Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement

Introduction

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 front-facing camera on a Google Pixel 4a.

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

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Étape 1 Eject the SIM card tray

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Eject the SIM card tray: étape 1, image 1 de 3

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Eject the SIM card tray: étape 1, image 2 de 3

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Eject the SIM card tray: étape 1, image 3 de 3

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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Étape 2 Precautionary notes

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Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Precautionary notes: étape 2, image 2 de 3

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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.

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Étape 3 Heat the right edge of the screen

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Heat the right edge of the screen: étape 3, image 1 de 1

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.

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Étape 4 Insert an opening pick

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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.

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Étape 5 Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel

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Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Guide the opening pick under the OLED panel: étape 5, image 3 de 3

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.

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Étape 6 Cut the adhesive

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Cut the adhesive: étape 6, image 1 de 3

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Cut the adhesive: étape 6, image 2 de 3

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Cut the adhesive: étape 6, image 3 de 3

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.

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Étape 7

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement: étape 7, image 3 de 3

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 2 mm deep).
Leave the pick inserted along the bottom edge to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

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Étape 8

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement: étape 8, image 3 de 3

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.

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Étape 9

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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.

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Étape 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.

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Étape 11 Flip the screen over

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

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Étape 12 Disconnect the display

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Disconnect the display: étape 12, image 1 de 1

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Tweezers

$4.99

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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.

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Étape 13

Outil utilisé dans cette étape :

Magnetic Project Mat

$19.95

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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.

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Étape 14

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

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Étape 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.

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Étape 16 Remove the screen

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Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Remove the screen: étape 16, image 3 de 3

Remove the screen.
To install a new screen:
Check if your replacement screen has speaker mesh and top edge adhesive pre-installed.
If it does, you won't need the top edge adhesive.
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.
Follow this guide to apply the custom-cut adhesive.
Use the third photo as a reference to position your adhesives.
During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Don't touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

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Étape 17 Remove the midframe screws

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Remove the midframe screws: étape 17, image 1 de 2

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Remove the midframe screws: étape 17, image 2 de 2

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

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Étape 18 Spring contact information

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Spring contact information: étape 18, image 1 de 1

This photo shows the midframe components behind the back cover. Note the spring contacts near the edge of the midframe. As you slice with the opening pick in the next step, be sure not to insert the pick more than 2 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.

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Étape 19 Separate the back cover from the midframe

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Separate the back cover from the midframe: étape 19, image 1 de 2

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Separate the back cover from the midframe: étape 19, image 2 de 2

In the next three steps, be careful not to insert the opening pick more than 2 mm into the seam.
Insert an opening pick into the seam between the midframe and the back cover. Angle the pick downwards at a steep angle into the seam.
Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge of the phone to release the plastic clips securing the back cover to the midframe.

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Étape 20

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

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Étape 21

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

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Étape 22

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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.

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Étape 23 Remove the motherboard bracket

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Remove the motherboard bracket: étape 23, image 1 de 2

Google Pixel 4a Front-Facing Camera Replacement, Remove the motherboard bracket: étape 23, image 2 de 2

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