OnePlus 5 Fingerprint Scanner Replacement

Written By: Arthur Shi

Comments: 32

OnePlus 5 Fingerprint Scanner Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

50 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Follow this guide to remove and replace a defective fingerprint scanner/home button for the OnePlus 5. The fingerprint scanner is layered underneath the loudspeaker module and the daughterboard. The hardest part of the guide is getting the frame clips of the back cover free to access the internals of the phone.

Some guide images will show the battery already removed from the phone. You do not need to remove the battery for this procedure.

Tools

Step 1

Insert a SIM card eject tool, bit, or a straightened paperclip into the small hole below the SIM card tray, located near the rear cameras on the edge of the phone.
Press firmly to eject the tray.
During reassembly, be sure to properly orient the SIM tray you you insert it.

Step 2

Remove the two 2.6 mm T2 screws straddling the USB-C port on the bottom edge of the phone.

What are the reference of the screws ? They are missing in the one I bought !

Yôken Asakura - 01/05/19

Hi Yôken,

They help hold the back cover on. Most of the time, the clips are enough to hold the phone together.

Arthur Shi - 01/05/19

Just FYI, for whatever reason my brand new OnePlus 5 had 0,8 mm stars screws instead of T2 Torx.

strixaluco - 21/04/20

Same here, T2 doesn’t fit the screws on my Oneplus 5. More like T1’s

Shaze An - 09/06/20

Definitely T2 for me. Do watch out during assembly. I have a feeling that it’s easy to strip these.

Juno Grégoire - 21/07/20

T2 for me too. It was missing in my kit and iFixit sent it later when I asked them about it.

Gitanshu Sardana - 29/11/20

Step 3

There is a high risk of damaging the display panel if this opening procedure is improperly followed.
The following four steps show how to pry the rear case from the plastic frame. Read through the steps first before attempting the procedure.
There are two different seams between the body and the screen of the phone:
Display panel seam: This seam is part of the display assembly. Do not pry at this seam, or you will separate and damage the display panel.
Frame seam: This is where the plastic frame meets the back cover. Only pry at this seam.
There are twelve clips that hold the frame against the rear case. Be aware of their location as you pry the back cover off in the following steps.

Step 4

As you work, try not to accidentally power on the phone. If you do, turn the phone off before resuming disassembly.
Place a suction cup near the bottom edge of the display.
Pull on the suction cup with strong steady force.
Press the edge of an opening tool straight into the frame seam near the suction cup until the edge wedges between the plastic frame and the back cover's lip.
Due to tight tolerances, this will take substantial force. Using a new opening tool with an unmarred edge will help with this step.

I found pushing open the frame seam at the corner works better than pushing from the middle like it is shown in the pictures

Mark - 10/08/20

I found the suction cup to be more of a hindrance and kept hitting the power button, making it necessary to stop and turn the phone off again. I watched a youtube video where the person didn't use a suction cup at all and decided to try that. I also found that a guitar pick type spudger worked far better than the one shown in the picture. If you're having trouble getting it started, I suggest trying those two things.

Brett Gersekowski -

Step 5

Once the opening tool's edge is wedged in position, carefully slide the tool along the bottom edge of the phone.
Carefully guide the opening tool around the left corner of the phone while keeping the tool's edge within the seam.

This was extremely difficult & took a lot of force. I needed a thin flat metal spudger and wrecked a couple of plastic ones in the process. I left a few scratches along the join in the process. It would be easier if I had something to hold the phone, in my hand I kept turning it on by accident.

David Hoffman -

what was the metal spudger did you use? I am having trouble as well. I cannot seem to pry the back cover and it feels like it is shut tightly, there are no crevices I can pry into. What was your strategy may I ask?

Azure Shoti -

At first, I slightly opened the body with a plastic tool, but it was not enough to actually open the back cover. Then I used a thin metal screwdriver for this. It was difficult but nothing special. Just be sure that you are opening the correct seam between the body and the screen and don’t make sudden moves. I bent nothing, everything came back in place when reassembled.

ivan -

Same as David here: the plastic opening tools/guitar picks were doing nothing (not even creating the first "crack") . In the end I managed to open it using Jimmy (the metal knife/spudger), but not without scratching the whole metal cover.

Nessuno Nessuno -

Step 6

Lever the opening tool to release the first clip from the frame.

Step 7

Continue sliding the opening tool along the long edge, releasing the clips along the way.
The last clip in the top-left corner near the front-facing camera is recessed and can be difficult to release. Take your time and use the flat end of a spudger or an opening pick to help.

If you have difficulties with the last clip on the upper left. Try to go round the other side (right side), beginning at the bottom. This worked very well for me after having some difficulties with the clip near the front camera.

Sebastian - 10/04/20

This helped me a lot as well. Couldn't get the upper left clip, but after going all the way around to the top right as well (keeping left clips released of course), it was pretty easy. Thanks, Sebastian!

Daniel Fedorin -

Step 8

With the bottom and left edge of the phone freed, gently wiggle the frame to release the top and right edge clips.
The frame is still connected to the back cover by a long flex cable. Do not remove the back cover.
During reassembly, pause here to test your phone's functionality before securing the back cover.
To reinstall the back cover:
Align the top edge of the frame to the back cover and ensure that the top clips slip into place.
Squeeze along the long edges of the phone to snap the remaining clips into place.

Reinstalling the back cover stumped me for a second… If you’re struggling with aligning the top edge of the frame, remember that the camera is going to look off/pointed a bit too low until you actually clip the frame back in.

Really stupid but it was the only thing that tripped me up in this guide.

Roger - 25/07/20

Step 9

With all the clips released, flip the phone over so that the display is face-down.
Swing the back cover around and rest it on top of the exposed frame.
Be careful not to stress the flex cable connecting the back cover and the frame.

Step 10

Remove the 2.6 mm Phillips screw holding the cable bracket above the battery in place.
Lift up and remove the cable bracket.
To reinstall the bracket, position one end into place, and bend the bracket slightly to spring the other end into place.

Step 11

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the back cover flex cable from its socket.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend, causing permanent damage.

If it is damaged permanently is there a solution for it?

Run River -

If the flex cable pins are damaged, the flex cable can be replaced.

If the connecter pins (on the motherboard) are damaged, you might need to do microsoldering (or contact a microsoldering company) to replace the damaged connector.

Brendan - 24/05/23

Step 12

Remove the back cover.

Step 13

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the battery connector from its socket.

Step 14

Remove the six 2.6 mm Phillips screws securing the loudspeaker to the frame.

Step 15

Insert the flat end of a spudger into the corner of the loudspeaker assembly and pry slightly, loosening the loudspeaker from its recess.

Step 16

Remove the loudspeaker.
To reinstall the loudspeaker, align the loudspeaker's bottom edge to the frame, then press the assembly into place.
During reinstallation, make sure that the display cable connector under the loudspeaker assembly is still securely fastened.

Step 17

Use the point of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the interconnect flex cable from the socket.
If you are replacing the battery, bend the interconnect flex cable away from the phone and secure it out of the way with a rubber band or tape.

What if you’re NOT replacing the battery?

e nigma - 23/05/20

This step is used in multiple guides, and not all of them require the cable to be bent away. You can just leave it sitting there, disconnected.

Arthur Shi - 26/05/20

This image seems to show the daughterboard removed but there is no corresponding previous step. I see no way to remove the interconnect flex cable without removing the daughterboard. Possibly the volume switch can be removed with the cable still connected but I'm not confident enough to try this so will remove the daughterboard.

David Hoffman - 24/06/22

David,

Thanks for bringing this up. That's indeed a procedural error! I've added the missing steps in the affected guides.

Arthur Shi -

Step 18

Use the point of a spudger the pry up and disconnect the fingerprint scanner connector from its socket on the daughterboard.

Step 19

Slip the point of a spudger underneath the antenna interconnect cable and pry up to disconnect it from its socket on the daughterboard.
De-route the antenna interconnect cable out of the way of the daughterboard.

Step 20

Insert the edge of a flat end of the spudger underneath the microphone board and twist slightly to release the board's adhesive.

Step 21

Slide the flat end of a spudger or the point of an opening pick underneath the daughterboard near its right edge.
Gently pry to loosen the daughterboard from its recess.
If the daughterboard begins to bend significantly, stop and pry from a different angle.

Step 22

Insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the daughterboard, this time approaching it from the bottom.
Twist and slide the spudger slightly to release the daughterboard from its recess.

Step 23

Remove the daughterboard.
If you are installing the daughterboard onto a replacement frame, be sure to peel off the blue adhesive liners for the daughterboard before sticking it in place.

Step 24

Slide the flat end of a spudger underneath the tape covering the fingerprint scanner.
Lift up to pry and remove the tape.
You will most likely not be able to reuse the tape during reinstallation. Replace it with a piece of electrical tape.

Hello! Does this silicone tape have the same thickness as the mesh that will be removed during disassembly? Do you have a mesh like that available or do you know a place to purchase it online?? Thanks

Alexandros Kettenis -

Step 25

If you are planning to reuse the fingerprint scanner, be extremely careful pulling the flex cable up. It is very delicate and prone to breaking.
Use your finger to gently lift up the connector end of the fingerprint scanner. Pull upwards slowly. Do not pull directly away from the fingerprint scanner.
Keep pulling upwards until the fingerprint scanner cable is freed from its recess.

I couldn’t release this by pulling upwards as shown. Maybe I wasn’t brave enough & could have pulled harder. I used a fine pointed end of a scalpel blade under the left side where the QR code is & that, while pulling gently, did the trick.

David Hoffman -

Step 26

Insert the point of a spudger into the marked areas on either side of the flex cable, and push until the fingerprint scanner is loosened from its recess.
Do not apply pressure directly onto the delicate flex cable.
If the fingerprint scanner is not coming loose, make sure you are pressing the spudger's point against the backside of the scanner as indicated in the first image, and not the metal plate below it.

Step 27

Once the fingerprint scanner is loosened from its recess, carefully thread its flex cable through the cutout, out of the front of the display.
Remove the fingerprint scanner.
If you are installing the fingerprint scanner onto a replacement frame, be sure to peel off the blue adhesive liner for the fingerprint scanner before sticking it in place.

My replacement fingerprint scanner did not come with any adhesive to hold it in place and it floated above the surface of the phone. I used a tiny amount of very carefully applied Gorilla contact adhesive which worked but will be a pain to remove next time.

David Hoffman -

Conclusion

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

Repair didn’t go as planned? Check out our OnePlus 5 Answers Community for troubleshooting help.

Author

Arthur Shi

Member since: 03/01/18

263369 Reputation

8 comments

Is there an extra step involved so that the button stays countersunk in the new display? Mine seems to be slightly proud of the screen

John O Shea - 20/09/19

Hi John,

If you may need to apply some new adhesive to the underside of the fingerprint sensor to hold it in place.

Arthur Shi - 21/09/19

Hi,

I change the fingerprint but only works if don’t close the back cover, when I close the back cover the OS don’t detect the fingerprint sensor. Any idea?

César Gutiérrez - 30/01/20

Hey César,

It may be that something is shorting the fingerprint sensor. Did you replace the tape in step 24 with electrical tape?

Arthur Shi - 31/01/20

Great news, finally I found the problem, the connector from daughter board to motherboard was disconnected but a lot of pins maked contact and the micro, and other electronics works but not the fingerprint sensor. I dissasembled the motherboard and pushed the connector from the flex cable to the socket, now all is working ok. Thanks for the response Arthur!

César Gutiérrez - 31/01/20

I’m glad you fixed the problem! Thanks for following up!

Arthur Shi - 31/01/20

Hello everyone ! I’m trying to fix my oneplus 5 too. I’m currently replacing the home button but it does not stay in place (the button just ‘stick out’ from the screen). @arthurshi Does the home button must have an ‘adhesive band’ to stick to the screen ? It does not seems to be a clip-able button. I’m not talking about this side https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/ig... . I’m talking about the other, the black ‘screen’ side.

Thank you for your work.

Michaël -

Hi Michaël!

Good question! The button does have some adhesive on it. If the existing adhesive no longer holds the button, I suggest using some double-sided tape to hold the button in place. If you are certain your repair fully works, you can also glue the button down with a bit of E6000 adhesive.

Arthur Shi -