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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

18

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

4

  • Opening Procedure
  • 12 steps
  • Midframe
  • 2 steps
  • Battery Connector
  • 1 step
  • Battery
  • 3 steps

Flags

2

In Progress

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Introduction

Use this guide to replace the worn-out battery in your Google Pixel 2 XL.

Before disassembling your phone, discharge the battery below 25%. A charged lithium-ion battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured.

If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions. Do not heat your phone. If needed, you can use a dropper or syringe to inject isopropyl alcohol (90+%) around the edges of the back cover to weaken the adhesive. Swollen batteries can be very dangerous, so wear eye protection and exercise due caution, or take it to a professional if you’re not sure how to proceed.

What you need

Step 1

              Opening Procedure
  • If your display glass is cracked, tape over the glass to prevent bodily harm and further breakage. This also makes a smooth surface allowing the suction cup to bond.
  • Apply a suction cup as close to the SIM slot edge of the phone as you can while avoiding the curved edge.
  • The suction cup will not make a good seal on the curved portion of the glass.

If your display glass is cracked, tape over the glass to prevent bodily harm and further breakage. This also makes a smooth surface allowing the suction cup to bond.

Apply a suction cup as close to the SIM slot edge of the phone as you can while avoiding the curved edge.

The suction cup will not make a good seal on the curved portion of the glass.

1024

Step 2

  • Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure and insert an opening pick between the front panel and rear case.
  • This requires a significant amount of force and patience. If you have trouble, rock the suction cup and screen to weaken the adhesive, or apply heat with an iOpener, heat gun, or hair dryer.

Pull up on the suction cup with firm, constant pressure and insert an opening pick between the front panel and rear case.

This requires a significant amount of force and patience. If you have trouble, rock the suction cup and screen to weaken the adhesive, or apply heat with an iOpener, heat gun, or hair dryer.

Step 3

  • In the following steps, extra caution is required in certain areas to avoid damage to the phone:
  • Do not insert the pick more than 0.25 inches (6 mm) into the bottom edge of the phone. If the pick contacts the folded portion of the OLED panel, it can damage the display.
  • Do not cut along the left edge; there are delicate display cables that can be damaged.
  • Only make very shallow cuts in the upper left corner; prying deeply can damage the front-facing camera.

In the following steps, extra caution is required in certain areas to avoid damage to the phone:

Do not insert the pick more than 0.25 inches (6 mm) into the bottom edge of the phone. If the pick contacts the folded portion of the OLED panel, it can damage the display.

Do not cut along the left edge; there are delicate display cables that can be damaged.

Only make very shallow cuts in the upper left corner; prying deeply can damage the front-facing camera.

Step 4

  • Slide the opening pick down the right side of the phone to separate the display adhesive.

Slide the opening pick down the right side of the phone to separate the display adhesive.

Step 5

  • In the following steps, use the flat edge of the opening pick, rather than a corner, to cut. This will help prevent inserting the pick too deeply.
  • Slide the opening pick around the lower-right corner and along the bottom edge of the phone.

In the following steps, use the flat edge of the opening pick, rather than a corner, to cut. This will help prevent inserting the pick too deeply.

Slide the opening pick around the lower-right corner and along the bottom edge of the phone.

Step 6

  • Reinsert the flat edge of the pick at the top-right corner of the phone, and slide it around the corner and the top edge of the phone.

Reinsert the flat edge of the pick at the top-right corner of the phone, and slide it around the corner and the top edge of the phone.

Step 7

  • Gently lift the display from the right side of the phone, opening it like a book.
  • If the display doesn’t readily lift, do some extra prying to separate the last of the adhesive.
  • Don’t try to fully separate the display yet, as fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the phone’s motherboard.
  • Carefully lay the display flat on the table next to the rest of the phone, keeping it close to the phone to avoid straining the display and digitizer cables.

Gently lift the display from the right side of the phone, opening it like a book.

If the display doesn’t readily lift, do some extra prying to separate the last of the adhesive.

Don’t try to fully separate the display yet, as fragile ribbon cables still connect it to the phone’s motherboard.

Carefully lay the display flat on the table next to the rest of the phone, keeping it close to the phone to avoid straining the display and digitizer cables.

Step 8

  • Use the corner of an opening tool to pry up the digitizer cable connector cover.
  • Pry carefully to avoid damaging the cable underneath, or losing the cover itself.
  • Remove the connector cover.
  • Make sure to keep this component so you can reinstall it during reassembly.

Use the corner of an opening tool to pry up the digitizer cable connector cover.

Pry carefully to avoid damaging the cable underneath, or losing the cover itself.

Remove the connector cover.

Make sure to keep this component so you can reinstall it during reassembly.

Step 9

  • Use the point of a spudger to lift the digitizer cable connector up and out of its socket on the motherboard.
  • 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.
  • If any part of your screen doesn’t respond to touch after your repair, re-seat this connector, making sure it clicks fully into place and that there’s no dust or other obstruction in the socket.

Use the point of a spudger to lift the digitizer cable connector up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

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.

If any part of your screen doesn’t respond to touch after your repair, re-seat this connector, making sure it clicks fully into place and that there’s no dust or other obstruction in the socket.

Step 10

  • Use tweezers to remove any tape from the display connector cover.

Use tweezers to remove any tape from the display connector cover.

Step 11

  • Insert the point of a spudger into the small hole on the edge of the display connector cover.
  • Use the spudger to pry the cover out of its recess.
  • Remove the connector cover.
  • Make sure to keep this component so you can reinstall it during reassembly.

Insert the point of a spudger into the small hole on the edge of the display connector cover.

Use the spudger to pry the cover out of its recess.

Step 12

  • Use the flat edge of a spudger to lift the display cable connector up from its socket.
  • Remove the display.
  • During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Use the flat edge of a spudger to lift the display cable connector up from its socket.

Remove the display.

During reassembly, pause here if you wish to replace the adhesive around the edges of the display.

Step 13

              Midframe
  • Remove eleven 3.8 mm Phillips screws securing the midframe.
  • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Remove eleven 3.8 mm Phillips screws securing the midframe.

Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

Step 14

  • Insert an opening tool into the notch in the midframe near the volume buttons and pry the midframe up and away from the rest of the phone.
  • Remove the midframe.

Insert an opening tool into the notch in the midframe near the volume buttons and pry the midframe up and away from the rest of the phone.

Remove the midframe.

Step 15

              Battery Connector
  • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the battery connector.

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the battery connector.

Step 16

              Battery
  • If available, apply some isopropyl alcohol under each corner of the battery and allow it to penetrate for several minutes to help weaken the adhesive.
  • Alternatively, apply a heated iOpener to the back of the phone over the battery for at least two minutes. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed until the battery adhesive is sufficiently weakened.

If available, apply some isopropyl alcohol under each corner of the battery and allow it to penetrate for several minutes to help weaken the adhesive.

Alternatively, apply a heated iOpener to the back of the phone over the battery for at least two minutes. Reheat and reapply the iOpener as needed until the battery adhesive is sufficiently weakened.

Step 17

  • Insert a couple of opening picks or a plastic card along the right edge of the battery.
  • Apply steady, even pressure to slowly lever the battery up and out of the phone.
  • Try your best not to deform the battery during this process. Soft-shell lithium-ion batteries can leak dangerous chemicals, catch fire, or even explode if damaged. Do not use excessive force or pry at the battery with metal tools.

Insert a couple of opening picks or a plastic card along the right edge of the battery.

Apply steady, even pressure to slowly lever the battery up and out of the phone.

Try your best not to deform the battery during this process. Soft-shell lithium-ion batteries can leak dangerous chemicals, catch fire, or even explode if damaged. Do not use excessive force or pry at the battery with metal tools.

Step 18

  • Remove the battery.
  • Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.
  • 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 new battery:
  • Use tweezers to peel away any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the glued areas with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
  • Secure the new battery with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. In order to position it correctly, apply the new adhesive into the phone, not directly onto the battery. The adhesive should not touch any of the cables under the battery.
  • Press the battery firmly into place for 20-30 seconds.

Remove the battery.

Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.

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 new battery:

Use tweezers to peel away any remaining adhesive from the phone, and clean the glued areas with isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

Secure the new battery with pre-cut adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. In order to position it correctly, apply the new adhesive into the phone, not directly onto the battery. The adhesive should not touch any of the cables under the battery.

Press the battery firmly into place for 20-30 seconds.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps in reverse order.

For optimal performance, after completing this guide, calibrate your newly installed battery.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Answers community for troubleshooting help.

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Author

                                      with 11 other contributors 


                    Adam O'Camb

Member since: 04/11/2015

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Gage Cook - Oct 18, 2018

Reply

Just completed this last night. They weren’t kidding when they all say the battery is no fun.

I managed to get it, but doesn’t mean the old one wasn’t bent like crazy when I was done. I was planning on keeping it as a backup since it wasn’t bad, but I don’t think I would risk it at this rate. Getting a thin stiff plastic to push through the adhesive along with the spudger helped.

There are a lot of components and boards along the edge of the battery. It’s hard to pry without touching them. I saw a guide recommend taking the guts out to remove the battery.

One thing I would recommend while you’re in there is to replace the thermal paste. Mine wasn’t too bad after a year, but I’m sure it won’t make a solid and effective cover on the processor to the heat pipe.

DheerajR - Sep 26, 2020

Can I just use Artic silver MX4 for thermal paste? Or is there a paste specifically for it?

Arthur Shi - Sep 29, 2020

Arctic Silver should be fine!

Warren Binder - May 20, 2019

Reply

Its pretty easy to do if you use the iPhone battery tool/pryer thing!

Jamal Hussain - Jan 19, 2020

Reply

Never again, a nightmare to get it changed out.