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Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace a faulty motherboard in your Xiaomi Mi 3 smartphone.

The motherboard is a piece of hardware that allows for components of a phone – such as RAM, CPU, memory, and other components – to communicate with each other. A faulty motherboard will make your phone unable to boot up or cause it to frequently crash. It can be damaged by an overheating battery, dropping the phone, or using incompatible chargers.

Be aware that an improperly installed battery can lead to overheating and swelling of the battery, which can further damage the motherboard and potentially cause a fire.

Before beginning, make sure to power off your phone completely and disconnect from any external power source.

What you need

  1. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 3 of 3

    • Firmly press the SIM card removal tool into the hole located at the top of the phone to eject the SIM card tray from the slot.

    Edit

  2. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the two Phillips head screws located at the top of the phone on either side where the SIM card was ejected.

    • One screw is located under an orange sticker which would serve as your warranty for the camera were this practice not illegal as per the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act of 1975.

    Edit

  3. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 3, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 3, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a pry tool into the upper edge of the phone, where there is a small gap between screen and frame of the phone to begin separating the screen from the rest of the phone.

    • Be careful when using the pry tool as it can damage the phone's screen or other components.

    Edit

  4. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 4, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 4, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Once the pry tool has been inserted into the phone, slide it around the perimeter of the phone while gently lifting until the screen panel and back panel of the phone separate.

    • Be careful when using the pry tool as it can damage the phone's screen or other components.

    Edit

  5. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • The back of the phone should now be separated from the screen.

    Edit

  6. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 6, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 6, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 6, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Place the front panel screen side down with the camera at the top.

    • Remove these six Phillips head screws located at the upper half of the phone.

    • This screw is located under an orange sticker at the top right corner of the panel. The sticker can be removed with a pair of tweezers, then remove that Phillips head screw.

    Edit

  7. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Next, remove these three screws located at the bottom of the back panel.

    Edit

  8. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Using tweezers, remove the rubber dust cover on the back panel of the phone.

    Edit

  10. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the plastic cover on the bottom of the back panel by inserting the pry tool at the edge and gently lifting.

    Edit

  11. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the upper plastic cover from the back panel by inserting the pry tool into the upper edge and gently lifting.

    • Some models have the NFC antenna at the back of the battery glued to the top cover. It is not possible to remove the top cover without removing the battery as well. For these models, check the touchscreen guide for instructions.

    Edit

  12. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Using a spudger, remove the small ribbon cable that is connected to the battery.

    Edit

  13. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the battery by gripping and pull up on the "Battery Removal" tab attached to the left side of the battery on the back panel.

    • Some force may be required to remove the battery since it is adhered to the phone with two pieces of double sided tape.

    Edit

  14. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 13, image 1 of 1

    • The battery is now removed from the panel.

    Edit

  15. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 14, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement, Motherboard: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the antenna wire that is attached to the lower left side of the motherboard using the pry tool.

    Edit

  16. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Use a pry tool to separate the LCD display cable from the motherboard. The cable connects to the motherboard as a rectangular metallic piece at the bottom right of the motherboard.

    Edit

  17. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Disconnect the gold ribbon cable for the LCD display by gently inserting the pry tool under the wide end and lifting up.

    Edit

  18. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 17, image 3 of 3

    • Separate a cable ribbon from the top right of the motherboard by gently inserting the pry tool under the rectangular metallic piece and lifting.

    Edit

  19. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • Separate a cable ribbon from the top right of the motherboard - near the cable from the previous step - by gently inserting the pry tool under the rectangular metallic piece and lifting.

    Edit

  20. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 19, image 3 of 3

    • Using a pry tool, gently lift the side control buttons assembly away from the case. They should be loosely connected to the motherboard.

    Edit

  21. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • Remove these two screws.

    Edit

  22. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Remove the motherboard from the panel carefully. Use the pry tool as a lever from the top of the panel and lift if from that side.

    Edit

  23. Xiaomi Mi 3 Motherboard Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • The motherboard has now been successfully removed.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

8 other people completed this guide.

Author

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Tyler Howard

Member since: 09/02/15

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USF Tampa, Team 1-5, Remmell Fall 2015 Member of USF Tampa, Team 1-5, Remmell Fall 2015

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7 Comments

Mi have problems with my mother board i am nt getting it anywhere in the servce center sggst me where i can get it.

kalpana asati - Reply

I know one in the Moscow)

scrapped ham -

my motherboard was shot plz replaced my motherboard

Raju - Reply

I can send to you bricked mainboard. Unsucsessful flashing, but you can rise up it in 9008 mode. If interesting - write to me.

scrapped ham -

My sound is little bit cracking, what to do..plz help me.

Shams farash - Reply

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