Nexus 7 Upper Microphone Replacement

Written By: Walter Galan

Comments: 16

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

35 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

The Nexus 7 uses a pair of microphone to cancel out ambient noise to improve voice recognition. A broken microphone is really annoying, so be sure to use this guide to help you replace the upper microphone.

Tools

Parts

Nexus 7 (1st Gen) Microphone

Step 1

In the following steps you will release the clips (highlighted in red) along the perimeter of the Nexus 7's rear panel.
Do not use excessive force while prying the clips. They can be easily broken.

Mine doesn't look like this. There is no metal band around it. The only opening looks like its between the front glass and back which is on the front. I'm afraid to try it for fear of breaking it. Any suggestions?

Kim McCauley - 25/09/18

There is no front or rear panel. There’s no sign of any seam whatsoever. The front and back are one solid piece of plastic.

Proud Liberal - 06/08/20

Step 2

Gently insert a plastic opening tool near the top of the Nexus 7 between the rear panel and the front panel assembly.
Carefully run the plastic opening tool along the top edge to pry the rear panel away from the front panel assembly of the Nexus 7.

My Nexus 7 looks nothing like this. These instructions are horrible as they do not work.

Andy Garcia - 17/09/17

someone help? my nexus looks completely different

Music Raider - 07/02/19

Step 3

Insert the plastic opening tool between the rear panel and the front panel assembly near the power button and pry up at several points along the right edge of the Nexus 7.

Step 4

Pry up the rear panel along the left edge using the method described in previous steps.

Step 5

Gently lift and remove the rear panel up off the front panel assembly.

Step 6

Using the tip of a spudger, push first on one side then the other to "walk" the battery cable straight out of its socket on the motherboard.

I have the newer version of Nexus and the battery connection inside is different from pictured here. I can't seem to get any part of the connector backed out. Any further details about how to accomplish this step?

indianowen31 - 01/01/15

After my post I tried it again, and realized the connector comes straight UP, not OUT. Once I went this direction, the process was simple.

indianowen31 - 01/01/15

I followed this, everything worked fine. Even though the battery is now charging, the OS doesn't recognise when the USB cable is connected to a wall socket or a PC. The battery icon when the tablet is shut down shows charging so it works, but the OS in itself doesn't seem to know about it...any ideas?

Daniel Zakrisson - 07/02/15

Thanks for your guide. It makes the process very straightforward. Easier than I was expecting.

Les Gordon - 10/02/15

Superb easy to follow guide. Thanks greatly, the nexus 7 lives on ! Just need to patiently wait for it charging now !

stuart - 17/02/15

Yes, this is a really helpful guide. I wouldn't have had a clue without it, but it all turned out to be very simple. Thanks a lot!

Ian Gibson - 08/05/15

I managed to break one of the two small golden pins to the right of the battery cable (obscured by the tool in the picture above).

Is this terminal (sorry for the pun)?

I tried re-assembling (without screwing the assembly back to the bezel) and the display doesn't work.

gravelld - 30/09/15

Step 6 could be much clearer. I thought it meant to pry the connector upward, away from the surface. When I did this, all the pins broke off. The correct procedure would appear to be to slide the connector along the surface toward the wire side and battery, leaving the pins at parallel to the surface.

Unfortunately I don't think my Nexus 7 is salveagable now.

Warren Harris - 21/11/15

Watching a YouTube video helped. Dislodge the battery first, then pull the battery away from the connector and the connector will become dislodged quite easily.

d_ratner_1999 - 01/05/17

Step 7

Peel back the copper ESD shielding covering the bottom of the motherboard.
Do not try to remove the copper shielding, as it is still attached underneath the battery.
If you're just replacing the micro usb charge port, there is no need to peel back the copper heatsink like in the photo, the speaker assembly can simply be moved out of the way once unscrewed. If the speakers are to be replaced simply peel back the bottom corner to expose the speaker connection. Leave the rest of the heatsink shield alone.

Peel back the copper heat spreader for the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor

Jack J - 09/09/15

Step 8

Using the tip of a spudger, push the speaker cable straight out of its socket on the motherboard.

Step 9

Peel back the label covering the power and volume button ZIF connector.

Step 10

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the power and volume button ribbon cable ZIF socket.
Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the power and volume button ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Looking to purchase a power & volume cable strip?

Mike Patrick - 28/03/15

Step 11

Carefully peel back the adhesive tape covering the I/O board ribbon cable socket on the motherboard.

Step 12

Use the tip of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flap on the I/O data ribbon cable ZIF socket.
Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flap, not the socket itself.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the I/O data ribbon cable straight out of its socket.

Step 13

Peel back the adhesive tape covering the display and digitizer cable sockets.
It is not necessary to completely remove the adhesive, but it is helpful to fold it back on itself to get it out of the way.

Step 14

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the display data cable straight up off its socket on the motherboard.

Step 15

Use the flat end of a spudger to carefully flip up the retaining flaps on the digitizer ribbon cable ZIF sockets.
Make sure you are flipping up the retaining flaps, not the sockets themselves.
Use the tip of a spudger to pull the digitizer ribbon cable straight out of its socket.