Google Pixel 3 XL Back Cover Replacement

Heat an iOpener and apply it to the right edge of the back cover for a minute.

While you wait, note the following areas on the back cover:

Strong adhesive—there are large patches of adhesive near the bottom of the phone.

Fingerprint sensor cable—be careful not to slice through the cable as you pry

Apply a suction cup to the heated edge of the back cover, as close to the edge as possible.

Pull up on the suction cup with strong, steady force to create a gap.

Depending on the age of your phone, this may be difficult. If you are having trouble, apply heat to the edge and try again.

Insert the point of an opening pick into the gap.

Slide the opening pick along the right edge to slice through the adhesive.

The adhesive gums up and becomes hard to slice once it cools. If that happens, re-apply heat to the edge to make slicing easier.

Once you have sliced through the edge, leave an opening pick in the seam to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Apply a heated iOpener to the bottom of the back cover for a minute.

Use an opening pick to slice around the bottom right corner and continue along the bottom edge of the phone.

Leave a pick in the edge to prevent the adhesive from re-sealing.

Continue heating and slicing the remaining edges of the phone.

Be careful as you slice along the left edge of the phone. If your pick feels like it's stuck near the top, you may have snagged the fingerprint sensor. Retract the pick out of the seam slightly and try again.

Be sure to cut through the thick portions of adhesive near the bottom and right edge of the phone.

Gently pry up the right edge of the back cover.

Use an opening pick to slice through any remaining adhesive along the edges.

Swing the right edge of the back cover upwards and rest the flipped panel along the left side of the phone.

User tweezers to carefully peel up the yellow tape over the fingerprint sensor connector.

Use the point of a spudger to carefully flip up the black lock bar on the fingerprint sensor's ZIF socket.

Grasp the cable's tab with your fingers or tweezers and gently walk the flex cable out of the socket.

Remove the back cover.

Apply a heated iOpener over the fingerprint sensor for a minute.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the square portion of the fingerprint sensor and slowly pry up to loosen the sensor.

Continue prying around the perimeter of the fingerprint sensor until it is loosened.

From the outer side of the back cover, use your finger to push the fingerprint sensor out of its cutout.

Remove the fingerprint sensor.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the plastic flash diffuser and slowly pry up to loosen the diffuser.

Remove the diffuser.

Insert the edge of an opening tool underneath the camera bracket and pry up to loosen it.

Remove and transfer the camera bracket to your replacement part.

Compare your new replacement back cover to the original part. You may need to transfer additional components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before installing.