Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Cable Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch

Comments: 7

Google Pixel 7 Pro 5G mmWave Antenna Cable Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

40 - 50 minutes

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 5G mmWave antenna cable in your Google Pixel 7 Pro.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

Caution: The Pixel 7 Pro contains class 1 lasers. Disassembly could result in exposure to invisible infrared laser emissions.

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.

You'll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.

Tools

Parts

Tesa 61395 Tape

Step 1

Allow your battery to drain below 25% before starting this repair. A charged battery may catch fire if damaged.
Fully power off your phone and unplug any cables.

Step 2

The screen of the Google Pixel 7 Pro is held in place by plastic clips and adhesive. Note the following:
Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. Do not pry at this seam.
Bezel seam: This is where the plastic bezel designed to protect the screen meets the frame. It's held in place by plastic clips. This is where you should pry.
During the removal procedure, make sure to insert your opening picks in the right position to avoid separating the screen from its safety frame.
Only insert the pick up to ~3.5 mm during the removal procedure to avoid damaging the internals and to avoid interfering with the plastic clips.
There are several plastic clips around the whole screen. If your opening pick gets blocked during the screen removal procedure, you've inserted your pick too deep underneath the screen.

About the paragraph:

During the removal procedure, make sure to insert your opening picks in the right position to avoid separating the screen from its safety frame.

It was not clear to me what the safety frame was until I opened the phone; I was careful but while opening the phone I slid a pick between the screen and the frame, and they became separated in one corner, I wonder if this resulted to my screen being damaged after the repair.

An image that shows what the security frame is would be helpful.

Eduardo CGZ - 12/02/23

It is VERY difficult to get an angle into the frame and under the plastic bezel. Since this repair is for a screen, you don't have to worry about damaging it further because you will. I've done dozens of these repairs and have gotten ONE removed without further damage. Just an FYI. I also use 91% alcohol around the edges off the frame as well as heat (I have a hot plate set at 80*c that I lay it on after adding alcohol around the edges, place on hot plate for about 10 minutes, add more alcohol around the edges and then place on hot plate for another 5 minutes).

Gregg Stanley -

Thank you so much for the info about the degrees, amount of time, and when to apply alcohol! I really needed this info!!! Hallelujah!!

Rachel Kelley -

Step 3

The next three steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down three steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
If your screen is cracked, cover it with a layer of clear packing tape to help the suction cup adhere.
Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
Slide the arms over either the left or right edge of your phone.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the phone—one on the front, and one on the back.
Squeeze the cups together to apply suction.
If you find that the surface of your phone is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use tape to create a grippier surface.

The pixel 7 pro kit does not come with the clamp and may have to be purchased separately

juji juman -

Step 4

Pull the blue handle forward to lock the arms.
Turn the handle clockwise 360 degrees or until the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned with each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.

Step 5

Heat an iOpener and thread it through the arms of the Anti-Clamp.
You can also use a hair dryer or heat gun—but extreme heat can damage the display and/or internal battery, so proceed with care.
Fold the iOpener so it lays on the bottom edge of the phone.
Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
Insert an opening pick under the screen frame when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.
Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next two steps.

Step 6

Apply a heated iOpener to the screen to loosen the adhesive underneath. Apply the iOpener for at least 3 minutes.
A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the device. The edge should feel slightly too hot to the touch.

Step 7

Once the screen is warm to the touch, apply a suction handle to the bottom edge of the screen.
If your display 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 screen.
Lift the screen including its safety frame with the suction handle to create a small gap between the screen and the phone assembly.
Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you're having trouble, apply more heat to the bottom edge and try again.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.

The crack on my screen is along the bottom, on a diagonal. I cannot get the suction cup to lift off the edge. I've tried more heat using a hair dryer, using tape, but nothing seems to work! The phone is only a few months old, could that be the issue? I'm really frustrated after trying multiple times throughout the day today.

AMB -

I’m having the same issue unfortunately. I’ve superglued the suction cup and have it under weight. Going to wait 24 hours to see if it helps. Without a proper seal, there’s no way it’s going to lift. I made sure to leave about a half inch gap from the bottom of the phone to try and use the warming pad one more time

Claudio Sandoval -

Step 8

To avoid damaging your phone, don't insert your pick more than ~2.5 mm as you separate the screen adhesive. Note the following areas:
The screen cable is a little less than halfway up the left edge of the phone. Be very careful here to avoid tearing the cable.
There are many spring contacts around the perimeter of the phone. Be very careful in these areas to avoid bending the contacts.

Step 9

Slide the opening pick to the bottom right corner of the screen to slice its adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

is there any top speaker grill/mesh on Pixel 7 pro?

Mostafa Kamel -

Step 10

Insert a second opening pick at the bottom edge and slide it to the bottom left corner of the screen to slice the adhesive.
Leave the opening pick in place to prevent the adhesive from resealing.
There's a plastic clip in the bottom left corner that will block your opening pick. Only use the tip of the opening pick (~1 mm) to work your way around it.

Step 11

Insert a third opening pick underneath the bottom left corner of the screen.
Slide the opening pick along the left edge of the screen to slice the adhesive and to release the plastic clips.
Leave the opening pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 12

If the adhesive becomes hard to cut, it has most likely cooled down. Use your iOpener or heat gun for 1-2 minutes to reheat it.
When you slice near the front facing camera, insert only the tip of the opening pick (~2.5 mm) to avoid damaging or smearing the camera.
Insert a fourth opening pick at the top left corner of the screen.
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 13

Insert a fifth opening pick and slide it along the right edge of the phone to slice the remaining adhesive and release the right plastic clips.
Do not try to remove the display all the way yet, the screen is still connected to the phone assembly by a flex cable.

Step 14

Lift the right edge of the screen up and towards the left side of the device, like opening a book.
Don't twist the screen or move it too far away from the frame to avoid straining or damaging the flex cable.
Rest the screen upside down and parallel to the frame.

Step 15

The display cable bracket sits tightly and requires some force to release it.
Insert one arm of a pair of tweezers into the opening at the upper end of the display cable bracket.
Push the bracket inwards and pry up to release it.

Step 16

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the display cable bracket by pulling it from underneath the midframe and in direction of the camera.

Step 17

Use a spudger to disconnect the display flex 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. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

Step 18

Separate the screen from the phone assembly.
During reassembly:
Check that all screws are tightened and there are no loose parts.
Reconnect the screen and test your phone to make sure it works. Power it back down and continue reassembly.
Apply new adhesive where it's necessary after cleaning the relevant areas with isopropyl alcohol (>90%).
Follow this guide if you're using custom-cut adhesives for your device.
Follow this guide in case you're using a pre-cut adhesive card.
During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Do not touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.

Step 19

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully peel the graphite foil off the battery and midframe.
Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a fire.
If you're having a hard time peeling off the foil, you can apply a heated iOpener to the back of the device for two minutes to loosen its adhesive.

Step 20

Use a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the two 5.1 mm-long screws securing the charging port bracket.

Step 21

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the charging port bracket.

Step 22

Use a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the six 5.1 mm-long screws securing the midframe.

Step 23

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the midframe.
During reassembly check the condition of the thermal pad. If it's damaged, remove the pad, clean the area with high-concentration (greater than 90%) isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber or lint-free cloth, and apply a new thermal pad.

Step 24

Use a spudger to disconnect the battery cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 25

The next seven steps show how to remove the mmWave antenna.
Use a Torx T3 screwdriver to remove the 5.1 mm-long screw securing the mmWave antenna bracket.

Step 26

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the mmWave antenna bracket.

Step 27

Use a spudger to disconnect the mmWave antenna cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.

Step 28

The mmWave antenna cable is held in place by mild adhesive.
Slide an opening pick underneath the mmWave antenna cable starting at its bottom end.
Use the opening pick to separate the mmWave antenna cable from the motherboard.

Step 29

Repeat the previous procedure and use the opening pick to separate the horizontal part of the mmWave antenna cable from the motherboard.

Step 30

Use a pair of tweezers to lift the mmWave antenna including its cable out of its recess.
Remove the mmWave antenna assembly.
During reassembly check the condition of the thermal pad. If it's damaged, remove the pad, clean the area with high-concentration (greater than 90%) isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber or lint-free cloth, and apply a new thermal pad.

Step 31

Use a spudger to disconnect the mmWave antenna cable by prying the connector straight up from its socket.
Separate the mmWave antenna cable from the mmWave antenna.

Step 32

You're now left with the mmWave antenna cable.

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.

To run a diagnostics test with the built-in Pixel Diagnostic tool, click here.

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 Google Pixel 7 Pro answers community for help.