Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
20
Time Required
45 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
4
- Back Cover
- 3 steps
- Steam Deck Battery Disconnection
- 4 steps
- Right Trigger
- 4 steps
- Right Button Board
- 9 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.
These steps only describe how to physically remove and replace your console’s button board. You may need additional software tools and calibration procedures to get a replacement board to function as intended.
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
Unclip the right trigger
- The right trigger will be on your lefthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.
- The Steam Deck’s triggers clip into place on two pegs on the trigger bracket, which doubles as the hinge.
- Place the flat end of a spudger onto the inside edge of the trigger’s right clip.
- Pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.
- During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible “click” sound.
- Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.
The right trigger will be on your lefthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.
The Steam Deck’s triggers clip into place on two pegs on the trigger bracket, which doubles as the hinge.
Place the flat end of a spudger onto the inside edge of the trigger’s right clip.
Pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.
During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible “click” sound.
Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.
Step 9
Remove the right trigger
- Remove the right trigger.
- Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger’s underside.
Remove the right trigger.
Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger’s underside.
Step 10
Remove the trigger bracket screws
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the right trigger bracket.
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the right trigger bracket.
Step 11
Remove the trigger bracket
- Remove the right trigger bracket.
- Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.
Remove the right trigger bracket.
Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.
Step 12
Disconnect the right thumbstick
- 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.
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 13
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 14
Remove the right thumbstick
- Remove the right thumbstick.
Remove the right thumbstick.
Step 15
Disconnect the button board cable
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board 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.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board cable’s ZIF connector.
Step 16
Disconnect the interconnect cable
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board interconnect 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.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board interconnect cable’s ZIF connector.
Step 17
Disconnect the remaining button board cables
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flaps on the rest of the button board ZIF connectors. Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cables out of their connectors:
- Disconnect the action buttons cable.
- Disconnect the touchpad board cable.
- Disconnect the touchpad cable.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flaps on the rest of the button board ZIF connectors. Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cables out of their connectors:
Disconnect the action buttons cable.
Disconnect the touchpad board cable.
Disconnect the touchpad cable.
Step 18
Disconnect the right haptics
- Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up on the haptics cable to disconnect it.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up on the haptics cable to disconnect it.
Step 19
Remove the button board screws
- Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the right button board:
- Three 5.2 mm screws
- One 3.9 mm screw
Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the right button board:
Three 5.2 mm screws
One 3.9 mm screw
Step 20
Remove the button board
- Remove the right button board.
- Keep track of the quick access button and its membrane, as once the right button board is removed, they’re no longer secured in place.
Remove the right button board.
Keep track of the quick access button and its membrane, as once the right button board is removed, they’re no longer secured in place.
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 2 other contributors
Carsten Frauenheim
Member since: 03/10/2020
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Eric Canals - Aug 20, 2022
Reply
When will this part be available?
Tim Ceesay - Sep 29, 2022
Reply
Is there any update to when this part will be available?
zZz - Oct 16, 2022
Reply
Will this part not be available due to their need being a special calibration or hardware step? Having past six months this makes one think the part is not possible with end user due to another factor.
David Chan - Nov 1, 2022
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Is there any estimated time to when this part will become available?
Mario Noriega - Nov 16, 2022
Reply
Parroting everyone else. When will this part be available?
