Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

8

Time Required

                          20 - 40 minutes

Sections

1

  • How to Replace the Back Panel Adhesive on Your Google Pixel 4
  • 8 steps

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Introduction

Note: This guide was written using a Google Pixel 4. Some visual discrepancies are present, but the procedure is identical.

This repair guide was authored by the iFixit staff and hasn’t been endorsed by Google. Learn more about our repair guides here.

What you need

Step 1

              Scrape off the old adhesive
  • When scraping the frame and back panel, take care not to damage the spring contacts and graphite film.
  • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to scrape off the old adhesive from the frame and back panel.

When scraping the frame and back panel, take care not to damage the spring contacts and graphite film.

Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to scrape off the old adhesive from the frame and back panel.

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Step 2

              Remove the remaining adhesive
  • Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to any remaining adhesive.
  • Use a microfiber cloth to remove the remaining adhesive.
  • If you’re still having trouble removing the adhesive, apply a few drops of alcohol to the adhesive and scrape it with a spudger.

Apply a few drops of high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol to any remaining adhesive.

Use a microfiber cloth to remove the remaining adhesive.

If you’re still having trouble removing the adhesive, apply a few drops of alcohol to the adhesive and scrape it with a spudger.

Step 3

              Orient the adhesive
  • Before peeling off any liners, lay the new adhesive down on the back panel and use the camera cutout to find its proper orientation.

Before peeling off any liners, lay the new adhesive down on the back panel and use the camera cutout to find its proper orientation.

Step 4

              Remove the adhesive liner
  • Peel and remove the large rectangular liner.
  • This should expose the adhesive that will stick to the back panel.

Peel and remove the large rectangular liner.

This should expose the adhesive that will stick to the back panel.

Step 5

              Apply the adhesive
  • Be very careful during this step! The adhesive is very sticky, and once it touches the back panel you won’t be able to reposition it. Misaligned adhesive can lead to an improper seal.
  • When laying down the adhesive, make sure the back panel connector cable is threaded through the camera cutout. If the adhesive sticks to the cable, you’ll have to restart the repair with new adhesive.
  • With the adhesive in its proper orientation, lay it sticky side down on the back panel.
  • Press down firmly around the perimeter of the back panel, ensuring all the adhesive is secured.

Be very careful during this step! The adhesive is very sticky, and once it touches the back panel you won’t be able to reposition it. Misaligned adhesive can lead to an improper seal.

When laying down the adhesive, make sure the back panel connector cable is threaded through the camera cutout. If the adhesive sticks to the cable, you’ll have to restart the repair with new adhesive.

With the adhesive in its proper orientation, lay it sticky side down on the back panel.

Press down firmly around the perimeter of the back panel, ensuring all the adhesive is secured.

Step 6

  • Use the pull tabs to remove all remaining liners from the adhesive.

Use the pull tabs to remove all remaining liners from the adhesive.

Step 7

  • Return to your phone’s repair guide and continue reassembly.
  • Be very careful when reassembling your device, as the adhesive is exposed and very sticky. Take special care to prevent the back panel cable from touching the adhesive.
  • Return to this guide before securing the back panel to the phone.

Return to your phone’s repair guide and continue reassembly.

Be very careful when reassembling your device, as the adhesive is exposed and very sticky. Take special care to prevent the back panel cable from touching the adhesive.

Return to this guide before securing the back panel to the phone.

Step 8

  • Align the back panel over the back of the phone and lay it down.
  • Secure the back panel by firmly pressing along its perimeter for one minute.

Align the back panel over the back of the phone and lay it down.

Secure the back panel by firmly pressing along its perimeter for one minute.

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                    Spencer Day

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