Google Pixel 4 Side Buttons Replacement

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim

Comments: 14

Difficulty

Moderate

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.

Use this guide to replace the flex cable for the power and volume side buttons in your Google Pixel 4.

For your safety, discharge your battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair.

This procedure will almost always destructively remove the Pixel 4’s side button flex cable. The cable is strongly adhered to the phone’s midframe and will usually come out in pieces. Before you begin this procedure, be sure to have replacement parts.

Caution: Google warns that disassembly of the front laser assembly could result in hazardous exposure to invisible infrared laser emissions. Read their safety warnings here.

Warning: Do not reuse the battery if it has been deformed or damaged, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.

Tools

Step 1

Insert a SIM eject tool, bit, or a straightened paper clip into the small hole on the SIM card tray on the left edge of the phone.
Press firmly to eject the tray.
Remove the SIM card tray.

Step 2

Prepare an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the back panel for one minute.
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 3

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back panel by pressing down on it to create suction, as close to the edge as possible.
If your back glass 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 broken panel.

Step 4

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the back panel and the frame.
Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply more heat to the edge and try again.
Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 5

Slide the opening pick across the bottom towards the left corner to slice the adhesive.
With the pick still inserted, slide it from the bottom left corner over to the bottom right corner to completely slice the bottom side adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 6

Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the left edge of the phone for one minute.

Step 7

Insert a second opening pick underneath the back panel directly over the charge port.
Slide the opening pick to the bottom left corner of the phone.

Step 8

Slide the opening pick around the bottom left corner and across the left side of the phone to slice the adhesive.
The adhesive can be very gummy. Push the pick in and out in a sawing motion to help with slicing.
Stop when you reach the top left corner, near the camera, and leave the pick inserted.

Step 9

Prepare an iOpener and apply it on the right edge of the phone for one minute.

Step 10

With the first two opening picks still in place, insert a third pick on the lower part of the righthand side.
Slide the opening pick up towards the top of the phone, slicing the right side's adhesive.
Stop when you reach the top right corner, and leave the pick inserted.

Step 11

Slide the third opening pick around the top right corner and across the top side of the phone, slicing the final strip of adhesive.

Step 12

Once you have sliced around the perimeter of the phone, carefully lift the right edge of the back cover, opening it like a book.
Do not try to pull the panel all the way off yet, as it is still connected to the phone.

Step 13

Continue swinging open the back panel until you can rest it on the left edge the phone, being careful not to put any stress on the attached ribbon cable.
During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before re-sealing the back panel. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

At this point I suggest taking a photo of what you're seeing in there. This way you can make sure you put it all back the way it was when you're done.

Brian Wood -

Step 14

Remove the five T3 Torx screws securing the battery connector shield:
Four 4.0 mm screws
One 2.1 mm screw
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement T3 - 2.1mm screw (the one circled in orange)? I lost this screw during the battery replacement. Had it, dogs fought, had to get up to break it up, and couldn’t find it. I swore I put it on the mat, but I couldn’t find it when I got back to the table. :(

Nikki Chan -

Step 15

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the battery connector shield.

Step 16

Whenever you use the spudger near the battery, be very careful not to puncture the battery.
Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard to disconnect the battery.
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. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 17

Using the flat end of a spudger, gently fold the battery cable over so it doesn't accidentally make contact during the rest of your repairs.

Step 18

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 4 mm screws securing the back panel connector cover.

Step 19

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the back panel connector cover.

Step 20

Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry up and disconnect the back panel connector.

Step 21

Remove the back panel.
During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your device.
Follow this guide if you are using a pre-cut adhesive card.

Why does the kit not come with the back panel adhesive?

It's not cheap to get the full kit, and it seems like it's such a small thing to include.

I ended up re-using the existing back panel adhesive and now a bit worried that it's not as strong and I will have issues with water or moisture getting into the device more easily.

Mike Y -

Step 22

Pull on the yellow pull tab of the adhesive strip with steady force.
If the adhesive becomes hard to pull, you can roll it around a spudger and continue pulling.
Continue firmly pulling up on the adhesive strip with constant force. If you're using a spudger, spin it every so often to keep the exposed section of the pull tab as short as possible.
This may take a lot of force.
These adhesive pull tabs are very prone to snapping in half during this process. Pull as slowly as possible.
If the adhesive pull tabs are not stretching, fill a plastic dropper or syringe with high concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and apply a few drops under the left edge of the battery. Give the alcohol a minute to weaken the battery adhesive.
Continue this process for each of the three pull tabs, until all are either out or have snapped in half.

These are basically like command adhesive strips. If you don't get them off by pulling the tab you can pry them up but it is not easy. This is three strips of strong adhesive.

Brian Wood -

I pulled the adhesive strips upwards and they just torn leaving most of the adhesive beneath the battery. Battery is impossible to remove now.

Denys Čumak -

I too have experienced something like that. In this case I followed step 22 below to push the opening pick in and force it away from the adhesive. Some strength will be required. The key is to apply balanced force to prevent the battery from being deformed and damaged.

hedgehog_camara -

Step 23

If the battery tabs snapped during removal, insert an opening pick on the upper right edge of the battery, slicing the adhesive underneath.
Even if you successfully removed all three adhesive pull tabs, using an opening pick to dislodge the battery may be helpful.
Don't insert the opening pick on or anywhere below the grip sensor cable, as the pick can damage the charge port flex cable located underneath the battery.

The grip sensor cable picture here is incorrect for my pixel 4; on mine it runs straight from the connector on the right to the left edge of the case, then makes a 90° turn downward to where it connects to the sensor. The result was that I tore the cable because I was using the picture as a guide. I've taken a picture of the alternative placement on mine and I'll send it to the iFixit people to update this guide.

Dave P Jarzembski Owen - 02/09/23

At the bottom end of the battery there is a thin white antenna cable, somewhat hidden between battery and speaker / charging unit. It is also a bad idea to use a pick on the lower adhesive strip. In my case the cable glued to the rest of the strip and I damaged it when lifting the battery.

David -

Step 24

Do not reuse the battery if it has been deformed or damaged, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.
Lift the battery up and away from the phone to remove it. You may need to peel the battery away from any leftover adhesive tabs.
If there's any alcohol solution remaining in the phone, carefully wipe it off with a lint-free cloth or allow it to air dry before installing your battery.
To install a replacement battery:
If you're using stretch release adhesive, apply them onto the battery. Otherwise, apply some double-sided tape, or pre-cut adhesive strips in the phone's battery well, being careful not to cover the charge port flex cable. Peel away any tape liners to expose the adhesive.
Temporarily re-connect the battery's connector to the motherboard socket. This ensures that the battery is properly positioned.
Lay the battery in place and press firmly.
Disconnect the battery connector from its motherboard socket and resume re-assembly.

There is a better guide for applying the back adhesive. Search out the guide for the pixel 4 back adhesive on this website. It sucks that they didn't include it here, and I messed it up by trying to decipher these generic instructions.

Joe Gaughran -

Thanks for this @joegaughran - saved me a problem. For others, the guide can be found here: How to Replace the Back Panel Adhesive on Your Google Pixel 4

phzdw -

Step 25

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the four 4 mm screws securing the camera connector cover.

Step 26

Using a pair of tweezers, tilt the camera cover up and slide it out of the retaining slot on the upper right corner of the phone to remove.

Step 27

Using the pointed end of a spudger, pry the camera and sensor connectors straight up from the motherboard.

Step 28

Disconnect the additional sensor connector.

Step 29

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.4 mm screws securing the front camera and sensor assembly.

Step 30

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the front camera and sensor assembly.

Step 31

Remove the two T3 Torx screws securing the vibration motor cover:
One 4.2 mm screw
One 4.4 mm shouldered screw

Step 32

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the vibration motor shield.

Step 33

Use the pointed end of a spudger to disconnect the two rear-facing camera connectors from the motherboard.
Disconnect the side buttons connector from the motherboard.

Step 34

Disconnect the earpiece speaker connector from the motherboard.

Step 35

Disconnect the left grip sensor connector from the motherboard.
Disconnect the charge port connector from the motherboard.

Step 36

Disconnect the right grip sensor connector from the motherboard.
Disconnect the display connector from the motherboard.

Step 37

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the antenna connector from the charging assembly by pulling it straight up from the motherboard.

What is it for? The white cable in here.

Haykuhi Arzumanyan -

It is the antenna.

Daniele Carminati -

What kind of antenna is it? Wi-Fi?

net net -

Step 38

Disconnect the bottom microphone connector from the motherboard.

Step 39

Slowly lift out the motherboard, being careful not to snag any ribbon cable connectors.
The rear-facing camera module connectors loop around the motherboard, and the camera module is not secured to the phone, so it may lift out with the motherboard during this step.
Completely remove the motherboard.
When reinstalling the motherboard, check that no ribbon cable connectors are caught underneath.

Step 40

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the rear-facing camera module.

Step 41

Use a pair of tweezers to peel the side button flex cable off of the phone's frame. It is secured with some light adhesive.

Step 42

Continue peeling the flex cable until it is no longer adhered to the back side of the phone.

Step 43

Use a pair of tweezers to peel away the side button flex cable from the button bracket, on the inside edge of the phone's frame.
This process is destructive, so proceed with caution, and have a replacement part ready.
Continue to peel away the flex cable until it is no longer adhered to the button bracket.

Step 44

With the side button flex cable peeled away from the button bracket, completely remove it.
The flex may come out in multiple pieces or rip, so make sure there's nothing left behind.

Step 45

Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 2.4 mm screws securing the button bracket to the frame.

Step 46

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the button bracket.

Step 47

The side button flex cable is adhered to both sides of the button bracket.
Using a pair of tweezers, peel away leftover flex cable that's adhered to the back side of the button bracket.
The cable is in multiple pieces, so make sure there's nothing left behind.
Remove any leftover adhesive before reinstalling a new grip sensor.

Step 48

When reinstalling a new side button flex cable, align the holes in the flex cable with the holes on the button bracket, remove the adhesive backings, and press to secure.
Don't install the new flex cable on the opposite side of the button bracket until you have screwed it back into the phone frame.

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 installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps 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 Answers community for help.

Author

Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 10/03/20

110978 Reputation

One comment

Really nicely written. Great pictures, too. Only thing I see missing is a link to the replacement flex cable part.

Hill Bass -