Google Pixel 5 Screen Replacement

Written By: Robert Boyd

Comments: 32

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

This repair guide was authored by the iFixit staff and hasn’t been endorsed by Google. Learn more about our repair guides here.

Follow this guide to replace a broken or cracked screen on a Google Pixel 5.

Unlike previous Google Pixels models, the Pixel 5’s screen is reinforced with a metal frame. The earpiece speaker is also glued onto the back side of the screen.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the bottom edge of the screen for one 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.

It would be helpful to know for how long ally the heated pad

Yuri Deglin -

Step 2

While you're waiting for the adhesive to loosen, take note of the following:
Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. Do not pry at this seam.
Bezel seam: This is where the plastic bezel designed to protect the screen meets the frame. It's held in place by plastic clips. This is where you should pry.

Step 3

The next two steps demonstrate the Anti-Clamp, a tool we designed to make the opening procedure easier. If you aren't using the Anti-Clamp, skip down two steps for an alternate method.
For complete instructions on how to use the Anti-Clamp, check out this guide.
Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.
Position the suction cups near the bottom edge of the screen—one on the front, and one on the back.
Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.
If you find that the surface of your device is too slippery for the Anti-Clamp to hold onto, you can use packing tape to create a grippier surface.

Step 4

Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.
Turn the handle clockwise until you see the cups start to stretch.
Make sure the suction cups remain aligned to each other. If they begin to slip out of alignment, loosen the suction cups slightly and realign the arms.
Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
Insert an opening pick under the screen and its bezel frame when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
If the Anti-Clamp doesn't create a sufficient gap, apply more heat to the area and rotate the handle clockwise half a turn.
Don't crank more than a half a turn at a time, and wait one minute between turns. Let the Anti-Clamp and time do the work for you.
Skip the next step.

Step 5

Apply a suction cup to the screen, as close to the heated edge as possible.
If your screen is badly cracked, follow this guide to tape over the cracked screen. If all else fails, you can superglue the suction cup to the broken screen.
Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.
Depending on the age of your device, this may be difficult. If you have trouble, apply more heat and try again.
Insert the opening pick into the gap.

"Insert the opening pick into the gap." NOT the gap under the glass, the second gap... If not you will probably break your screen, at least I did. Especially important if your pixel 5 shipped with the screen gap :(

Alex Beaven (Nevbox) -

Step 6

Slide the opening pick back and forth along the bottom of the screen to slice the adhesive.
Leave the pick inserted in the bottom right corner to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 7

Apply a heated iOpener to the left edge of the screen for one minute.

Step 8

Insert another opening pick into the bottom left corner of the screen.
Slide the opening pick around the left corner.
Do not insert the pick more than 1/4 inch (6 mm) or you may damage the screen's flex cable located in the middle of the left edge.
Continue to slide the pick up towards the front camera to slice the adhesive on the left edge of the screen.
Leave the pick inserted to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Step 9

Insert another opening pick into the top left corner of the screen.
Slide the pick around the front camera and across the top edge of the phone.
If the adhesive is difficult to slice, apply heat to the area for one minute and try again.
Slide the pick to the top right corner of the phone and leave the pick inserted.

Step 10

Insert an opening pick into the bottom right corner of the screen.
Slide the pick up to the top right corner to slice the last edge of adhesive.
You may need to run an opening pick around the edges again to ensure all the adhesive is cut. It is applied the thickest on the four corners.

Step 11

Use the opening pick from the top left corner to lift up the left edge of the screen a few millimeters. This will keep the clips from snapping back down into the case.
Lift up on the right side of the screen and open up the phone like a book.
Do not open the screen more than 90 degrees to prevent damaging the screen flex cable.

Step 12

Use tweezers to grip the screen connector cover securing the screen flex cable.
Push the clip in towards the connector to unlatch it.

I found it easier to use the spudger here rather than the tweezers (which have sharp ends that could damage something if you happen to slip).

tristanwaddington -

some 5a models will have a screw instead of clip , here's a photo https://imgur.com/a/9dZG5pQ

Daniel Gonzales -

Step 13

Remove the screen connector cover.
Make sure to keep this component to reinstall it during reassembly.

Step 14

Use the tip of the spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen flex cable.
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

The curved ends of the blue iFixit Opening Tool helped me reseat the connector when installing the new screen.

tristanwaddington -

Step 15

Remove the screen.
Use tweezers to pick off the remaining adhesive on the case.
If your replacement screen's display cable is held down by tape, remove the tape before installation.
If you are using a custom-cut adhesive, follow this guide to correctly apply new screen adhesive.
If you are using Tesa tape to reattach the screen, follow this guide.
During the boot-up process after reassembly, the screen will go through a calibration sequence. Do not touch the screen during this process, as it could result in improper touch calibration and create touch issues.
If you use isopropyl alcohol to clean the adhesive off the display, be sure to not let it splash onto any unintended components, as this can weaken their adhesive bond.

Where from we can buy the screen. Thanks

Ajay Sharma -

the screen does not fit

Joel Kelly -

Conclusion

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps 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.

Author

Robert Boyd

Member since: 01/02/21

22135 Reputation

25 comments

if i want only screen (lcd display) of pixel 5 from where can i get the screen. sudhri@gmail.com my mail address

Digvijay Engineers - 22/04/21

Hello! This tutorial is well explained and seems ok to realize, but the problem i’m facing is to find the right spare part… Once contacted, google assistance said the only option is to send it back to them for 138€ and 7-10 days… Can you recommand a trustworsthy website for that?

Aurelien Malot - 08/05/21

Usually i look on amazon (sent by amazon) to get the warranty if i got any problem.

Daniele Carminati - 08/05/21

Check out the iFixit store. We stock some parts for the Pixel 5, including the screen and battery.

Zac Hall -

The screen that I ordered has a cable that runs the wrong way. It would need to be twisted to make it fit my Pixel 5. Any suggestions?

Gordon Stephenson -

Get a refund and send it back and order a different display.

Josh Cook -

Do order the replacement with or without frame?

Marc H -

unless you’re a super pro, better with frame, It is not easy to glue up to the frame, and if that frame is damaged or gets damaged during tear down, can be a problem.

Manuel López -

Hi,

I just replaced the screen with a new one, but now I have problems with the proximity sensor, When i press on one side of the screen it works, so I guess it is because it may be not glued strongly wnough? wich glue do you recommend?

Manuel López -

I had the same problem -- the proximity sensor was unreliable after replacing the screen, and pressing down on the top of the screen helped. In my case, I used pre-cut adhesive both between the screen and the thin plastic frame and between the frame and the lower case. With this adhesive, the screen sat a little further away from the sensor and it's likely that the original calibration of the sensor was no longer correct.

I fixed it by heating the top of the phone, firmly clamping it, and leaving it overnight. The top of the screen sits flush now and the proximity sensor works reliably.

Cyrus Behroozi -

There is no info here about transferring the speaker. How is that done? Is adhesive needed? If so, what type?

Mike K -

I just use one or two strips of adhesive tape if I need to use new adhesive. Not much, though. If possible, get the earpiece speaker nice and warm to soften the adhesive. Apply lots of heat to the old display on the touchscreen side, not heating the earpiece directly. If you can heat it up enough, it should come off pretty cleanly. Then warm it up again and seat it well onto the new display with the original adhesive still attached the the earpiece speaker.

Mark Student -

Hello! Just foolishly cracked my Google Pixel 5 screen and have no idea where to get the replacement. Based on your experience, could you please suggest where to order Pixel 5 screen replacement so that it would be as sharp and bright as the original? Ideally – THE original. Thank you in advance!

Taisia Osipova -

i bought a screen on ebay. supposedly oem. it seems just the same as the original.

Mike K -

Rounded.com expensive but 100% new and original parts straight from manufacturer

Simon -

I have to say I found this to be one of the easiest repairs I've ever done, I bought the complete original screen assembly from rounded.com and the manufacturer adhesive tape which gives the phone its IP rating seal back. Cost me about £160 all in. But I learnt skills at the same time. I used my nails and a guitar plectrum working from bottom end of the phone up. As good as new, well chuffed

Simon - 01/01/22

Thanks ifixit. my pixel 5 lives again. screen replacement kit surprised me with some excellent tools provided. adhesive i thought would be the tricky part but you guys made it very easy to put on. cheers

Cameron Neville -

My Google Pixel screen was replaced because it was accidentally broken while replacing another part. The screen put on it worked just fine until we tried to put the case back on the phone. Now I can't use the phone. Is there any way I can fix it myself without having to get a whole new screen or phone?

Claire Burkhalter -

replacement screen works but has a green tint on low brightness? how can I fix this? (old screen works fine color wise, 2 other replacements also have green tint )

Benjamin Beckmann -

some 5a models will have a screw instead of clip , here's a photo https://imgur.com/a/9dZG5pQ

Daniel Gonzales -

make sure you have the right model number in there its in the about section under regulatory labels, model number will be at top, search for screen using model number to be sure

esin8785 -

Ok for those that do not know, The pixel 5 you need the model number from it to be sure the part you get is for that phone, you can find the model number in about section, regulatory labels, yes it's a pixel 5 but it still has a model number for it and they a different from carrier to carrier and what not so be sure you got the right model of your pixel 5 that will solve most of your problems getting wrong parts

esin8785 -

I completed the screen replacement, but when I turned the smartphone on, the selfie camera showed a black screen. I had to take the screen off the phone all over again to figure out what was wrong. Turns out there was a protective thin black film covering the lens hole. This wasn't mentioned in the guide.

Seems like there should be a step added where one powers the phone on and tests that the screen and front camera are working before pressing down the adhesive to seal the phone. Now I have to buy another adhesive template to seal the phone again. Grrr...

Also, the holding tabs for the adhesive are on the clear disposed film (contrary to the adhesive installation guide), which is peeled off first. Once peeled off, there are no longer tabs to use to hold the adhesive film, so it's awkward to position it without bending the colored adhesive film, distorting its shape, or inadvertantly touching adhesive.

How to Apply Custom-cut Adhesive Strips

Good guide, otherwise.

cosmo lee -

Good morning...
Replaced my cracked screen with the genuine google replacement part. The issue is the replacement adhesive sucks. It's terrible and worthless. The screen doesn't stay connected to the case. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to keep the screen adhered to the case?

Mark Sidwell -

An issue I had was that when I took off the old screen, the bezel was still stuck to the phone and came off the screen. I didn't understand it was supposed to come off as well and it was not well documented here. I would suggest adding it to this tutorial.

sean weiss -