaken their adhesive bond.

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 eight 4.3 mm screws securing the back cover to the midframe.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the eight 4.3 mm screws securing the back cover to the midframe.

Step 18

              Separate the back cover from the midframe
  • Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover.
  • Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge of the 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.

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

Step 19

  • Slide the opening pick around the left edge of the phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Slide the opening pick around the left edge of the phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

Step 20

  • Slide the opening pick around the top and right edges of the phone to release the rest of the clips.

Slide the opening pick around the top and right edges of the phone to release the rest of the clips.

Step 21

  • Carefully swing the back cover from the bottom of the phone over the top and around the back.
  • Lay the back cover on the work surface and lightly rest the midframe on the back cover, being careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cables.

Carefully swing the back cover from the bottom of the phone over the top and around the back.

Lay the back cover on the work surface and lightly rest the midframe on the back cover, being careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cables.

Step 22

              Remove the motherboard bracket
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard bracket:
  • Three 2.9 mm-long black screws
  • Three 2 mm-long screws
  • One 4.1 mm-long screw

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

Three 2.9 mm-long black screws

Three 2 mm-long screws

One 4.1 mm-long screw

Step 23

  • Use the tip of a spudger to unclip the motherboard bracket from the upper-right and lower-right corners of the motherboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to unclip the motherboard bracket from the upper-right and lower-right corners of the motherboard.

Step 24

  • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the motherboard bracket.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the motherboard bracket.

Step 25

              Disconnect the battery
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery cable.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery cable.

Step 26

              Remove the back cover
  • Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the two flex cables connecting the fingerprint sensor and buttons to the motherboard.

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the two flex cables connecting the fingerprint sensor and buttons to the motherboard.

Step 27

  • Remove the back cover.

Remove the back cover.

Step 28

              Remove the headphone jack
  • Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the headphone jack cable from the motherboard.

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

Step 29

  • Insert an opening pick under the headphone jack and twist to release it from the adhesive securing it to the midframe.
  • Remove the headphone jack.

Insert an opening pick under the headphone jack and twist to release it from the adhesive securing it to the midframe.

Remove the headphone jack.

Step 30

              Remove the front-facing camera
  • Pry up with the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the front-facing camera from the motherboard.

Pry up with the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the front-facing camera from the motherboard.

Step 31

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

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

Step 32

              Remove the loudspeaker
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.1 mm screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.1 mm screws securing the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 33

  • Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the loudspeaker assembly.
  • Be careful not to puncture the white membrane on either side of the speaker if you are intending to reuse it.
  • Flip the loudspeaker assembly over so it lightly rests on top of the battery.

Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the loudspeaker assembly.

Be careful not to puncture the white membrane on either side of the speaker if you are intending to reuse it.

Flip the loudspeaker assembly over so it lightly rests on top of the battery.

Step 34

  • Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the antenna flex cable from the loudspeaker assembly.

Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the antenna flex cable from the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 35

  • Carefully peel the loudspeaker assembly up off of the tape underneath it.
  • Be careful not to puncture the white membrane on either side of the speaker if you are intending to reuse it.
  • Remove the loudspeaker assembly.

Carefully peel the loudspeaker assembly up off of the tape underneath it.

Remove the loudspeaker assembly.

Step 36

              Disconnect the loudspeaker cable
  • Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the loudspeaker cable from the motherboard.

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

Step 37

              Remove the motherboard screws
  • Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the three screws securing the motherboard:
  • Two 2.9 mm-long black screws
  • One 2.1 mm-long screw

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the three screws securing the motherboard:

Two 2.9 mm-long black screws

One 2.1 mm-long screw

Step 38

              Remove the earpiece speaker tape
  • Use the corner of an opening pick to peel up the tape covering the earpiece speaker.

Use the corner of an opening pick to peel up the tape covering the earpiece speaker.

Step 39

  • Use a pair of tweezers to completely remove the tape covering the earpiece speaker.
  • It is not required to reinstall this tape during reassembly.

Use a pair of tweezers to completely remove the tape covering the earpiece speaker.

It is not required to reinstall this tape during reassembly.

Step 40

              Remove the motherboard
  • Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the motherboard and pry it up enough to grip it with your fingers.

Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the bottom edge of the motherboard and pry it up enough to grip it with your fingers.

Step 41

  • Remove the motherboard.

Remove the motherboard.

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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Sally Hoo - Jun 29, 2021

Reply

Longshot here… I dropped my phone and it appears to be dead, although no physical signs of damage. Right after it happened, I could see an image on the screen but it was frozen, so I pressed the power button and the screen turned off, and then I wasn’t able to turn it back on from then on. There are no signs of life at all… no lights, no vibrations, no sounds. If I plug it into my computer, nothing happens. So totally dead. I already opened it up and checked for any obvious damage to internal components or loose cables. Didn’t find any smoking guns, so I just tried disconnecting and re-connecting all the ribbon cables. Still no success. I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on whether a battery or motherboard replacement might bring my phone back to life, and if so, if you have any thoughts on one or the other. My initial thought is that’s it more likely that something on the motherboard got damaged from a physical drop vs. the battery, but any other input you could offer would be great.

Sam Omiotek - Jun 30, 2021

That’s a tough one Sally… I can’t guarantee replacing any certain component will fix your phone given the information. Disconnecting and reconnecting the cables was a good idea. No signs of life at all suggests to me it’s likely the battery or motherboard, like you said.

If it’s still under warranty see if Google will replace it, they replaced my pixel 3 twice when it bricked for no apparent reason. If it’s not then I think the best course of action would be to meticulously search for the damage starting with the motherboard. Use a magnifying glass. Even if a single tiny transistor popped off that would be enough to brick it. If you can’t find anything, you’ll have to take a chance replacing one part at a time until you get it working again.

Good luck!

Nate Waters - Nov 27, 2021

Reply

Hey there, probably no fix to this, but I went swimming in a salt water pool with my 4a on accident and the repair store said the motherboard was fried and unrepairable. Is there any chance that I can still get data off the phone?

Sam Omiotek - Dec 6, 2021

Unfortunately, even if you disassemble your phone clean it in an ultrasonic bath, then replace the battery, you’d still have to be very lucky for it to power back on with data intact.

allen - Jan 9, 2023

Reply

Hello, thanks for the great article Will I lose data if I replace the motherboard?