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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

10

Time Required

                          20 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

3

  • Back Cover
  • 3 steps
  • Steam Deck Battery Disconnection
  • 4 steps
  • Left Thumbstick
  • 3 steps

Flags

2

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.

Replacement thumbsticks require calibration to work as expected. Read about how to do that here.

Note: Each Steam Deck ships with one of two different models of thumbsticks, Type A or Type B. Although nearly identical, capacitive touch capability relies on the correct type to be installed. To identify which replacement thumbsticks you need, navigate to Settings → System and check the Steam Deck Controller ID: if the Controller ID starts with “MEDA” that device uses Type A thumbsticks; if the Controller ID starts with “MHDA” that device uses Type B thumbsticks.

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

              Disconnect the left thumbstick cable
  • The left thumbstick will be on your righthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.
  • Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the thumbstick cable’s ZIF connector.
  • Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cable out of its connector.
  • Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.

The left thumbstick will be on your righthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the thumbstick cable’s ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cable out of its connector.

Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.

Step 9

              Remove the thumbstick screws
  • Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the thumbstick.
  • During reassembly, you may need to hold the Steam Deck off of the work surface so it isn’t resting on the new thumbstick while you tighten down the screws.

Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the thumbstick.

During reassembly, you may need to hold the Steam Deck off of the work surface so it isn’t resting on the new thumbstick while you tighten down the screws.

Step 10

              Remove the thumbstick
  • Remove the left thumbstick.
  • Replacement thumbsticks require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new thumbsticks, follow this calibration guide.
  • Each Steam Deck ships with one of two different models of thumbsticks, Type A or Type B. Although nearly identical, capacitive touch capability relies on the correct type to be installed.
  • To identify which replacement thumbsticks you need, navigate to Settings → System and check the Steam Deck Controller ID.
  • If the Controller ID starts with “MEDA” that device needs Type A thumbsticks.
  • If the Controller ID starts with “MHDA” that device needs Type B thumbsticks.

Remove the left thumbstick.

Replacement thumbsticks require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new thumbsticks, follow this calibration guide.

Each Steam Deck ships with one of two different models of thumbsticks, Type A or Type B. Although nearly identical, capacitive touch capability relies on the correct type to be installed.

To identify which replacement thumbsticks you need, navigate to Settings → System and check the Steam Deck Controller ID.

If the Controller ID starts with “MEDA” that device needs Type A thumbsticks.

If the Controller ID starts with “MHDA” that device needs Type B thumbsticks.

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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                                                                                      11 other people completed this guide.

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                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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NoggleFrap - Sep 29, 2022

Reply

Requires a PH#00 not a #0