Nexus 5X Midframe Replacement

Written By: Dominik Schnabelrauch
  • Comments: 14
Nexus 5X Midframe Replacement

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

9

Time Required

10 - 15 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to remove and replace the midframe from your Nexus 5X.

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    • Insert a SIM card ejection tool into the hole on the SIM card tray, located on the left edge of the phone.

    • Press in to eject the SIM card tray.

    • Remove the SIM card tray.

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    • Place an opening pick in the opening of the SIM card tray slot and twist it sideways to release the first plastic clip that holds the rear panel in its place.

    • Slide the opening pick around the top edge of the phone to release the plastic clips that secure the rear panel.

    A guitar pick is a good substitution for the plastic opening tool.

    Sam Sippe -

    Here’s a photo of the location of the 18 tabs that hold the back cover in place

    Steve -

    Twisting sideways didn’t do it for me, but sliding along the edge did. However, at first I didn’t realize that the pick was between the motherboard and midframe, rather than between midframe and back cover like it was supposed to. This led to breaking off a spring-loaded connector on the motherboard, connecting to an antenna (I guess) in the back cover. So far I haven’t noticed any reception issues, but I can’t say for sure.

    In essence: be careful to get the pick towards the back cover, and not “straight in” under the midframe.

    Hampus -

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    • Continue to slide the opening pick around all sides of the phone to release all clips that secure the rear panel.

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    • Tilt the opening pick to lift the rear panel a little bit.

    • There are two more plastic clips next to the fingerprint sensor. Release them by gently pulling the rear panel.

    • Remove the rear panel.

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    • Remove the ten 3.6 mm Phillips screws that secure the midframe.

    Some models use a Y1 screw head.

    Kyle Wright -

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    • Insert an opening pick into the SIM card tray slot and twist the opening pick sideways to release the plastic clips.

    The photo seems to show that the person is opening from the top, which is the opposite of your advice. So, just want to be clear.

    Robert Konigsberg -

    yes, open from bottom first... the pic above shows the finished product after reaching top of phone. I found it best to actually start close to the right of the usbC connector. Pushing inbetween the 2 tabs and up will release the shell.. then work clockwise.

    Chris Mayberry -

    Chris, your advice to start to the right of the usbC connector was excellent, thank you!

    Robert Konigsberg -

    I found that my middle panel was already broken at the narrowest part just to the left of the 2-D scan code on the battery, perhaps from some ham-fisted previous repair. This seems of little consequence, there do not seem to be any electrical connections running through this part.

    Wiley Sanders -

    After a long amount of prying, I discoved that, if used gently, a jimmy can really help get the plastic off

    Timothy Owens -

    I could not remove the cover with the opening tool but had success with the opening picks (the triangle parts). Just slide them under the cover and gently bend and twist the pick to release the cover from the locks. By the way: it’s perfectly normal for the bottom cover part to come loose from the top cover part. It’s designed that way (they interlock).

    Marco Miltenburg -

    Here’s a photo of the location of the 20 tabs that hold the middle assembly in place, and the pry angle needed.

    Steve -

    This is the scariest part but it is the same process of taking a bike tire off the rim: lift up one part of the cover then put a wedge under the lifted section to hold it up then continue around the frame lifting it up and holding it up with the blue picks. You’ll find that after you life the bottom you can wriggle free the rest by hand.

    The 10 screws came out quickly using the IFIXIT.com magnetic screwdriver.

    mcguinness.david -

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    • Continue sliding the opening pick around the upper part of the midframe to release the plastic clips.

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    • Use the plastic pick to pry open the plastic clips on the long edge of the midframe and on the bottom edge.

    • Make sure the clips on the long edge are released. The midframe is prone to break here if they are not disconnected properly.

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    • Make sure all the clips are free.

    • Carefully remove the midframe.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. If your middle panel is damaged or broken, install the new panel instead.

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our Nexus 5X Answers community for troubleshooting help.

Author

Dominik Schnabelrauch

Member since: 23/11/16

167288 Reputation

2 comments

Has anyone else run into the different screws holding the midframe? I opened my son's phone today to swap out the battery and found the screws to be tri-wing. Imagine my confusion. I've been into to my wife's Nexus 5x before, and it has phillips-head screws. Weird.

Taylor Says So -

I’m trying to confirm whether or not the antenna for cellular signal resides in the loudspeaker, or the bottom section of the midframe. If I replace the bottom piece of the midframe, am I replacing the cellular antenna?

steve d -