Google Pixel Fold Flip Battery Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 0

Google Pixel Fold Flip Battery Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

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 flip battery 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.

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

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or straightened paper clip into the SIM card tray hole.
Press firmly to eject the SIM card tray.

Step 3

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the screen for two minutes.

Step 4

While you're waiting for the adhesive to soften, note the following:
The adhesive is under the dark black border surrounding the screen.
During the screen removal procedure, you only need to insert your opening pick as deep as the border.
Don't insert your pick any deeper, as you risk damaging the screen and internal components.

Step 5

Apply a suction cup to the screen, 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 screen 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 screen 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 screen.

Step 6

Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the bottom right corner before continuing.

Step 7

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

Step 8

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

Step 9

Insert a new opening pick in the bottom right corner.
Slide the opening pick toward the top right corner to separate the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the top right corner before continuing.

Step 10

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

Step 11

Rotate the opening pick around the top right corner to separate its adhesive.

Step 12

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

Step 13

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

Step 14

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

Step 15

Insert a new opening pick in the top left corner.
Slide the opening pick toward the bottom left corner to separate the adhesive.

Step 16

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

Step 17

There's a small adhesive strip that secures the screen near the top right corner of the phone.
The next three steps will show you how to separate this adhesive.

Step 18

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the top right corner of the screen for two minutes.

Step 19

Insert an opening pick under the right edge of the screen, near the top right corner.
Push the opening pick under the screen as far you can go without losing your grip.

Step 20

Be very careful during this step, as you risk breaking the screen. Work slowly and apply more heat if necessary.
Twist the opening pick back and forth to separate the adhesive.
If you don't feel the adhesive separating, apply more heat or insert the pick at a different angle.

Step 21

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

Step 22

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 Torx or T4 bits with 3IP Torx Plus screws) and apply constant, downward force to prevent stripping.
Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove the five 2.5 mm‑long screws securing the bottom bracket.

Step 23

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the bottom bracket.
During reassembly, make sure the bottom bracket is sitting in its two alignment pegs before refastening it.

Step 24

Don't pry against the battery during this step. Angle your spudger under the left or right edges of the press connector.
Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the flip battery press connector.
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 25

Insert the point of a spudger under the short edge of the screen press connector facing the bottom of the phone.
Don't insert your spudger anywhere else, as you risk damaging surface-mounted components on the logic board.
Pry up to disconnect the screen press connector.

Step 26

Remove the screen.

Step 27

During reassembly, perform the following:
If you're reusing your screen, use tweezers to remove big chunks of adhesive from the perimeter of the screen.
Repeat for any adhesive on the frame, including the small adhesive at the top right of the phone.
If your top right adhesive is still intact and sticky, you can reuse it.
Use isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and a lint-free cloth to remove any remaining adhesive residue.
Follow this guide to replace your screen adhesive.
If you don't have custom cut adhesive strips, use double-sided tape, like Tesa Tape, to secure the screen to the frame.

Step 28

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the bottom interconnect cable press connector.

Step 29

Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove the 2.2 mm‑long screw securing the lower board.
There's a magnet at the bottom right corner of phone. As you remove the nearby screw, it might stick to the magnet.
If you're having trouble inserting the screw, use tweezers to hold it in place while you screw in the first few threads.

Step 30

During the next step, keep the bottom interconnect cable out of the way using your hands or tape with light adhesive.

Step 31

Use a spudger to pry up the lower board from its recess in the frame.
Remove the lower board.

Step 32

During reassembly, perform the following to secure the lower board:
Slide the left edge of the board into its left alignment peg.
Position the right edge of the board over its right alignment peg.
Push down to engage the spring connectors and secure the lower board.

Step 33

The battery cable is lightly adhered to the frame.
Heat an iOpener and apply it to the battery cable for two minutes.

Step 34

Slide an opening pick under the battery cable to separate the adhesive.
Use tweezers, or your fingers, to move the battery cable upward to expose the stretch-release adhesive tab under it.

Step 35

Six stretch release adhesive strips secure the battery to the frame:
The three along the left edge are very difficult to remove. Work slowly and avoid pulling the strips at steep angles.
The three along the bottom are moderately difficult to remove.

Step 36

Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with sharp tools—it can leak dangerous chemicals and/or catch fire.
Use tweezers to peel the black pull tabs from off the frame so you can grip them with your fingers.
Some of the black tabs aren't adhered and don't require peeling.

Step 37

Pull each strip out slowly and steadily at a low angle. Give them plenty of time to stretch and un-stick from under the battery.
You can also wrap an adhesive strip around a spudger and "roll" it for a more consistent pull.
If any adhesive strips break off, try to retrieve them using your fingers or tweezers, and continue pulling—but don’t pry under the battery.
If you can't retrieve a strip, don't worry! Remove as much adhesive as possible and move to the next step for an alternate method.
Repeat for all six stretch release adhesive strips.

Step 38

If all six of the stretch release adhesive strips separated cleanly, skip the next five steps. Otherwise, follow these steps for an alternate method.
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.
Apply a few drops of high concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol in the gap between the frame and the left edge of the battery.

Step 39

Tilt the left side of the phone up to let the isopropyl alcohol flow under the battery.
Wait one minute for the alcohol to soften the adhesive.

Step 40

Take care not to puncture or bend the battery—it can leak dangerous chemicals and/or catch fire.
Apply a suction cup to the battery, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the battery and the frame.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Step 41

Rotate the opening pick so its long edge sits in the gap.

Step 42

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force while also prying up with the opening pick to separate the battery from the frame.
If you're feeling a lot of resistance, apply a few more drops of isopropyl alcohol and try again.
Depending on the condition of your adhesive, you might need to repeat the alcohol and prying cycle a few times before the battery adhesive yields.

Step 43

If your bottom interconnect cable is still taped down, remove the tape now.
Lift the battery out its recess and remove it.
During reassembly, if your adhesive is still intact and sticky, you can reuse it. Otherwise, follow this guide to replace the adhesive with custom cut strips.
If you don't have custom cut adhesive strips, use double-sided tape, like Tesa Tape, to secure the battery to the frame.

Conclusion

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

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.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

151892 Reputation

Google Pixel Fold Flip Battery Replacement

Introduction

Parts

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