Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
11
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
4
- Back Cover
- 3 steps
- Steam Deck Battery Disconnection
- 4 steps
- Steam Deck Heatsink Sticker Removal
- 1 step
- Fan
- 3 steps
Flags
1
Provided Hardware
A manufacturer provided iFixit with this device or component.
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Introduction
Before you begin, completely power down and unplug all cables from your Steam Deck. Remember to follow general electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures while repairing the device.
What you need
Step 1
Remove the back cover screws
- To minimize risk of damage, turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs. A charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured.
- Before starting this guide, power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.
- As an extra precaution, Valve recommends putting your Steam Deck into battery storage mode within the BIOS before starting any internal repairs. Read how to do that here.
- If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck.
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:
- Four 9.5 mm screws
- Four 5.8 mm screws
- Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.
To minimize risk of damage, turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs. A charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured.
Before starting this guide, power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.
As an extra precaution, Valve recommends putting your Steam Deck into battery storage mode within the BIOS before starting any internal repairs. Read how to do that here.
If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck.
Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:
Four 9.5 mm screws
Four 5.8 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.
1024
Step 2
Unclip the back cover
- Insert an opening pick into the thin gap between the back cover and the front shell, along the edge of the right grip.
- Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.
Insert an opening pick into the thin gap between the back cover and the front shell, along the edge of the right grip.
Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.
Step 3
Remove the back cover
- Once the clips are disconnected from one edge, the rest disconnect easily.
- Grip the back cover at the opening you just created and pull it up and away from the device to unclip the long edges.
- Remove the back cover.
Once the clips are disconnected from one edge, the rest disconnect easily.
Grip the back cover at the opening you just created and pull it up and away from the device to unclip the long edges.
Remove the back cover.
Step 4
Uncover the hidden shield screw
- Use a pair of tweezers to remove the piece of foil tape covering the hidden screw on the board shield.
- If possible, try not to rip or tear this tape so it can be reused. If necessary, you can fashion a replacement by cutting a piece of aluminum foil tape to fit.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the piece of foil tape covering the hidden screw on the board shield.
If possible, try not to rip or tear this tape so it can be reused. If necessary, you can fashion a replacement by cutting a piece of aluminum foil tape to fit.
Step 5
Remove the shield screws
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the three screws securing the board shield:
- One 3.4 mm screw
- Two 3.7 mm screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three screws securing the board shield:
One 3.4 mm screw
Two 3.7 mm screws
Step 6
Remove the shield
- Remove the board shield.
- During reassembly, ensure that the fan cable lays on the side of the board shield and isn’t pinched underneath.
Remove the board shield.
During reassembly, ensure that the fan cable lays on the side of the board shield and isn’t pinched underneath.
Step 7
Disconnect the battery
- Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.
- Alternatively, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the connector out of its socket, then disconnect it completely by hand.
Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.
Alternatively, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the connector out of its socket, then disconnect it completely by hand.
Step 8
Remove the heatsink sticker
- Use a pair of tweezers to remove the sticker from the top edge of the fan.
- If possible, try not to rip or tear this sticker so it can be reused. Use a little bit of heat if necessary to soften the adhesive.
- If the sticker feels like it might tear, use tweezers to peel up one edge just until you can grip it with your fingers, then remove the rest by hand.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the sticker from the top edge of the fan.
If possible, try not to rip or tear this sticker so it can be reused. Use a little bit of heat if necessary to soften the adhesive.
If the sticker feels like it might tear, use tweezers to peel up one edge just until you can grip it with your fingers, then remove the rest by hand.
Step 9
Disconnect the fan
- Use a pair of tweezers to grip the edges of the fan connector and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.
- Pull the fan cable by its connector, not the wires themselves.
Use a pair of tweezers to grip the edges of the fan connector and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Pull the fan cable by its connector, not the wires themselves.
Step 10
Remove the fan screws
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 3.7 mm screws securing the fan.
- No, your eyes don’t deceive you! The other two fan screws were removed earlier in the disassembly: they double as two back cover screws.
Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 3.7 mm screws securing the fan.
No, your eyes don’t deceive you! The other two fan screws were removed earlier in the disassembly: they double as two back cover screws.
Step 11
Remove the fan
- Remove the fan.
- When installing a replacement fan, peel off the plastic liner on the cable adhesive and adhere it to the fan body in the same location as the cable on the old fan, so it’ll lay on the side of the board shield and not get pinched underneath.
Remove the fan.
When installing a replacement fan, peel off the plastic liner on the cable adhesive and adhere it to the fan body in the same location as the cable on the old fan, so it’ll lay on the side of the board shield and not get pinched underneath.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Steam Deck answers community for help.
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Author
with 3 other contributors
Carsten Frauenheim
Member since: 03/10/2020
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Peter Black - May 27, 2022
Reply
Hi ifixit Team, as the cooler seems to be a non factory one: how does it compare noise wise to the standard Steam Deck cooler, which is unbearably loud?
Cameron - Jun 2, 2022
Reply
Christopher Stanton - Jun 7, 2022
Reply
To those asking, you want a huaying fan as opposed to a delta fan. The delta is terribly bad with its acoustics.
Mono Chrome - Jun 25, 2022
Reply
is this the delta or huaying?
