How to Apply Rear Cover Adhesive in Your Google Pixel 7a

Written By: Clay Eickemeyer

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 45 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.

Follow this guide to apply new adhesive in your Google Pixel 7a following a repair.

Follow this guide to remove the rear cover, if you haven't done so already.

Use the point of a spudger to scrape up an edge of the rear cover adhesive from the frame until you have a large enough clump to grab on to.
Use tweezers or your fingers to peel the adhesive from the entire perimeter of the frame.
Remove the adhesive from the antenna housing.

Be careful not to touch the lens covers on your rear cover. If they're dirty, wipe them with a clean and dry microfiber cloth.
If you're reusing your rear cover, remove any old adhesive:
If necessary, soften the adhesive near the camera bar with a heated iOpener or hair dryer.
Use your finger to roll the adhesive strips until you can grab them.
Peel the adhesive strips from the rear cover.

Use a pipette or syringe to apply a few drops of highly-concentrated isopropyl alcohol (over 90%) to the perimeter of the rear cover and the antenna housing.
Wipe any adhesive residue away using a microfiber or lint-free cloth.
If you're reusing your rear cover, clean it just as you did the frame.

If you have a new rear cover, your part may come with the lower and top rear cover adhesive pre-installed and you can skip down two steps to apply the perimeter adhesive.
Remove the long, thin strip of rear cover adhesive from its liner.
Place the adhesive onto the logic board cover, just below the rear cameras.

Before installing new adhesive, it's helpful to make sure both the phone and adhesive sheet are aligned and ready to go.
Orient your replacement adhesive over the frame so that its pull tabs are in the upper right corner.

The perimeter adhesive is difficult to align and can't be adjusted after it adheres. Work slowly and make sure the edges stay lined up with the frame as you go.
Peel the bottom edge of the rear cover perimeter adhesive from its liner. Leave the rest of the liner in place to protect it while you lay the adhesive down.
Hold the large liner out of the way and align the bottom edge of the adhesive with the frame.
Press the bottom edge of the adhesive into place.

Slowly peel the large liner from the adhesive and work up the frame, laying the long edges of the adhesive into place as you go.
Before placing the top edge of the adhesive, fully remove the liner.
The adhesive may stretch or compress before reaching the top edge. Adjust it to fit the top edge if it comes out of alignment.
Press the top edge of the adhesive into place.

Use the flat end of your spudger to press around the entire perimeter of the adhesive to strengthen its bond to the frame.
Peel the large blue adhesive liner from the frame.

If you have a new rear cover, you only have the perimeter adhesive liner to remove.
Use tweezers or your fingers to grab the pull tabs and remove all three liners from the adhesives on the frame:
The strip above the rear cameras
The strip below the rear cameras
The thin perimeter adhesive

Align the rear cover over the frame and press it into place.
Firmly press around the perimeter of the rear cover to secure it.
To further strengthen the adhesive bond, lightly heat it with a hair dryer or heat gun before pressing around the rear cover's perimeter.

Conclusion

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Answers community for help.

Member since: 19/09/22

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