Phone · Google · Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a Titan Security Chip Repair
Titan Security Chip Repair guide for the Google Pixel 8a
Before you begin
Tools
- Hot air station
- Precision screwdriver set
- Plastic opening tools
- Tweezers
- Microscope
- Multimeter
- Anti-static wrist strap
- Suction handle
Parts / materials
- Replacement Titan M2 IC
- Low-temp solder flux
- Desoldering wick
- Isopropyl alcohol (99%)
- Display adhesive pre-cut strip
Safety
- Wear protective eyewear when working with hot air and soldering tools.
- Attach an anti-static wrist strap to prevent ESD damage to sensitive microcomponents.
- Perform soldering in a well-ventilated area or use a fume extractor.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the Pixel 8a
1 minPress and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons, then tap Power Off. Ensure the device is completely powered down before proceeding.
- 2
Heat the display edges
3 minApply heat to the outer perimeter of the screen using a hot air station set to 80°C for 3 minutes to soften the adhesive.
- 3
Apply suction handle to screen
2 minAttach a suction cup near the bottom edge of the display and gently pull upward to create a small gap.
- 4
Slice through perimeter adhesive
4 minInsert a plastic opening pick into the gap and slide it around the edges to cut through the display adhesive.
- 5
Disconnect display flex cable
3 minPivot the display open from the left side, remove the metal shield screw using a Torx T3 screwdriver, and detach the screen cable.
- 6
Unscrew the internal midframe
4 minRemove all Torx T3 screws securing the graphite sheet and midframe plate to the housing.
- 7
Lift out the midframe assembly
2 minUse a plastic spudger to pry up the midframe from the chassis and set it aside.
- 8
Disconnect the battery cable
1 minPry the battery connector directly up from the motherboard using a plastic spudger to cut power.
- 9
Disconnect secondary motherboard flex cables
3 minUnclip the front camera, rear camera, and bottom USB-C interconnect cables from the logic board.
- 10
Remove motherboard retaining screws
2 minUnfasten the motherboard screws holding the main board inside the aluminium enclosure.
- 11
Extract the motherboard
2 minGently lift the logic board out of the housing and place it on an ESD-safe workspace under a microscope.
- 12
Remove motherboard EMI shield
4 minUse fine tweezers to peel back or unsolder the thermal EMI shield covering the Titan M2 chip area.
- 13
Apply flux to Titan chip
2 minDispense a small amount of liquid or gel soldering flux around the perimeter of the Titan security IC.
- 14
Desolder faulty Titan chip
4 minHeat the chip with a hot air station set to 350°C until the solder reflows, then lift it off with curved tweezers.
- 15
Clean motherboard BGA pads
5 minApply flux and sweep a desoldering wick over the pads with a soldering iron to remove residual solder. Clean with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
- 16
Solder replacement Titan chip
4 minAlign the new Titan M2 chip on the pads and apply hot air at 330°C until it self-aligns and reflows into place.
- 17
Reinstall motherboard and display
8 minReassemble the motherboard, secure all screws, attach battery and display connectors, and apply fresh display adhesive.
After your Google Pixel 8a titan security chip repair
Power the Pixel 8a back on and test the titan security chip repair function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Google Pixel 8a job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Google Pixel 8a repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
