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Google Pixel 1 Volume Button Repair

Complete guide to Google Pixel 1 volume button repair. Cost estimates, difficulty level, time required, and environmental impact.

💰 Cost:$45 - $120
⏱️ Time:30 min - 1 hour
🌍 CO₂ Saved:58 kg

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💰 Cost Breakdown

Parts$27 - $72
Labor$18 - $48
Total Estimated Cost$45 - $120

💡 Tip: Costs vary by location and repair shop. Authorized service centers typically charge more than independent repair shops.

🔧 Repair Overview

Volume Button Repair is one of the most common repairs for Google Pixel 1. This repair involves replacing the damaged input component with a new or refurbished part. The process typically takes 30 min - 1 hour and requires easy skill level.

🔧 Required Tools

🔩 Replacement Parts

What You'll Need

  • Replacement input part (OEM or aftermarket)
  • Precision screwdriver set (Phillips #000 or pentalobe)
  • Opening tools (plastic spudger, suction cup)
  • Adhesive strips or glue
  • Clean workspace with good lighting

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Prepare your Pixel for disassembly

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***Let your Pixel's battery drain below 25% before starting this repair.*** A charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.

Unplug all cables and completely power down your phone.

Step 2: Cracked glass preparation

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Glass shards can complicate disassembly—or worse, cause injury. If your phone has a cracked screen, follow this step.

Apply strips of packing tape to the cracked glass until the whole screen is covered—this will help keep the glass contained and allow the suction cup to stick to the screen.

Make sure there's a ***single strip*** (''not'' overlapping) of tape across the ***top edge***, big enough for a suction cup to fit on.

Only cover the glass itself—don't stick any tape to the frame.

Consider wearing safety glasses to protect your eyes from any glass shaken free during the repair.

Step 3: Heat the screen

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Adhesive secures the screen to the frame. Heating the screen softens the adhesive, making it easier to separate.

Use a [guide|157348|hair dryer|new_window=true], [guide|151116|heat gun|new_window=true], or heating pad to heat the entire screen until it's almost too hot to touch.

Be careful not to overheat the phone—the battery and plastic components are susceptible to heat damage. Stop heating if the frame becomes too hot to touch.

If you're using a heating pad, set it to 60° C (140° F) and place your phone screen side down for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Apply a suction handle

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Apply a suction handle to the center of the screen's top edge, as close to the edge as possible.

Step 5: Insert an opening pick

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Inserting an opening pick is difficult. Be patient and reheat the screen at any point if it feels stuck.

Pull up on the suction handle with strong, steady force to create a gap between the screen and frame.

Insert the tip of an opening pick completely under the screen.

A metal frame is attached to the backside of the display. When inserting your pick, make sure it's underneath this frame, and not only underneath the glass panel—delaminating the glass panel from the screen will make removal difficult.

Only insert the pick slightly (a few millimeters) to prevent damaging the [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/waduOEZxSZqBrvRQ.full|front camera|new_window=true].

Step 6: Separate the screen adhesive

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Slide the opening pick along the top edge to separate the adhesive.

Step 7:

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Continue sliding the pick around the perimeter of the screen until all the adhesive has been separated, leaving picks inserted at the corners to prevent the adhesive from re‑sealing.

Reheat the screen at any point if it feels stuck.

Don't try to fully remove the screen yet, as it's still connected by a ribbon cable.

Step 8: Prop up the screen

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Flip the top edge of the screen over the bottom edge and use the suction handle (or a sturdy object) to prop it up, so you have access to the screen cable connector.

If the screen still feels stuck, go back around the perimeter with an opening pick and separate any remaining adhesive.

Step 9: Remove the screen cable bracket

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Use the flat end of a spudger to push in the [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/5K3hR224nPvJhUEh.full|clip|new_window=true] on the screen cable bracket until it releases.

Remove the bracket.

Step 10: Disconnect the screen

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Use a spudger to pry up and disconnect the screen cable [guide|25629|press connector|stepid=70308|new_window=true].

Step 11: Peel up the screen cable

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Grip the screen cable just above its connector and gently peel it up.

Step 12: Remove the screen

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Remove the screen.

Step 13: Clean the frame

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Before installing adhesive, all the old adhesive must be completely removed from the frame.

Take your time during the next two steps. A clean frame allows replacement adhesive to lay totally flat, ensuring a better seal for your new screen.

Step 14:

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This step will take some time, as removing the adhesive can be very tricky.

Use the point of a spudger to remove all the old screen adhesive from the frame. Try to "roll" the adhesive onto itself so it balls up, making it easier to remove.

Step 15:

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Wrap a microfiber or lint‑free cloth around a spudger and apply a single drop of high‑concentration (>90%) isopropyl alcohol to the end.

Use the spudger to clean up all the remaining adhesive residue from the frame, applying more drops of alcohol as necessary.

Step 16: Orient the adhesive

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Before applying any adhesive, check if your replacement screen comes with adhesive pre‑installed around its perimeter. If it does, [guide|196282|skip down nine steps|stepid=405383]. If it doesn't, follow the next nine steps to install new screen adhesive on the frame.

Before applying the screen adhesive, make sure you know how it will sit on the frame. If you apply the adhesive incorrectly, you'll need to restart with new adhesive.

Hold the adhesive above the frame to find its orientation. Use cutouts in the liner and the contours of the adhesive to help visualize how it will lay in the frame.

Step 17: Tape the screen cable down

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The screen cable sticks up off the frame, making it difficult to apply new screen adhesive.

Tape the middle of the cable down to the frame, making sure the tape isn't covering anywhere the new adhesive will go.

Step 18: Apply the adhesive

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Peel down the ***bottom half*** of the large, clear liner to expose the adhesive—don't fully remove the liner yet.

Step 19:

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Take your time aligning the adhesive with the frame—it's very sticky and can't be moved after you apply it.

With the larger, clear liner folded towards the top of the phone, lay the exposed bottom edge of the adhesive onto the frame.

Use the lip of the frame to help align the adhesive.

Once the top edge is properly aligned, gently press down on the top corners to secure the adhesive.

Step 20:

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Slowly lay the rest of the adhesive onto the frame, pressing it into place and peeling away the larger liner as you go.

Step 21: Secure the adhesive

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Use a spudger to press down firmly on the screen adhesive to secure it to the frame.

Step 22: Remove the larger liner

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Slowly peel up and remove the large colored liner, peeling from the cutout near the top edge.

If the adhesive starts to peel up with the liner, check that you’ve pushed all of it into place with your spudger. If it continues to peel up, hold it down with the point of your spudger as you go.

Step 23:

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Use a spudger to press down firmly on the screen adhesive to secure it to the frame.

Step 24: Remove the tape

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Remove the tape securing the screen cable.

Step 25: Remove the cable adhesive

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If your new screen comes with [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/UiSWRKFbAhKKR5Ra.full|cable adhesive|new_window=true] installed just above the connector on the back of the screen, follow this step to remove the old adhesive. Otherwise, skip this step and leave the old adhesive.

Use a spudger to ***gently*** scrape up and remove the piece of adhesive on the screen cable, near the connector.

Be very careful not to damage the cable. Otherwise, your screen may not work.

Step 26: Check for plastic liners on the screen

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Your replacement screen has various protective liners and pieces of tape on the underside that must be removed before installation. Your screen may have different pieces in different locations, so make sure to check carefully!

***Don't remove the screen cable adhesive liner near the bottom of the screen yet***—you'll do so after reconnecting the cable.

Check around the front facing camera cutout, and near the bottom edge of the screen.

Usually, you can identify the liners by their pull tabs.

Step 27: Remove screen liners

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The exposed back of the screen is very fragile—even a small scratch can cause damage. Be very careful not to damage the screen during the remaining steps.

Use your fingers or tweezers to remove the plastic liners and tape from the back of the screen.

Step 28: Prop up the screen

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Use a sturdy object to prop up the screen so you can reconnect its cable.

Make sure the screen is oriented so it's in the proper position when you flip it back down.

Step 29: Connect the screen

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Loop the screen cable around and use your fingers to reconnect the press connector, pressing on one side first and then the other.

Step 30: Install the bracket

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Insert the small arm of the screen cable bracket into its slot next to the connector.

Press down on the bracket and slide it into place until it clicks, making sure the outer edge [link|https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/cKpq6MRqLsddiphK.full|hooks into place|new_window=true].

Step 31: Secure the screen cable

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If your screen has screen cable adhesive pre‑installed, remove the plastic liner.

Press the cable into place above the connector to secure it to the screen.

Step 32: Remove the remaining liners

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Flip the screen down and hold it above the frame.

Remove all remaining liners from the adhesive (either on the frame, or from the underside of the screen).

Step 33: Install the new screen

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Firmly push the screen into place on the frame.

Step 34:

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Hold your phone up and squeeze firmly around the perimeter to strengthen the adhesive bond.

For an even stronger bond, you can [guide|165811|stack books on the back glass|stepid=349253|new_window=true] or use [guide|142291|screen vise clamps|new_window=true].

***Before powering on your Pixel for the first time***, lay the phone screen-side up on a clean, flat surface. Remove the plastic liner from the screen, making sure ''nothing touches the phone'' while you do so (fingers, screen protectors, or cases).

Follow any other specific instructions that may be on the screen's adhesive liner.

📖 Repair guide provided by iFixit - The free repair manual. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

iFixit Difficulty: Moderate | Time: NaNh NaNm

DIY vs Professional Repair

✋ DIY Repair

  • ✅ Lower cost (parts only: $27-$72)
  • ✅ Learn new skills
  • ❌ Risk of further damage
  • ❌ No warranty
  • ❌ Requires tools and time

🔧 Professional Repair

  • ✅ Expert installation
  • ✅ Warranty included
  • ✅ Faster turnaround
  • ❌ Higher cost ($45-$120)
  • ❌ Need to find reputable shop

Environmental Impact

By choosing to repair your Google Pixel 1 instead of replacing it, you're preventing approximately 58 kg of CO₂ emissions. Manufacturing a new Google Pixel 1 generates 60 kg of CO₂, while this repair only produces about 2 kg of CO₂. That's a 97% reduction in carbon emissions!

Get a Personalized Repair Estimate

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