Step-by-step

1. 1

   Power down the phone

   1 min

   Turn off the Moto G Stylus 5G immediately to minimize short-circuit damage. Do not plug the phone into a charger.

2. 2

   Remove the SIM tray and stylus

   1 min

   Insert a SIM eject tool into the tray hole to eject the SIM card holder. Pull out the integrated stylus from its slot.

3. 3

   Heat the back cover

   2 min

   Apply heat around the perimeter of the rear cover for two minutes using a heat gun or iOpener. This softens the adhesive securing the plastic panel.

4. 4

   Slice rear adhesive

   4 min

   Insert an opening pick into the gap between the frame and back cover. Slide the pick around all edges to slice through the adhesive.

5. 5

   Disconnect the fingerprint sensor

   2 min

   Gently lift the back cover slightly from the left edge. Use a spudger to detach the fingerprint sensor flex cable from the motherboard before removing the cover completely.

6. 6

   Unscrew the upper motherboard frame

   3 min

   Remove the Phillips #00 screws securing the plastic motherboard bezel. Keep track of each screw position for reassembly.

7. 7

   Pry off the top bracket

   2 min

   Insert a spudger under the top edge of the plastic bezel and unclip it from the housing. Lift and remove the bracket.

8. 8

   Disconnect the battery cable

   1 min

   Use a plastic spudger to snap the battery connector straight up from its socket. Disconnecting power stops ongoing electrical corrosion.

9. 9

   Remove the lower speaker housing

   3 min

   Unscrew the Phillips #00 screws securing the speaker assembly at the bottom of the device. Lift the speaker module out of the chassis.

10. 10

    Disconnect remaining board flex cables

    2 min

    Unplug the display cable, interconnect cable, and antenna coaxial lines from the motherboard and lower daughterboard.

11. 11

    Extract the motherboard

    2 min

    Remove any remaining motherboard retaining screws. Carefully pry up the main motherboard and remove it from the frame.

12. 12

    Extract the daughterboard

    2 min

    Pry up the lower daughterboard containing the USB-C port and headphone jack from the housing.

13. 13

    Submerge boards in isopropyl alcohol

    10 min

    Place the motherboard and daughterboard into a clean container filled with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol. Let them soak for 10 minutes to displace trapped moisture.

14. 14

    Scrub corroded components

    5 min

    Use a soft-bristled toothbrush dampened with alcohol to gently remove white mineral residue and corrosion around chips and connectors.

15. 15

    Dry all components completely

    15 min

    Place the cleaned boards and frame on a microfiber towel in a warm, dry area. Allow everything to air dry completely for at least 24 hours before reassembly.

16. 16

    Reassemble and apply fresh adhesive

    8 min

    Reinstall the daughterboard, motherboard, and shield covers in reverse order. Clean old adhesive remnants and apply new back cover adhesive before sealing.