The camera can't focus or has pixel errors.

With photos and videos you can capture your best moments in life. Spontaneous snapshots work best with your Google Pixel 4, because you always have your camera at hand. But if it doesn't focus properly, your photos get blurry or you have stains on the lens or viewfinder, it may need to be repaired.

With the help of these guidelines, you can replace your defective camera yourself. Step by step, detailed images show you how to remove the mainboard from the device to reach the cameras. Since the back is made of glass and fixed with glue, this repair is not easy. Nevertheless: If you take the step to repair it yourself, you will be independent from expensive repair services and workshops with long waiting times.

You have questions during the camera change? Just contact our technicians and the community via the comment function! Of course we are also happy about feedback on the manual.

Required tools

  • Flat Picks

    Flat Picks

    You need a very flat tool such as a flat pick to pry out parts that are glued in place.

    €5.00 at the iDoc store
  • Heat gun

    Heat gun

    You can use a heat gun to heat parts that are glued on so they’re easier to remove. In most cases, you can also use a hairdryer.

    from €14.47 on Amazon
  • For storing screws

    For storing screws

    We recommend storing your screws so you don’t mix up the various screws and small parts.

    €10.00 at the iDoc store
  • iFlex Opening Tool

    iFlex Opening Tool

    Opening your smartphone can be a very delicate operation, especially if the glue is very persistent. The blade of the flexible but sturdy iFlex measures just 0.15 mm, so it fits in even the smallest gaps, such as between the screen and the frame. The practical iFlex is made of stainless steel and sits comfortably in the hand. This makes it the perfect assistant for every smartphone repair.

    €10.00 at the iDoc store
  • Tweezers

    Tweezers

    We recommend using tweezers to remove screws and various small parts from your device.

    €11.00 at the iDoc store
  • Plastic prying tool

    Plastic prying tool

    You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.

    €2.00 at the iDoc store
  • Steel Laboratory Spatula

    Steel Laboratory Spatula

    You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.

    €4.00 at the iDoc store
  • Wiha PicoFinish Torx Screwdriver T3

    Wiha PicoFinish Torx Screwdriver T3

    €12.00 at the iDoc store
Show all replacement parts for the Pixel 4 

Passendes Werkzeug

Mit unserem Werkzeug gelingt dir die Reparatur.

Getting started with the repair of your Pixel 4

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

15 steps
  1. Switch off the Pixel 4

    Pixel 4 - Switch off the Pixel 4 01
    Pixel 4 - Switch off the Pixel 4 02
    Pixel 4 - Switch off the Pixel 4 03
    Pixel 4 - Switch off the Pixel 4 04

    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.
  2. Removing the back cover

    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.
  3. Disconnecting the flex cable

    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 01
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 02
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 03
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 04
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 05
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the flex cable 06
    • 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. Disconnecting the battery

    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the battery 01
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the battery 02
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the battery 03
    Pixel 4 - Disconnecting the battery 04
    Used tools
    • 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.

    Used tools
  5. Removing the front camera and sensor module

    • 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.
  6. Removing the mainboard

    • 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.
    Used tools
  7. Preparing the replacement camera

    Pixel 4 - Preparing the replacement camera 01
    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.
  8. The right tools for your repair

    With the right tools, you will succeed in any repair. In our store you will find a large selection of professional quality tools.
    VIEW NOW
  9. Installing the mainboard

    • 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.
  10. Installing the front camera and sensor module

    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 01
    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 02
    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 03
    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 04
    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 05
    Pixel 4 - Installing the front camera and sensor module 06
    • 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.

  11. Installing the battery

    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 01
    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 02
    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 03
    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 04
    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 05
    Pixel 4 - Installing the battery 06

    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.
  12. Connecting the battery

    Pixel 4 - Connecting the battery 01
    Pixel 4 - Connecting the battery 02
    Pixel 4 - Connecting the battery 03
    • 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!

  13. Testing the Google Pixel 4

    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 01
    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 02
    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 03
    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 04
    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 05
    Pixel 4 - Testing the Google Pixel 4 06

    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.
  14. Attaching the adhesive frame

    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.
  15. Connecting the flex cable

    Pixel 4 - Connecting the flex cable 01
    Pixel 4 - Connecting the flex cable 02
    Pixel 4 - Connecting the flex cable 03
    Pixel 4 - Connecting the flex cable 04
    • 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.
  16. Attaching the back cover

    Pixel 4 - Attaching the back cover 01
    Pixel 4 - Attaching the back cover 02
    Pixel 4 - Attaching the back cover 03
    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.
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