Steam Deck Left Touchpad Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Back Cover
3 steps
Steam Deck Battery Disconnection
4 steps
Left Trigger
4 steps
Left Button Board
8 steps
Left Touchpad
4 steps

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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.

Note: The touchpad’s springs are very delicate and are precisely positioned. If bent, the touchpad may rattle or not work as intended.

These steps only describe how to physically remove and replace your console’s touchpad. You may need additional software tools and calibration procedures to get the replacement touchpad 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.

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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 left trigger

The left trigger will be on your righthand 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 left 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 left trigger will be on your righthand 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 left 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 left trigger

Remove the left trigger.
Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger’s underside.

Remove the left 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 left trigger bracket.

Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the left trigger bracket.

Step 11

              Remove the trigger bracket

Remove the left trigger bracket.
Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.

Remove the left trigger bracket.

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

Step 12

              Disconnect the left 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 left thumbstick

Remove the left thumbstick.

Remove the left thumbstick.

Step 15

              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 16

              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 D-pad 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 D-pad cable.

Disconnect the touchpad board cable.

Disconnect the touchpad cable.

Step 17

              Disconnect the left haptics

Exercise caution when lifting this connector—pry up on the connector itself, not its housing.
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up on the haptics cable to disconnect it.

Exercise caution when lifting this connector—pry up on the connector itself, not its housing.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up on the haptics cable to disconnect it.

Step 18

              Remove the button board screws

Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the left button board:
Three 5.2 mm screws
One 3.9 mm screw

Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the left button board:

Three 5.2 mm screws

One 3.9 mm screw

Step 19

              Remove the button board

Remove the left button board.
Keep track of the Steam button and its membrane, as once the left button board is removed, they’re no longer secured in place.

Remove the left button board.

Keep track of the Steam button and its membrane, as once the left button board is removed, they’re no longer secured in place.

Step 20

              Remove the touchpad board screws

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad board.

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad board.

Step 21

              Remove the touchpad board

Remove the touchpad board.

Remove the touchpad board.

Step 22

              Remove the touchpad screws

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad.
You may need to temporarily remove the Steam button membrane for easier access to the bottom left screw.
Each of the touchpad’s four mounting corners have a locating peg. During reassembly, ensure each is properly seated.

Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad.

You may need to temporarily remove the Steam button membrane for easier access to the bottom left screw.

Each of the touchpad’s four mounting corners have a locating peg. During reassembly, ensure each is properly seated.

Step 23

              Remove the left touchpad

The touchpad’s springs are very delicate and are precisely positioned. If bent, the touchpad may rattle or not work as intended.
From the front of the Steam Deck, use your finger to push the left touchpad partway through the front shell to unseat it.
Lift the touchpad out from underneath the overhanging section of the midframe.
Remove the touchpad.

The touchpad’s springs are very delicate and are precisely positioned. If bent, the touchpad may rattle or not work as intended.

From the front of the Steam Deck, use your finger to push the left touchpad partway through the front shell to unseat it.

Lift the touchpad out from underneath the overhanging section of the midframe.

Remove the touchpad.

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.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

Author

                                      with 2 other contributors

                    Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/2020

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Mitch B - Sep 9, 2022

Are there any leads on where to get replacement touch pads?

informal.mak - Oct 11, 2022

I, too, would like to know where we can obtain replacement touchpads.

Jeff Salata - Dec 19, 2022

Yeah where are the replacement touch pads? My left pad is stuck and clicky.

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What you need#

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