Introduction
This repair guide was authored by the iFixit staff and hasn’t been endorsed by Google. Learn more about our repair guides here.
Use this guide to replace the ultrawide camera, wide rear camera, or both in your Google Pixel 6a.
For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your phone. This reduces the risk of fire if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.
Note: this guide was made using the Verizon GB62Z model, which features a 5G mmWave antenna. Ignore the steps that include the 5G mmWave antenna if you have a different model, as the procedure is identical.
You'll need replacement adhesive in order to complete this repair.
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Screen seam: This seam separates the screen from the rest of the phone. Do not pry at this seam.
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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.
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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.
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Pull the blue handle towards the hinge to disengage opening mode.
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Position the suction cups near the middle of the right edge of the phone—one on the front, and one on the back.
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Push down on the cups to apply suction to the desired area.
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Push the blue handle away from the hinge to engage opening mode.
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Turn the handle clockwise until you see the cups start to stretch.
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Wait one minute to give the adhesive a chance to release and present an opening gap.
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Insert an opening pick under the bezel seam when the Anti-Clamp creates a large enough gap.
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Skip the next two steps.
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Apply a suction cup to the screen, as close to the center of the right edge as possible.
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Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap between the bezel and the frame.
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Insert an opening pick into the gap.
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While still applying suction, pivot the pick upwards to a steep angle.
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Carefully push the pick in while prying to reposition the opening pick into the bezel seam.
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Slide the pick along the right edge to release the plastic clips securing the bezel to the frame.
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Position the pick at the top-right edge before moving to the next step.
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Rotate the opening pick around the top-right corner of the phone to release the clips.
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Leave the opening pick in the top-right corner to prevent the clips from re-locking.
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Insert a new opening pick into the gap you just created.
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Slide the pick along the top edge to release the clips.
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Rotate the opening pick around the top-left corner of the phone to release the clips.
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Leave the opening pick in the top-left corner to prevent the clips from re-locking.
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Insert a new opening pick into the gap you just created.
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Slide the pick along the left edge to release the clips.
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Repeat the rotating and sliding procedure for the remaining edge.
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Lift the right edge of the screen up and towards the left side of the device, like opening a book.
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Rest the screen upside down and parallel to the frame before continuing.
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Use tweezers to bend the left side of the bracket upwards, releasing the metal clip.
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Remove the display cable bracket.
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Insert the tip of a spudger under the left edge of the display cable press connector.
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Pry up and disconnect the display cable press connector.
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Follow this guide to reapply adhesive to the screen
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Perform a fingerprint sensor calibration
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Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 16 screws securing the midframe to the frame:
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Nine 4.3 mm screws
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Four 2.9 mm screws
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Two 4.9 mm screws
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One 4.6 mm screw
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Insert a spudger between the top of the midframe and the frame, near the front camera.
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Pry up with the spudger to release the top of the midframe from its clips.
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Insert a spudger between the bottom left of the midframe and the frame.
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Pry up with the spudger to release the bottom of the midframe from its clips.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to scrape off the thermal paste.
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Clean any remaining thermal paste with isopropyl alcohol and either a coffee filter or a lint-free cloth.
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Repeat the cleaning process for the thermal paste on the midframe.
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Use a T3 Torx screwdriver to remove the 2.9 mm screw securing the 5G mmWave antenna bracket.
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Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull the bracket towards the right edge of the phone and disconnect its clip.
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Remove the 5G mmWave antenna bracket.
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Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the ultrawide rear camera's press connector.
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Remove the ultrawide rear camera.
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Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the wide rear camera's press connector.
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Remove the wide rear camera.
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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 you install it.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
What's a good temperature to set to hotplate to for a repair like this?
David -
I used a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive. Unfortunatly the IOpener did not work for me. Even with the hair dryer, it was quiet difficult to soften the adhesive. It might have been due to the phone beeing only a few months old.
It was quiet difficult to seperate the screen, but it eventuelly worked. I feel like it took the heat a while to move through the cover and heat up all of the adhesive. After almost giving up, I tried again after a few minutes without heating it again and it suddenly worked. So keep that in mind.
LetsTryThisNext -
Agree with LetsTryThisNext's comment -- it takes a while for the adhesive to loosen. Expect to be at it for 20, 30 minutes -- with the iOpener not working (for me either), re-microwaving the iOpener, then hair dryer, then suction cup not sticking, etc. Good idea to give it a few minutes between each heating attempt.
Steve -