Google Pixel 9a Rear Cover Replacement

Written By: Spencer Day

Comments: 1

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

20 - 40 minutes

Introduction

This repair guide was authored by the iFixit staff and hasn’t been endorsed by Google. Learn more about our repair guides here.

Follow this guide to replace a broken or cracked rear cover on your Google Pixel 9a.

If your back cover is bulging out, it may be a swollen battery. If you suspect it might be, take appropriate precautions.

You'll need replacement rear cover adhesives to complete this repair.

Note: Any repair can compromise the water resistance of your phone. Retaining water resistance after the repair depends on how accurately the new adhesives are applied and how clean the mating surfaces are.

Tools

Parts

Step 1

Let your Pixel's battery drain below 25% before starting this repair. A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.
Unplug all cables and completely power down your phone.

Step 2

Adhesive secures the rear cover to the frame. Heating the cover softens the adhesive, making it easier to separate.
Use a hair dryer to heat the entire rear cover.
Only heat your phone so it's just hot to the touch. Extreme heat can damage the rear cover, screen, or battery.

Step 3

Apply a suction handle near the center of the rear cover's right edge, as close to the edge as possible.

Step 4

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force until a gap forms between the cover and frame.
Insert the tip of an opening pick into the gap.

Step 5

The rear cover is secured with adhesive around the perimeter of the frame and near the cameras. Use this picture as a reference while you separate the adhesive.
When separating the left and right edge adhesive, don't insert your pick more than 3 mm to avoid damaging the wireless charging coil and its graphite film.

Step 6

If you ever have trouble separating the adhesive, apply more heat and try again.
Slide the opening pick up the right edge, around the top right corner, and along the top edge to separate the adhesive securing the rear cover.

Step 7

Insert an opening pick in the initial gap you created near the center of the rear cover's right edge.
Slide the opening pick down the right edge, along the bottom edge, and up the left edge to separate the adhesive securing the cover.

Step 8

Insert the flat edge of an opening pick under the top of the rear cover's left edge, near the camera bezel.
Twist the pick and apply constant pressure to separate the adhesive around the camera bezel.

Step 9

Remove the rear cover.
If you feel resistance, go back around the perimeter of the cover and use a pick to separate any remaining adhesive.

Step 10

If the camera bezel detached from the rear cover and stayed stuck to your phone, follow this step to remove it. Otherwise, skip this step.
Slide an opening pick under the camera bezel and pry up to remove it.
Only insert the pick a few millimeters under the bezel, or you risk damaging the cameras.
If you're having trouble, lightly heat the camera bezel.

Step 11

Congratulations on completing disassembly! The remaining steps will show how to reassemble your phone.

Step 12

Be very careful not to smudge the rear cameras. If you accidentally do, use a clean cloth to wipe them.
Use a spudger to scrape up and remove the six small pieces of adhesive around the rear cameras.
Use high‑concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter) to clean up and remove any residue from the adhesives you just removed.

Step 13

Remove the larger, clear liner from the inner housing adhesive and put it in place.
Use the cutouts for the small silver pads to help align the adhesive.
Hold the adhesive in place with your fingers and use the flat end of a spudger to firmly push down on each piece of adhesive, securing them in place. The rear cameras can make it tricky to secure the adhesive, so take your time and make sure they're firmly secured.
Slowly remove the colored liner using the pull tab on the top edge.
If the adhesive starts to pull up with the liner, lay it back in place and use your spudger to secure it again.

Step 14

Use a spudger to firmly press down on each of the six pieces of inner housing adhesive to secure them.
These pieces of adhesive can easily be pulled up when removing the final liners, so make sure they're firmly in place.

Step 15

Take your time during the next two steps. A clean frame allows replacement adhesive to lay evenly, ensuring a better bond.
Use a spudger and tweezers to scrape up and remove all the old rear cover adhesive from the perimeter of your phone.
If you scrape up a piece big enough to grip with your fingers, you can pull long sections of the adhesive up. Pull slowly and straight in the opposite direction of the adhesive.

Step 16

Using some high-concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol and a lint‑free cloth (or coffee filter), clean the areas of the frame where the adhesive was.

Step 17

Before applying the rear cover adhesive, make sure you know how it will sit on the frame. If you apply the adhesive incorrectly, you'll need to restart with new adhesive.
Hold the adhesive above the frame to find its orientation. Use the camera cutout in the liner to help visualize how it will lay on the frame.

Step 18

Peel down the top half of the large, clear liner to expose the adhesive—don't fully remove the liner yet.

Step 19

Take your time aligning the adhesive with the frame—it's very sticky and can't be moved once you apply it.
With the larger, clear liner folded towards the bottom of the phone, lay the exposed top edge of the adhesive onto the frame.
Use the lip of the frame to help align the adhesive.
Once the top edge is properly aligned, gently press down on the top corners with your fingers to secure the adhesive.

Step 20

Slowly lay the rest of the adhesive onto the frame, pressing it into place and peeling away the larger liner as you go.

Step 21

Use the pull tab to remove the large, colored liner.

Step 22

Use a spudger to press down firmly on the adhesive around the perimeter of your phone to secure it to the frame.

Step 23

Remove all the remaining plastic liners from the bottom of the rear cover before installing it.
Check very carefully on the camera bezel and flash unit cutout! You don't want these to get stuck in front of your camera.

How did the cameras get on the right side of the phone?

Mr. Johnson -

Step 24

Use the point of a spudger to lift and remove the plastic liners from the adhesive around the rear cameras.
If the adhesive starts to pull up with the liner, lay it back in place and use your spudger to secure it again.