Nexus 5 Back Cover Replacement

Written By: Gaetan

Comments: 17

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

5 minutes

Introduction

This guide shows how to remove the back case from the Nexus 5, giving access to the internal features of the phone. This will take a couple of minutes.

Tools

Parts

Nexus 5 Rear Panel

Step 1

Use a plastic opening tool to free the clips on the top and each side of the back cover.
The bottom is secured with some adhesive foam. You should be able to finally free the back cover using an opening pick. The "snaps" at the bottom edge are more like hinges, so release all others then swing the back cover off outward from the top, and these fasteners will release without breaking.
It's best to avoid prying around the SIM card slot and volume controls, as the plastic in these areas is very thin and likely to break from prying.
When you replace the cover, there is a snap about even with the flash window that must also be attached (one of three that secure the back cover to the midframe). Qi (wireless) charging may not work if this isn't secure. Apply gentle but firm pressure over the "S" in "Nexus" and slide your thumb up towards the top, and the snap will engage.

Wireless QI and NFC.

Once I have put everything together with the new battery in place, I have as last replaced the plastic back cover, snapping all the clips back around the edges of the phone. Alas, I was quick to realise the QI Wireless charging has ceased to work.

I almost blamed the battery, or worse, me.

QUICK TIP: there is actually another clip in the middle of the plastic back cover - just press with your thumb just above the 'S' in NEXUS emblem and, voila! Snaps back in.

Wireless charge and NFC - works, once again.

cwioro - 21/02/15

you just saved me like 30 bucks. thank you so much.

Robert Nolan - 04/06/15

+ 1, had the same issue and pressing just near the S fixed it! Thanks a lot!

nicco82 - 12/07/15

Just a me too, I had to press above the S and it was quite a snap

Erik Karlin - 23/09/15

There seems to be two contacts that snap into place. One is in line with the led pretty much in the middle of the phone and the second one in line with the camera lens on the opposite side to the lens. The middle one for me snapped pretty lightly, but the side one required a bit more pressure. After that the nfc started working again. Thanks for posting this!

Dennis Millner - 27/07/16

Is it hard to remove the battery door? Worried I might damage it.

Ash - 26/02/15

When I openend the back cover I damaged two clips. One about 2.5cm (1 inch) below the volume controls and one on the other side about same height. The cover fits good without those two but on one side there is a small gap where the clip broke. But I have a hard cover protector on my phone so it's not that bad.

simonlwheeler - 18/06/15

The case around the sim slot is pretty thin and easy to break, best to avoid using the pry tool at this point.

Aled Morris - 04/07/15

Excellent tip, should be included in the main guide.

fprades - 24/01/16

Hey Author, i need to ur expert advice...i replaced my nexus 5's back cover. since the new one did not have the vibrators battery i had to take it from the old one and connect it to the new one...on removing i noticed that it was stuck to the cover by a glue

Question: what glue to use to hold the battery to the cover?

suwaid akbar - 20/11/16

Any adhesive will do. I used a hot glue gun. You shouldn't need expert advice to figure that out. Use your head.

tjt263 - 23/02/18

The case around the volume control is also pretty thin.... I broke mine prying so avoid the pry there too.

Also my back had glue at the bottom and I haven't seen mentioned

kornerson - 08/04/17