Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

                          30 - 45 minutes

Sections

1

  • Google Pixel 3 Back Cover Adhesive Installation
  • 11 steps

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Introduction

Follow this guide to correctly apply back cover adhesive to your Pixel 3 after a repair.

Before you begin, you should have already removed your Pixel’s back cover and set it aside. Detailed instructions for this can be found here.

What you need

Step 1

              Remove adhesive residue from the frame
  • Pick and scrape away the old adhesive from the frame.
  • Use a spudger to scrape away any lingering adhesive.
  • Don’t use metal tools to scrape away adhesive as this will damage the frame.
  • For best results, clean the area underneath the removed adhesive with 90% or greater isopropyl alcohol to prep the surface for the new adhesive.

Pick and scrape away the old adhesive from the frame.

Use a spudger to scrape away any lingering adhesive.

Don’t use metal tools to scrape away adhesive as this will damage the frame.

For best results, clean the area underneath the removed adhesive with 90% or greater isopropyl alcohol to prep the surface for the new adhesive.

1024

Step 2

              Remove adhesive residue from the back cover
  • Repeat the previous step for the back cover adhesive.
  • Don’t use metal tools to scrape away adhesive as this will damage the back cover coating.
  • Don’t use isopropyl alcohol near the rear camera bracket as it will damage its adhesive and foam.

Repeat the previous step for the back cover adhesive.

Don’t use metal tools to scrape away adhesive as this will damage the back cover coating.

Don’t use isopropyl alcohol near the rear camera bracket as it will damage its adhesive and foam.

Step 3

              Prepare the replacement adhesive
  • Peel away the clear plastic lining to expose the frame side of the replacement adhesive.

Peel away the clear plastic lining to expose the frame side of the replacement adhesive.

Step 4

              Apply the adhesive
  • Be very careful during this step! The adhesive is very sticky and can’t be repositioned once it sticks. Misaligned adhesive can lead to an improper seal.
  • Lower the adhesive onto the frame.
  • Use the rear camera and corners to properly align the adhesive.

Be very careful during this step! The adhesive is very sticky and can’t be repositioned once it sticks. Misaligned adhesive can lead to an improper seal.

Lower the adhesive onto the frame.

Use the rear camera and corners to properly align the adhesive.

Step 5

              Secure the adhesive to the frame
  • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to press down on the adhesive.
  • Slide along the perimeter to secure the adhesive to the frame.

Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to press down on the adhesive.

Slide along the perimeter to secure the adhesive to the frame.

Step 6

              Peel away the outer plastic lining
  • Peel away the blue outer plastic lining on the back cover side of the adhesive.

Peel away the blue outer plastic lining on the back cover side of the adhesive.

Step 7

              Connect the fingerprint sensor cable
  • Use tweezers or your fingers to position the fingerprint sensor cable over its connector on the motherboard.
  • Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to press down on the connector to secure it to the motherboard.

Use tweezers or your fingers to position the fingerprint sensor cable over its connector on the motherboard.

Use the flat end of a spudger or your finger to press down on the connector to secure it to the motherboard.

Step 8

  • Use tweezers or your fingers to place the bracket over the fingerprint sensor cable.

Use tweezers or your fingers to place the bracket over the fingerprint sensor cable.

Step 9

  • Use a Phillips PH00 screwdriver to install the two 4.1 mm screws securing the bracket to the frame.

Use a Phillips PH00 screwdriver to install the two 4.1 mm screws securing the bracket to the frame.

Step 10

              Peel away the remaining plastic lining
  • Peel away the red plastic lining to expose the back cover side of the adhesive.

Peel away the red plastic lining to expose the back cover side of the adhesive.

Step 11

              Secure the back cover to the frame
  • Lower the back cover onto the frame.
  • Press down on all edges of the back cover to secure it to the frame.
  • To help the adhesive bond more securely, heat the perimeter of the back cover and then place the phone face-down under a heavy stack of books for 30 minutes.

Lower the back cover onto the frame.

Press down on all edges of the back cover to secure it to the frame.

To help the adhesive bond more securely, heat the perimeter of the back cover and then place the phone face-down under a heavy stack of books for 30 minutes.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Pixel 3 Answers community for help.

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                    Chayton Ritter

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