GUIDE: Brighter Back Notification LED

[ConnorM228]

This is a guide to make your back LED not only a little brighter but to the point that it can be seen through moderately translucent cases.

DISCLAIMER:This tutorial is written for a user with average on up mechanical aptitude and an ability to follow directions. I assume no
responsibility for an damage that may occur. (Although it isn't likely.)

What you'll need (Labeled in the following picture):
-Drill
-3/32" drill bit
-Pry tool
-Tweezers (or flat head screwdriver or anything flat, really)
-Super glue
-SIM removal tool (pushpin for those like me who lost OEM tool)
-And of course an HTC DNA


View attachment 63050

1) Power down the device

2) Remove SIM card

View attachment 63051

3) Use pry tool to pull back off of your DNA

View attachment 63052

View attachment 63053

4) Use tweezers to pry up the bottom half of the back notification LED lense (the one in the left, not the flash lense).

Don't worry if the bottom breaks a little we will be gluing it down later.

Then swing the lense out of the way, utilizing the still attached post as a pivot.

View attachment 63054

Continued...

 

[ConnorM228]

5) Use your drill and 3/32" bit to gently drill through the are where the light blocking plastic is covering.

Here it is:

View attachment 63055

6) Glue the bottom half of the lense back into its original orientation and let the glue set.

View attachment 63056

View attachment 63057

7) Snap the case back together.

View attachment 63058

8)Plug in a charger and enjoy your newly visible notification light!

Results in next post...

 

[ConnorM228]

The blemishes you see on the back cover of the phone are completely unrelated to this project.
They are actually the reason I decided a case was necessary.

Without case:

View attachment 63059

With Case:

View attachment 63060

Post your finished product!

Feedback is very welcome, as well as questions/problems you may have.

Also, I didn't take any "before" pictures. If someone would upload one or two, I think it would
show the drastic improvement of visibility.



Thanks for reading,
Connor

 

[joshuaericjones]

My led was barely visible at all before, but after doing this it is super bright. I did have a couple issues though: the sticky mesh covering the rear speaker tore when taking the back off, and one of the red panels on the side of the phone came off.
The mesh isn't super important and I was able to salvage enough to cover the speaker, and I'm sure I can glue the red side panel back later.
Overall, I'm pretty happy; I expect a little damage when doing stuff like this.

Thanks for the guide!