Google Pixel 8 Front Camera Replacement

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 2

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 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 front camera in your Google Pixel 8.

If your front-facing photos are blurry, have spots, or the camera doesn’t work, it might be time to replace the front camera.

You'll need replacement screen adhesive to complete this repair.

Note: This guide was made with the 5G mmWave antenna model of the Pixel 8. If you have the non-mmWave version, you can still use this guide—just skip the steps that mention the 5G mmWave antenna.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Let your Pixel's battery drain below 25% before starting this repair. A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.
Unplug all cables from your phone.
Completely power off your phone.
Press the power and volume up buttons at the same time to bring up the shutdown menu.

Step 2

You'll be using opening picks to separate the screen from the frame. If inserted too far, a pick can damage your device. Follow this step to mark your pick and prevent damage.
Measure 3 mm from the tip and mark the opening pick with a permanent marker.
Alternatively, tape a coin to a pick 3 mm from the tip.

Step 3

Adhesive and clips secure the screen to the frame. Heating the screen softens the adhesive, making it easier to separate.
Heat an iOpener and lay it on the bottom edge of the screen for two minutes to soften the adhesive.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the screen and/or battery.

Ich habe gerade sehr gute Erfahrungen mit einer schlichten "nackten" Wärmflasche mit fast kochendem Wasser gemacht. Handy mit dem Display drauf, ein Handtuch drüber, 1-2 Minuten warten, und los geht's. Es wird gleichmäßig erwärmt und keine Gefahr der Überhitzung.

Paul Sommer -

Step 4

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.
Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the Anti-Clamp's arms.
Place your phone screen side up on an object so it will rest level between the Anti-Clamp's arms—the bottom edge should be hanging off.
Slide the arms over the left edge of your phone, so you have access to the bottom edge.
Position the suction cups as close to the center of the bottom edge as possible.
Squeeze the cups together to create suction.

Step 5

Pull the handle forward to lock the arms.
Turn the handle clockwise one full turn (360 degrees), or until the suction cups begin to stretch.
As the cups stretch, make sure they stay aligned with each other. If they keep slipping, remove the Anti-Clamp and apply tape for the cups to stick to.

Step 6

Wait one minute for a gap to form between the screen and frame.
If the adhesive doesn't separate, twist the handle clockwise one quarter turn and wait another minute. Apply more heat if the screen cools down.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.
Don't insert your opening pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the spring contacts.
Pull the blue handle backwards to unlock the arms and remove the Anti-Clamp using the pull tabs on the suction cups.
Skip the next two steps

Step 7

Apply a suction handle to the center of the screen's bottom edge.

Step 8

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force until a gap forms between the screen and frame.
If you're having trouble creating a gap, apply more heat and try again.
Insert an opening pick into the gap.

Step 9

To avoid damaging your phone, don't insert your pick more than 3 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.

I've had 2 devices from Google, both make a creaking snapping noise on the left side of the display above the sim. Clearly it's a design issue and wonder if it could be fixed.

Jon Kujawa - 08/01/24

Step 10

Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge to separate the adhesive securing it.
Leave the pick in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 11

Apply a heated iOpener to the right edge of the screen for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the screen and/or battery.

Step 12

Insert a second opening pick under the bottom right corner of the screen.
Slide the new pick to the top right corner to separate the adhesive securing the screen's right edge.
Leave the pick in the top right corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 13

Insert a third opening pick under the bottom edge of the screen.
Slide the new pick to the bottom left corner.
Leave the pick in the bottom left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 14

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the screen for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the screen and/or battery.

Step 15

Insert a fourth opening pick under the bottom left corner of the screen.
Slide the new pick to the top left corner to separate the adhesive securing the screen's left edge.
Leave the pick in the top left corner to prevent the adhesive from resealing.

Step 16

Apply a heated iOpener to the top edge of the screen for two minutes.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be careful as extreme heat can damage the screen and/or battery.

Step 17

Insert a fifth opening pick under the top edge of the screen, near the left corner.
Slide the opening pick to the top right corner to separate the adhesive securing the screen's top edge.

Step 18

Place a small box or stack of books to the left of your phone so you can prop up the screen while disconnecting its cable.
Swing up the right edge of the screen like the front cover of a book.
Be careful not to strain the screen cable.
If the screen feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with an opening pick to separate any remaining adhesive.
Prop up the screen so you can access the screen cable.

Step 19

Use an opening pick to pry up the upper edge of the screen cable cover.
Remove the cover.

Step 20

Insert the point of a spudger under the top left corner of the screen's press connector.
Gently pry up and disconnect the cable.
To re-attach press connectors, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't press down in the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.

Step 21

Remove the screen.
During reassembly:
If you replaced your screen, check the front-facing camera hole on your replacement screen and remove any remaining liners.
Remember to reinstall the screen cable cover.
This is a good point to test your phone before sealing it up. Temporarily connect your screen, power on your phone, and make sure it works as expected. Before continuing with reassembly, power off your phone and disconnect the screen.
Follow this guide to replace your screen adhesive.
If you're installing a new screen, follow this guide to calibrate the fingerprint sensor.

Step 22

Use the point of the spudger to pry up and disconnect the 5G mmWave antenna cable from the logic board.

Step 23

The 5G mmWave antenna cable is secured to the midframe with adhesive in two places.
Heat an iOpener and lay it on the left edge of the phone for two minutes to soften the cable adhesive.
Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate—but be careful as, extreme heat can damage the battery.

Step 24

Insert an opening pick under the 5G mmWave antenna cable's bottom section of adhesive.
Slide the pick toward the top edge of the phone to separate the adhesive.

Step 25

Repeat the previous step for the upper section of adhesive.

Step 26

Move the 5G mmWave antenna cable over the top of the phone to keep it out of the way.
Don't fold or crease the cable—just move it enough so it doesn't interfere with disassembly.

Step 27

A large graphite sheet must be removed and replaced to complete this repair. It connects the upper part of the battery, midframe, and the rear cameras.
Insert the point of a spudger under the top right corner of the graphite sheet and lift until you can grip the sheet with your fingers.
Peel up and remove the entire graphite sheet.
If your sheet tears, don't worry! Grip the torn parts and remove the sheet in sections.
During reassembly, do not reuse the old graphite sheet. Follow this guide to replace the sheet.

Step 28

A plastic buffer is lightly adhered to the midframe and bottom speaker.
Slide the tip of an opening pick under the plastic buffer until you can grip it with tweezers or your fingers.

Step 29

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to peel off and remove the plastic buffer from the midframe and the bottom speaker.

Step 30

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
While the Pixel 8 uses Torx Plus screws, standard Torx bits will also work. Make sure to apply constant, downward force to prevent stripping.
Use a T3 Torx driver to remove the two 5 mm‑long 3IP Torx Plus screws securing the USB‑C port bracket.

Step 31

Use tweezers, or your fingers, to remove the USB-C port bracket.

Step 32

During reassembly, follow this step to replace the plastic shim that runs across the bottom of the midframe and loudspeaker. If you don't have a replacement, press the old one back into place.
Remove the clear liner from the shim.
Use the markings on the midframe to align the left side of the shim and press it into place.
Use the flat end of a spudger to firmly press down along the whole shim to secure it.
Remove the blue liner.

Step 33

Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the eight 5.1 mm‑long 3IP Torx Plus screws securing the midframe.

Step 34

The center of the midframe is lightly bonded to a thermal pad.
Slide the flat end of a spudger under the bottom right corner of the midframe to separate it from the thermal pad.
You'll feel the midframe loosen once it separates completely.

Step 35

Lift the midframe off the frame and remove it.
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 36

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

Step 37

Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the front camera press connector from the logic board.

Step 38

The front camera cable is lightly adhered to the earpiece speaker.
Slide an opening pick under the front camera cable to separate the adhesive.
During reassembly, reuse your old adhesive if it's still sticky. If not, use a double-sided tape like Tesa Tape to resecure the front camera.

Step 39

The 5G mmWave antenna cable overlaps the bottom edge of the front camera.
Move the antenna cable toward the right edge of the phone to free the front camera.
Remove the front camera.
During reassembly, make sure the front camera rests properly in its recess and under the antenna cable.