Gopro Hero4 Silver Lens Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

                          3 minutes

Sections

Front Panel
1 step
Image Sensor
4 steps
Hero Port Assembly
3 steps
Lens
3 steps

Flags

Needs More Images

A few more images would make this guide’s procedures crystal clear.

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Front Panel

Start by removing the silver plastic face from the camera using a plastic opening tool. Insert the plastic opening tool into the middle of each edge and lift up the tabs that keep the camera face on.
The seven plastic tab locations are marked in red.
Try using the plastic opening tool before switching to the metal spudger. We tried using the plastic opening tool to pry the camera face off, but found that it did not give us enough leverage.
There may be glue holding the camera face on to the housing. Be careful not to flex the camera face too much, or it will crack.

Start by removing the silver plastic face from the camera using a plastic opening tool. Insert the plastic opening tool into the middle of each edge and lift up the tabs that keep the camera face on.

The seven plastic tab locations are marked in red.

Try using the plastic opening tool before switching to the metal spudger. We tried using the plastic opening tool to pry the camera face off, but found that it did not give us enough leverage.

There may be glue holding the camera face on to the housing. Be careful not to flex the camera face too much, or it will crack.

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Step 2

              Image Sensor

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws on each corner of the camera.
Remove the single 4 mm Phillips #000 screw on the bottom left corner of the camera.

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws on each corner of the camera.

Remove the single 4 mm Phillips #000 screw on the bottom left corner of the camera.

Step 3

To remove the motherboard assembly from the camera casing, use the plastic opening tool on the lens side of the camera to pry the motherboard assembly out of the camera housing.
To avoid breaking the plastic on the lens side of the camera (see photo), pry along the edges near the corners.
Try using the plastic opening tool before switching to the metal spudger. We tried using the plastic opening tool to pry the motherboard assembly open, but found that it did not give us enough leverage.
Do not try to pry near the power button side of the camera. This will break important cables inside.

To remove the motherboard assembly from the camera casing, use the plastic opening tool on the lens side of the camera to pry the motherboard assembly out of the camera housing.

To avoid breaking the plastic on the lens side of the camera (see photo), pry along the edges near the corners.

Try using the plastic opening tool before switching to the metal spudger. We tried using the plastic opening tool to pry the motherboard assembly open, but found that it did not give us enough leverage.

Do not try to pry near the power button side of the camera. This will break important cables inside.

Step 4

Remove the four 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the camera sensor assembly.

Remove the four 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the camera sensor assembly.

Step 5

To remove the sensor assembly, simply peel off the lens towards the attached ribbon cable.
The sensor has ribbon cables running to the motherboard via a black rectangular connector.
To remove the sensor, use the spudger to pry up each side, Then, lift the connector straight up from its socket.
With the old camera sensor assembly removed, you can now replace it with a new sensor.

To remove the sensor assembly, simply peel off the lens towards the attached ribbon cable.

The sensor has ribbon cables running to the motherboard via a black rectangular connector.

To remove the sensor, use the spudger to pry up each side, Then, lift the connector straight up from its socket.

With the old camera sensor assembly removed, you can now replace it with a new sensor.

Step 6

              Hero Port Assembly

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the Hero port to the motherboard.

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the Hero port to the motherboard.

Step 7

Locate the copper-colored ribbon cables connecting the Hero Port to the motherboard.
To remove the connector, use tweezers or a spudger, pry up each side of the connector. Then, lift the connector straight up from it’s socket.
When reassembling this piece, do not use too much force to put the black rectangular pins back onto the motherboard. When done right, there will be a ‘click’.

Locate the copper-colored ribbon cables connecting the Hero Port to the motherboard.

To remove the connector, use tweezers or a spudger, pry up each side of the connector. Then, lift the connector straight up from it’s socket.

When reassembling this piece, do not use too much force to put the black rectangular pins back onto the motherboard. When done right, there will be a ‘click’.

Step 8

To remove the free port, simply slide it out from the left side of the camera. It should come out with slight coercion.
This piece can be replaced, fixed, or set aside for further tear-down of the GoPro.
Pictured left is the port when separated from the motherboard.

To remove the free port, simply slide it out from the left side of the camera. It should come out with slight coercion.

This piece can be replaced, fixed, or set aside for further tear-down of the GoPro.

Pictured left is the port when separated from the motherboard.

Step 9

              Lens

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable from the ZIF connector by flipping up the black retaining flap. You should then be able to pull the cable free.
Once the ribbon cable is disconnected, you can remove the black plastic bracket which holds the camera lens.
Be careful removing the ribbon cable. It is very fragile and can tear.

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the ribbon cable from the ZIF connector by flipping up the black retaining flap. You should then be able to pull the cable free.

Once the ribbon cable is disconnected, you can remove the black plastic bracket which holds the camera lens.

Be careful removing the ribbon cable. It is very fragile and can tear.

Step 10

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the lens.

Remove the three 8 mm Phillips #000 screws securing the lens.

Step 11

Pull the camera lens free from the panel.

Pull the camera lens free from the panel.

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

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                                                                                      20 other people completed this guide.

Author

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                    Garrett Sloop

Member since: 08/27/2015

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Team

                       USF Tampa, Team 2-1, Blackwell Fall 2015                        

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                                            20 Guides authored

William Owens - May 24, 2017

the 3 copper wires on the far right side came out and now my gopro doesnt work at all.

john mcgowan - Jul 20, 2017

Mine too, these instructions leave out several crucial steps for making the repair. Step number 7 is not feasible and step number 9 is totally lacking in detail (it doesn’t mention the removal of a crucial screw, and doesn’t instruct you on how to ACTUALLY make the step). Garbage…. I’m not sure if my camera will ever work again

Olivier Suire - Jul 22, 2017

My 3 ribbon cables popped out too. I can’t fathom how I could ever plug them back in.

By the way, they are also un-plugged on the tutorial photos.

I’m almost sure that this hardware went straight to the garbage can afterwards.

GG Force - Nov 14, 2017

This is a great video tutorial for Hero4 lens R/R - very detailed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1omOg1yQ…

Nathaniel DeVeux - Jan 17, 2018

ok, so i strongly suggest some edits.

First step 5 through 8 don’t need to be done. Step 4 should include removing the 5th screw in the main circuit board, and then on to step 9. Step 9 should also describe the black release lever to unlock the ribbon cable. then the whole front assembly with the lens will come out.

as for the three ribbon cables attached to the back case (for power and the buttons) if they do come out, while the black panel is detached, you need to pull the tape off, lift the three locking levers and very carefully reseat the ribbon cables, reapply the tape and continue with the reassembly

Needs More Images#

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Needs More Images

Introduction

What you need

Team