Google Pixel Fold Base Front Camera Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Google Pixel Fold Base Front Camera Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

45 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

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

Use this guide to replace the front camera for the foldable screen in your Google Pixel Fold.

Note: Some photos in this guide were taken at different states of disassembly. Any visual discrepancies won't affect the guide procedure.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Allow your battery to drain below 25% before starting this repair. A charged battery may catch fire if damaged.
Fully power off your phone and unplug any cables.

Step 2

Lay the phone down on a clean, smooth surface so the back glass is facing up.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the back glass for two minutes.
You can also use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but extreme heat can damage the displays and/or internal batteries, so proceed with care.

Step 3

The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
Unfold your phone completely and slide the Anti-Clamp arms over the left edge of the back glass, below the Google "G" logo.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the phone—one on the front, and one on the back.
Make sure the suction cup on the inner screen isn't touching the bezel, as it won't stick properly.
Squeeze the cups together to apply suction to the desired area.
If you find that the surface of your phone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use tape to create a grippier surface. If the glass if cracked, use packing tape to help the suction cups adhere.

Step 4

Place an object under your phone, like a box or a stack of books, so it rests level while between the Anti-Clamp's arms.
Pull the blue handle forward to lock the arms.
Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, detach the suction cups and realign the arms.

Step 5

Insert an opening pick into the gap under the back glass.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle a quarter turn.
Don't crank more than a quarter turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next step.

Step 6

Apply a suction cup to the back glass, as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back glass and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you're having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
If your back glass 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 back glass.

Step 7

Don’t insert the opening pick deeper than 3.5 mm when separating the back glass adhesive, as you risk damaging internal components.
Slide the opening pick back and forth along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the bottom left corner before continuing.

Step 8

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the back glass for two minutes.

Step 9

Rotate the opening pick around the bottom left corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 10

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom left corner.
Slide the opening pick toward the top left corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the top left corner before continuing.

Step 11

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the back glass for two minutes.

Step 12

Rotate the opening pick around the top left corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 13

Insert a third opening pick in the top left corner.
Slide the opening pick toward the top right corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 14

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the back glass for two minutes.

Step 15

This sharp corner is very fragile. Use plenty of heat and be very gentle around the corner during this step.
Angle your pick so it's as flat as possible to the back glass.
Rotate the opening pick around the top right corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 16

Insert a fourth opening pick in the top right corner.
Slide the opening pick toward the bottom right corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 17

This sharp corner is very fragile. Use plenty of heat and be very gentle around the corner during this step.
Angle your pick so it's as flat as possible to the back glass.
Rotate the opening pick around the bottom right corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 18

Don't fully remove the back glass yet, as it's still connected to the phone by a cable.
At this point, the back glass should be separated from the frame. If there's still resistance around the edges, use an opening pick to separate any remaining adhesive.
Swing the left edge of the back glass up and over the right edge of the phone.
Lay the back glass to the right side of the phone before continuing.

Step 19

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
While the Pixel Fold uses Torx Plus screws, standard Torx bits also work. Use the same size or one size larger (T3 or T4 Torx bits with 3IP Torx Plus screws) and apply constant, downward force to prevent stripping.
Use a Torx Plus 3IP driver to remove the two 2.8 mm‑long screws securing the middle bracket.

Step 20

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull the middle bracket toward the left edge of the phone and release its clip.
Remove the middle bracket.
During reassembly, reinsert the middle bracket clip under its slot in the frame before aligning the screw holes.

Step 21

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back glass cable from the motherboard.
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. Don't press down in the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

Step 22

Remove the back glass.

Step 23

During reassembly:
If you're reusing your back glass, use tweezers to remove big chunks of adhesive from the perimeter of the back glass.
Repeat for any adhesive on the frame.
Use isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and a lint-free cloth to remove any remaining adhesive residue.
Follow this guide to replace the back glass adhesive with custom cut strips.
If you don't have custom cut adhesive strips, use double-sided tape, like Tesa Tape, to secure the back glass to the frame.

Step 24

The graphite sheet is very fragile. Be gentle peeling the graphite sheet in this step, especially if you're reusing it.
The graphite sheet is lightly adhered to the logic board.
Peel the bottom of the graphite sheet toward the top of the phone until you can access the bottom bracket.
Use your hands, or tape with light adhesive, to keep the graphite sheet out of the way.
During reassembly:
If you completely removed your graphite sheet, follow this guide to replace it.
If you don't have custom cut adhesive strips for the antenna, use double-sided tape, like Tesa Tape, to secure the graphite sheet to the logic board.

Step 25

Use tweezers, or a clean fingernail, to pull the black screw cover off the top screw on the bottom bracket.

Step 26

Use a Torx Plus 3IP driver to remove the five 3.1 mm‑long screws securing the bottom bracket.

Step 27

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull the bottom bracket toward the bottom edge of the phone and release its clip.
Remove the bottom bracket.
During reassembly, reinsert the bottom bracket clip under its slot in the logic board before aligning its screw holes.

Step 28

There are two batteries you need to disconnect, one for each half of the phone.
Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the base battery cable press connector.

Step 29

Peel the grey conductive tape off the bottom interconnect cable.

Step 30

Use a point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the flip battery and bottom interconnect press connectors.
You have to disconnect both cables to keep the battery connector from accidentally touching the logic board.

Step 31

During reassembly, the next two steps demonstrate how to replace the flip battery and bottom interconnect cable conductive tape.
Peel off the new conductive tape from its liner and apply the sticky side to the bottom interconnect connector, making sure to bridge the logic board.

Step 32

Use a spudger, or your fingers, to press down the conductive tape and adhere it.
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull on the tab and expose the tape.

Step 33

Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove the two 2.8 mm‑long screws securing the top bracket.

Step 34

Pull the top bracket toward the left edge of the phone to release its clips.
Remove the top bracket.
During reassembly, insert the top bracket clips under their slots in the frame before aligning the screw holes.

Step 35

Insert the point of a spudger under the bottom right corner of the front camera press connector.
Don't insert the spudger anywhere else, as you risk breaking surface-mounted components.
Pry up and disconnect the front camera press connector.

Step 36

The front camera is mildly adhered to the frame.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the front camera for two minutes.

Step 37

Grab the front camera by the neck of its connector, as close to the camera body as possible.
Don't press down on the press connector's pins, as you may bend them.
Pull straight up to separate the adhesive and remove the front camera.
During reassembly, if your adhesive is still sticky and intact, you can reuse it. Otherwise, follow this guide to replace it with custom cut strips.
If you don't have custom cut adhesive strips, use double-sided tape, like Tesa Tape, to secure the front camera to the frame.

Conclusion

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

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.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

To run a diagnostics test with the built-in Pixel Diagnostic tool, click here.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Google Pixel Fold Answers Community for help.