Fix Your Stuff Right to Repair Store

How to fix boot loop in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3

Written By: Alex Sander (and 3 other contributors)
  • Comments: 3
  • Favorites: 2
  • Completions: 4

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

20

Time Required

30 - 40 minutes

Sections

2

Flags

2

In Progress

In Progress

This guide is a work in progress. Reload periodically to see the latest changes!

Member-Contributed Guide

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

Introduction

This guide will show you how to resolve problems with your Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 phone after it experiences water damage. When a Xiaomi Redmi Note 3’s logic board becomes damaged by water, it may require a new logic board. Users can also replace a specific component on the logic board without replacing the whole component. It may be enough to simply clean and reflow the motherboard.

Alternatively, see this YouTube video on repairing your Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 after it experiences water damage.

Video Overview

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 repair boot loop after water damage

  1. Insert and gently push the SIM card ejector tool (or an unfolded paperclip) into the small hole on the left side of the phone's top edge. Press gently to eject the SIM tray Remove the SIM card tray from the device.

    • Insert and gently push the SIM card ejector tool (or an unfolded paperclip) into the small hole on the left side of the phone's top edge.

    • Press gently to eject the SIM tray

    • Remove the SIM card tray from the device.

    • To reinsert the SIM card tray, orient the SIM card with the gold contacts facing up and the notch to the bottom right. Reinsert the SIM card by pressing the card gently into the SIM tray slot.

    Edit

  2. Insert a putty knife or opening tool into the seam between the phone's back cover and front cover. Run the opening tool along the seam to loosen the back cover. It may take quite a bit of prying and wiggling to remove the back cover.

    • Insert a putty knife or opening tool into the seam between the phone's back cover and front cover.

    • Run the opening tool along the seam to loosen the back cover.

    • It may take quite a bit of prying and wiggling to remove the back cover.

    • Open the back cover slightly so that you can see the flex cable connected between both halves of the phone.

    • The flex cable connects towards the top of the phone near the front-facing camera. To avoid tearing the cable, pull the back cover off gently.

    Edit

  3. Disconnect the flex cable using the flat end of a spudger or a pair of tweezers. Remove the phone's back cover. To reconnect the flex cable during reassembly, angle the back cover until the flex cable lines up over its socket. Use the flat end of a spudger to snap the cable in place by gently pressing straight down.

    • Disconnect the flex cable using the flat end of a spudger or a pair of tweezers.

    • Remove the phone's back cover.

    • To reconnect the flex cable during reassembly, angle the back cover until the flex cable lines up over its socket. Use the flat end of a spudger to snap the cable in place by gently pressing straight down.

    Edit

  4. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five screws in the plastic covering at the bottom of the device.

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the five screws in the plastic covering at the bottom of the device.

    Edit

  5. Insert the flat end of a spudger under the plastic assembly cover at the bottom of the device. Pry upwards with the spudger to lift the assembly cover. Remove the assembly cover.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the plastic assembly cover at the bottom of the device.

    • Pry upwards with the spudger to lift the assembly cover.

    • Remove the assembly cover.

    Edit

  6. Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the battery flex cable from the lower assembly. Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable on the left-hand side of the device.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the battery flex cable from the lower assembly.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable on the left-hand side of the device.

    Edit

  7. Insert the flat end of a spudger under the assembly at the bottom of the device near the right-hand corner. Pry upwards with the spudger to release the right-hand corner of the assembly. Insert the flat end of a spudger under the assembly at the bottom of the device near the left-hand corner.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the assembly at the bottom of the device near the right-hand corner.

    • Pry upwards with the spudger to release the right-hand corner of the assembly.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the assembly at the bottom of the device near the left-hand corner.

    • Pry upwards with the spudger to release the left-hand corner of the assembly.

    • Use your fingers to remove the assembly.

    Edit

  9. Peel back the barcode sticker so that it is disconnected from the battery. Use your fingers to grasp the black battery adhesive tab and pull outwards firmly until the entire adhesive strip is released. Repeat for the second battery adhesive strip.

    • Peel back the barcode sticker so that it is disconnected from the battery.

    • Use your fingers to grasp the black battery adhesive tab and pull outwards firmly until the entire adhesive strip is released.

    • Repeat for the second battery adhesive strip.

    Edit

  10. Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery. Use your fingers to remove the battery.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery.

    • Use your fingers to remove the battery.

    Edit

  11. Use a spudger to disconnect all marked ribbon cables. Use a spudger to disconnect all marked ribbon cables.

    • Use a spudger to disconnect all marked ribbon cables.

    Edit

  12. Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the eight screws fastening the motherboard to the phone's interior. Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the eight screws fastening the motherboard to the phone's interior.

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the eight screws fastening the motherboard to the phone's interior.

    Edit

  13. Use a pair of tweezers to remove the small metal piece from the top of the motherboard. Use a pair of tweezers to remove the small metal piece from the top of the motherboard.

    • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the small metal piece from the top of the motherboard.

    Edit

  14. Slide an opening tool underneath the plastic assembly covering the upper portion of the motherboard. Use your fingers or the opening tool to remove the plastic covering. Use your fingers or the opening tool to remove the plastic covering.

    • Slide an opening tool underneath the plastic assembly covering the upper portion of the motherboard.

    • Use your fingers or the opening tool to remove the plastic covering.

    Edit

  15. Slide an opening tool or the flat end of a spudger underneath the motherboard. Pry upwards to loosen the motherboard from the phone's front cover.

    • Slide an opening tool or the flat end of a spudger underneath the motherboard.

    • Pry upwards to loosen the motherboard from the phone's front cover.

    Edit

  16. Gently lift the motherboard from its slot. Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the cable from the bottom of the motherboard. Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the cable from the bottom of the motherboard.

    • Gently lift the motherboard from its slot.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the cable from the bottom of the motherboard.

    Edit

  17. Use your fingers to remove the motherboard. Use your fingers to remove the motherboard.

    • Use your fingers to remove the motherboard.

    Edit

  18. Visually inspect the phone's motherboard for any corrosion. Apply a small amount of flux to the corroded parts of the motherboard using a brush.

    • Visually inspect the phone's motherboard for any corrosion.

    • Apply a small amount of flux to the corroded parts of the motherboard using a brush.

    • Wipe away any corrosion using a soft brush.

    Edit

  19. Place a heat shield over the other parts of the motherboard to avoid overheating.

    • Place a heat shield over the other parts of the motherboard to avoid overheating.

    • Heat the affected area with a heat gun to reflow the solder.

    • Reflowing heats up all the soldering joints in an area so they become liquid enough to reinforce the bonds. This allows electricity to flow through the bond without unexpected resistance.

    Edit

  20. Apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to the affected areas.

    • Apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to the affected areas.

    • The isopropyl alcohol will clean any remaining flux that was not burned off during the heating process.

    Edit

  21. Repeat steps 11-13 for any other areas of the motherboard that are corroded or rusty.

    • Repeat steps 11-13 for any other areas of the motherboard that are corroded or rusty.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

4 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 3 other contributors

Alex Sander

Member since: 02/28/2017

36,199 Reputation

202 Guides authored

Badges: 28

+25 more badges

0 Comments

Add a comment

Add Comment

View Statistics:

Past 24 Hours: 2

Past 7 Days: 13

Past 30 Days: 71

All Time: 5,237