Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

17

Time Required

                          10 - 40 minutes

Sections

4

  • Google Pixel 3 XL Opening Procedure
  • 11 steps
  • Fingerprint Sensor
  • 4 steps
  • Flash Diffuser
  • 1 step
  • Back Cover
  • 1 step

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0

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Introduction

This guide shows how to remove and replace the glass back cover or back panel for your Pixel 3 XL.

Depending on your replacement part, you may need to transfer additional parts to your new back cover. This guide includes additional steps to transfer the fingerprint sensor, flash diffuser, and camera bracket to a replacement back cover. Replacing or swapping the NFC antenna is not included in these steps.

What you need

Step 1

              Heat the edge of the back cover
  • Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the back cover for a minute.
  • A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.
  • While you wait, note the following areas on the back cover:
  • Strong adhesive—there are large patches of adhesive near the bottom of the phone.
  • Fingerprint sensor cable—be careful not to slice through the cable as you pry

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the back cover for a minute.

A hair dryer, heat gun, or hot plate may also be used, but be careful not to overheat the phone—the display and internal battery are both susceptible to heat damage.

While you wait, note the following areas on the back cover:

Strong adhesive—there are large patches of adhesive near the bottom of the phone.

Fingerprint sensor cable—be careful not to slice through the cable as you pry

1024

Step 2

              Create a gap under the back cover
  • Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.
  • Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.
  • Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply heat to the edge and try again.
  • Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.

Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply heat to the edge and try again.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 3

              Loosen the right edge adhesives
  • Slide the opening pick along the right edge to slice through the adhesive.
  • The adhesive gums up and becomes hard to slice once it cools. If that happens, re-apply heat to the edge to make slicing easier.
  • Once you have sliced through the edge, leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Slide the opening pick along the right edge to slice through the adhesive.

The adhesive gums up and becomes hard to slice once it cools. If that happens, re-apply heat to the edge to make slicing easier.

Once you have sliced through the edge, leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 4

              Heat the bottom edge of the back cover
  • Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom of the back cover for a minute.

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom of the back cover for a minute.

Step 5

              Slice through the bottom adhesives
  • Use an opening pick to slice around the bottom right corner and continue along the bottom edge of the phone.
  • Work slowly as you slice around the corner to prevent the panel from cracking. If the slicing becomes hard, re-apply heat.
  • Leave a pick in the edge to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Use an opening pick to slice around the bottom right corner and continue along the bottom edge of the phone.

Work slowly as you slice around the corner to prevent the panel from cracking. If the slicing becomes hard, re-apply heat.

Leave a pick in the edge to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 6

              Slice through the remaining edges
  • Continue heating and slicing the remaining edges of the phone.
  • Be careful as you slice along the left edge of the phone. If your pick feels like it’s stuck near the top, you may have snagged the fingerprint sensor. Retract the pick out of the seam slightly and try again.
  • Be sure to cut through the thick portions of adhesive near the bottom and right edge of the phone.

Continue heating and slicing the remaining edges of the phone.

Be careful as you slice along the left edge of the phone. If your pick feels like it’s stuck near the top, you may have snagged the fingerprint sensor. Retract the pick out of the seam slightly and try again.

Be sure to cut through the thick portions of adhesive near the bottom and right edge of the phone.

Step 7

              Slice through the leftover adhesive
  • Gently pry up the right edge of the back cover.
  • Use an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive along the edges.

Gently pry up the right edge of the back cover.

Use an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive along the edges.

Step 8

              Swing open the back cover
  • Swing the right edge of the back cover upwards and rest the flipped panel along the left side of the phone.
  • Be sure to maintain slack on the fingerprint sensor cable and prevent it from being pinched.
  • During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.
  • During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your back cover.
  • If you replaced the fingerprint sensor, you’ll need to use this software tool to make the phone recognize the new sensor.

Swing the right edge of the back cover upwards and rest the flipped panel along the left side of the phone.

Be sure to maintain slack on the fingerprint sensor cable and prevent it from being pinched.

During reassembly, this is a good point to power on your phone and test all functions before sealing it up. Be sure to power your phone back down completely before you continue working.

During reassembly, follow this guide to install custom-cut adhesives for your back cover.

If you replaced the fingerprint sensor, you’ll need to use this software tool to make the phone recognize the new sensor.

Step 9

              Remove the fingerprint sensor tape
  • User tweezers to carefully peel up the yellow tape over the fingerprint sensor connector.

User tweezers to carefully peel up the yellow tape over the fingerprint sensor connector.

Step 10

              Disconnect the fingerprint sensor
  • Use the point of a spudger to carefully flip up the black lock bar on the fingerprint sensor’s ZIF socket.
  • Grasp the cable’s tab with your fingers or tweezers and gently walk the flex cable out of the socket.
  • To prevent shorting, be careful not to touch the metal contacts on the flex cable with your tweezers.

Use the point of a spudger to carefully flip up the black lock bar on the fingerprint sensor’s ZIF socket.

Grasp the cable’s tab with your fingers or tweezers and gently walk the flex cable out of the socket.

To prevent shorting, be careful not to touch the metal contacts on the flex cable with your tweezers.

Step 11

              Remove the back cover
  • Remove the back cover.
  • Follow this guide to correctly apply new back cover adhesive.

Remove the back cover.

Follow this guide to correctly apply new back cover adhesive.

Step 12

              Heat the fingerprint sensor
  • Apply a heated iOpener over the fingerprint sensor for a minute.

Apply a heated iOpener over the fingerprint sensor for a minute.

Step 13

              Pry up the fingerprint sensor
  • Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the square portion of the fingerprint sensor and slowly pry up to loosen the sensor.
  • Continue prying around the perimeter of the fingerprint sensor until it is loosened.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the square portion of the fingerprint sensor and slowly pry up to loosen the sensor.

Continue prying around the perimeter of the fingerprint sensor until it is loosened.

Step 14

              Loosen the fingerprint sensor
  • From the outer side of the back cover, use your finger to push the fingerprint sensor out of its cutout.

From the outer side of the back cover, use your finger to push the fingerprint sensor out of its cutout.

Step 15

              Remove the fingerprint sensor
  • Remove the fingerprint sensor.
  • If you are transferring the fingerprint sensor to a new back cover, use some double-sided tape such as Tesa tape to affix it to the new panel.

Remove the fingerprint sensor.

If you are transferring the fingerprint sensor to a new back cover, use some double-sided tape such as Tesa tape to affix it to the new panel.

Step 16

              Remove the flash diffuser
  • Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the plastic flash diffuser and slowly pry up to loosen the diffuser.
  • Remove the diffuser.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the plastic flash diffuser and slowly pry up to loosen the diffuser.

Remove the diffuser.

Step 17

              Remove the rear camera bracket
  • Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the camera bracket and pry up to loosen it.
  • Remove and transfer the camera bracket to your replacement part.
  • Compare your new replacement back cover to the original part. You may need to transfer additional components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the camera bracket and pry up to loosen it.

Remove and transfer the camera bracket to your replacement part.

Compare your new replacement back cover to the original part. You may need to transfer additional components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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

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

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                    Arthur Shi

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Grant Pauli - May 5, 2020

Reply

What’s the flat pice that surrounds the fingerprint sensor? It appears to have two pieces that connect with a terminal on the logic board.

Grant Pauli - May 5, 2020

Is it the NFC reader?

Arthur Shi - May 5, 2020

Correct! That is the NFC coil.

Sal Arias - Aug 12, 2020

Reply

I successfully installed the screen but accidentally broke off the gold tab sticking up from the mother board shield. It can be seen on the picture of step 11 next to the NFC connectors. Do you know what this is for and how it will affect the function of the phone?

Arthur Shi - Aug 13, 2020

Hi Sal!

That tab looks to be a grounding clip, which would normally touch the fingerprint sensor bracket. I don’t think it is vital for daily function.