Google Pixel 5A Battery Replacement Repair Guide

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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Screen
15 steps
Midframe
11 steps
Battery
3 steps

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Featured Guide

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Introduction

Use this guide to remove or replace the battery on your Google Pixel 5a.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of a fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

What you need

Step 1

              Precautionary notes

Be sure to turn off your device before you begin the repair.
You’ll 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. Do not pry at this seam.
Bezel seam: This is where the plastic bezel designed to protect the screen meets the frame. It’s held in place by plastic clips. This is where you should pry.

Be sure to turn off your device before you begin the repair.

You’ll 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. Do not pry at this seam.

Bezel seam: This is where the plastic bezel designed to protect the screen meets the frame. It’s held in place by plastic clips. This is where you should pry.

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Step 2

              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.
Depending on the strength of your device’s adhesive, you may need to reapply the iOpener multiple times in order to weaken it enough.
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.

Depending on the strength of your device’s adhesive, you may need to reapply the iOpener multiple times in order to weaken it enough.

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

              Bezel removal note

To remove the screen, you’ll need to insert opening picks in between the black clips that secure the bezel to the midframe.
Note the optimal points of entry before proceeding.

To remove the screen, you’ll need to insert opening picks in between the black clips that secure the bezel to the midframe.

Note the optimal points of entry before proceeding.

Step 4

              Create a gap between the bezel and midframe

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 until a small gap forms between the bezel and midframe.

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 until a small gap forms between the bezel and midframe.

Step 5

              Insert an opening pick

The bezel is connected to the midframe by a series of plastic clips which can be detached by inserting an opening pick at points all along the seam.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 4-5 cm from the bottom of the phone.

The bezel is connected to the midframe by a series of plastic clips which can be detached by inserting an opening pick at points all along the seam.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 4-5 cm from the bottom of the phone.

Step 6

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 3-4 cm from the top of the phone.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 3-4 cm from the top of the phone.

Step 7

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam at the top of the phone.
If this step proves difficult, slide the pick along the top right corner of the phone until there is enough of a gap at the top for the opening pick.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam at the top of the phone.

If this step proves difficult, slide the pick along the top right corner of the phone until there is enough of a gap at the top for the opening pick.

Step 8

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam at the bottom of the phone.
If this step proves difficult, slide the pick along bottom right corner of the phone until there is enough of a gap at the bottom for the opening pick.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam at the bottom of the phone.

If this step proves difficult, slide the pick along bottom right corner of the phone until there is enough of a gap at the bottom for the opening pick.

Step 9

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam on the left side of the phone, about 2 cm from the bottom of the phone.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam on the left side of the phone, about 2 cm from the bottom of the phone.

Step 10

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 3-4 cm below the front-facing camera.

Insert the tip of an opening pick into the bezel seam about 3-4 cm below the front-facing camera.

Step 11

Be sure to detach all the clips. Slice through any remaining adhesive with an opening pick.
Open the device from the right side like a book.

Be sure to detach all the clips. Slice through any remaining adhesive with an opening pick.

Open the device from the right side like a book.

Step 12

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the 4.6 mm-long screw 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 4.6 mm-long screw 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 13

              Remove the connector bracket

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

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

Step 14

              Remove the screen

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 15

Remove the screen from the phone.
If you are using a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide to correctly apply new screen adhesive.
If you are using Tesa tape to reattach the screen, 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 from the phone.

If you are using a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide to correctly apply new screen adhesive.

If you are using Tesa tape to reattach the screen, 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 16

              Remove the screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove six of the screws securing the midframe to the motherboard:
Four 4.6 mm screws
One 4.0 mm screw
One 2.0 mm screw
Since a few of these screws have different lengths, keep track of each screw and be sure to reinstall them in their proper places.

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove six of the screws securing the midframe to the motherboard:

Four 4.6 mm screws

One 4.0 mm screw

One 2.0 mm screw

Since a few of these screws have different lengths, keep track of each screw and be sure to reinstall them in their proper places.

Step 17

              Remove the black plastic cover

Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up on the black plastic cover at the bottom left of the phone.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to pry up on the black plastic cover at the bottom left of the phone.

Step 18

Slide the pointed end of the spudger left until the plastic cover is completely separated from the midframe.
Remove the plastic cover from the midframe.

Slide the pointed end of the spudger left until the plastic cover is completely separated from the midframe.

Remove the plastic cover from the midframe.

Step 19

Use a pair of tweezers to slightly peel back the tape concealing the two screws securing the charging port bracket.

Use a pair of tweezers to slightly peel back the tape concealing the two screws securing the charging port bracket.

Step 20

              Remove the remaining screws

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the remaining four screws securing the midframe to the motherboard:
Three 4.6 mm screws
One 4.0 mm screw

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the remaining four screws securing the midframe to the motherboard:

Three 4.6 mm screws

Step 21

Use a spudger or a pair of tweezers to peel back the tape securing the charging port bracket to the speaker assembly.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

Use a spudger or a pair of tweezers to peel back the tape securing the charging port bracket to the speaker assembly.

Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.

Step 22

Use a blunt pair of tweezers, or your fingers, to carefully peel back the graphite sheet covering the battery.
Be careful not to accidentally puncture or otherwise damage the battery when gripping the graphite sheet.

Use a blunt pair of tweezers, or your fingers, to carefully peel back the graphite sheet covering the battery.

Be careful not to accidentally puncture or otherwise damage the battery when gripping the graphite sheet.

Step 23

              Detach the midframe

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the top right corner of the midframe.
There is a black plastic clip at the top of the midframe that secures it to the top of the frame. To detach it, use the spudger to pull the midframe down and then pry up.

Insert the pointed end of a spudger under the top right corner of the midframe.

There is a black plastic clip at the top of the midframe that secures it to the top of the frame. To detach it, use the spudger to pull the midframe down and then pry up.

Step 24

              Remove the midframe

Remove the midframe.

Remove the midframe.

Step 25

              Replace the plastic bits

There are two small plastic bits that help hold the midframe in place. Take care not to misplace them, as without the midframe to hold them in place, they are very easy to lose.
Be sure to place these back into their respective corners before replacing the midframe when reassembling your device.

There are two small plastic bits that help hold the midframe in place. Take care not to misplace them, as without the midframe to hold them in place, they are very easy to lose.

Be sure to place these back into their respective corners before replacing the midframe when reassembling your device.

Step 26

              Disconnect the battery

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up on the battery connector to disconnect it.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up on the battery connector to disconnect it.

Step 27

              Loosen the battery

If you are using adhesive remover, follow these preparation steps first.
Apply 2-3 drops of high concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol under each corner of the battery and allow it to penetrate for 2-3 minutes to help weaken the adhesive.

If you are using adhesive remover, follow these preparation steps first.

Apply 2-3 drops of high concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol under each corner of the battery and allow it to penetrate for 2-3 minutes to help weaken the adhesive.

Step 28

              Slice the adhesive

Insert a pick into the gap to the right of the battery and slide its tip underneath the battery.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
Slide the pick along the right side of the battery to slice through the adhesive securing it to the midframe.
Once the right side of the battery begins to separate from the midframe, leave an opening pick in the gap to keep the battery slightly raised.
Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol directly to the adhesive securing the battery to the midframe. Let the isopropyl penetrate the adhesive for 2-3 minutes.

Insert a pick into the gap to the right of the battery and slide its tip underneath the battery.

Slide the pick along the right side of the battery to slice through the adhesive securing it to the midframe.

Once the right side of the battery begins to separate from the midframe, leave an opening pick in the gap to keep the battery slightly raised.

Apply a few drops of isopropyl alcohol directly to the adhesive securing the battery to the midframe. Let the isopropyl penetrate the adhesive for 2-3 minutes.

Step 29

              Remove the battery

Repeat the last step with an opening card to slice through the remaining adhesive under the right side of the battery.
Remove the battery.
Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed. The stress of removal can cause hidden damage to the battery cell, creating a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.
To install a new battery:
Remove any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the entire area under the battery with isopropyl alcohol. If there’s any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off with a lint-free cloth or allow it to air dry before installing your new battery.
Apply a few new strips of pre-cut adhesive or Tesa tape.
If you are attaching the battery with a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide.
Press the new battery firmly into place for 5-10 seconds.

Repeat the last step with an opening card to slice through the remaining adhesive under the right side of the battery.

Remove the battery.

Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed. The stress of removal can cause hidden damage to the battery cell, creating a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.

To install a new battery:

Remove any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the entire area under the battery with isopropyl alcohol. If there’s any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off with a lint-free cloth or allow it to air dry before installing your new battery.

Apply a few new strips of pre-cut adhesive or Tesa tape.

If you are attaching the battery with a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide.

Press the new battery firmly into place for 5-10 seconds.

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? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Google Pixel 5a Answers community for help.

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 you install it.

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                    Clay Kim

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Introduction

What you need