Google Pixel 9a Battery Replacement

Written By: Spencer Day

Comments: 0

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

Time Required

1 - 3 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.

Follow this guide to remove or replace the battery in your Google Pixel 9a.

All smartphone batteries have limited lifespans. If your phone doesn't hold a charge or dies unexpectedly, it might be time to replace the battery.

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

This procedure requires clamping your phone to your workspace. If you don't have clamps, you'll need a second person to secure the phone.

You'll need replacement battery and rear cover adhesives to complete this repair.

Note: Any repair can compromise the water resistance of your phone. Retaining water resistance after the repair depends on how accurately the new adhesives are applied and how clean the mating surfaces are.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Let your Pixel's battery drain completely (until it dies) before starting this repair. A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.
Unplug all cables from your phone.

Step 2

Adhesive secures the rear cover to the frame. Heating the cover softens the adhesive, making it easier to separate.
Use a hair dryer to heat the entire rear cover.
Only heat your phone so it's just hot to the touch. Extreme heat can damage the rear cover, screen, or battery.

Step 3

Apply a suction handle near the center of the rear cover's right edge, as close to the edge as possible.

Step 4

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force until a gap forms between the cover and frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 5

The rear cover is secured with adhesive around the perimeter of the frame and near the cameras. Use this picture as a reference while you separate the adhesive.
When separating the left and right edge adhesive, don't insert your pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the wireless charging coil and its graphite film.

Step 6

If you ever have trouble separating the adhesive, apply more heat and try again.
Slide the opening pick up the right edge, around the top right corner, and along the top edge to separate the adhesive securing the rear cover.

Step 7

Insert an opening pick in the initial gap you created near the center of the rear cover's right edge.
Slide the opening pick down the right edge, along the bottom edge, and up the left edge to separate the adhesive securing the cover.

Step 8

Insert the flat edge of an opening pick under the top of the rear cover's left edge, near the camera bezel.
Twist the pick and apply constant pressure to separate the adhesive around the camera bezel.

Step 9

Remove the rear cover.
If you feel resistance, go back around the perimeter of the cover and use a pick to separate any remaining adhesive.

Step 10

If the camera bezel detached from the rear cover and stayed stuck to your phone, follow this step to remove it. Otherwise, skip this step.
Slide an opening pick under the camera bezel and pry up to remove it.
Only insert the pick a few millimeters under the bezel, or you risk damaging the cameras.
If you're having trouble, lightly heat the camera bezel.

Step 11

Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove the 16 screws securing the wireless charging assembly:
Thirteen 5.0 mm‑long screws
Three 2.2 mm‑long screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your phone.

Step 12

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and unclip the wireless charging assembly from the two cutouts—one to the right of the charge port, and another on the left edge just below the camera.

Step 13

Remove the wireless charging assembly.

Step 14

Be careful not to damage the battery with your tools while disconnecting it.
Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to remove the 1.7 mm‑long screw securing the battery connector cover.

Step 15

Use tweezers to lift and remove the battery connector cover.

Step 16

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

Step 17

The side button cable is delicate—be careful not to damage it.
Use your fingernail or a spudger to gently peel up the side button cable and flip it over the side of your phone.
If you use a spudger, be very careful not to poke the battery.

Step 18

Use your fingers to peel up the two plastic tabs near the bottom edge of the battery.
Fold the tabs under the phone or tape them out of the way so they don't warp when heating the battery in the next step.
Wear finger stalls to help get a solid grip on the battery pull tabs in the next few steps.
If you don't have finger stalls, use latex/nitrile or rubber gloves instead.

Step 19

Before starting the battery removal process, carefully read the next three steps. The pull tabs are most effective immediately after heating the battery, so you'll want to know exactly what to do before starting the process.
Very strong strips of adhesive secure the battery to the frame. Heating the battery will soften the adhesive underneath, making it easier to separate.
Use a hair dryer on High heat and Low airspeed settings to heat the battery for three minutes, while holding the hair dryer about three inches from the battery, and moving it constantly. Try to evenly spread the heat over the entire surface of the battery—don't hover in one place for too long.
Alternatively, you can use a heat mat at 80 °C (176 °F) with your phone placed screen-side down for 10 minutes.

Step 20

Since the battery pull tabs require two hands, you'll need to firmly secure the phone to your work surface.
Before securing your phone, clean the work surface, making sure nothing is under the screen.
Only secure the phone by the raised lip of the frame, and be very careful not to clamp down on any internal components.
Use F‑Clamps or C‑Clamps to secure the phone to your work surface. At minimum, you'll need two clamps—one for the top edge and one for the bottom edge.
Use clamps with plastic or rubber pads. If using metal clamps, place a cloth between the frame and the clamp to avoid marring the metal frame.
If you don't have any clamps, have a friend hold the phone firmly in place.
Make sure to follow ESD precautions when securing the phone.

Step 21

Pull straight up on the battery pull tabs and apply constant, steady pressure until the battery separates from the frame. Don't yank on the tabs or the may rip.
If the battery doesn't separate after one minute of steady pressure, apply more heat and try again.
Remove the battery.
Never reuse a deformed or damaged battery—it's a fire hazard. Replace it with a new battery.
If you successfully removed the battery, congratulations! Skip down five steps for reassembly information.
If the pull tabs broke or accidentally slipped out from under the battery, don't worry! Go to the next step for an alternate battery removal method.

Step 22

During the next two steps, don't apply more isopropyl alcohol than instructed, or you may damage your screen.
Apply two or three drops of high-concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol to the top right and bottom right corners of the battery.
Wait one minute to allow the alcohol to soften the battery adhesive.

Step 23

Apply a suction handle to the center of the battery, so the vertical arm is facing the right edge.
Insert the short edge of a plastic card between the right edge of the battery and the logic board, so the card is near the upper section of the battery.

Step 24

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force and pry up with the plastic card until it slides under the battery.
It takes time and constant pressure to get the plastic card under the battery.
Continue pulling up on the suction handle and slide the plastic card fully under the battery to separate its adhesive.

Step 25

Use the suction handle to lift and remove the battery.

Step 26

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your phone.

Step 27

Use a spudger and tweezers to remove all the old battery adhesive from the frame.
The adhesive can be tricky to remove. Use your spudger to roll the adhesive into bigger clumps that you can peel up slowly with tweezers.

Step 28

Use high‑concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filters) to clean up and remove all the old adhesive residue from the frame.
Apply isopropyl alcohol sparingly—too much can damage the display.

Step 29

Remove the larger, clear liner from your replacement battery adhesive.
Lay the adhesive into the battery recess so the strips align with their contours on the frame.

Step 30

Use your fingers or a spudger to firmly press the adhesive into place, securing it to the frame.

Step 31

Peel up and remove the remaining liner.

Step 32

The side button cable is delicate—be careful not to damage it.
Gently flip the side button cable over the frame so it doesn't get stuck between the side of the battery and the frame in the next step.

Step 33

Hold the battery above its recess and use your finger to push down and reconnect the battery press connector.
Temporarily reconnecting the battery ensures that it's sitting properly in its recess.
Lay the battery into its recess and press down firmly to secure it to the adhesive.
Once the battery's in place, disconnect it while you continue reassembly.

Step 34

Use your finger to flip the side button cable onto the battery and gently press down to secure it with its tape.

Step 35

Use a spudger to scrape up and remove the six small pieces of adhesive around the rear cameras.
Use high‑concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter) to clean up and remove any residue from the adhesives that were removed.

Step 36

Remove the larger, clear liner from the inner housing adhesive and lay it in place around the camera holes.
Use the cutouts for the small silver pads to help align the adhesive.
Use the flat end of a spudger to firmly push down on each piece of adhesive, securing them in place.
Remove the colored liner using the pull tab on the top edge.
If the adhesive starts to pull up with the liner, lay it back in place and use your spudger to secure it again.

Step 37

Use a spudger to firmly press down on each of the six pieces of inner housing adhesive to secure them.
These pieces of adhesive can easily be pulled up when removing the final liners, so make sure they're firmly in place.

Step 38

Use your finger to align the battery press connector over its socket and press down to connect it.
Don't try to force the connector into place. If you're having trouble, reposition it and try again.

Step 39

Use tweezers to hook the left edge of the battery connector cover into place, then lay the cover down flat.

Step 40

Use a 3IP Torx Plus screwdriver to install the 1.7 mm‑long screw securing the battery connector cover.

Step 41

Place the wireless charging assembly onto the frame.

Step 42

Use your fingers to firmly press around the perimeter of the wireless charging assembly to re‑engage all of its clips.

Step 43

Use a Torx Plus 3IP screwdriver to install the 16 screws securing the wireless charging assembly:
Thirteen 5.0 mm‑long screws
Three 2.2 mm‑long screws

Step 44

Take your time during the next two steps. A clean frame allows replacement adhesive to lay evenly, ensuring a better bond.
Use a spudger and tweezers to scrape up and remove all the old rear cover adhesive from the perimeter of your phone.
If you scrape up a piece big enough to grip with your fingers, you can pull long sections of the adhesive up. Pull slowly and straight in the opposite direction of the adhesive.

Step 45

Using some high-concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter), clean the areas of the frame where the adhesive was.

Step 46

Before applying the rear cover adhesive, make sure you know how it will sit on the frame. If you apply the adhesive incorrectly, you'll need to restart with new adhesive.
Hold the adhesive above the frame to find its orientation. Use the camera cutout in the liner to help visualize how it will lay on the frame.

Step 47

Peel down the top half of the large, clear liner to expose the adhesive—don't fully remove the liner yet.

Step 48

Take your time aligning the adhesive with the frame—it's very sticky and can't be moved once you apply it.
With the larger, clear liner folded towards the bottom of the phone, lay the exposed top edge of the adhesive onto the frame.
Use the lip of the frame to help align the adhesive.
Once the top edge is properly aligned, gently press down on the top corners with your fingers to secure the adhesive.

Step 49

Slowly lay the rest of the adhesive onto the frame, pressing it into place and peeling away the larger liner as you go.

Step 50

Use the pull tab to remove the large, colored liner.

Step 51

Use a spudger to press down firmly on the adhesive around the perimeter of your phone to secure it to the frame.

Step 52

If the camera bezel detached when removing the rear cover, follow the next five steps to install it. Otherwise, skip down five steps.
Use a spudger to scrape up and remove any of the old adhesive from the camera bezel and its corresponding spot on the rear cover.

Step 53

Use high-concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter) to clean up and remove any adhesive residue from the camera bezel and its corresponding spot on the rear cover.

Step 54

Remove the large, clear liner from the camera bezel adhesive.
Put the adhesive over the top of the camera bezel and set it in place.

Step 55

Use a spudger to firmly press around the perimeter of the camera bezel to secure the adhesive.
Remove the second, colored liner from the camera bezel adhesive.

Step 56

Align the camera bezel such that the square foam is closest to the edge.
Use your fingers to press the camera bezel into place on the rear cover, squeezing firmly around the perimeter to secure it with the adhesive.

Step 57

Use the flat end of a spudger to scrape up and remove any all the old adhesive that stayed on the back cover, including the five pieces of small, oval‑shaped adhesive.
If you don't see all the oval adhesives, some might've stuck to the phone frame.

Step 58

Use high‑concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter) to clean up and remove any residue from the adhesives you removed.

Step 59

Remove the larger, clear liner from the back cover inner adhesive.
Lay the adhesive onto the bottom of the back cover, making sure the cutout goes around the camera bezel.

Step 60

Use your fingers or a spudger to firmly push down on the five small adhesives to secure them to the back cover.
Slowly peel up and remove the remaining liner.
If the adhesives start to peel up with the liner, lay it back down and use your spudger to secure the adhesive again.

Step 61

Use the point of a spudger to lift and remove the plastic liners from the adhesive around the rear cameras.
If the adhesive starts to pull up with the liner, lay it back in place and use your spudger to secure it again.