Fairphone 1 sub-board repair guide

The signal is interrupted or the speaker stopped working.

In this guide, we show you how to remove your Fairphone’s sub-board on your own. You need to remove the sub-board if you want to clean it. You also need to remove it if the signal is interrupted or the speaker isn’t working.

Required tools

For storing screws

For storing screws

We recommend storing your screws so you don’t mix up the various screws and small parts.
from €10.99 on Amazon
Menda ESD Spudger

Menda ESD Spudger

You need a flat plastic prying tool to disconnect the various plugs and connectors.
from €26.38 on Amazon
Pick Set

Pick Set

You need a flat but stable tool such as a pick to pry out parts that are glued in place.
from €14.99 on Amazon
Steel Laboratory Spatula

Steel Laboratory Spatula

You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.
on Amazon
Samsung Tool Kit, 17 pieces

Samsung Tool Kit, 17 pieces

With various opening and lever tools, a Phillips screwdriver from Wiha, tweezers and steel spatula, you have everything you need for a successful Samsung repair. To help you succeed even in tricky situations, our favorites - the iPlastix, the iFlex and the iDoc magnetic mat - can't be missing from this Samsung tool set.
on Amazon

Required replacement part

Fairphone 1 Sub-board

Fairphone 1 Sub-board

on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the Fairphone 1

Steps

12 Steps

Removing the back cover

Step 1

Removing the battery

Step 2

Removing the SIM and microSD cards

Step 3

Disconnecting the chassis

Step 4

Removing the chassis

Step 5

Removing the sub-board

Step 6

Installing the sub-board

Step 7

Installing the chassis

Step 8

Attaching the chassis

Step 9

Inserting the SIM and microSD cards

Step 10

Installing the battery

Step 11

Attaching the back cover

Step 12

Getting started with the repair of your Fairphone 1

If you get stuck or have questions, you can post a comment. We’d be happy to help.

12 steps

Removing the back cover
Lift the back cover with your finger to detach it from the smartphone. There’s an indentation in the side of the Fairphone for this purpose.

Remove the back cover from the device.
Removing the battery
Remove the battery from your Fairphone by lifting it at the bottom.
Removing the SIM and microSD cards
Remove the SIM cards and the microSD card.
Disconnecting the chassis
Remove the seal so you can access the screw.

Remove the five Phillips screws.
5 x 3.9 mm Phillips screws
Removing the chassis
The chassis is hooked onto the display frame. Use a pick to detach the chassis. Insert the pick between the chassis and the display frame. Repeat this process for the entire device.

Remove the chassis.
Removing the sub-board
Disconnect the antenna cable from the sub-board.

Use the spudger to release the flexible flat cable’s locking mechanism. Use the tweezers to carefully disconnect the flexible flat cable from the connector.

Remove the two Phillips screws.
2 x 3.9 mm Phillips screws

Remove the sub-board from the display frame.

Installing the sub-board
Position the sub-board on the display frame.

Attach the sub-board to the display frame with the two Phillips screws.
2 x 3.9 mm Phillips screws

Connect the flexible flat cable to the sub-board and lock the connector in place.

Connect the antenna cable to the sub-board.
Installing the chassis
Position the chassis on the display again.

The chassis has to be hooked onto the display frame. Press the chassis against the frame until it clicks into place.
Attaching the chassis
Use the five Phillips screws to attach the chassis.
5 x 3.9 mm Phillips screws

Put the seal back on.
Inserting the SIM and microSD cards
Put the SIM cards and microSD card back in.
Installing the battery
Put the battery back in your device.

Make sure the battery’s three gold contacts are touching the three gold springs in your smartphone.
Attaching the back cover
Put the back cover back on. Make sure the two tabs on the back cover hook into the chassis.

Press the back cover on until you hear it click into place.