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This repair guide was authored by the iFixit staff and hasn’t been endorsed by Google. Learn more about our repair guides here.
Follow this guide to replace the USB-C port 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.
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Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM tray hole.
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Press directly into the hole to eject the SIM card tray.
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Remove the SIM card tray.
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Take note of the two seams on the edge of your phone:
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Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. This is where you have to pry.
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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.
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Before you begin, note the following areas on the screen:
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Screen flex cable: Do not insert the opening pick deeper than instructed or you risk damaging this cable.
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Adhesive perimeter: Prying beyond this narrow perimeter without angling the pick will damage the OLED panel.
i don't understand the "screen flex cable" nor the "adhesive perimeter" instructions
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Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the display for one minute to soften the adhesive.
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Place a suction cup as close to the right edge of the screen as possible.
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Lift the suction cup with a strong steady force.
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Insert the tip of an opening pick into the screen seam no more than 1 mm.
When "lifting" the suction cup, press down while pivoting the handle away from the front/edge, as if opening a door.
For a very cracked screen, I placed clear packing tape on top of the screen to use the suction cup at all. Also had to suction cup and pry/pick at multiple sides of the screen. Small fragments of broken glass won't pry up, so had to use tweezers to pull at glass fragments to release them from the adhesive underneath.
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With the pick 1 mm into the gap, pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle.
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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.
You don't exactly have to be utterly careful about damaging the panel. The glass+OLED screen as a whole is being replaced here. So it doesn't really matter if you accidentally damage the old OLED panel.
If only the battery needs to be replaced, be sure to pay attention to the angle at which the pick is moved. Even the slightest deviation and the display is crap. I followed the instructions, but obviously I got to the display somewhere. Unfortunately the display now remains black and I have a flashing green bar at the top. So be careful.
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Slide the pick along the right edge of the screen to cut the adhesive.
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Leave the pick in the bottom-right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.
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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.
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Slide the opening pick around the top of the phone to cut the adhesive.
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Leave the pick inserted along the top edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
The replacement screen I purchased from iFixit Oceania in Sept 2022 included a new speaker mesh, already attached to the screen.
The corners seems particularly tricky with the adhesive. Make sure to reapply heat in the corners. I cracked my screen while detaching the corners.
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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.
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Use the pick to slice around the top-left corner where the camera window is.
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Leave the pick inserted along the left edge of your phone to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.
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Slide the opening pick to cut the adhesive along the left edge of your phone.
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Slide the opening pick around the bottom-left corner and across the bottom of the display to cut the rest of the adhesive.
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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.
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Use an opening pick to carefully cut through any remaining adhesive.
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Lift from the top edge and swing the screen over the bottom edge until you can rest it glass-side down.
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Use your fingernail or a pair of tweezers to carefully peel off the tape covering the screen connector.
The replacement screen I purchased from iFixit Oceania in Sept 2022 included a new piece of tape.
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Insert the tip of a spudger into the opening of the plastic cover securing the screen flex cable.
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Pry the plastic cover straight up until it pops out of place.
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Remove the plastic cover.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.
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Remove the screen.
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Check if your replacement screen has speaker mesh and top edge adhesive pre-installed.
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If it does, you won't need the top edge adhesive.
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If it doesn't, remove the larger clear liner from the top edge adhesive and apply it to the screen (not the frame). Make sure the larger cutout lines up with the speaker mesh.
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Follow this guide to apply the custom-cut adhesive.
There are four adhesives provided in the current kit provided by ifixit. They have a blue and clear backing with a thin black strip, as shown on here. The adhesives instructions provided in this general guide are not very clear and I messed up my first one, which made the other three useless leading me to just buy a b-7000 adhesive instead. However, for anyone wanting to correctly use the ifixit adhesives, first line up the black strip on the edge of your phone where the screen will rest and peel off the first clear portion. Then peel off the blue portion and you will be left with a thin black adhesive strip. Do this for all four pieces in the configuration shown on the page linked above and then place your screen on, press down gently, then turn the phone screen down and place some books on to provide stronger contact between the adhesive and the new screen. Good luck!
thanks a lot!
Zurdits -
That was so much clearer thank you!
Super Anleitung. Allerdings habe ich die Kalibriersequenz leider nicht gesehen. Das Display funktioniert, aber der zweifinger Zoom arbeitet nicht. Kann man die Kalibriersequenz neu aufrufen oder was kann ich tun. In manchen Anleitungen steht, das man im Recovery Mode Display Befehle ausführen kann. Ein Werksreset des Pixel 4A 5G hat nicht geholfen.
Beim ersten Neustart nach der Reparatur wird das Display eine Kalibriersequenz durchlaufen. Berühre das Display dabei nicht, der Touchscreen könnte nicht richtig kalibriert werden, was zu einer schlechten Funktion führen kann.
Danke im voraus
The adhesive strips do not cover the corners, and I guess there is a good chance of dust comming into the device. Had issues with the front camera after the first repair. Maybe the rounded corner strips could be included in the repair kit?
I had a lot of old glue on the display. Since I only swapped the battery I recommend to remove all all glue on the display do guarantee that the new glue has a good sticking and nothing is too thick when pressing the old display on the new glue.
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Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the nine 4.4 mm-long screws securing the back cover to the midframe.
I found 2 extra screws in mine. FYI. (From America)
I also have 11x T3 in a US model. And the two at the bottom near the USB-C port are shorter by ~1mm than the others.
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Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover, right above the SIM card slot.
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Slide the opening pick along the right edge of your phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.
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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.
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Flip your phone over so the back cover is facing up.
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Carefully swing the back cover up to an upright position.
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Rest the back cover against an object such as a cardboard box or soda can.
Be very gentle when removing the back panel, the ribon for the fingerprint broke and I had to wait 4 weeks to obtain it from China
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Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard bracket:
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Four 4.0 mm-long screws
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Three 2.1 mm-long screws
Hi. Thank you for the great Tuto! Do you know where can I find a replacement battery?
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Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the battery cable from the motherboard.
Keep in mind this cable when putting board back in place
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Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the fingerprint sensor cable.
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Use the tip of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front sensor array cable.
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Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to peel the tape off of the copper foil.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the front-facing camera from the motherboard.
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Remove the front-facing camera.
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Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4.2 mm-long screws from the loudspeaker assembly.
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Insert the tip of a spudger underneath the loudspeaker assembly.
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Flip the loudspeaker assembly over so it lightly rests on top of the battery.
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Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the antenna cable from the loudspeaker assembly.
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Carefully peel the loudspeaker assembly up off the tape underneath it.
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Remove the loudspeaker assembly.
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crwdns2935267:0crwdne2935267:0Tweezers$4.99
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Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to pull the antenna cable out from underneath the tape covering it.
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Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the loudspeaker cable from the motherboard.
Keep in mind this cable when putting board back in place
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Use the tip of a spudger to disconnect the headphone jack cable from the motherboard.
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Use a pair of tweezers to remove the tape on the earpiece speaker covering the antenna flex cable.
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Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.1 mm-long screw securing the charging port.
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Insert the tip of a spudger into the gap between the motherboard and the midframe near the front-facing cameras to pop it free from the first clip.
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Grab the motherboard with your fingers and open it like a book.
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Lift the motherboard straight out to remove it.
Mine (US model) has the two "squeeze sensor" cables on the middle of the motherboard. These need to be disconnected before lifting it out.
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Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the USB-C port press connector from the motherboard.
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Remove the USB-C port assembly from the motherboard.
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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.
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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I have to take out the screen just to change the charge port ?
That's pretty standard with modern phones
Where did you buy the replacement part?
mobilesentrix.com
Thanks for the tip, Mark. Unfortunately mobilesentrix.com does not sell directly consumers, so if you are a hobbyist repairing your own phone (like myself) you would not be able to buy the charging port from them. I don’t know if you can update your comment, but if you can I would.
Regarding finding a non-Amazon place to buy the charging port I’m unfortunately still looking for a reputable source that sells to consumers.
I got a slightly burned smell from the charging port and it no longer charges… Should I just replace the USB C port?
great guide. thanks a lot! worked like a charm for me.
I replaced the charging port and the LCD is not turning back on. I was extra cautious with the process of removing the screen and checked connectors. What would cause that issue?
does it use the same charging port as the 4a?
I had one broken screw among the 6 holding the motherboard, and while trying to remove it, I broke the fingerprint cable where it's twisting.
Be extra careful with that part, it's way more fragile than I thought, don't end up with a dead pixel like me.
Feel like the difficulty of this repair should be raised, I found the steps much harder than other moderate guides
Great guide, more effective than YouTube video's that miss eye for details that cause damage. Just succesfully replaced the charging port in 2 hours time ;-), back on stable Google Auto now.
I didn't foresee how intimidating a repair seems to be at first, but once I got into it everything was clear and the repairs worked! Got to change the USB-C port, the battery and a broken screen all at once to give my Pixel a new life of its own, and it took only a few hours. Thanks for the useful guides!
OK, so this tells you how to get the USB-C port out, but what about putting it all back together?
Hallo!
Leider ist mir das bei Schritt 22 zu sehen ist, diese Klemme wo die Ladeeinheit angeklickt wird, abgebrochen. Brauchte dann so ein Teil.
Gibt es die Möglichkeit das Handy ohne Akku zu nutzen? Kann man das nur geschlossen anschalten?
LG
