Moto X Play mainboard repair guide

Remove the motherboard after water damage.

In this repair guide, we show you how to remove your Moto X Play’s PCB on your own. You need to remove the PCB if you want to clean it after water damage.

Required tools

Heat gun

Heat gun

You can use a heat gun to heat parts that are glued on so they’re easier to remove. In most cases, you can also use a hairdryer.
from €15.99 on Amazon
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
Tweezers

Tweezers

We recommend using tweezers to remove screws and various small parts from your device.
on Amazon
Steel Laboratory Spatula

Steel Laboratory Spatula

You need a flat and sturdy prying tool to disconnect glued parts.
on Amazon
Wiha PicoFinish Torx Screwdriver T3

Wiha PicoFinish Torx Screwdriver T3

from €10.08 on Amazon

Required replacement part

Motorola Moto X Play Motherboard

Motorola Moto X Play Motherboard

on Amazon

Show all replacement parts for the Moto X Play

Steps

16 Steps

Turning off your Motorola Moto X Play

Step 1

Removing the SIM card tray

Step 2

Removing the back cover

Step 3

Removing the midframe

Step 4

Disconnecting the battery and the NFC antenna

Step 5

Removing the battery

Step 6

Disconnecting the display connector

Step 7

Removing the logic board

Step 8

Installing the logic board

Step 9

Connecting the display connector

Step 10

Inserting the battery

Step 11

Connecting the battery and the NFC antenna

Step 12

Installing the midframe

Step 13

Installing the control buttons

Step 14

Attaching the back cover

Step 15

Inserting the SIM card tray

Step 16

Getting started with the repair of your Moto X Play

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

16 steps

Turning off your Motorola Moto X Play
Turn off your device by holding down the power button until the “Power off” option appears.

Use your finger to confirm that you want to shut down your Moto X Play and wait until the screen goes blank.
Removing the SIM card tray
Remove the SIM tray from your device by pressing a SIM tool or straightened paperclip into the little hole.

Once the tray is sticking out of the enclosure a little, you can pull it out along with the cards.
Removing the back cover
There is a long slot in the lower left corner of the back cover. You can stick your fingernail or a tool into it and disconnect the back cover from your device.

The cover is hooked onto the chassis at several points. Undo all the hooks and remove the back cover from your device.
Removing the midframe
Remove the seventeen screws that attach the midframe to the device.
17 x 3.1 mm T3 Torx screw

Remove the midframe. The two buttons for the power button and the volume rocker switch might fall out in the process. If they don’t fall out, you can remove them afterwards.
Disconnecting the battery and the NFC antenna
Disconnect the two plug contacts for the battery and the NFC antenna from the PCB.
NFC antenna
Battery

Carefully disconnect the connectors using the spudger. Insert the blade of the spudger below the contact and gently pry it out of the socket.
Removing the battery
Be very careful during this step. Use a flat, blunt tool like the round end of the steel laboratory spatula to avoid damaging the battery and PCB.

The battery is glued to the PCB. The easiest way to detach the battery is by carefully inserting your tool between the battery and the metal strips on both long sides, and then using your tool as a lever. This will detach most of the glue from the battery.

Now you can lift the battery a little and carefully insert your tool below the battery. Be really careful because otherwise you could damage the PCB.

Remove the battery from the enclosure.
Disconnecting the display connector
Disconnect the two plug contacts for the display and the control buttons from the PCB.
Display
Control buttons

Using the spudger, carefully disconnect the two brackets on the sockets. Insert the blade of the spudger below each bracket and carefully tilt it up.

Then pull the two cables out of the sockets. Use very little force to avoid bending or tearing the cables.
Removing the logic board
Be very careful during this step. Use a flat, blunt tool like the round end of the steel laboratory spatula to avoid damaging the PCB.

In this step, we recommend heating the device with hot air to melt the glue.

Because the PCB is glued to the enclosure, you have to carefully pry it out. Be very careful. Otherwise, you could damage components or the PCB.

Use your tool on all sides where you can insert it to fully detach the PCB.

As soon as you can lift the PCB a little, you can insert your tool farther below the PCB.

Remove the motherboard from the device.

Installing the logic board
Put the PCB back in the enclosure and press it against the enclosure so the glue will stick again. Make sure no cables get stuck below the PCB.
Connecting the display connector
Connect the two plug contacts for the display and the control buttons to the PCB.
Display
Control buttons

Carefully insert each cable back into the corresponding socket. You have to push the cable in all the way to make sure there’s electrical contact. Don’t bend or tear the cables.

Then press down the brackets to secure the cables in the sockets.
Inserting the battery
Put the battery back in the enclosure. Use the battery contact (arrow) to find the right position. Firmly press in the battery with your fingers so it will stick to the PCB.
Connecting the battery and the NFC antenna
Connect the battery contact and the NFC antenna’s connector to the PCB again.
NFC antenna
Battery

Use your finger to carefully press the two connectors into the appropriate sockets. You will hear them click into place.
Installing the midframe
Put the midframe back on the device and make sure it’s positioned so all the openings are over the threaded holes in the device.

Use the seventeen screws to attach the midframe to the device.
17 x 3.1 mm T3 Torx screw
Installing the control buttons
Don’t forget to install the two buttons for the power button and the volume rocker switch again. Position the two buttons as shown in the first picture to insert them into the openings. You will hear the buttons click into place in the enclosure.
Attaching the back cover
Put the back cover back in its original position on the device.

Press the back cover on all over until you hear all the hooks on the device click into place.
Inserting the SIM card tray
Insert the SIM tray back into your device. Make sure it’s aligned properly.