Xiaomi 12 Screen Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch

Comments: 3

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the screen on your Xiaomi 12.

You'll need replacement adhesive for the rear glass and the screen in order to complete this repair.

Retaining water resistance after the repair will depend on how well you reapply the adhesive, but your device will lose its IP (Ingress Protection) rating.

Tools

Parts

Tesa 61395 Tape

Step 1

Allow your phone's battery to fully drain before starting repairs. A charged battery may catch fire if damaged during the repair.
Unplug any cables and fully shut down your phone.
Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the rear glass for two minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
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.

Step 2

The adhesive securing the rear glass is strong, and creating a gap requires significant force. If you're having trouble, apply more heat and try again.
If your rear glass is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction handle to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction handle. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction handle to the broken rear glass.
Apply a suction handle to the center of the rear glass's bottom edge, as close to the edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the rear glass and frame.
Insert an opening pick where the charging port is located.

Step 3

During the following steps, don't insert your pick more than 4 mm to avoid damaging internal components.
Slide the opening pick to the bottom right corner of the rear glass to slice its adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 4

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom right corner and slide it to the bottom left corner of the rear glass to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 5

If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, apply your iOpener for 1–2 minutes or use a hair dryer or heat gun to reheat it.
Insert a third opening pick under the bottom left corner of the rear glass.
Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the rear glass to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 6

Insert a fourth opening pick under the top left corner of the rear glass.
Slide the opening pick along the top edge of the phone to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 7

Insert a fifth opening pick under the top right corner of the rear glass and slide it to the bottom right corner to slice the remaining adhesive.

Step 8

Remove the rear glass.
If the rear glass is still stuck to the frame, slide an opening pick around the entire perimeter until the rear glass separates completely.
During reassembly:
This is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
During reassembly, secure the rear glass with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided tape after cleaning the relevant areas with high-concentration isopropyl alcohol (>90%) and a lint-free cloth.
After installing the rear glass, apply strong, steady pressure to your phone for several minutes to help the adhesive form a good bond—a stack of heavy books works well.

Step 9

The charging coil assembly is adhered to the loudspeaker with mild adhesive tape.
Insert an opening pick under the bottom right corner of the charging coil.
Slide the pick toward the charging port to separate the adhesive.
Insert a pick under the bottom left corner of the charging coil and separate its adhesive.
An interconnect cable runs underneath the bottom left corner of the charging coil. Avoid tearing, slicing, or creasing it while separating the adhesive tape.

Step 10

An orange water damage indicator sticker covers a screw on the top edge of the motherboard cover. Pierce through it with your screwdriver or use tweezers to remove it.

Step 11

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the four 5.4 mm-long screws securing the flash connector cover.

Step 12

Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the flash connector cover.

Step 13

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the the flash press connector.

Step 14

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the seven screws securing the motherboard cover:
Five 5.4 mm-long black screws
Two 4.4 mm-long silver screws

Step 15

The motherboard cover is further held in place by plastic clips.
Insert an opening pick under the bottom right corner of the motherboard cover and pry it up.
Slide the pick up along the right edge of the motherboard cover.
Twist the pick to release the remaining clips.

Step 16

Remove the motherboard cover.
The charging coil is attached to the motherboard cover and will lift up at the same time.

Step 17

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect both battery cables by prying the connectors straight up from their sockets.

Step 18

An orange water damage indicator sticker covers a screw on the top edge of the motherboard cover. Pierce through it with your screwdriver or use tweezers to remove it.

Step 19

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the seven 3.4 mm-long screws securing the loudspeaker.

Step 20

Insert the flat end of a spudger under the top edge of the loudspeaker.
Pry upwards to to release the clips securing it to the frame.

Step 21

Remove the loudspeaker.

Step 22

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the display cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
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 23

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen for 5 minutes to loosen the adhesive underneath.
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.

Step 24

The adhesive securing the screen is extremely strong, and creating a gap requires significant force. If you're having trouble, apply more heat and try again.
Like the rear glass, if your screen is badly cracked, covering it with a layer of clear packing tape may allow the suction handle to adhere. Alternatively, very strong tape may be used instead of the suction handle. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction handle to the broken screen.
Apply a suction handle to the center of the screen's top edge, as close to the edge as possible.
Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and frame.
Insert an opening pick between the screen and the frame, near the earpiece speaker cutout.

Step 25

During the following steps, don't insert your opening pick more than 4 mm to avoid damaging internal components.
Slide the pick to the top left corner of the screen to slice its adhesive.
Leave the pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 26

Insert a second opening pick at the top left corner and slide it to the top right corner of the screen to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 27

If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, apply your iOpener for 1–2 minutes or use a hair dryer or heat gun to reheat it.
Insert a third opening pick under the top right corner of the screen.
Slide the opening pick along the right edge of the screen to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 28

Insert a fourth opening pick under the bottom right corner of the screen.
Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge of the phone to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 29

Insert a fifth opening pick under the bottom left corner of the screen and slide it along the left edge of the phone to slice the remaining adhesive.
Don't try to remove the display all the way yet, as the display cable is still threaded through the midframe.

Step 30

There are thick patches of adhesive around the corners of the screen that need to be further softened before you can remove the screen.
Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the screen for 2 minutes to loosen 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.
Lift the screen off of the frame until it separates from the thicker adhesive patches. Don‘t try to separate the screen completely before the display cable is freed in the next step.
If the screen is still stuck to the frame, slide an opening pick around the entire perimeter until the screen separates completely.

Step 31

Flip the phone over, screen-side down.
Lift the bottom edge of the phone and carefully thread the display cable through its gap in the frame.

Step 32

Remove the screen.
During reassembly:
If your screen didn‘t come with preinstalled adhesive, secure the screen with custom-cut adhesive or pre-cut double-sided adhesive tape.
After installing the display, apply strong, steady pressure to the perimeter of the replacement screen for several minutes to help the adhesive form a good bond—a stack of heavy books works well.

Conclusion

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.

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 Xiaomi 12 answers community for help.