Pixel 2 XL Disassembly Guide

Warning

This is a terrible guide for fixing your phone. If you are here to learn how to take apart your phone and put it back together then you will find yourself at a very unfortunate place by the end of this guide. Not only will you have a Pixel in many number of parts, but you may find yourself gluing your phone to your wall ensuring that you will never have a complete Pixel again. That is unless you purchase another since as previously mentioned this is not a guide for how to put your phone back together.

If you did recently purchase the unfabricate kit for your Google Pixel 2 XL, then you are in luck. This guide will teach you how to take apart your Pixel, glue it to your poster template, and hang it on your wall.

Step 1.

The first step in taking apart the Pixel 2 XL is by removing the adhesive holding the screen down.

Because we do not plan on reassembling this device, we don't have to be so careful when removing the screen. First, grab the metal pry tool. Place one of the pointed edges of the metal pry tool between the glass and the housing of the Pixel and push inward to get it slightly under the screen. Do this only on the right side of the device and do not stick the metal pry tool too far in as to preserve the screen. Don't try this on the left side of the device since there are flex cables that are easily ripped. Once you have removed the adhesive from the screen, open the phone like a book from right to left.

Tip: Read each step in its entirety before beginning the step.

Step 2.

Next, we will remove the screen from the logic board.

Use your finger or the edge of the metal pry tool to disconnect the digitizer cable and its cover from the logic board. Once removed, set the screen aside.

Step 3.

This is the fun part!

Grab the Phillips bit from the screwdriver set and remove 11 of the 3.8 mm Phillips screws securing the frame.

Remove the frame!

Insert the metal pry tool at the top and/or left side to lift the frame from the Pixel 2 XL.

Step 4.

Let's turn our attention to the battery.

Not going to lie, this part is a bit tricky. Grab a glass of water (or beverage of choice) and put on some good tunes. First disconnect the battery connector. Next, take the metal pry tool or a rigid card like your blood donation card and slide it underneath the battery to slowly pry the battery out of the Pixel.

Important for this step: careful not to puncture or pinch the battery as it could explode or catch fire or worse… call you and tell you that your vehicle's warranty is about to expire.

Step 5.

Let's now balance that terrible experience with the easiest part.

Grab the sim eject tool and remove the sim tray and sim card from the device. Yup, that's it. Place both on the template.

Step 6.

It's all downhill from here!

Let's remove the camera by peeling back the copper tape and disconnecting the camera from the logic board. Place the camera on the template.

Let's remove the logic board from the device next. First, disconnect the front sensor at the top of the logic board. Next look around the device and find any anchor holding it down. There should be 4 other connectors. Remove the front-facing camera from the logic board. Before placing the logic board on the template, remove the silver covers hiding some of the micro components for added beauty.

Step 7.

Nearly there!

Grab the screwdriver or a pair of tweezers if you have them and place it in the gap of the volume flex cable. Pop that out and set on the template.

Pry the loudspeaker out by placing the metal pry tool on the right or bottom left side. Remove and place on the template.

Step 8.

Let’s turn our attention to the charging assembly.

This is held down with adhesive so it requires a bit of force to remove. First, remove the white antenna cable with the metal pry tool. Then you will need to tackle the charging assembly from both ends. Start on the left side and slide the metal pry tool to lift the USB-c port out of the bottom of the phone. Then start from the top right to lift the antenna board out of the device. Once both are removed you should have a free charging assembly!

Step 9.

Finally, use the metal pry tool (isn't this thing so useful?) to pry the fingerprint sensor from the back housing of the phone. This has a silver cover that will also need to be removed.

Step 10.

Five gluing tips before gluing commences:

1. Place all of the parts on their outlines without glue and plan out how to glue them using the dotted grid lines as references.
2. Note which surface area of the device's part is touching the paper since not all parts lay completely flat.
3. When possible, place the glue on the paper first and then put the Pixel piece on the glue. The device's part and paper bond nearly instantaneously so it’s important that you are confident in the placement.
4. Be very conservative with the glue and place it in the thicker parts of each piece. You should only need a dot of glue (smear > dab > dot > nothing).
5. After you get the majority of an individual piece glued down, you can dot a little bit of glue on the extremities that may be sticking up.

Let the gluing begin! Take the superglue and start with a larger/easier piece. I would recommend the logic board or the home button. Move from easier piece to easier piece in order to gain confidence in your gluing skills than advance onto some of the smaller/thinner pieces. Do this until all the pieces are glued. Let it rest for about 20 minutes before placing it in the frame.