Pixel 4 - Replacing the cameras

Switch off pixel 4 before starting the repair.

1. Hold down the standby button on the right side for a few seconds and confirm the shutdown on the screen.

The Google Pixel 4 is opened via the back side made of glass. The so-called back cover is firmly glued to the frame of the display. To remove the back cover you need hot air and different opening tools. We recommend picks and an iFlex or iPlastix.

1. Use a heat gun or hair dryer to heat the edge of the device evenly for several minutes. This makes it easier to remove the adhesive from the back cover. Just heat up until you can touch the device with your fingers without burning yourself. Heat mostly the edge and not the middle of the device, where the battery is located.
2. Then place the suction cup on the bottom of the back cover and pull while pressing the device down.
3. Push a tool into the gap that is now created between the back cover and the frame. If you can't get a plectrum in between, you can use a tool specially designed for this purpose, such as the iFlex. Be careful not to scratch the frame or back cover with the blade of the iFlex.
4. Then heat up every part of the edge of the back cover and move the plectrum or iFlex along the edge of the back cover to gradually loosen the glue.
5. You can use several picks to prevent the glue from rebonding in areas that have already been loosened.

Don't push your tool too far into the device to avoid damaging the components inside.

1. When all the glue is loose, lift the backcover just a little. The flashlight and a microphone are still connected via a flex cable. Fold the backcover over and carefully place it on the device.

• 2 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• Connector

The connector of the flexible cable is secured with a cover plate.

Inside the Google Pixel 4 there are only Torx T3 screws used. Make sure to use a suitable and high-quality screwdriver to avoid damaging the screw heads.

1. Loosen the two screws and remove the cover plate.
2. Separate the connector with a spudger.

Before you disconnect connectors from the motherboard, always take a closer look at the area around the connector. Often there are small components right next to the connectors on the board. If possible, always lever with the spudger at a place where there are no components to minimize the risk of damage.

1. If the contact is loose you can put the backcover aside.

• 4 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• 1 × 2,0 mm Torx T3
• Battery connector

1. Remove the screws of the cover plate over the battery connector.

The screws are of different lengths. Be careful not to mix them up or mix them with other screws from the device. The easiest way to do this is with an iDoc magnetic mat. You can place the screws and the cover plate on the mat as they are located in the device. Because of the magnetic adhesion the screws do not shift so easily and will not get lost.

1. Remove the cover plate and separate the battery contact with a spudger.

Make sure to always separate connectors with a plastic tool in order not to cause short circuits or damage small components on the board.

• 4 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• 2 × 2,3 mm Torx
• Connector

1. Loosen the four screws of the cover plate above the contacts of the front camera and sensor module and remove the plate.
2. Carefully separate the three connectors from the main board with a spudger.
3. Unscrew the two other screws that secure the entire module.
4. Gently lever in several places until you can remove the module.

• 1 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• 1 × 4,4 mm Torx T3

1. Loosen the two Torx T3 screws of the lower cover plate and take it out.
2. Disconnect all connectors and the antenna cable from the main board.

Always take care when loosening the connectors. Lever with the spudger where there are no small components on the board. Be very careful when unplugging the connectors to avoid damaging anything on the main board.

1. Disconnect the antenna contact by moving a pair of tweezers under the cable and levering carefully.
2. Then remove the SIM card holder from the device.
3. Remove the two glued yellow tabs from the main board.
4. Check again that you have really removed all connectors and then carefully lift the board out of the device. Make sure that the board does not get trapped by a flexible cable.
5. Finally, take out the dual camera which still lies in the device.

1. If your replacement camera has protective film over the lenses, remove it now.
2. Check the outside of your new camera for perfect condition.
3. In the further course of the repair, make sure not to leave any fingerprints on the lenses.
4. Before you close the unit with the backcover again, make sure that there is no dust on the cameras or on the inside of the backcover.

• Connectors
• 1 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• 1 × 4,4 mm Torx T3

1. First place the dual camera on the white surface inside the device.
2. Then bend all the flex cables to the side so that you don't pinch any cables underneath the main board when inserting the main board.
3. Then slowly insert the main board into the unit past all cables.
4. First place it at the bottom and then push it into the frame at the side.

Make sure that the PCB is correctly positioned before connecting all connectors.

1. Insert the SIM card holder. It should not encounter any major resistance, otherwise the board is probably not yet seated correctly.
2. Then connect all connectors one by one. Take your time and proceed carefully.
3. Connect the antenna contact by holding and positioning the white antenna with the tweezers. Then use a spudger to press the contact onto the socket on the board.
4. Finally put on the cover plate and screw it on.

• Connector
• 4 × 4,0 mm Torx T3

Make sure that there is no dust on the front camera/sensor unit or inside the device.

1. Insert the front camera/sensor module into the device.
2. Press it down until it is properly seated.
3. Then reconnect all three connectors.
4. Put the cover plate on and screw it down.

The cover plate must be hooked into the top right of the frame.

To install and to be able to remove the battery later again you need new adhesive strips.

The adhesive strips should be cut and placed so that they correspond to the position of the original strips. The adhesive strips should not be placed over the flexible cables in the housing of the smartphone.

1. First check that there is no adhesive residue on the back of the battery or inside the device.
2. Pull off the transparent protective foil of the adhesive strips and attach the adhesive strips to the battery. Make sure that the black tabs protrude.
3. Fold the black tabs and stick them to the top of the battery.
4. Then remove the blue protective film and place the battery in the device.
5. Make sure that there is enough room on all sides and that it does not get jammed. The battery contact should be directly above its connector on the main board.

• 4 × 4,0 mm Torx T3
• 1 × 2,0 mm Torx T3

1. Connect the battery contact. Make sure that it is properly seated before you press it firmly. Do not slide the connector over the socket on the circuit board.
2. Put the cover plate on and screw it in place.

One of the screws is shorter. Be careful not to mix them up!

Test your Google Pixel 4 extensively before you finally close it.

1. Place the back cover on the device and connect the connector of the flexible cable.
2. Close the back cover and switch on the device.
3. You can test the touchscreen by sliding an app along the entire edge and zigzagging across the screen. If it always follows your finger, the touchscreen should not have any glitches.
4. Check the brightness, contrast and sharpness of the screen.

Also test the following functions:

• Main camera and front camera.
• Microphones (telephone, video recording)
• Wireless charging
• Unlocking via face recognition
• Speaker

1. If everything works, switch off the device and disconnect the flex cable again.

In order to close the Google Pixel 4 correctly, we recommend to use a new adhesive frame.

We have used the adhesive frame of the Pixel 3 on the pictures here, because at the time of production of this guide there was no adhesive frame available for the Pixel 4. But the procedure is the same.

1. First remove all old glue residues on the back cover and the frame.
2. Find out the correct position of the adhesive frame by placing it provisionally in the unit. You can see the correct alignment by the openings for the cameras and at the upper and lower edges.
3. Remove the white protective film from the edges and place the adhesive frame on one side of the frame.
4. Slowly let the adhesive frame glide onto the entire frame and always make sure that it lies correctly and does not protrude.
5. Then press the adhesive firmly onto the edge of the frame. You can use a spudger to help you do this and go along the entire edge once.
6. Peel off the rest of the protective film and the entire carrier layer in the middle.
7. Finally, check that the glue is correctly positioned. It should not protrude or wrinkle at any point. If necessary, correct the adhesive in such places.

• 2 × 4,0 mm Torx T3

1. Place the back cover on the device and connect the connector of the flexible cable.
2. Put the cover on and screw it on.

1. Slowly fold the back cover over and position it on the frame of the device.
2. Do not let it touch the frame and the glue until it is exactly centered.
3. Then press the backcover along the entire edge of the frame so that the adhesive bonds everywhere.
4. Finally, you can heat the device a little and then weigh it down with a few books or fix it with clamps for half an hour. That way the glue bonds best.